Warm Air Recirculation for Exhaust Aftertreatment Warmup of Internal Combustion Engine

A system and method for warming an exhaust aftertreatment device of an internal combustion engine, the aftertreatment device being installed on an exhaust line of the engine. In one embodiment, the system has a recirculation loop in fluid communication with the exhaust line at two locations, a first location being upstream the aftertreatment device and a second location being downstream the aftertreatment device. A compressor or blower is located on the recirculation loop, operable to circulate air or an air/exhaust mix within the recirculation loop, into the exhaust line upstream the aftertreatment device, through the aftertreatment device, and back into the recirculation loop. A heater is located on the recirculation loop downstream of the compressor or blower and upstream the aftertreatment device and is operable to warm the flow within the recirculation loop.