CONDENSATION DETECTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20100332075A1
• Filed: 11/04/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Truscott, Anthony, Clarke, David, Motal, Radek
• Granted Patent: US 9,239,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0418 Air humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0072 Estimating, calculating or determining the EGR rate, amount or flow sensors in EGR systems F02M26/45
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/04 Introducing corrections for particular operating conditions F02D41/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/05 High pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is taken out from the exhaust system upstream of the turbine and reintroduced into the intake system downstream of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/06 Low pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is taken out from the exhaust downstream of the turbocharger turbine and reintroduced into the intake system upstream of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/25 with coolers having bypasses
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/28 with liquid-cooled heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/42 having two or more EGR passages; EGR systems specially adapted for engines having two or more cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10393 for characterising a multi-component mixture, e.g. for the composition such as humidity, density or viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A condensation monitoring system for a vehicle comprises a humidity estimation module and a condensation detection module. The humidity estimation module estimates a humidity in one of an air intake system and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system associated with an engine of the vehicle. The condensation detection module generates a condensation signal indicating that condensation is present in the one of the air intake system and the EGR system when the humidity is greater than a predetermined humidity.

Claims

1. A condensation monitoring system for a vehicle, comprising:

a humidity estimation module that estimates a humidity in one of an air intake system and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system associated with an engine of the vehicle; and

a condensation detection module that generates a condensation signal indicating that condensation is present in the one of the air intake system and the EGR system when the humidity is greater than a predetermined humidity.

2. The condensation monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a water estimation module that estimates a fraction of water in the gas,

wherein the humidity estimation module estimates the humidity based on the fraction of water, a pressure in the system, and a saturated vapor pressure of the gas.

3. The condensation monitoring system of claim 2 wherein the humidity estimation module estimates the humidity based on a product of the fraction of water and a quotient of the pressure and the saturated vapor pressure.

4. The condensation monitoring system of claim 2 further comprising a carbon dioxide (CO2) determination module that determines a second fraction of CO2 in the gas, and a third fraction of CO2 in ambient air,

wherein the water estimation module estimates a fourth fraction of water in the ambient air and estimates the fraction of water in the gas based on the second, third, and fourth fractions.

5. The condensation monitoring system of claim 4 wherein the water estimation module estimates the fraction of water in the gas further based on a ratio of hydrogen to carbon in fuel provided to the engine for combustion.

6. The condensation monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the condensation detection module alters a predetermined location in memory corresponding to the one of the air intake system and the EGR system when the humidity is greater than the predetermined humidity.

7. The condensation monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the humidity estimation module estimates a first humidity at a first location between an EGR cooler and a EGR valve of the EGR system, a second humidity at a second location near an inlet of a turbocharger compressor, and a third humidity at a third location near an outlet of an aftercooler, and

wherein the condensation detection module generates the condensation signal when at least one of the first, second, and third humidities is greater than the predetermined humidity.

8. The condensation monitoring system of claim 7 wherein the condensation detection module alters a predetermined location in memory corresponding to one of the first, second, and third locations when one of the first, second, and third humidities is greater than the predetermined humidity, respectively.

9. A condensation monitoring system for a vehicle, comprising:

a humidity estimation module that estimates humidity in a system that provides a gas to an engine of the vehicle; and

a condensation detection module that generates a condensation signal indicating that condensation is present in the system when the humidity is greater than a predetermined humidity.

10. The condensation monitoring system of claim 9 wherein the humidity estimation module estimates the humidity in an intake system associated with the engine.

11. The condensation monitoring system of claim 9 wherein the humidity estimation module estimates the humidity in an exhaust gas recirculation system that circulates exhaust gas produced by the engine back to the engine.

12. A condensation monitoring method for a vehicle, comprising:

estimating a humidity in one of an air intake system and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system associated with an engine of the vehicle; and

generating a condensation signal indicating that condensation is present in the one of the air intake system and the EGR system when the humidity is greater than a predetermined humidity.

13. The condensation monitoring method of claim 12 further comprising:

estimating a fraction of water in the gas; and

estimating the humidity based on the fraction of water, a pressure in the system, and a saturated vapor pressure of the gas.

14. The condensation monitoring method of claim 13 further comprising estimating the humidity based on a product of the fraction of water and a quotient of the pressure and the saturated vapor pressure.

15. The condensation monitoring method of claim 13 further comprising:

determining a second fraction of CO2 in the gas, and a third fraction of CO2 in ambient air; and

estimating a fourth fraction of water in the ambient air and estimates the fraction of water in the gas based on the second, third, and fourth fractions.

16. The condensation monitoring method of claim 15 further comprising estimating the fraction of water in the gas further based on a ratio of hydrogen to carbon in fuel provided to the engine for combustion.

17. The condensation monitoring method of claim 12 further comprising altering a predetermined location in memory corresponding to the one of the air intake system and the EGR system when the humidity is greater than the predetermined humidity.

18. The condensation monitoring method of claim 12 further comprising:

estimating a first humidity at a first location between an EGR cooler and a EGR valve of the EGR system;

estimating a second humidity at a second location near an inlet of a turbocharger compressor;

estimating a third humidity at a third location near an outlet of an aftercooler; and

generating the condensation signal when at least one of the first, second, and third humidities is greater than the predetermined humidity.

19. The condensation monitoring method of claim 18 further comprising altering a predetermined location in memory corresponding to one of the first, second, and third locations when one of the first, second, and third humidities is greater than the predetermined humidity, respectively.