METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE PARTICLE COUNT IN THE EXHAUST GAS OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES

A method for detecting the number of particles in the exhaust gas of combustion engines, wherein a value that is characteristic for the quantity of the particles is determined, for example, in form of the blackening of a filter or determination of the concentration, wherein, furthermore, the suction time and/or the suction volume of the exhaust gas are measured, and wherein, if necessary, the blackening rate is calculated, based on the characteristic value and the suction time and/or the suction volume by way of a first conversion function, wherein the number of particles is determined based on the characteristic value, the suction time and/or the suction volume as well as the data of the first conversion function by way of a second conversion function. To allow for further advancing the possibilities for analysis with information regarding the number of particles, the pressure ratios at the filter are determined as well, and whereby the mean particle diameter is determined, based on this and a third conversion function, as well as the quantity of particles, and the number of particles is established based on the characteristic value, the suction time and/or the suction volume, the data of the first conversion function and the determined mean particle diameter, relying therein on various intermediate computing processes and conversion functions, all of which can, however, be combined into a common fourth function, and wherein the number of particles is detected by way of this fourth conversion function.