Fuel injection control method for liquefied petroleum gas injection engine and apparatus thereof

• US 7,004,147 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kang, Dae-Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Hai
• Application Number:
  US10/968,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20050087177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 123/1.A, 123/479, 123/491, 123525-527, 123/575, 123/576, 123/578, 701103-105, 701/113
• US Class Current: 123/479
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/024 by controlling fuel injectors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/025 Failure diagnosis or prevention; Safety measures; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/028 by estimation, i.e. without using direct measured parameter of a corresponding sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/029 Determining density, viscosity, concentration or composition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0611 Fuel type, fuel composition or fuel quality
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0027 the fuel being gaseous non-electrical control F02D19/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/062 for starting F02D41/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0212 comprising at least 3 C-Atoms, e.g. liquefied petroleum gas [LPG], propane or butane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

Fuel injection control methods and systems and related apparatus for Liquefied Petroleum gas Injection (LPI) engine are provided. Preferred methods and systems determine the increased amount of engine revolution per unit time and fuel temperature during an initial engine start period; determine fuel pressure on the basis of such values; determines propane content of the engine fuel by consideration of the fuel pressure and fuel temperature of the P-T diagram of the fuel; and controls the fuel injection time and injection period by using a map prepared according to propane content. Preferred systems and methods of the invention need not include use of fuel pressure and temperature sensors that provide injection control conditions to an Engine Control Unit, thereby providing a simplified and more efficient apparatus.

Claims

1. A fuel injection control method for a Liquefied Petroleum gas Injection (LPI) engine, comprising:

detecting whether the engine has started;

determining amount of the engine revolution per unit time and fuel temperature if the engine has started;

determining fuel pressure on the basis of the determined amount of the engine revolution per unit time and fuel temperature;

determining the content of propane of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) fuel of the engine on the basis of the fuel temperature and fuel pressure; and

controlling the fuel injection time or injection period by using a map prepared according to fuel propane content.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the increased amount of the engine revolution per unit time is determined by consideration of the increased amount per unit time of a crank rpm or cam rpm.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the fuel temperature is determined by consideration of data containing one or more values of one or more of water coolant temperature, air temperature and air amount in relation to the fuel temperature.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the content of propane of said LPG fuel is determined by consideration of a Pressure (P)-Temperature (T) diagram of LPG fuel inputted in data form.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

storing a relevant malfunction code and activating a warning signal if the enumerated fuel temperature and fuel pressure are not within a predetermined minimum value and maximum value; and

deleting the malfunction code and deactivating the warning signal if said fuel temperature and fuel pressure are within the predetermined range.

6. A fuel injection control method for a Liquefied Petroleum gas Injection (LPI) engine, comprising:

after the start of an LPI engine, determining the amount of engine revolution per unit time and fuel temperature of the engine;

determining fuel pressure by consideration of the determined amount of the engine revolution per unit time and fuel temperature;

determining the propane content of liquefied petroleum gas of the engine by consideration of the fuel temperature and fuel pressure; and

controlling one or more fuel injection properties of the engine by using a map prepared with consideration of fuel propane content.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising detecting if the engine has been started, and after detecting an engine start, determining the engine revolution per unit time.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein determination of engine revolution per unit time and fuel temperature are commenced within about 300 seconds after the engine start.

9. A fuel injection control apparatus for a Liquefied Petroleum gas Injection (LPI) engine, the apparatus comprising:

a crank rpm sensor or a cam rpm sensor;

a water coolant temperature sensor;

an air temperature sensor;

an air amount sensor;

an Engine Control Unit; and

an injector for injecting fuel by adjusting the opening and closing time and period of nozzle according to the operation of the driving circuit of said injector,

wherein the Engine Control unit determines the content of propane contained in the fuel by consideration of the increased amount of engine revolution per unit time, temperature and pressure of the fuel by consideration of measured values from sensors and pre-inputted data, and the Engine Control Unit controls a driving circuit of an injector by a map prepared in consideration of propane content.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the Engine Control Unit:

determines the increased amount of the engine revolution per minute per unit time of the initial vehicle start by consideration of values of the engine revolution per unit time obtained from the crank rpm sensor or cam rpm sensor;

determines the temperature of the provided liquefied petroleum gas fuel from one or more values of one or more of water coolant temperature, air temperature, air amount measured with data containing fuel temperature values according to one or more of water coolant temperature, air temperature and air amount;

determines the fuel pressure of the liquefied petroleum gas fuel from the increased amount of the engine revolution per unit time and fuel temperature with data containing fuel pressure values according to the variation of the determined increased engine revolution per unit time and fuel temperature;

determines the content of propane by consideration of the determined fuel pressure and fuel temperature with data from the P-T diagram of the liquefied petroleum gas fuel is inputted with a map containing determined fuel injection time and fuel injection period based on propane content; and

controls the driving circuit of the injector by consideration of the fuel injection time and fuel injection period determined by the map.