Implications of discrete vs. continuously adjustable current for electrically heated catalytic converters

Petkovšek, Marko (avtor), Zajec, Peter (avtor), Nemec, Mitja (avtor), Rihar, Andraž (avtor), Vončina, Danijel (avtor), Ambrožič, Vanja (avtor), Golob, Jure (avtor), Nedeljković, David (avtor)

Despite the obvious shift in daily commuting towards electromobility, internal combustion engines (ICEs) still dominate the market, particularly in the transport sector. Their main drawback—cold-start emissions—has driven the development of active control strategies beyond passive exhaust optimizations. An electrically heated catalytic converter (EHC) helps the catalytic converter reach the light-off temperature more quickly through active control; however, it places additional demands on the already strained onboard electrical power distribution network. This paper presents a case study comparing two power supply and control configurations for managing the temperature of the EHC: (i) a smart-switch-based approach using bang-bang control, and (ii) a DC/DC converter with a proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller. To define key target requirements for a dedicated DC/DC converter suitable for real-world conditions, measurement data such as temperature and electrical power demand were gathered through preliminary pollutant emissions tests performed in a laboratory environment using a programmable bench power supply. For the selected test procedure, engine cold-start emissions using various heater power supply scenarios were reduced by a factor of 6 for Total Hydrocarbons (THC) and by a factor of 5 for Carbon Monoxide (CO). Based on a comparative analysis of power supply parameters, a custom four-leg interleaved Buck converter was developed to meet the target power requirement and to specifically reduce voltage overstress caused by parasitic inductances in the onboard distribution network during rapid load current transients. The efficiency of the proposed DC/DC converter reached 95.8%. Unlike a bang-bang-controlled smart switch, the use of the DC/DC converter reduces both electrical and thermal stress on the vehicle’s cable harness.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: DC/DC converter, electric heater, catalytic converter, temperature control, pollutant emissions, battery, internal combustion engine, smart switch, voltage stress
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FE - Fakulteta za elektrotehniko
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2025
• Št. strani: 23 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 15, issue 23, art. 12483
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-176210
• UDK: 621.3
• ISSN pri članku: 2076-3417
• DOI: 10.3390/app152312483
• COBISS.SI-ID: 258654467
• Datum objave v RUL: 25.11.2025

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Applied sciences
• Skrajšan naslov: Appl. sci.
• Založnik: MDPI
• ISSN: 2076-3417
• COBISS.SI-ID: 522979353

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: DC/DC pretvornik, električni grelnik, katalizator, regulacija temperature, emisije, baterija, motor z notranjim zgorevanjem, pametno stikalo, napetostna obremenitev

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P2-0258-
• Naslov: Pretvorniki električne energije in regulirani pogoni

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: L2-2619
• Naslov: Napredni elektronski napajalni modul za avtomobilski katalizator