Method for enabling a substantially constant total fuel energy rate within a dual fuel engine

• US 5,937,800 A
• Filed: 03/06/1998
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Scott C., Ginzel, Geoffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moulis, Thomas N.
• Application Number:
  US09/036,199
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 123/27 GE, 123/575, 123/525, 123/527, 123/357, 123/352
• US Class Current: 123/27.0GE
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 7/06 the fuel in the charge being gaseous
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/061 by controlling fuel injectors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0628 Determining the fuel pressure, temperature or flow, the fuel tank fill level or a valve position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/105 operating in a special mode, e.g. in a liquid fuel only mode for starting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

A method for delivering liquid fuel and gaseous fuel to a dual fuel engine operating in a dual fuel mode includes establishing a governor output value indicative of a total fuel energy rate desired to be delivered to the engine to maintain a desired engine speed. A first value indicative of a liquid pilot fuel energy rate desired to be delivered to the engine and a second value indicative of a gaseous fuel energy rate desired to be delivered to the engine are each determined such that the sum of the desired liquid pilot fuel energy rate and the desired gaseous fuel energy rate is substantially equal to the desired total fuel energy. A stored gaseous fuel energy content can be updated to assure continued accuracy of the fuel control system of the dual fuel engine.

Claims

1. A method for delivering liquid fuel and gaseous fuel to a dual fuel engine operating in a dual fuel mode, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a governor output value indicative of a total fuel energy rate desired to be delivered to the engine to maintain a desired engine speed;

(b) determining a first value indicative of a liquid pilot fuel energy rate desired to be delivered to the engine and a second value indicative of a gaseous fuel energy rate desired to be delivered to the engine such that the sum of the desired liquid pilot fuel energy rate and the desired gaseous fuel energy rate is substantially equal to the desired total fuel energy rate of step (a); and

(c) delivering gaseous fuel to the engine in an amount which provides the desired gaseous fuel energy rate and delivering liquid fuel to the engine in an amount which provides the desired liquid pilot fuel energy rate.

2. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein step (a) includes:

sensing an actual engine speed;

comparing the actual engine speed to the desired engine speed; and

producing the governor output value based upon the comparison.

3. The method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the governor output value is indicative of a total liquid fuel flow rate necessary to maintain the desired engine speed if no gaseous fuel is delivered to the engine.

4. The method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein step (b) includes:

determining the first value as a function of at least engine speed and engine load;

determining the second value as a difference between the governor output value and the first value.

5. The method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein step (c) includes:

determining a fuel injector control signal duration necessary to deliver liquid fuel in the amount which provides the desired liquid pilot fuel energy rate; and

determining a gaseous fuel valve control signal duration necessary to deliver gaseous fuel in the amount which provides the desired gaseous fuel energy rate.

6. The method, as set forth in claim 5, wherein step (c) includes:

sensing a first pressure at an upstream side of a gaseous fuel admission valve;

sensing a second pressure at the downstream side of the gaseous fuel valve;

determining the gaseous fuel valve control signal duration as a function of at least the first pressure, the second pressure, the second value, engine speed, and a gaseous fuel energy content value.

7. The method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the gaseous fuel energy content value is a stored value, the method comprising the further step of:

(d) adjusting the stored gaseous fuel energy content value to account for variations in the energy content of the gaseous fuel delivered to the engine.

8. A method of utilizing a governor of a dual fuel engine system to control fuel delivery in both a liquid fuel mode and a dual fuel mode, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) operating the engine in a liquid fuel mode which includes the steps of;

(i) sensing an actual engine speed;

(ii) comparing the actual engine speed with a desired engine speed;

(iii) establishing a governor output value indicative of a total fuel energy rate desired to be delivered to the engine in order to maintain the desired engine speed;

(iv) delivering liquid fuel to the engine in an amount which provides the desired total fuel energy rate of step (a)(iii);

(b) operating the engine in a dual fuel mode which includes the steps of;

(i) sensing an actual engine speed;

(ii) comparing the actual engine speed with a desired engine speed;

(iii) establishing a governor output value indicative of a total fuel energy rate desired to be delivered to the engine in order to maintain the desired engine speed;

(iv) delivering liquid fuel to the engine in an amount which provides a first fuel energy rate and delivering gaseous fuel to the engine in an amount which provides a second fuel energy rate such that the sum of the first fuel energy rate and the second fuel energy rate is substantially equal to the desired total fuel energy rate of step (b)(iii).

9. The method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the governor output value of step (a)(iii) and the governor output value of step (b)(iii) are established by a PID governor.

10. The method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein step (b)(iv) includes:

determining a fuel injector control signal duration necessary to deliver liquid fuel in the amount which provides the first fuel energy rate; and

determining a gaseous fuel valve control signal duration necessary to deliver the gaseous fuel amount which provides the second fuel energy rate.

11. The method, as set forth in claim 10, wherein step (b)(iv) includes:

sensing a first pressure at an upstream side of a gaseous fuel admission valve;

sensing a second pressure at a downstream side of the gaseous fuel valve;

determining the gaseous fuel valve control signal duration as a function of at least the first pressure, the second pressure, the second fuel energy rate, engine speed, and a gaseous fuel energy content value.

12. The method, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the gaseous fuel energy content value is a stored value, the method including the step of:

(c) determining an updated gaseous fuel energy content value and replacing the stored gaseous fuel energy content value with the updated gaseous fuel energy content value.

13. The method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein step (b)(iv) includes:

determining the first fuel energy rate as a function of at least the actual engine speed and an engine load;

determining the second fuel energy rate as a difference between the desired total fuel energy rate of step (b)(iii) and the first fuel energy rate.