Prediction based engine control system and method

• US 7,813,869 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Seskin, Michael, Willden, Wade S., Grichnik, Anthony, Jayachandran, Amit, Kesse, Mary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): KWON, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/730,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20080243354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 701/101, 701/102, 701/108, 701/109, 701/111, 701/114, 701/115
• US Class Current: 701/114
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/2048 said control involving a limitation, e.g. applying current or voltage limits
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/227 Limping Home, i.e. taking specific engine control measures at abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0055 Special engine operating conditions, e.g. for regeneration of exhaust gas treatment apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/146 the characteristics being an NOx content or concentration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/026 using a predictor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A prediction based engine control system is disclosed. The engine control system may have sensor configured to sense a current engine operation and generate a corresponding signal and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller may be configured to receive the signal, compare the current engine operation to an allowable range of engine operation, predict a future engine operation based on the signal, and limit current engine operation based on the prediction, even when the current engine operation is within the allowable range of operation.

Claims

1. A prediction based engine control system, comprising:

a sensor configured to sense a current engine operation and generate a corresponding signal; and

a controller in communication with the sensor, the controller being configured to;

receive the signal;

compare the current engine operation indicated by the signal to an allowable range of engine operations;

predict a future engine performance based on the signal by determining a future value of an engine operating parameter based on the current engine operation indicated by the signal; and

limit the current engine operation based on the prediction, even when the current engine operation is within the allowable range of operation.

2. The engine control system of claim 1, wherein the current engine operation includes the production of at least one regulated emission constituent.

3. The engine control system of claim 2, wherein the limiting of engine operation includes limiting the available engine output.

4. The engine control system of claim 3, wherein the limiting of engine operation is proportional to the comparison of the current engine operation to the allowable range of engine operation.

5. The engine control system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a NOx sensor.

6. The engine control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive data relating to a geographical location of the engine and limit engine operation based on the data relating to the geographical location.

7. The engine control system of claim 6, wherein the limiting of engine operation based on a geographical location allows a mobile machine employing the engine control system to reach a service area before the current operation exceeds the allowable range of engine operation.

8. The engine control system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to derate the engine to limit engine operation and determine an amount of derate based on the geographical location of the engine.

9. The engine control system of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to increase the amount of derate when the geographical location of the engine is closer to a particular location.

10. The engine control system of claim 1, wherein the signal indicates a sensed level of at least one regulated emission constituent, and the controller is configured to predict the future engine performance by calculating a future level of the at least one regulated emission constituent based on the sensed level.

11. The engine control system of claim 10, wherein the sensed level is sensed at predetermined intervals, and the controller is configured to predict the future level at a future interval.

12. A method for controlling an engine, comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of a current engine operation;

comparing the signal to an allowable range of engine operation;

predicting a future engine performance based on the signal by determining a future value of an engine operating parameter based on the current engine operation indicated by the signal;

limiting the current engine operation based on the prediction, even when the current engine operation is within the allowable range of engine operation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the current engine operation includes the production of at least one regulated emission constituent.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the limiting of engine operation includes limiting the available engine output.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the limiting of engine operation is proportional to the comparison of the current engine operation to the allowable range of engine operation.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the signal is indicative of a NOx emissions level.

17. The method of claim 12, further including receiving data relating to a geographical location of the engine, wherein the limiting of engine operation is based further on the data relating to the geographical location.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the limiting of engine operation based on the geographical location allows a mobile machine to reach a service area before the current operation exceeds the allowable range of engine operation.

19. A machine utilizing a prediction based engine control system comprising:

an engine;

an exhaust system associated with the engine;

a sensor configured to sense a current operation of the engine and generate a corresponding signal; and

a controller in communication with the engine and the sensor, the controller being configured to;

receive the signal;

compare the current engine operation indicated by the signal to an allowable range of engine operation;

predict a future engine operation based on the comparison by determining a future value of an engine operating parameter based on the current engine operation indicated by the signal if the current engine operation is within the allowable range of engine operation; and

limit the current engine operation based on the prediction, even when the current engine operation is within the allowable range of operation.

20. The machine of claim 19, wherein the current engine operation includes the production of at least one regulated emission constituent.

21. The machine of claim 20, wherein the limiting of current engine operation includes limiting the available engine output.

22. The machine of claim 21, wherein the limiting of engine operation is proportional to the comparison of the current engine operation to the allowable range of engine operation.

23. The machine of claim 19, wherein the sensor is a NOx sensor.

24. The machine of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive data relating to a geographical location of the machine; and

determine a location of a service area based on the data relating to the geographical location to limit the current engine operation while allowing the machine to reach the service area before the current engine operation exceeds the allowable range of engine operation.