Controlling exhaust gas recirculation

• US 8,108,128 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innio Waukesha Gas Engines Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zurlo, James Richard, Konkle, Kevin Paul, May, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Hai H
• Application Number:
  US12/415,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20100242936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 123/568.11, 123/568.14, 123/436, 123/672, 123/674, 123/698, 123/480, 123/568.19, 123/568.21, 701/108, 701/103, 701/106, 701/109, 60284-285
• US Class Current: 701/108
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0411 Volumetric efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0052 Feedback control of engine parameters, e.g. for control of air/fuel ratio or intake air amount
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/187 using a hot wire flow sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

In controlling an engine, an amount of an intake charge provided, during operation of the engine, to a combustion chamber of the engine is determined. The intake charge includes an air component, a fuel component and a diluent component. An amount of the air component of the intake charge is determined. An amount of the diluent component of the intake charge is determined utilizing the amount of the intake charge, the amount of the air component and, in some instances, the amount of the fuel component. An amount of a diluent supplied to the intake charge is adjusted based at least in part on the determined amount of diluent component of the intake charge.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an engine, comprising:

determining an amount of a fuel in a fuel component of an intake charge using at least a power output of the engine, the fuel component comprising the fuel and a fuel diluent;

determining an amount of an air component of the intake charge based on the determined amount of the fuel;

determining an amount of the intake charge provided, during operation of the engine, to a combustion chamber of the engine, the intake charge comprising the air component, the fuel, and a total amount of diluent comprising the fuel diluent and a diluent flow;

determining the total amount of diluent of the intake charge utilizing the amount of the intake charge, the amount of the air component, and the amount of the fuel; and

adjusting an amount of the diluent flow supplied to the intake charge based at least in part on the determined total amount of the diluent of the intake charge.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the amount of the fuel component of the intake charge.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the amount of the fuel component of the intake charge comprises utilizing a duty cycle of an air/fuel control device of the engine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting an amount of the diluent flow supplied to the intake charge comprises adjusting an amount of exhaust gas introduced into the intake charge.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an amount of the air component of the intake charge comprises utilizing a mass air flow sensor of the engine.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an amount of the air component comprises utilizing a lambda sensor of the engine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an amount of the intake charge provided, during operation of the engine, to a combustion chamber of the engine comprises calculating the amount of the intake charge as a function of engine volumetric efficiency, a flow rate of the air component, a density of the air component, and engine speed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting an amount of the diluent flow supplied to the intake charge comprises adjusting the amount of the diluent flow supplied to the intake charge to be substantially equal to a specified amount.

9. The method od claim 1, wherein the diluent flow comprises a flow of exhaust gas.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the total amount of diluent of the intake charge comprises an amount of diluent in the air component, the fuel diluent, and the diluent flow supplied to the intake charge.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the fuel is a hydrocarbon fuel.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring the power output of the engine with one or more of a kilowatt sensor, a torque sensor, or an engine speed sensor.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an amount of the intake charge provided, during operation of the engine, to a combustion chamber of the engine comprises calculating the intake charge as a function of absolute intake manifold pressure, absolute intake temperature, engine speed, and volumetric efficiency of the engine.

14. An engine control module comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions for the processor that cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

determining an amount of a fuel of a fuel component of an intake charge using at least a power output of the engine, the fuel component comprising the fuel and a fuel diluent;

determining an amount of an air component of the intake charge based on the determined amount of the fuel;

determining an amount of the intake charge provided, during operation of the engine, to a combustion chamber of the engine, the intake charge comprising the air component, the fuel, and a total amount of diluent comprising the fuel diluent and an amount of exhaust gas;

determining the total amount of diluent of the intake charge utilizing the amount of the intake charge, the amount of the air component, and the amount of fuel; and

adjusting the amount of the exhaust gas supplied to the intake charge based at least in part on the determined total amount of the diluent of the intake charge and a specified amount of exhaust gas.

15. The engine control module of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise determining the amount of the fuel component of the intake charge.

16. The engine control module of claim 15, wherein determining the amount of the fuel component of the intake charge comprises utilizing a duty cycle of an air/fuel control device of the engine.

17. The engine control module of claim 14, wherein determining an amount of the air component of the intake charge comprises utilizing a mass air flow sensor of the engine.

18. The engine control module of claim 14, wherein determining an amount of the air component comprises utilizing a lambda sensor of the engine.

19. The engine control module of claim 14, wherein determining the amount of the intake charge provided, during operation of the engine, to a combustion chamber of the engine comprises calculating the amount of the intake charge as a function of engine volumetric efficiency, flow rate of the air component, density of the air component, and engine speed.

20. The engine control module of claim 14, wherein the total amount of diluent of the intake charge comprises an amount of diluent in the air component, the fuel diluent, and the diluent flow supplied to the intake charge.

21. The engine control module of claim 14, wherein determining an amount of the intake charge provided, during operation of the engine, to a combustion chamber of the engine comprises calculating the intake charge as a function of absolute intake manifold pressure, absolute intake temperature, engine speed, and volumetric efficiency of the engine.