Method and apparatus for controlling micro pilot fuel injection to minimize NOxand UHC emissions
First Claim
1. A method to minimize NOx and UHC emissions in a pilot fuel ignited gaseous fuel engine comprising the steps:
- determining a minimum amount of pilot fuel needed to ignite gaseous fuel in a combustion chamber;
injecting the pilot fuel into at least one of a prechamber and the combustion chamber;
determining a start of combustion location from one of an ionization signal and a cylinder pressure of the combustion chamber;
comparing the start of combustion location to a desired start of combustion location; and
adjusting a pilot fuel injection timing if the start of combustion location is not approximately equal to the desired start of combustion location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system that controls the amount and timing of pilot fuel injection to obtain minimum NOx and UHC emissions. The system senses if combustion occurs, when combustion occurs, and/or the quality of combustion in the combustion chamber of each cylinder of the gaseous fuel engine and adjusts the amount and/or timing of the pilot fuel injected. The minimum amount of pilot fuel needed to ignite gaseous fuel in a combustion chamber is determined and injected into the prechamber or the combustion chamber of the engine. The actual start of combustion location is determined and the injection timing is adjusted if the start of combustion location is not approximately equal to a desired location. The amount of pilot fuel or injection timing is adjusted if a knock or a misfire has occurred or if the combustion quality measure is not approximately equal to a desired quality measure.
94 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method to minimize NOx and UHC emissions in a pilot fuel ignited gaseous fuel engine comprising the steps:
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determining a minimum amount of pilot fuel needed to ignite gaseous fuel in a combustion chamber; injecting the pilot fuel into at least one of a prechamber and the combustion chamber; determining a start of combustion location from one of an ionization signal and a cylinder pressure of the combustion chamber; comparing the start of combustion location to a desired start of combustion location; and adjusting a pilot fuel injection timing if the start of combustion location is not approximately equal to the desired start of combustion location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A pilot fuel injection system controller comprising:
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means for determining a minimum amount of pilot fuel needed to initiate combustion of gaseous fuel in a combustion chamber; means for controlling a pilot fuel injector to inject the pilot fuel into at least one of a prechamber and the combustion chamber; means for determining a start of combustion location from one of an ionization signal and a cylinder pressure; means for comparing the start of combustion location to a desired start of combustion location; and means for adjusting a pilot fuel injection timing if the start of combustion location is not approximately equal to the desired start of combustion location. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A natural gas combustion engine comprising:
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at least one cylinder having a combustion chamber; a pilot fuel injector system comprising; a pilot fuel injector in communication with the combustion chamber; a controller for controlling the pilot fuel injector to minimize NOx and UHC emissions, the controller including means for determining a minimum amount of pilot fuel needed to initiate combustion of gaseous fuel in a combustion chamber; means for controlling a pilot fuel injector to inject the pilot fuel into at least one of a prechamber and the combustion chamber; means for determining a start of combustion location from one of an ionization signal and a cylinder pressure; means for comparing the start of combustion location to a desired start of combustion location; and means for adjusting a pilot fuel injection timing if the start of combustion location is not approximately equal to the desired start of combustion location. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification