Fuel Efficiency Determination For An Engine

• US 20070156325A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Livshiz, Michael, Heap, Anthony, Lahti, John, Blanchard, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,014,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1006 Engine torque losses, e.g. friction or pumping losses or losses caused by external loads of accessories
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/02 one of the functions being ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/182 for the control of a fuel injection device

Abstract

A module that calculates power loss for an internal combustion engine includes an air intake calculation module that determines a final air per cylinder (APC) value. A fuel mass rate calculation module that determines a fuel mass rate value based on the final APC value. A power loss calculation module that determines a power loss value for the internal combustion engine based on the fuel mass rate value.

Claims

1. A fuel efficiency estimation system for determining a fuel efficiency of an internal combustion engine comprising:

a first module that determines a final air intake value;

a second module that determines a fuel mass rate value based on said final APC value; and

a third module that determines said power loss for the internal combustion engine based on said fuel mass rate value, wherein a fuel efficiency of the engine is determined based on said power loss.

2. The fuel efficiency estimation system of claim 1 wherein said first module comprises a first sub-module that generates an initial air intake value based on at least one of an engine speed value, an engine torque value and an engine coolant temperature value.

3. The fuel efficiency estimation system of claim 2 wherein said first module further comprises a second sub-module that outputs a current iterative air intake value based on at least one of said engine speed value, said engine torque value and said coolant temperature value.

4. The fuel efficiency estimation system of claim 3 wherein said first module further comprises:

a third sub-module that determines a spark advance value;

a fourth sub-module that determines an intake and exhaust cam phaser position value; and

a fifth sub-module that determines an air/fuel ratio.

5. The fuel efficiency estimation system of claim 4 wherein said spark advance value, said intake and exhaust cam phaser positions values and said air/fuel ratio are calculated based on said current iterative air intake value, said engine speed value and said coolant temperature value.

6. The fuel efficiency estimation system of claim 5 wherein said second sub-module calculates said current iterative air intake value based on said spark advance value, said intake and exhaust cam phaser position values and said air/fuel ratio value.

7. The fuel efficiency estimation system of claim 3 wherein said second sub-module determines a difference between said current iterative air intake value and a prior iterative air intake value.

8. The fuel efficiency estimation system of claim 7 wherein said second sub-module outputs a final iterative air intake value when said difference is less than a predetermined threshold value.

9. The fuel efficiency estimation system of claim 7 wherein said second sub-module updates said iterative air intake value when said difference is greater than said predetermined threshold value.

10. A method of determining a fuel efficiency of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

determining a final air intake value;

determining a fuel mass rate value based on said final air intake value;

calculating a power loss of the internal combustion engine based on said fuel mass rate value; and

determining the fuel efficiency based on said power loss.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining an initial air intake value based on at least one of an engine speed value, an engine torque value and an engine coolant temperature value.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining a current iterative air intake value based on at least one of said engine speed value, said engine torque value and said coolant temperature value.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

determining a spark advance value;

determining a intake and exhaust cam phaser position values; and

determining an air/fuel ratio.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said spark advance value, said intake and exhaust cam phaser positions values and said air/fuel ratio are calculated based on at least one of said current iterative air intake value, said engine speed value and said coolant temperature value.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said current iterative air intake value is based on at least one of said spark advance value, said intake and exhaust cam phaser position values and said air/fuel ratio value.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining a difference between said current iterative air intake value and a prior iterative air intake value.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said final iterative air intake value equals said current iterative air intake value if said difference is less than a predetermined threshold value.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said current iterative air intake value is updated if said difference is greater than said predetermined threshold value.