Method and apparatus for determining the mass flow through an engine
First Claim
1. A method for determining the total mass flow through an engine comprising measuring the fuel mass flow to the engine, measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide, measuring the ratio of water to oxygen, measuring the ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen or measuring the ratio of water to carbon dioxide in the gases exhausted from the engine, determining the air to fuel ratio in the engine from the fuel mass flow and the concentration of carbon dioxide, the ratio of water to oxygen, the ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen or the ratio of water to carbon dioxide, determining the air mass flow through the engine from the air to fuel ratio and calculating the total air and fuel mass flow through the engine by adding the air mass flow through the engine to the fuel mass flow to the engine.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for determining the total mass flow through an engine (10) comprises measuring (32) the fuel flow to the engine (10) and measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide in the gases exhausted (22) from the engine (10). The concentration of carbon dioxide is measured by detecting the infrared radiation absorption spectrum of carbon dioxide using a laser (38) and a detector (46). The method comprises determining (48) the air to fuel ratio in the engine (10) from the fuel flow and the concentration of carbon dioxide. The method comprises determining (48) the air mass flow through the engine (10) from the air to fuel ratio and calculating (48) the total air and fuel mass flow through the engine (10) by adding the air mass flow through the engine (10) to the fuel mass flow to the engine (10).
9 Citations
28 Claims
- 1. A method for determining the total mass flow through an engine comprising measuring the fuel mass flow to the engine, measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide, measuring the ratio of water to oxygen, measuring the ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen or measuring the ratio of water to carbon dioxide in the gases exhausted from the engine, determining the air to fuel ratio in the engine from the fuel mass flow and the concentration of carbon dioxide, the ratio of water to oxygen, the ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen or the ratio of water to carbon dioxide, determining the air mass flow through the engine from the air to fuel ratio and calculating the total air and fuel mass flow through the engine by adding the air mass flow through the engine to the fuel mass flow to the engine.
- 15. An apparatus for determining the total mass flow through an engine comprising means for measuring the fuel mass flow to the engine, means for measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide, means for measuring the ratio of water to oxygen, means for measuring the ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen or means for measuring the ratio of water to carbon dioxide in the gases exhausted from the engine, means for determining the air to fuel ratio in the engine from the fuel mass flow and the concentration of carbon dioxide, the ratio of water to oxygen, the ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen or the ratio of water to carbon dioxide, means for determining the air mass flow through the engine from the air to fuel ratio and means for calculating the total air and fuel mass flow through the engine by adding the air mass flow through the engine to the fuel mass flow to the engine.
Specification