PROCESS FOR USE WITH DUAL-FUEL SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. A gaseous-fuel fumigation system for use with a diesel engine, comprising:
- a first valve disposable in a flow path between a gaseous-fuel supply and an air intake stream of a diesel engine, the first valve being operative to regulate a flow volume of a gaseous-fuel through the flow path;
a knock sensor operative to monitor a motion level of said diesel engine and generate an output signal indicative of said motion level; and
a controller operative to;
receive the output signal from the knock sensor;
compare said output signal to at least a first threshold value; and
upon said output signal exceeding said first threshold value, generate control signals operative to move said first valve between an current open position defining a first gaseous-fuel flow volume, a substantially closed position defining a second gaseous-fuel flow volume, and a reopened position defining a third gaseous-fuel flow volume.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is provided to reduce the occurrence of engine knock for engines that utilize a dual-fuel fumigation system. Typically, dual fuel systems inject a gaseous-fuel flow into the air intake stream of a diesel engine. This results in more complete combustion within the engine as well as reduced diesel fuel usage. Such dual fuel systems are susceptible to engine knocking due to premature detonation of the gaseous fuel air intake mixture that is often caused by sudden changes to the operating conditions of the engine. The present system utilizes a knock sensor to identify early stages of such engine knocking. To eliminate such engine knocking conditions, the system temporarily interrupts the gaseous fuel flow to resume operation in full diesel mode. The gaseous fuel flow is then reestablished based on the present operating conditions of the engine.
60 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A gaseous-fuel fumigation system for use with a diesel engine, comprising:
-
a first valve disposable in a flow path between a gaseous-fuel supply and an air intake stream of a diesel engine, the first valve being operative to regulate a flow volume of a gaseous-fuel through the flow path;
a knock sensor operative to monitor a motion level of said diesel engine and generate an output signal indicative of said motion level; and
a controller operative to;
receive the output signal from the knock sensor;
compare said output signal to at least a first threshold value; and
upon said output signal exceeding said first threshold value, generate control signals operative to move said first valve between an current open position defining a first gaseous-fuel flow volume, a substantially closed position defining a second gaseous-fuel flow volume, and a reopened position defining a third gaseous-fuel flow volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for use with gaseous-fuel fumigation system attached to a diesel engine, comprising:
-
establishing a gaseous-fuel flow through a first valve disposed between a gaseous-fuel supply and an air intake stream of a diesel engine, wherein said first valve is operative for regulating a volume said gaseous-fuel flow;
monitoring a motion level of said engine;
upon said motion level exceeding at least one threshold value, substantially closing and reopening said first valve, wherein said gaseous fuel flow to said air intake is temporarily interrupted. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A gaseous-fuel fumigation system for use with a diesel engine, comprising:
-
a first valve disposable in a flow path between a gaseous-fuel supply and an air intake stream of a diesel engine, the first valve being operative to regulate a flow volume of a gaseous-fuel through the flow path;
a knock sensor operative to monitor a motion level of said diesel engine and generate an output signal indicative of said motion level;
an oxygen sensor disposed in an exhaust stream of said diesel engine and being operative to generate an oxygen content signal; and
a controller operative to;
receive the output signal from the knock sensor and the oxygen content signal from the oxygen sensor; and
compare said output signal to at least a first threshold value; and
upon said output signal exceeding said first threshold value, generate a first control signal operative to close said first valve and generate a second control signal operative reopen said first valve, wherein said second control signal is based at least in part on said oxygen content signal.
-
Specification