Abstract: A device determined the state of a soot particle filter of an internal combustion engine. An electrical measuring arrangement is embodied as a soot sensor for measuring a soot deposit and comprises an electrical component with a conductor structure for exciting an electrical or magnetic field which can be influenced by the soot deposit and characterizes an electrical or magnetic characteristic variable of the component. A measuring arrangement measures the electrical or magnetic characteristic variable of the component as a measure of the soot deposit. The conductor structure is arranged so that a partial volume region of the soot particle filter is penetrated by the electrical field, and the partial volume region forms part of the component.

Abstract: An exhaust gas sensor is proposed for detecting a gas component in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, having a control and evaluation unit and a sensor unit with an electrode structure with a first terminal and a second terminal, and a method for operating an exhaust gas sensor to determine the concentration of a gas component in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine is also proposed. The control and evaluation unit applies a bias voltage to the first terminal and/or the second terminal of the electrode structure, it being possible for the level of the bias voltage to be set in dependence on a characteristic of the sensor and/or in dependence on a loading of the sensor. A bias voltage is applied to the first terminal and/or to the second terminal of the electrode structure, with the level of the bias voltage being set in dependence on a characteristic of the sensor and/or in dependence on a loading of the sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel conditioning process for internal combustion engines of motor vehicles. According to the present invention, on board a motor vehicle at a temperature of from 20° C. to 150° C. and at atmospheric pressure, nitrous gases essentially including nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, or dinitrogen monoxide, or gaseous mixtures thereof are passed through the liquid fuel of the motor vehicle, nitro compounds being formed in the fuel as a result of the passing through of the nitrous gases through the fuel.

Abstract: In a device for determining an exhaust gas recirculation rate (EGR) in an internal combustion engine, wherein the device includes a sensor unit, which in a first region is exposed to an exhaust-gas atmosphere from an exhaust gas recirculation line and in a second region is exposed to an exhaust gas/fresh air atmosphere in an intake line of the internal combustion engine downstream of a location where the exhaust gas recirculation line opens into the intake line, the sensor unit disposed in the intake line is tubular with the inner side of the sensor unit being exposed to the exhaust gas atmosphere and the outer side of the sensor unit being exposed to the exhaust gas/fresh air atmosphere. The sensor unit is preferably positioned centrally within the intake line away from the wall of the intake line.

Abstract: In a device for determining an exhaust gas recirculation rate (EGR) in an internal combustion engine, wherein the device includes a sensor unit, which in a first region is exposed to an exhaust-gas atmosphere from an exhaust gas recirculation line and in a second region is exposed to an exhaust gas/fresh air atmosphere in an intake line of the internal combustion engine downstream of a location where the exhaust gas recirculation line opens into the intake line, the sensor unit disposed in the intake line is tubular with the inner side of the sensor unit being exposed to the exhaust gas atmosphere and the outer side of the sensor unit being exposed to the exhaust gas/fresh air atmosphere. The sensor unit is preferably positioned centrally within the intake line away from the wall of the intake line.

Abstract: A method for producing a sensor (1) for detecting at least one gas constituent in the exhaust gas of an internal-combustion engine. An electrode structure (3), acting as a capacitor, is applied to a substrate (2). A gas-permeable zeolite layer (6) is applied to the electrode structure (3) and the substrate (2). After the application of the zeolite layer (6), the sensor (1) is heated in the presence of water vapor. During the heating, a voltage is applied to the electrode structure (3). A bias voltage, superimposed on the operating voltage of the electrode structure 3, is applied to a first connection 4 and/or to a second connection 5 of the electrode structure 3.

Abstract: The operating temperature of a gas sensor capable of sensing a gas or a gas composition at a high temperature, for example 1000° C. is maintained constant over the entire volume of a gas sensor layer or function layer (4) secured to a sensor carrier section of the gas sensor by supplying heat to the gas sensor layer (4) in such a way that varying heat dissipations in the sensor carrier section are compensated. For this purpose, an electrical heater for heating the gas sensor layer (4) has individual heater sections with different heating resistance values which depend on a spacing between any individual heater section and the tip of the sensor carrier section.

Abstract: A method for determining the storage state of an ammonia-storing SCR catalyst, the change in at least one physical property of the SCR catalyst material, changing with the NH3 storing process, being sensed, the measurement taking place on the SCR catalyst material itself by applying a measuring pickup to the SCR catalyst or bringing it into direct contact with the latter and determining the storage state on the basis of these results.

Abstract: A sensor and method for monitoring and controlling catalytic converters, in particular motor vehicle catalytic converters, is designed as a temperature probe which is provided with a catalytic coating. A catalytically coated temperature probe is used for control purposes, with the quantity and/or type of reagents fed to the catalytic converter being at least partially controlled by the sensor.

Abstract: A process for the desulfurization of an engine fuel onboard a motor vehicle includes separating sulfur-containing components of the engine fuel by selective liquid-phase adsorption on an adsorption material. The adsorption material may be an oxide of Al, Mg, Si, or Ti that is doped with Ag.

Abstract: A sensor for determining the concentration of sulphur compounds in a liquid includes: a working electrode in contact with the liquid to be analyzed; a referenced electrode insulated from the liquid to be analyzed; a liquid-impermeable membrane located between the working electrode and the reference electrode and permeable to an ion that may form a chemical compound with the sulphur compounds in the liquid to be analyzed; and a reference material in contact with the reference electrode or forms the reference electrode.

Abstract: High temperature substance sensor, including a substrate (4), a device (6) for raising and maintaining the temperature of the sensor, and a layer like capacitor structure (38) with structure sizes smaller than 50 &mgr;m, upon which a functional layer (18) is applied. In accordance with the invention the layer-like capacitor structure (38) is produced by the following: application of a complete or already pre-structured electrically conductive layer as precursor of the capacitor structure (38) using a thick layer technique, structuring the electrically conductive layer using a photolithographic structuring process.

Abstract: In a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine including a fuel tank, a fuel processing apparatus to which fuel from the tank is supplied and which separates the fuel into different fractions, the fuel and the fractions are mixed in a mixing chamber according to a performance graph stored in a control unit depending on the operating state of the engine and the mixture is then supplied to the engine in a controlled manner.

Abstract: In a fuel fractionation device for separating a low-boiling fuel fraction from a liquid fuel of an internal-combustion engine, including a vessel which contains the liquid fuel, and in which a reduced pressure is generated by withdrawing the low-boiling fuel fraction in vapor form from the vessel and making it available to the internal combustion engine, the efficiency of the fractionation is improved by utilizing a carrier-gas which is introduced into the liquid fuel, and which is withdrawn from the vessel together with the fuel fraction vapor.

Abstract: In a method for identifying the state of an NOx storage catalyst which is cyclically loaded with NOx in the exhaust stream of an internal combustion engine and regenerated, two electrical defining quantities, independent of each other, of the electrically complex impedance of the NOx storage catalyst are detected, one of the two electrical quantities being a measure of the degree of loading of the NOx storage catalyst, and from the second electrical quantity the point in time being identifiable for the end of the regeneration process of the NOx storage catalyst.

Abstract: In a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine having a fuel tank for liquid fuel, a fuel pump which draws fuel from the fuel tank and pressurized the fuel to an injection pressure at which the fuel is made available to the internal combustion engine, a fuel-fractionating device which produces at least one liquid fuel fraction from the fuel, and an accumulator which receives the liquid fuel fraction from the fuel-fractionating device, stores it and makes it available to the internal combustion engine, the fuel fraction made available and the fuel made available being fed to the internal combustion engine by the fuel supply system as a function of demand, the accumulator is a pressure accumulator and includes pressure-generating means for pressurizing fuel fraction in the pressure accumulator to the injection pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the emission of vaporized hydrocarbons in a fuel supply system. The apparatus comprises a filter for binding the hydrocarbons. A catalyst for oxidation of the hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water is provided downstream of the filter.

Abstract: A catalyst for reducing nitrogen oxides in oxidizing and reducing atmospheres which contains iridium on a support material. Silicon dioxide or a dealuminized zeolite in the acid H form with a modulus of more than 20, preferably more than 100, or mixtures thereof are used as support materials. Iridium is deposited on the external surfaces of these support materials with average particle sizes between 10 and 30 nm. The catalyst is particularly suitable for treating exhaust gases from lean-burn gasoline engines or from diesel engines.

Abstract: A solid material for adsorption of nitrogen oxides in an oxidizing atmosphere and desorption of nitrogen oxides in a reducing atmosphere in gases, such as internal combustion engine exhaust gases, can comprise a porous support, at least one metal component, and at least one transition metal component. A process for adsorption and desorption of nitrogen oxides in gases, such as internal combustion engine exhaust gases, can comprise the use of at least one solid material.

Abstract: A device and method for removing nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas from lean-burn internal combustion engines, e.g., diesel engines used in motor vehicles, includes a feed for a reducing agent, an NH3 sensor for measuring the NH3 concentration in the exhaust gas, and an exhaust pipe with NOx reduction catalytic converter. The arrangement configured to feed in reducing agent includes a control circuit for quantitatively continuously controllable supply of reducing agent to the exhaust gas, the control variable of the control circuit being the NH3 concentration measured by the NH3 sensor, and the guide variable of the control circuit being an NH3 concentration value which may be predetermined as a function of the operating point of the internal combustion engine. The NOx reduction catalytic converter is divided into at least two parts which are separate from one another and are arranged in series in the direction of flow of the exhaust gas.