Michael Andrew Viola

US Patent:

7426825, Sep 23, 2008

Filed:

Jul 25, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/459737

Inventors:

Michael B. Viola - Macomb Township MI, US
David B. Brown - Brighton MI, US
Michael J. Paratore - Howell MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F01N 3/00

US Classification:

60286, 60274, 60276, 60301, 60303

Abstract:

An exhaust aftertreatment system and control system is provided, including a urea injecting device, a selective catalyst reduction device, and, a sensing device operative to monitor a forward portion of the selective catalyst reduction device. The sensing device can comprise a NOx sensor, and alternatively, an ammonia sensor. A control module adapted to monitor signal inputs from the engine, the NOx sensing system, the temperature sensing system, and the sensing device operative to monitor a forward portion of the selective catalyst reduction device; and, adapted to control operation of the urea injecting device.

US Patent:

7469531, Dec 30, 2008

Filed:

Sep 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/533431

Inventors:

Michael B. Viola - Macomb Township MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F01N 3/00

US Classification:

60286, 60274, 60276, 60297, 60301, 60303

Abstract:

A method and apparatus to control injection of a reductant into the exhaust gas feedstream of an internal combustion engine adapted to operate in a lean air/fuel ratio region upstream of a catalytic reactor device is provided. A control module is operatively connected to the reductant metering device, and, adapted to effect flow of reductant into the exhaust gas feedstream. The method includes determining a preferred dosing ratio based upon parameters of the exhaust gas feedstream and the catalytic reactor device, and adjusting the preferred dosing ratio. A preferred reductant feed rate is determined, and the reductant is selectively dispensed at the preferred reductant feed rate.

US Patent:

7591132, Sep 22, 2009

Filed:

Sep 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/533425

Inventors:

Michael B. Viola - Macomb Township MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F01N 3/00

US Classification:

60286, 60276, 60295, 60301, 60303

Abstract:

An exhaust aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine is provided including an apparatus and method to inject a reductant into the exhaust gas feedstream. Included is a fuel metering device adapted to inject reductant into the exhaust gas feedstream and a controllable pressure regulating device. A control module is operatively connected to the reductant metering device and the controllable pressure regulating device, and, adapted to effect flow of reductant into the exhaust gas feedstream over a controllable flow range.

US Patent:

7610750, Nov 3, 2009

Filed:

Jul 25, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/459673

Inventors:

Michael B. Viola - Macomb Township MI, US
David B. Brown - Brighton MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F01N 3/00

US Classification:

60286, 60277, 60297, 60301, 60303

Abstract:

A monitoring system for an exhaust aftertreatment system is provided, comprising an injecting device operable to inject reductant into an exhaust gas feedstream upstream of a selective catalyst reduction device. The monitoring system comprises a control module, adapted to selectively intrusively control a rate of dosing from the injecting device and, monitor inputs from a sensing device. The sensing device can comprise an ammonia sensor, and, alternatively, a NOx sensor. The control module is adapted to discontinue the rate of dosing, and substantially increase and decrease the rate of dosing for a predetermined amount of time, and to identify a fault in the sensing device and the selective catalyst reduction device.

US Patent:

8006481, Aug 30, 2011

Filed:

Sep 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/533434

Inventors:

Steven J. Schmieg - Troy MI, US
Richard J. Blint - Shelby Township MI, US
Ling Deng - Sterling Heights MI, US
Michael B. Viola - Macomb Township MI, US
Jong-Hwan Lee - Rochester Hills MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F01N 3/00

US Classification:

60286, 60274, 60278, 60285, 60295, 60301

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are described to selectively reduce NOemissions of an internal combustion engine. An exhaust aftertreatment system includes an injection device operative to dispense a hydrocarbon reductant upstream of a silver-alumina catalytic reactor device. A control system determines a NOconcentration and hydrocarbon/NOx ratio based upon selected parameters of the exhaust gas feedstream and dispenses hydrocarbon reductant during lean engine operation. Included is a method to control elements of the feedstream during lean operation. The hydrocarbon reductant may include engine fuel.

US Patent:

8186151, May 29, 2012

Filed:

Jun 9, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/480932

Inventors:

Michael B. Viola - Macomb Township MI, US
Steven J. Schmieg - Troy MI, US
Thompson M. Sloane - Oxford MI, US
David L. Hilden - Shelby Township MI, US
Patricia A. Mulawa - Clinton Township MI, US
Jong H. Lee - Rochester Hills MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F01N 3/00

US Classification:

60295, 60274, 60285, 60286, 60301

Abstract:

A method for initiating a regeneration mode in selective catalytic reduction device utilizing hydrocarbons as a reductant includes monitoring a temperature within the aftertreatment system, monitoring a fuel dosing rate to the selective catalytic reduction device, monitoring an initial conversion efficiency, selecting a determined equation to estimate changes in a conversion efficiency of the selective catalytic reduction device based upon the monitored temperature and the monitored fuel dosing rate, estimating changes in the conversion efficiency based upon the determined equation and the initial conversion efficiency, and initiating a regeneration mode for the selective catalytic reduction device based upon the estimated changes in conversion efficiency.

US Patent:

7267697, Sep 11, 2007

Filed:

Sep 15, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/662837

Inventors:

Michael Bart Viola - Macomb Township MI, US
Changsoo Kim - Bloomfield Hills MI, US
Calvin K. Koch - Royal Oak MI, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B01J 8/04
B01J 7/00
F28F 28/00

US Classification:

48 61, 48 75, 481279, 422190, 422211, 422221, 423650, 165136

Abstract:

A fuel reforming system includes an inlet device for a reactor having a housing defining a frustoconical interior region having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. A tube mixer having a helical divider may be optionally employed to transfer fluid into the inlet opening. A retention member is placed at each of the openings and a plurality of particles is contained within the frustoconical interior region between the retention members. An insulator placed between the outlet opening and the catalyst reaction surface minimizes temperature non-uniformities over the catalyst surface area, which preserves the catalyst contained within the reaction surface and prevents premature onset of the reaction prior to contact of a reactant mixture with the reaction surface. As a reactant fluid material passes through the inlet device it forms a homogenous reactant fluid material which then flows onto a catalytic reaction surface to form a reformate. Even distribution of the reactant fluid material onto the catalyst reaction surface provides uniform reactivity of the various components (e. g.

US Patent:

20110072790, Mar 31, 2011

Filed:

Sep 29, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/568754

Inventors:

Steven J. Schmieg - Troy MI, US
Michael B. Viola - Macomb Township MI, US
Patricia A. Mulawa - Clinton Township MI, US
David L. Hilden - Shelby Township MI, US
Thompson M. Sloane - Oxford MI, US
Jong H. Lee - Rochester Hills MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - DETROIT MI

International Classification:

F01N 11/00
F01N 9/00
F02D 43/00
F01N 3/10

US Classification:

60277, 60286, 60285, 60299

Abstract:

A method for monitoring a hydrocarbon-selective catalytic reactor device of an exhaust aftertreatment system of an internal combustion engine operating lean of stoichiometry includes injecting a reductant into an exhaust gas feedstream upstream of the hydrocarbon-selective catalytic reactor device at a predetermined mass flowrate of the reductant, and determining a space velocity associated with a predetermined forward portion of the hydrocarbon-selective catalytic reactor device. When the space velocity exceeds a predetermined threshold space velocity, a temperature differential across the predetermined forward portion of the hydrocarbon-selective catalytic reactor device is determined, and a threshold temperature as a function of the space velocity and the mass flowrate of the reductant is determined. If the temperature differential across the predetermined forward portion of the hydrocarbon-selective catalytic reactor device is below the threshold temperature, operation of the engine is controlled to regenerate the hydrocarbon-selective catalytic reactor device.