Design and function of exhaust gas aftertreatment
Exhaust gas aftertreatment: Design, function and diagnostics
Here you will find valuable and useful workshop tips about the design, function and diagnostics of exhaust gas aftertreatment.
Important safety note
The following technical information and practical tips have been compiled by HELLA in order to provide professional support to vehicle workshops in their work. The information provided on this website is intended for use by suitably qualified personnel only.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Design and function of exhaust gas aftertreatment: Basics
Exhaust gas aftertreatment refers to the processes that clean exhaust gases mechanically, catalytically or chemically after they have left the combustion chamber.
Aftertreatment is carried out to convert the pollutants produced during combustion into harmless exhaust gases. Exhaust gas aftertreatment components include catalytic converters and particulate filters. Nowadays, both components can be installed on a direct-injection petrol engine as well as on a diesel engine.
The following systems, for example, can be installed in the exhaust system to reduce pollutants:
Petrol engine
- Three-way catalytic converter
- NOx absorber (lean-burn engines)
- Otto particulate filter (engines with direct injection)
Diesel engines
- Oxidation catalytic converter
- Particulate filter
- NOx absorber
- SCR catalytic converter
Catalytic converter
The catalytic converter usually used in conventional petrol engines today is the controlled three-way catalytic converter. The task of the catalytic converter is to convert the pollutants originating from the fuel combustion process into non-toxic exhaust gases by means of a chemical reaction. In conjunction with the engine control unit and lambda sensor, the air/fuel mix is precisely regulated so that the catalytic converter can reduce the pollutants. The optimal working temperature range of catalytic converters is between 400-800°C.
Topical videos
Catalytic converter
In our video crash course, we give you an all-round look at the topic of catalytic converters
Diesel particulate filter
Particulate filters are installed in the exhaust system of diesel engines to reduce soot emissions. The diesel particulate filter (DPF) stores the solid particles that cannot be completely burnt in the engine. These nanoparticles, reduced in size, are very harmful to humans and the environment. The inside of the soot particulate filter consists of a ceramic filter with many small channels. The channels with porous walls are alternately closed and divided into inlet and outlet channels. The exhaust gases flow through the filter walls, whereby the soot particles are deposited on the filter walls. The porous walls produce a good filtering effect and a high degree of separation. The increasing number of accumulated soot particles increases the back pressure in the exhaust system. The degree of loading or flow resistance of the particulate filter is monitored by the engine control unit. A differential pressure sensor records the data upstream and downstream of the particulate filter and passes this information on to the engine control unit. If the pressure difference exceeds a certain value, the control unit initiates regeneration to burn off the particles.
In order for the soot particles to be burnt off, the exhaust gas temperature in the particulate filter must be raised to 600 - 650°C. For this purpose, the engine control system carries out additional fuel injection or post-injection during active regeneration, which increases the exhaust gas temperature.
Depending on the vehicle and system, regeneration can be carried out every 400-700 km.
To avoid temperature ranges above 700°C, the temperature is monitored by an exhaust gas temperature sensor just upstream of the particulate filter.
The ash produced during regeneration is not completely removed by the exhaust gas flow, so it accumulates in the filter. This can lead to the filter becoming clogged and needing to be cleaned or replaced. This leads to the filter having change intervals, e.g. every 120,000 km.
Diesel particulate filters
Ceramic filter with inlet and outlet channels
Please note
To calculate the soot loading of the soot particle filter, the engine control unit uses signals from the differential pressure sensor, the temperature sensors upstream and downstream of the soot particle filter and the mass air flow sensor. Therefore, the signals are considered as one unit.
Topical videos
Diesel particulate filter
A little knowledge refresher is provided in the video: You will be guided through facts on structure and function as well as appropriate test procedures. Our common goal: reducing emissions!
Regeneration
Depending on the vehicle manufacturer and system, various particulate filter regeneration procedures can be carried out.
Passive regeneration
Passive regeneration takes place as soon as the exhaust gas temperatures in the particulate filter reach a value of 350 - 500°C on motorway journeys at increased speeds.
Active regeneration
Active regeneration is carried out by the engine management system. When the load limit of the particulate filter is reached, the exhaust gas temperature is specifically raised to 600-650°C via the engine control unit in order to burn off the soot particles.
Forced regeneration
This type of regeneration can be carried out by a workshop using a diagnostic device in accordance with specified instructions.
Combined particulate filter
A soot particulate filter and oxidation catalytic converter can be installed in one housing as a catalytically coated diesel particulate filter. In this combination, the catalytic converter is installed before the soot particulate filter. It combines the function of a diesel oxidation catalytic converter and diesel particulate filter in one component. As a result, hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) can be converted into water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) and soot particles can be filtered out of the exhaust gas. Another of the oxidation catalytic converter's tasks is to change the ratio of nitrogen (NO) to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) to enable passive regeneration of the DPF filter and increase the performance of the SCR catalytic converter. As the exhaust gases flow through the catalytic converter, chemical processes increase their temperature. Heat is transferred to the soot particulate filter with the exhaust gas flow. This means that the catalytic converter helps heat the soot particulate filter.
(1) Catalytic converter and (2) particulate filter installed in one housing
Combined particulate filter: (1) Lambda sensor upstream of catalytic converter (2) Exhaust gas temperature sensor upstream of catalytic converter (3) Oxidation catalytic converter (4) Lambda sensor downstream of catalytic converter (5) Differential pressure sensor (6) Exhaust gas temperature sensor downstream of catalytic converter (7) Particulate filter
NOx absorber
The NOx absorber is used in diesel and direct-injection petrol engines. The catalytic converter has a catalytic layer of substances such as potassium oxide or barium oxide that bind nitrogen oxide molecules. As soon as the absorber has reached a certain absorption capacity, the engine control system greases the air-fuel mixture, increasing the exhaust gas temperature. The changed exhaust gas composition leads to regeneration, which sees the nitrogen oxides (NOx) reduced to nitrogen (N2) and water (H2O).
SCR catalytic converter
Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is one of the latest and most advanced developments in exhaust gas reduction for cars. This technology has been in use since 2014 and meets the EURO 6 emission standards. By adding carbamide (AdBlue) to the exhaust gas stream, the nitrogen oxides (NOx) are converted to nitrogen (N2), water vapour (H2O) and a small amount of CO2 in the NOx absorber by selective catalytic reaction. A NOx absorber is designed like an oxidation catalytic converter.
(1) NOx sensor upstream of catalytic converter (2) Carbamide additive injection valve (3) Control unit (3) NOx catalytic converter (5) Carbamide tank (6) NOx sensor downstream of catalytic converter
Exhaust gas aftertreatment sensors
Modern exhaust gas aftertreatment systems not only consist of the components of the exhaust system, but also require various sensors to monitor the exhaust gas composition and pass on their information to the engine control unit.
Diagnostics for the exhaust system: Troubleshooting
Before starting control unit diagnostics on the vehicle, a visual inspection of the entire exhaust system should be carried out first. External damage can usually be detected when the noise behaviour changes and can be caused by cracks or rusting through at pipes, connections or mufflers. Noises coming from inside the system components can be localised by shaking or knocking on the relevant component. Of course, the tight screw connections, radiator plates and rubber mountings should also be checked as part of this. The exhaust gas sensors should not be forgotten either. They may be mounted over the entire course of the system. Wiring or electrical plug connections may have been damaged here due to environmental influences such as dirt, water or road salt.
Control unit diagnostics
The function check can only be carried out on the injection system or the exhaust gas aftertreatment system with a suitable diagnostic device.
The function of the individual exhaust gas aftertreatment components is monitored via sensors and transmitted to the relevant higher-level system control unit. Any errors that occur are stored in the engine control unit's error memory and can be read using a suitable diagnostic unit. Depending on the vehicle and on the system, additional functions, such as parameters or actuator tests, can be selected and displayed or executed on the diagnostic device. The data from control unit communication forms the basis for actual troubleshooting and for successful repair work. In addition, the exhaust gas values can be checked and evaluated using a tailpipe measurement.
The following diagnostic information uses a Mercedes-Benz E350 24V CDI (212) and a Volkswagen Golf 5 Plus as examples.
Reading out the engine control system’s error memory
Reading out the engine control system’s error memory
In this function, the error codes stored in the error memory can be read out and deleted. In addition, information on the error code can be called up.
In our case study, a defective NOx sensor was detected and, as a result, the error code P220317 was stored in the error memory.
- P220317 / NOx sensor 1 Bank 1
- Short circuit to positive / voltage limit exceeded
Reading off parameters
Example of the signal voltages of the upstream and downstream sensor on an Audi TT
In this function, current measured values such as engine speed, temperature or the status of individual exhaust gas components can be selected and displayed.
- SCR catalytic converter / NOx sensors
- Comparison of function test on catalytic converter / lambda sensors
- Charge status of particulate filter / differential pressure sensor
System information
System information
System-specific information can be taken from vehicle information and used for troubleshooting purposes. Here, for example, a system overview of the exhaust gas aftertreatment system can be used for further troubleshooting.
Exhaust tailpipe measurement
With the exhaust tailpipe measurement, the escaping exhaust gases can be recorded and evaluated directly at the exhaust system. Defects in the exhaust system or in the exhaust gas aftertreatment system are detected and can be incorporated into further troubleshooting.
Representation of the measurement results of a petrol engine
Representation of the measurement results of a diesel engine
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