Fuel injection system and method

• US 7,163,002 B1
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Zhang, Xiaoying, Wagers, Sue, Linenberg, Mark, Scannell, Mike, Halverson, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): ARGENBRIGHT, TONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/367,501
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 123/406.47, 123/435, 123/436, 123/478, 123/480, 123/491, 123/494, 701/103, 701/104, 701/113
• US Class Current: 123/491
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0406 Intake manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0611 Fuel type, fuel composition or fuel quality
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/047 Taking into account fuel evaporation or wall wetting; special correction after fuel cut-off F02D41/126
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/064 at cold start F02D41/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1497 With detection of the mechanical response of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

A method for adjusting fuel injection, the method comprising during an engine start from a non-warmed-up condition, identifying a fuel quality of fuel supplied to the engine during said start based on a performance of said start, and after said start is completed and during a transient fueling condition, adjusting a fuel injection amount based on said identified fuel quality from said start.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting fuel injection, the method comprising:

during an engine start from a non-warmed-up condition, comparing expected engine speed for current starting conditions with measured engine speed, adjusting a fuel injection amount during said start based on said comparison to compensate for fuel volatility, and identifying a peak fuel volatility adjustment;

identifying a fuel quality of fuel supplied to the engine during said start based on said peak adjustment and previous peak adjustments from previous starts; and

during said start or after said start is completed and during a transient fueling condition, adjusting a fuel injection amount based on said identified fuel quality.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein an estimate of fuel adhered to an intake system is determined based on said identified fuel quality from said start.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein an estimate of fuel entering a cylinder that was adhered to said intake system is determined based on said identified fuel quality from said start.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein an amount of increase in fuel injection beyond that needed to match airflow is determined based on said identified fuel quality.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein an amount of decrease in fuel injection beyond that needed to match airflow is determined based on said identified fuel quality.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said fuel quality is a fuel volatility.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein said current starting conditions include engine coolant temperature and barometric pressure.

8. A method for adjusting fuel injection, the method comprising:

during an engine start from a non-warmed-up condition, comparing expected engine speed for current starting conditions with measured engine speed, adjusting a fuel injection amount during said start based on said comparison to compensate for fuel volatility, and identifying a peak fuel volatility adjustment;

identifying a fuel quality of fuel supplied to the engine during said start based on said peak adjustment and previous peak adjustments from previous starts; and

during said start and after said start is completed and during a transient fueling condition, adjusting a fuel injection amount based on said identified fuel quality when said peak adjustment is greater than a minimum value.