CONTROLLING FUEL INJECTION BASED ON FUEL VOLATILITY

• US 20120232771A1
• Filed: 03/07/2011
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Carr, Mark D., Wiggins, Layne K., O'Hear, Brian L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,849,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/103
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/061 by controlling fuel injectors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/088 by estimation, i.e. without using direct measurements of a corresponding sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/022 Estimation of engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0612 determined by estimation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1004 Estimation of the output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/101 Engine speed
• 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 41/10 for acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/182 for the control of a fuel injection device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a fuel volatility module, a temperature generation module, and a fuel control module. The fuel volatility module estimates a volatility of fuel provided to an engine based on an engine torque and an engine speed. The temperature generation module generates a temperature of an intake valve of the engine. The fuel control module selectively increases an amount of fuel provided to the engine based on the temperature of the intake valve, the engine torque, and the fuel volatility.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a fuel volatility module that estimates a volatility of fuel provided to an engine based on an engine torque and an engine speed;

a temperature generation module that generates a temperature of an intake valve of the engine; and

a fuel control module that selectively increases an amount of fuel provided to the engine based on the temperature of the intake valve, the engine torque, and the fuel volatility.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an estimated temperature module that estimates the temperature of the intake valve based on an operating period of the engine from an initial time when an ignition key is switched on to a subsequent time, wherein the temperature generation module generates the temperature of the intake valve based on the estimated temperature.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an estimated torque module that estimates the engine torque based on a mass airflow of the engine.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the estimated torque module calculates an amount of air per cylinder (APC) based on the mass airflow, and estimates the engine torque based on the calculated APC amount and a predetermined APC amount.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the predetermined APC amount corresponds to a throttle position of wide open throttle.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a first increase module that determines a first increase amount based on a quality of fuel provided to the engine, wherein the fuel control module increases the fuel amount provided to the engine based on the first increase amount.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a fuel quality module that determines the fuel quality based on the engine speed and a mass airflow of the engine.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the fuel volatility module estimates the fuel volatility based on the first increase amount and a predetermined increase amount.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the predetermined increase amount prevents the engine from stalling when the estimated volatility is greater than or equal to a predetermined volatility.

10. The system of claim 6 further comprising a second increase module that determines a second increase amount based on the first increase amount, the engine torque, and the temperature of the intake valve, wherein the fuel control module increases the fuel amount provided to the engine based on the second increase amount.

11. A method comprising:

estimating a volatility of fuel provided to an engine based on an engine torque and an engine speed;

generating a temperature of an intake valve of the engine; and

selectively increasing an amount of fuel provided to the engine based on the temperature of the intake valve, the engine torque, and the fuel volatility.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

estimating the temperature of the intake valve based on an operating period of the engine from an initial time when an ignition key is switched on to a subsequent time; and

generating the temperature of the intake valve based on the estimated temperature.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising estimating the engine torque based on a mass airflow of the engine.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

calculating an amount of air per cylinder (APC) based on the mass airflow; and

estimating the engine torque based on the calculated APC amount and a predetermined APC amount.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the predetermined APC amount corresponds to a throttle position of wide open throttle.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining a first increase amount based on a quality of fuel provided to the engine; and

increasing the fuel amount provided to the engine based on the first increase amount.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising determining the fuel quality based on the engine speed and a mass airflow of the engine.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising estimating the fuel volatility based on the first increase amount and a predetermined increase amount.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the predetermined increase amount prevents the engine from stalling when the estimated volatility is greater than or equal to a predetermined volatility.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

determining a second increase amount based on the first increase amount, the engine torque, and the temperature of the intake valve; and

increasing the fuel amount provided to the engine based on the second increase amount.