Description:Complete Specification:

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention is related to a control unit for determining a dosing module tip temparature and a method thereof.

Background of the invention
[0002] In modern motor vehicles with self-ignition internal combustion engines, continued tightening of exhaust emissions limits means that nitrogen oxides (NOx), among other constituents of the exhaust stream, must be reduced. One method employed for this purpose is catalytic reduction (“SCR method=Selective Catalytic Reduction”) by means of an NOx reduction catalyst. In order to be able to position the dosing module as close as possible to the exhaust stream, the lower section of the dosing module with the reduction agent injection nozzle situated therein is actively cooled. This ensures that a temperature of 120° C. is not exceeded in the region of the injection nozzle, even if the dosing module is arranged close to the exhaust gas.

[0003] A US patent application US20140311130 discloses a dosing module (10) for injecting a reduction agent into an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine, to reduce nitrogen oxides in an exhaust stream of the internal combustion engine, wherein the dosing module has a main cooling element (12), through which a cooling fluid flows, characterized in that an additional cooling element (14), through which the cooling fluid likewise passes, is mounted on the main cooling element (12), wherein a guide insert (30) for the cooling fluid is arranged in the main cooling element (12).

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a control unit for determining a dosing module tip temperature in a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and
[0005] Figure 2 illustrates a flow chart of a method for determining a dosing module tip temperature in a vehicle, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0005] Figure 1 illustrates a control unit for determining a dosing module tip temperature in a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The control unit 10 receives multiple parameters from atleast one functional unit 12 of the vehicle 11 and activates the atleast one functional unit 12(a) such that at least one vehicle parameter increases the temperature at the dosing module tip 14. The control unit 10 then triggers another atleast one functional unit 12(b) such that at least one engine parameter decreases temperature of the dosing module tip 14. The control unit 10 determines a final temperature of the dosing module tip 14, upon detecting a variation in the temperature of the dosing module tip 14 using a calculating technique. An increase and a decrease of the temperature of the dosing module tip 14, using multiple parameters is referred to a single iteration and the control unit 10 determines the final temperature of the dosing module tip 14 upon detecting a completion of the iteration.

[0006] Further the components of the control unit and the working of the control unit in a vehicle is explained in detail. The control unit 10 is a logic circuitry and software programs implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, and/or any component that operates on signals based on operational instructions. The control unit 10 comprises a memory 16 adapted to store a predefined map comprising multiple temperature values mapped to corresponding dosing quantities. The control unit 10 calculates a dosing quantity to be used upon comparing the determined final dosing module tip 14 temperature with a corresponding dosing quantity from the predefined map. The control unit 10 uses a comparator for this operation. Then the control unit 10 modifies/varies the dosing quantity to be used according to a design target or to ensure the design target.

[0007] The control unit 10 receives the parameters from different functional units 12 like an exhaust unit 12(a), an air-cooling unit (12(b)), a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) unit 12(b). The parameters received from the exhaust unit 12(a) are considered as vehicle parameters and the parameters received from the later units 12(b) are considered as engine parameters. The vehicle parameters are chosen from a group of parameters comprising a mass flow rate of exhaust, a temperature of exhaust and the engine parameters are chosen from a group comprising a mass flow rate of diesel exhaust fluid(DEF), a temperature of the DEF, a velocity of the vehicle 11, an ambience temperature. However, it is to be understood that the functional units 12 can be of any other type of functional units and the parameters are not restricted /limited to the above disclosed as known to a person skilled in the art.

[0008] An increase and a decrease of the temperature of the dosing module tip 14, using multiple parameters is referred to a single iteration and the control unit 10 determines the final temperature of the dosing module tip 14 upon detecting a completion of the iteration. The control unit 10 further considers at least one surface fit coefficients for determining the final dosing module tip 14 temperature.

[0009] Figure 2 illustrates a flow chart of a method for determining a dosing module tip temperature in a vehicle, in accordance with the present invention. In step S1, multiple parameters from atleast one functional unit 12 of the vehicle 11 are received. In step S2, the atleast one functional unit 12 is activated, such that at least one vehicle parameter increases the temperature at the dosing module tip 14 .In step S3, the atleast one functional unit 12 is triggered , such that at least one engine parameter decreases temperature of the dosing module tip. In step S4, a final temperature of the dosing module tip 14 is determined, upon detecting a variation in the temperature of the dosing module tip 14 using a calculating technique.

[0010] The method is explained in detail. The control unit 10 activates each of the functional unit at a time. Initially, the control unit 10 continuously receives the parameters from different functional units 12 of the vehicle during the real-time/operating mode of the vehicle. The control unit 10 first activates the exhaust unit 12(a) such that, the mass flow rate of exhaust gas and the temperature of the exhaust gas are used for increasing the tip 14 temperature of the dosing module. Then the control unit 10 triggers the another functional unit 12(b) which is the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) unit and the air-cooling unit 12(b) such that, the mass flow rate of the DEF , temperature of the DEF are used to decrease the dosing module tip 14 temperature.

[0011] In addition to the above-mentioned engine parameters, the control unit 10 considers the velocity of the vehicle 11 and the ambience temperature to reduce the module tip 14 temperature. The control unit 10 considers the increase and decrease of the module tip 14 temperature by the multiple parameters as a single iteration. Upon detecting a completion of the single iteration, the control unit 10 determines the final temperature of the dosing module tip 14 using a calculating technique. According to one embodiment of the invention, the calculating technique is a mathematical model, that is known in the state of the art. The control unit 10 further considers the surface fit coefficients while determining the final temperature of the dosing module tip 14. Thus, determined final temperature of the dosing module tip 14 is used for identifying a corresponding dosing quantity from the predefined map. The control unit 10 varies /modifies the dosing quantity based on the above consideration to ensure the efficiency of the design targets.

[0012] With the above-mentioned methodology, the dosing module tip 14 temperature is determined in real-time in a more efficient way. The above method provides a low-cost effective solution. The quantity of the dosing liquid is also determined correctly based on the determined temperature thus, ensuring only required amount is getting used for cooling purpose.

[0013] Embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A control unit (10) for determining a dosing module tip (14) temperature in a vehicle (11) , said control unit (10) adapted to :
- receive multiple parameters from atleast one functional unit (12) of the vehicle(11);
- activate the atleast one functional unit (12(a)) such that at least one vehicle parameter increases the temperature at the dosing module tip (14) ;
- trigger the atleast one functional unit (12(b)) such that at least one engine parameter decreases temperature of the dosing module tip (14);
- determines a final temperature of the dosing module tip (14), upon detecting a variation in the temperature of said dosing module tip (14) using a calculating technique.

2. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit (10) comprises a memory (16) adapted to store a predefined map comprising multiple temperature values mapped to corresponding dosing quantities.

3. The control unit (10) as claimed in claims 1 and 2, adapted to calculate a dosing quantity upon comparing said determined final dosing module tip (14) temperature with a corresponding dosing quantity from said predefined map.

4. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit (10) adapted to modify said dosing quantity according to a design target.

5. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one surface fit coefficients are considered for determining the final dosing module tip (14) temperature.

6. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multiple parameters comprises vehicle parameters and engine parameters, said vehicle parameters are chosen from a group of parameters comprising a mass flow rate of exhaust, a temperature of exhaust and said engine parameters comprising a mass flow rate of diesel exhaust fluid(DEF), a temperature of the DEF, a velocity of said vehicle, an ambience temperature.

7. The control unit (10) as claimed in claims 1 & 6, wherein said at least one functional unit is chosen from any one of following an exhaust unit (12(a)) , a DEF unit (12(b)), an air-cooling unit (12(b)).

8. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle parameters are related to said exhaust unit (12(a)) and said engine parameters are related to said DEF unit (12(b)) and said air-cooling unit (12(b)).

9. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an increase and a decrease of the temperature of the dosing module tip (14), using multiple parameters is referred to a single iteration and the control unit (10) determines the final temperature of the dosing module tip (14) upon detecting a completion of said iteration.

10. A method of determining a dosing module tip (14) temperature in a vehicle (11) , said method comprising :
- receiving multiple parameters from atleast one functional unit (12) of the vehicle (11) by a control unit (10);
- activating the atleast one functional unit (12(a)) such that at least one vehicle parameter increases the temperature at the dosing module tip (14) ;
- trigger the atleast one functional unit (12(b)) such that at least one engine parameter decreases temperature of the dosing module tip (14);
- determines a final temperature of the dosing module tip (14), upon detecting a variation in the temperature of said dosing module tip (14) using a calculating technique.