Engine control method and apparatus using a fuel volatility sensor

• US 20030213474A1
• Filed: 05/16/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Abusamra, Gary Charles, Harrington, Charles Robert, Kirwan, John E., Lambert, David K., Lee, Han-Sheng, Niemiec, Michael Joseph
• Application Number:
  US10/146,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20030213474A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/491
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/061 by controlling fuel injectors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0634 Determining a density, viscosity, composition or concentration F02D19/087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0649 Liquid fuels having different boiling temperatures, volatilities, densities, viscosities, cetane or octane numbers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0611 Fuel type, fuel composition or fuel quality
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0025 Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/06 for engine starting or warming up F02D41/0255 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/10 submerged in fuel, e.g. in reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

The invention provides an improvement over conventional engine controls by directly measuring fuel volatility, and using this measured value to adjust the engine air/fuel ratio during engine start and initial operation. Engine startability and initial operation are improved as compared to conventional engine control systems by compensating the engine air/fuel ratio during engine start and initial engine operation, using a direct measurement of the fuel volatility.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an internal combustion engine during engine start, comprising:

an engine having a plurality of sensors operable to sense engine conditions;

a fuel system operable to deliver an amount of fuel to said engine;

a sensing unit operable to measure a fuel volatility; and

an engine controller, said engine controller operable to determine an intake of air mass to the engine as a function of sensed engine conditions, select a desired air/fuel ratio to start said engine as a function of said sensed engine conditions, and control the amount of fuel delivered to the engine as a function of said desired air/fuel ratio, said fuel volatility and said intake of air mass.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the fuel volatility is measured during a previous engine on cycle.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit operable to measure the fuel volatility is located in a fuel line between a fuel pump and a fuel rail.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit operable to measure the fuel volatility is located in a fuel rail.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit operable to measure fuel volatility includes means for sampling a quantity of fuel in a fuel line between a fuel pump and a fuel rail, and a sensor operable to measure fuel volatility.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit operable to measure fuel volatility includes a sensor that has direct contact with fuel flowing in a fuel line.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control of an amount of fuel delivered to an engine as a function of said desired air/fuel ratio, said fuel volatility and said intake of air mass occurs during a cold start.

8. A system for controlling an internal combustion engine during initial engine operation as a function of fuel volatility, comprising

an engine having a plurality of sensors operable to sense engine conditions;

a fuel system operable to deliver an amount of fuel to said engine;

a sensing unit operable to measure a fuel volatility; and

an engine controller, said engine controller operable to determine an intake of air mass to the engine as a function of sensed engine conditions, select a desired air/fuel ratio to operate said engine as a function of said sensed engine conditions, and control the amount of fuel delivered to the engine as a function of said desired air/fuel ratio, said fuel volatility and said intake of air mass.

9. The control system in claim 8, wherein the fuel volatility is measured during a previous engine on cycle.

10. The control system in claim 8, wherein the sensing unit operable to measure the fuel volatility is located in a fuel line between a fuel pump and a fuel rail.

11. The control system of claim 8, wherein the sensing unit operable to measure fuel volatility includes means for sampling a quantity of fuel in a fuel line between a fuel pump and a fuel rail, and a sensor operable to measure fuel volatility.

12. The control system in claim 8, wherein the sensing unit operable to measure the fuel volatility is located in a fuel rail.

13. The control system of claim 8, wherein the control of an amount of fuel delivered to an engine as a function of said desired air/fuel ratio, said fuel volatility and said intake of air mass occurs during initial engine operation.

14. A control system for controlling an internal combustion engine during engine start and operation, comprising:

a sensing unit operable to measure fuel volatility;

said sensing unit in communication with an engine controller;

wherein said engine controller is operable to control an amount of fuel delivered to the engine based upon the measured fuel volatility.

15. The control system of claim 14, wherein the sensing unit measures fuel volatility during a previous engine operating cycle.

16. A control system for controlling an internal combustion engine during engine start and operation, comprising:

an engine with a plurality of sensors operable to sense engine conditions;

a fuel system operable to deliver an amount of fuel to said engine;

a sensing unit operable to measure fuel volatility; and

an engine controller, said engine controller operable to determine an intake of air mass to the engine based upon sensed engine conditions, select a desired air/fuel ratio to operate said engine based upon said sensed engine conditions, and control the amount of fuel delivered to said engine based upon said desired air/fuel ratio, said fuel volatility and said intake of air mass.

17. The control system of claim 16, wherein the fuel volatility is measured during a previous engine operating cycle.

18. The control system of claim 16, wherein the sensing unit comprises means for sampling a quantity of fuel in a fuel line between a fuel pump and a fuel rail and a sensor operable to measure fuel volatility.

19. A method for controlling an internal combustion engine during initial engine operation, comprising:

providing said engine with a fuel system, an engine controller, a plurality of sensors, and a fuel volatility sensor;

sensing engine conditions using the plurality of sensors;

sensing fuel volatility with a sensing unit;

determining an intake of air mass to the engine as a function of sensed engine conditions;

selecting a desired air/fuel ratio to operate said engine as a function of said sensed engine conditions; and

controlling an amount of fuel to be delivered to the engine as a function of said desired air/fuel ratio, said fuel volatility and said intake of air mass.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of sensing fuel volatility comprises measuring volatility during a previous engine on cycle.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of sensing fuel volatility with a sensing unit comprises sampling a quantity of fuel in a fuel line between a fuel pump and a fuel injector, and measuring a volatility of said quantity of fuel with a sensor.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of controlling an amount of fuel delivered to an engine as a function of said desired air/fuel ratio, said fuel volatility and said intake of air mass occurs during a cold start.

23. A method for controlling an internal combustion engine during engine start, comprising:

providing said engine with a fuel system, an engine controller, a plurality of sensors, and a fuel volatility sensor;

sensing engine conditions using the plurality of sensors;

sensing fuel volatility with a sensing unit;

determining an intake of air mass to the engine as a function of sensed engine conditions;

selecting a desired air/fuel ratio to start said engine as a function of said sensed engine conditions; and

controlling an amount of fuel to be delivered to the engine as a function of said desired air/fuel ratio, said fuel volatility and said intake of air mass.

24. The method in claim 23, wherein sensing fuel volatility comprises measuring volatility during a previous engine on cycle.

25. The method in claim 23, wherein sensing fuel volatility with a sensing unit comprises sampling a quantity of fuel in a fuel line between a fuel pump and a fuel injector, and measuring a volatility of said quantity of fuel with a sensor.

26. A method for controlling an internal combustion engine during engine starting and initial operation, comprising:

sensing engine operating conditions with a plurality of sensors;

sensing fuel volatility with a fuel volatility sensing unit;

determining an intake of air mass to the engine based upon sensed engine operating conditions;

selecting a desired air/fuel ratio to operate said engine based upon said sensed engine conditions; and

controlling an amount of fuel to be delivered to the engine based upon said desired air/fuel ratio, said fuel volatility and said intake of air mass.

27. The method in claim 26, wherein sensing fuel volatility with a sensing unit comprises sampling a quantity of fuel in a fuel line between a fuel pump and a fuel injector and measuring a volatility of said quantity of fuel with a sensor.