System for diagnosing operation of an EGR cooler

Claim 2

System for diagnosing operation of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler, comprising: an engine having an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold and an EGR conduit fluidly coupled between said intake and exhaust manifolds, said engine including a cooling system having a coolant fluid circulating therethrough to cool said engine; an EGR cooler disposed in-line with said EGR conduit such that exhaust gas flowing through said EGR conduit also flows through said EGR cooler, said EGR cooler coupled to said cooling system such that said coolant fluid circulates through said EGR cooler to cool exhaust gas flowing therethrough: means for determining a temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine; means for determining a temperature of exhaust gas exiting an exhaust gas outlet of said EGR cooler; means for determining a temperature of said coolant fluid circulating through said engine cooling system and said EGR cooler; means for determining a flow rate of exhaust gas through said EGR conduit; and means for diagnosing operation said EGR cooler as a function of said temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine, said temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler, said temperature of said coolant fluid and said flow rate of exhaust gas through said EGR conduit.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said means for diagnosing operation of said EGR cooler includes means for computing an EGR cooler effectiveness ratio as a function of said temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine, said temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler and said temperature of said coolant fluid.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 wherein said means for computing an EGR cooler effectiveness ratio includes: means for determining a first temperature difference between said temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine and said temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler; means for determining a second temperature difference between said temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine and said temperature of said coolant fluid; and means for determining said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio as a ratio of said first and second temperature differences.

Claim 5

The system of claim 2 wherein said means for diagnosing operation of said EGR cooler includes means for determining a first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold as a function of said flow rate of exhaust gas through said EGR conduit.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4 wherein said means for diagnosing operation of said EGR cooler includes means for comparing said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio with said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold and diagnosing said EGR cooler as a fouled EGR cooler if said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is less than said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold.

Claim 7

The system of claim 5 wherein said means for diagnosing operation of said EGR cooler includes a fail counter having a count value; and wherein said means for comparing said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio with said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold is operable to diagnose said EGR cooler as a fouled EGR cooler if said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is less than said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold and if said count value of said fail counter has reached a fail count.

Claim 8

The system of claim 6 wherein said means for computing an EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is operable to repeatedly compute said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio and said means for determining a first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold is operable to repeatedly determine said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio; and wherein said means for comparing said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio with said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold is operable to repeatedly compare current values of said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio and said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold and to change said count value of said fail counter for each comparison that said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is less than said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold.

Claim 9

The system of claim 5 wherein said means for diagnosing operation of said EGR cooler includes means for determining a second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold as a function of said flow rate of exhaust gas through said EGR conduit, said second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio greater than said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio.

Claim 10

The system of claim 8 wherein said means for diagnosing operation of is said EGR cooler includes means for comparing said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio with said second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold and diagnosing said EGR cooler as operating normally if said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is greater than said second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold.

Claim 11

The system of claim 9 wherein said means for diagnosing operation of said EGR cooler includes a pass counter having a count value; and wherein said means for comparing said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio with said second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold is operable to diagnose said EGR cooler as operating normally if said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is greater than said second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold and if said count value of said pass counter has reached a pass count.

Claim 12

The system of claim 10 wherein said means for computing an EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is operable to repeatedly compute said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio and said means for determining a second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold is operable to repeatedly determine said second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio; and wherein said means for comparing said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio with said second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold is operable to repeatedly compare current values of said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio and said second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold and to change said count value of said pass counter for each comparison that said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is greater than said second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold.

Claim 13

The system of claim 9 wherein said means for diagnosing operation of said EGR cooler includes means for aborting diagnostic operation of said EGR cooler if said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is greater than or equal to said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold and less than or equal to said second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold.

Claim 14

The system of claim 12 further including: means for determining an operating cycle of said engine; and a malfunction indicator lamp; wherein said means for diagnosing operation of said EGR cooler includes means for activating said malfunction indicator lamp if said EGR cooler is diagnosed as a fouled EGR cooler for at least a first number of consecutive engine operating cycles, and for deactivating said malfunction indicator lamp if said EGR cooler is not diagnosed as a fouled EGR cooler for at least a second number of consecutive engine operating cycles.

Claim 15

The system of claim 1 wherein said means for diagnosing operation of said EGR cooler includes means for computing an EGR cooler effectiveness ratio as a function of said flow rate of exhaust gas through said EGR conduit.

Claim 16

The system of claim 14 wherein said means for diagnosing operation of said EGR cooler includes means for computing an expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler as a function of said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio, said temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine, and said temperature of said coolant fluid.

Claim 17

The system of claim 15 wherein said means for computing an expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler includes: means for determining a temperature difference between said temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine and said temperature of said coolant fluid; means for determining a product of said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio and said temperature difference; and means for computing said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler as a difference between said temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine and said product of said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio and said temperature difference.

Claim 18

The system of claim 15 wherein said means for diagnosing operation of said EGR cooler includes means for and diagnosing said EGR cooler as a fouled EGR cooler if said temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler is greater than a sum of said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler and a temperature constant.

Claim 19

The system of claim 17 wherein said means for diagnosing operation of said EGR cooler includes a fail counter having a count value; and wherein said means for comparing said temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler with said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler is operable to diagnose said EGR cooler as a fouled EGR cooler if said temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler is greater than said sum of said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler and said temperature constant and if said count value of said fail counter has reached a fail count.

Claim 20

The system of claim 18 wherein said means for computing an EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is operable to repeatedly compute said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio and said means for determining an expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler is operable to repeatedly determine said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler; and wherein said means for comparing said temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler with said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler is operable repeatedly compare current values of said temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler with said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler and to change said count value of said fail counter for each comparison that said temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler is greater than said sum of said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler and said temperature constant.

Claim 21

The system of claim 17 wherein said means for comparing said temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler with said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler is operable to diagnose said EGR cooler as operating normally if said temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler is less than said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler.

Claim 22

The system of claim 20 wherein said means for diagnosing operation of said EGR cooler includes a pass counter having a count value; and wherein said means for comparing said EGR cooler with said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler is operable to diagnose said EGR cooler as operating normally if said temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler is less than said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler and if said count value of said pass counter has reached a pass count.

Claim 23

The system of claim 21 wherein said means for computing an EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is operable to repeatedly compute said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio and said means for computing an expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler is operable to repeatedly compute said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler; and wherein said means for comparing said temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler with said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler is operable to repeatedly compare current values of said temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler and said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler and to change said count value of said pass counter for each comparison that said temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler is less than said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler.

Claim 24

The system of claim 20 wherein said means for diagnosing operation of said EGR cooler includes means for aborting diagnostic operation of said EGR cooler if said temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler is greater than or equal to said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler and is less than or equal to said sum of said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler and a temperature constant.

Claim 25

The system of claim 23 further including: means for determining an operating cycle of said engine; and a malfunction indicator lamp; wherein said means for diagnosing operation of said EGR cooler includes means for activating said malfunction indicator lamp if said EGR cooler is diagnosed as a fouled EGR cooler for at least a first number of consecutive engine operating cycles, and for deactivating said malfunction indicator lamp if said EGR cooler is not diagnosed as a fouled EGR cooler for at least a second number of consecutive engine operating cycles.

Claim 26

System for diagnosing operation of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler, comprising: an engine having an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold and an EGR conduit fluidly coupled between said intake and exhaust manifolds, said engine including a cooling system having a coolant fluid circulating therethrough to cool said engine; an EGR cooler disposed in-line with said EGR conduit such that exhaust gas flowing through said EGR conduit also flows through said EGR cooler, said EGR cooler coupled to said cooling system such that said coolant fluid circulates through said EGR cooler to cool exhaust gas flowing therethrough; means for determining a temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine; a first temperature sensor producing an EGR cooler outlet temperature signal indicative of exhaust gas temperature exiting an exhaust gas outlet of said EGR cooler; a second temperature sensor producing an engine coolant temperature signal indicative of temperature of said coolant fluid; means for determining a flow rate of exhaust gas through said EGR conduit; and a control computer configured to diagnose operation said EGR cooler as a function of said temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine, said EGR cooler outlet temperature signal, said engine coolant temperature signal and said flow rate of exhaust gas through said EGR conduit.

Claim 27

System for diagnosing operation of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler, comprising: an engine having an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold and an EGR conduit fluidly coupled between said intake and exhaust manifolds, said engine including a cooling system having a coolant fluid circulating therethrough to cool said engine; an EGR cooler disposed in-line with said EGR conduit such that exhaust gas flowing through said EGR conduit also flows through said EGR cooler, said EGR cooler coupled to said cooling system such that said coolant fluid circulates through said EGR cooler to cool exhaust gas flowing therethrough; means for determining a temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine; a first temperature sensor producing an EGR cooler outlet temperature signal indicative of exhaust gas temperature exiting an exhaust gas outlet of said EGR cooler; a second temperature sensor producing an engine coolant temperature signal indicative of temperature of said coolant fluid; means for determining a flow rate of exhaust gas through said EGR conduit; and a control computer configured to diagnose operation said EGR cooler as a function of said temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine, said EGR cooler outlet temperature signal, said engine coolant temperature signal and said flow rate of exhaust gas through said EGR conduit.

Claim 28

The system of claim 25 wherein said control computer is configured to compute an EGR cooler effectiveness ratio as a function of said temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine, said EGR cooler outlet temperature signal and said engine coolant temperature signal.

Claim 29

The system of claim 26 wherein said control computer is configured to compute a first temperature difference between said temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine and said EGR cooler outlet temperature signal, to compute a second temperature difference between said temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine and said engine coolant temperature signal, and to compute said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio as a ratio of said first and second temperature differences.

Claim 30

The system of claim 26 wherein said control computer is configured to compute a first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold as a function of said flow rate of exhaust gas through said EGR conduit.

Claim 31

The system of claim 28 wherein said control computer is configured to compare said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio with said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold and diagnose said EGR cooler as a fouled EGR cooler if said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is less than said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold.

Claim 32

The system of claim 29 wherein said control computer includes a fail counter having a count value; and wherein said control computer is configured to diagnose said EGR cooler as a fouled EGR cooler if said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is less than said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold and if said count value of said fail counter has reached a fail count.

Claim 33

The system of claim 30 wherein said control computer is configured to repeatedly compute and compare said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio and said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold, said control computer changing said count value of said fail counter for each comparison that said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is less than said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold.

Claim 34

The system of claim 29 wherein said control computer is configured to compute a second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold as a function of said flow rate of exhaust gas through said EGR conduit, said second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio greater than said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio.

Claim 35

The system of claim 32 wherein said control computer is configured to compare said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio with said second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold and diagnose said EGR cooler as operating normally if said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is greater than said second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold.

Claim 36

The system of claim 33 wherein said control computer includes a pass counter having a count value; and wherein said control computer is configured to diagnose said EGR cooler as operating normally if said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is greater than said second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold and if said count value of said pass counter has reached a pass count.

Claim 37

The system of claim 34 wherein said control computer is configured to repeatedly compute and compare said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio and said second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold, said control computer changing said count value of said pass counter for each comparison that said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is greater than said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold.

Claim 38

The system of claim 33 wherein said control computer is configured to abort diagnostic operation of said EGR cooler if said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio is greater than or equal to said first EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold and less than or equal to said second EGR cooler effectiveness ratio threshold.

Claim 39

The system of claim 36 further including: means for determining an operating cycle of said engine; and a malfunction indicator lamp; wherein said control computer is configured to activate said malfunction indicator lamp if said EGR cooler is diagnosed as a fouled EGR cooler for at least a first number of consecutive engine operating cycles, and to deactivate said malfunction indicator lamp if said EGR cooler is not diagnosed as a fouled EGR cooler for at least a second number of consecutive engine operating cycles.

Claim 40

The system of claim 25 wherein said control computer is configured to compute an EGR cooler effectiveness ratio as a function of said flow rate of exhaust gas through said EGR conduit.

Claim 41

The system of claim 38 wherein said control computer is configured to compute an expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler as a function of said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio, said temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine, and said engine coolant temperature signal.

Claim 42

The system of claim 39 wherein said control computer is configured to compute a temperature difference between said temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine and said engine coolant temperature signal, to compute a product of said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio and said temperature difference, and to compute said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler as a difference between said temperature of exhaust gas produced by said engine and said product of said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio and said temperature difference.

Claim 43

The system of claim 39 wherein said control computer is configured to diagnose said EGR cooler as a fouled EGR cooler if said EGR cooler outlet temperature signal is greater than a sum of said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler and a temperature constant.

Claim 44

The system of claim 41 wherein said control computer includes a fail counter having a count value; and wherein said control computer is configured to diagnose said EGR cooler as a fouled EGR cooler if said EGR cooler outlet temperature signal is greater than said sum of said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler and said temperature constant and if said count value of said fail counter has reached a fail count.

Claim 45

The system of claim 42 wherein said control computer is configured to repeatedly compute said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio and said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler, and to compare current values of said EGR cooler outlet temperature signal with said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler, said control computer changing said count value of said fail counter for each comparison that said EGR cooler outlet temperature signal is greater than said sum of said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler and said temperature constant.

Claim 46

The system of claim 41 wherein said control computer is configured diagnose said EGR cooler as operating normally if said EGR cooler outlet temperature signal is less than said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler.

Claim 47

The system of claim 44 wherein said control computer includes a pass counter having a count value; and wherein said control computer is configured to diagnose said EGR cooler as operating normally if said EGR cooler outlet temperature is less than said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler and if said count value of said pass counter has reached a pass count.

Claim 48

The system of claim 45 wherein said control computer is configured to repeatedly compute said EGR cooler effectiveness ratio and said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler, and to compare current values of said EGR cooler outlet temperature signal with said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler, said control computer changing said count value of said pass counter for each comparison that said EGR cooler outlet temperature signal is less than said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler.

Claim 49

The system of claim 44 wherein said control computer is configured to abort diagnostic operation of said EGR cooler if said EGR cooler outlet temperature signal is greater than or equal to said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler and is less than or equal to said sum of said expected temperature of exhaust gas exiting said EGR cooler and a temperature constant.

Claim 50

The system of claim 47 further including: means for determining an operating cycle of said engine; and a malfunction indicator lamp; wherein said control computer is configured to activate said malfunction indicator lamp if said EGR cooler is diagnosed as a fouled EGR cooler for at least a first number of consecutive engine operating cycles, and to deactivate said malfunction indicator lamp if said EGR cooler is not diagnosed as a fouled EGR cooler for at least a second number of consecutive engine operating cycles.