Emissions sensors for fuel control in engines

• US 7,389,773 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garrett Transportation I Inc. (Garrett Motion, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Rhodes, Michael L., Stewart, Gregory E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Hai H
• Application Number:
  US11/206,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20070039589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 123/435, 123/352, 123/672, 123/687, 701103-105
• US Class Current: 123/672
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1412 using a predictive controller
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1415 using a state feedback or a state space representation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1416 Observer
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1433 using a model or simulation of the system
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/007 controlling fuel supply
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1401 characterised by the control or regulation method F02D41/1473, F02D41/1477 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1406 with use of a optimisation method, e.g. iteration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/146 the characteristics being an NOx content or concentration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1467 with determination means using an estimation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/402 Multiple injections

Abstract

A system for controlling fuel to an engine to minimize emissions in an exhaust of the engine. There may be a controller connected to an actuator, for example a fuel control actuator, of the engine and to emissions sensors, such as an NOx and/or PM sensor, proximate to an exhaust output of the engine. The controller, for example a speed controller, may have an input connected to an output of a pedal or desired speed setting mechanism. A speed sensor at a power output of the engine may be connected to an input of the controller.

Claims

1. An engine control system comprising:

a fuel controller connected to an engine;

a PM sensor situated in an exhaust system of the engine and connected to the fuel controller; and

at least one additional exhaust emissions sensor situated in the exhaust system, said at least one additional exhaust emissions sensor configured to sense an exhaust emissions component different than that sensed by said PM sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one additional exhaust emissions sensor is connected to the controller.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

said at least one additional exhaust emissions sensor includes an NOx sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a speed map connected to the controller; and

a speed sensor connected to the controller and to an output of the engine.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising an actuator unit connected to the controller and to the engine.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is for driving a sensed speed to a target speed that is set by a pedal position of the engine.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the controller may send signals to the actuator unit; and

the signals include timing, fuel quantity, and/or multiple fuel injection events.

8. A method for controlling emissions from an engine, comprising:

sensing NOx in an exhaust of an engine;

sensing PM in the exhaust; and

controlling fuel to the engine to control NOx and PM in the exhaust;

wherein said controlling step is based, at least in part, on the sensed NOx and/or PM fed to a fuel controller.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

sensing the speed of the engine; and

controlling the speed of the engine according to a speed setting.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein amounts of NOx and PM are maintained within set limits.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein controlling the fuel to the engine may include timing, quantity of fuel, and/or multiple fuel injection events.

12. Means for controlling emissions from an engine, comprising:

means for controlling libel to the engine; and

means for sensing emissions in an exhaust of the engine, connected to the means for controlling fuel;

wherein the means for sensing emissions includes two or more sensors situated in an exhaust system of the engine, where each of the two or more sensors is adapted to sense a different exhaust parameter of the exhaust of the engine other than temperature, wherein one of the two or more sensors is a PM sensor.

13. The means of claim 12, wherein the means for controlling fuel may control an amount of emissions in the exhaust.

14. The means of claim 13, further comprising:

means for sensing speed of the engine; and

means for controlling a speed of the engine according to a speed setting; and

wherein the means for controlling speed is connected to the means for sensing and the means for controlling fuel.