Fuel injector wear correction methodology

• US 10,316,783 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2015
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Klingbeil, Adam Edgar, Lavertu, Thomas Michael, Mischler, James Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Dallo, Joseph J
• Application Number:
  US14/708,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20160333811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/22 by varying cross-section of exhaust passages or air passages , e.g. by throttling turbine inlets or outlets or by varying effective number of guide conduits F02B37/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1433 using a model or simulation of the system
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0614 Actual fuel mass or fuel injection amount
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0007 for control of turbo-charged or super-charged engines control of the pumps per se F02B37/12
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/005 according to engine operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1456 with sensor output signal being linear or quasi-linear with the concentration of oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1497 With detection of the mechanical response of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/18 by measuring intake air flow
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/221 relating to the failure of actuators or electrically driven elements
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2467 for injectors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/401 Controlling injection timing F02D41/402 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 65/001 Measuring fuel delivery of a fuel injector
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

Fuel injector wear methodologies for use with internal combustion engines include a method that determines power of the engine and/or fuel flow of a fuel injector(s) associated with a cylinder the engine; obtains a duration of a fuel injection event from the injector(s) associated with the cylinder(s) of the engine; compares the power, the fuel flow, and/or the duration with a reference value; and then adjusts the fuel injection timing of the fuel injector(s), based on the comparison. Another method adjusts operation of an engine includes: comparing two (or more) engine models, wherein one model is related to a fuel injection event duration of the engine or a modeled fuel quantity being supplied to the engine and then adjusting the fuel injection timing of a fuel injector(s) of the engine, based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining one of;

a power of an internal combustion engine, a fuel flow of at least one fuel injector associated with a cylinder of the internal combustion engine, and a duration of a fuel injection event from the at least one fuel injector associated with the cylinder of the internal combustion engine;

comparing at least one of;

the power, the fuel flow, and the duration with a corresponding reference value; and

adjusting fuel injection timing of the at least one fuel injector, based on the comparing to compensate for a loss in flow performance of the at least one fuel injector, wherein the adjusting fuel injection timing of the at least one fuel injector comprises making and triggering an adjustment in the fuel injection timing when a threshold value corresponding to the at least one of;

the power, the fuel flow, and the duration is reached in making the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference value represents a value corresponding to a new injector;

and

wherein comparing comprises comparing after the at least one fuel injector is used over time and thereby it is a worn injector.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting comprises moving a start time of the fuel injection event corresponding to a worn injector earlier than a start time of the fuel injection event corresponding to a new injector.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the power comprises measuring a rate of change of revolutions per minute (rpm) of the internal combustion engine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the power comprises receiving an electrical power signal from at least one electrical loading component associated with the internal combustion engine.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the duration comprises at least one of:

obtaining the duration of the fuel injection event as commanded to the fuel injector, measuring the duration mechanically, and measuring the duration electrically.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the fuel flow comprises:

determining an air/fuel ratio;

determining an air flow; and

calculating the fuel flow by dividing the air flow by the air/fuel ratio.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the air flow comprises determining the air flow with a compressor map.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the air flow comprises using a volumetric efficiency model of the internal combustion engine.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting an exhaust gas recircurculation (EGR) rate of the internal combustion engine, based on the comparing.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising, based on the comparing, adjusting at least one of:

a compressor bypass valve, an exhaust waste gate valve, an engine bypass valve, a turbine bypass valve, a variable geometry turbine, and a variable valve timing device.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein comparing is activated by one of:

a fixed event, a fixed time duration, automatically, and a user demand.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing is activated by one of:

a fixed event, a fixed time duration, automatically, and a user demand.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the power comprises measuring torque of the internal combustion engine.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein the electrical loading component comprises an alternator.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting comprises correcting a predetermined injection timing map affiliated with the internal combustion engine.

17. The method of claim 1, where adjusting is further based on at at least one of air temperature, oil temperature, altitude, and atmospheric pressure.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating at least one of the comparing and adjusting over one of:

a predetermined time duration and a predetermined quantity of fuel injection events.

19. A method of adjusting operation of an engine comprising:

comparing a first engine model to a second engine model, wherein the first model is related to a fuel injection event duration of the engine or a modeled fuel quantity being supplied to the engine and the second model is related to one or more aspect related to the engine; and

adjusting fuel injection timing of at least one fuel injector of the engine, based on the comparing to compensate for a loss in flow performance of the at least one fuel injector, wherein the adjusting fuel injection timing of the at least one fuel injector comprises making and triggering an adjustment in the fuel injection timing when a threshold value corresponding to the at least one of;

the power, the fuel flow, and the duration is reached in making the comparison.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more aspect related to the engine comprises power of the engine.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more aspect related to the engine comprises air flow and an air-fuel ratio of the engine.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the air flow is based on a compressor map.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the air flow is measured directly.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the air flow is based on volumetric efficiency.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the air flow is based exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve positions and volumetric efficiency.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the first engine model is based on fuel flow.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the power comprises a summation of:

measured power, power losses, and transient power.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the engine comprises an internal combustion engine.