Fuel optimizing system for a mobile asset, and a related method thereof

• US 8,682,512 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Norton, Daniel George
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, LUAT T
• Application Number:
  US13/328,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20130158752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 701/19, 701/123, 701 99-103, 123/557, 123/590, 481/801
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0618 depending on the engine's or vehicle's position, e.g. on/off road or proximity to a harbor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0647 the gaseous fuel being liquefied petroleum gas [LPG], liquefied natural gas [LNG], compressed natural gas [CNG] or dimethyl ether [DME]
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/081 Adjusting the fuel composition or mixing ratio; Transitioning from one fuel to the other
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/36 Control for minimising NOx emissions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0025 Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0027 the fuel being gaseous non-electrical control F02D19/02
• 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 41/1444 characterised by the characteristics of the combustion gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

A method includes determining a plurality of characteristic profiles associated with a mobile asset moving from a first operating point to a second operating point along a predefined path. The method further includes determining a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the mobile asset based on the plurality of characteristic profiles so as to maintain a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to predefined corresponding threshold values. The method also includes controlling a fuel delivery system of the mobile asset so as to deliver the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio.

Claims

1. A method for operating a mobile asset utilizing a plurality of fuels, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of characteristic profiles associated with the mobile asset moving from a first operating point to a second operating point along a predefined path, as a function of time and a corresponding location along the predefined path;

determining a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the mobile asset based on the plurality of characteristic profiles so as to maintain a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to predefined corresponding threshold values;

wherein the fuel combustion ratio comprises a ratio of the plurality of fuels to be delivered to the at least one engine cylinder; and

controlling a fuel delivery system of the mobile asset so as to deliver the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of characteristic profiles comprises at least one asset sensed information comprising at least one of an engine emission level, a fuel usage level, a power output, an engine load, engine speed, fuel cost, and fuel injection profile.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of characteristic profiles comprises a global positioning sensor (GPS) information comprising at least one of a distance from the first operating point to the second operating point along the predefined path, terrain profile associated with the path, ambient temperature and pressure, time required to traverse the distance, and location of one or more fuel stations along the predefined path.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of characteristic profiles comprises memory stored information associated with the mobile asset.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein maintaining the plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to the predefined corresponding threshold values comprises maintaining an actual emission level associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to a predefined threshold emission level.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein maintaining the plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to the predefined corresponding threshold values comprises maintaining an actual quantity of the plurality of fuels in the mobile asset to less than or equal to a predefined threshold quantity.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein maintaining the plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to the predefined corresponding threshold values comprises maintaining an actual cost associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to a predefined threshold cost.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising maintaining the plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to the predefined corresponding threshold values as a function of time and a corresponding location of the mobile asset along the predefined path.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fuels comprises diesel, and natural gas.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset comprises a locomotive.

11. A system comprising:

a fuel optimizing unit comprising a plurality of sensors disposed in a mobile asset utilising a plurality of fuels, for sensing a plurality of characteristic profiles comprising at least one of an engine emission level, a fuel usage level, a power output, an engine load, engine speed, fuel cost, and fuel injection profile as a function of time and a corresponding location of the mobile asset moving from a first operating point to a second operating point along a predefined path, wherein the fuel optimizing unit is configured to;

determine a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the mobile asset based on the plurality of characteristic profiles so as to maintain a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to predefined corresponding threshold values;

wherein the fuel combustion ratio comprises a ratio of the plurality of fuels to be delivered to the at least one engine cylinder; and

control a fuel delivery system of the mobile asset so as to deliver the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the fuel optimizing unit comprises a global positioning sensor disposed in the mobile asset for sensing the plurality of characteristic profiles comprising at least one of a distance from the first operating point to the second operating point along the predefined path, terrain profile associated with the path, ambient temperature and pressure, time required to traverse the distance, and location of one or more fuel stations along the predefined path.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a control unit configured to determine the fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the mobile asset based on the plurality of characteristic profiles.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the control unit is further configured to control the fuel delivery system of the mobile asset so as to deliver the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the fuel optimizing unit comprises a memory for storing the plurality of characteristic profiles comprising sensed information associated with the mobile asset.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the fuel optimizing unit is configured to maintain an actual emission level associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to a predefined threshold emission level.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the fuel optimizing unit is configured to maintain an actual quantity of the plurality of fuels in the mobile asset to less than or equal to a predefined threshold quantity.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the fuel optimizing unit is configured to maintain an actual cost associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to a predefined threshold cost.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the fuel optimizing unit is configured to maintain the plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to the predefined corresponding threshold values as a function of time and a corresponding location of the mobile asset along the predefined path.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the fuel optimizing unit is disposed in the mobile asset comprising a locomotive.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a program to instruct a processor-based fuel optimizing unit to:

determine a plurality of characteristic profiles associated with a mobile asset moving from a first operating point to a second operating point along a predefined path, as a function of time and a corresponding location along the predefined path;

determine a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the mobile asset based on the plurality of characteristic profiles so as to maintain a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to predefined corresponding threshold values;

wherein the fuel combustion ratio comprises a ratio of the plurality of fuels to be delivered to the at least one engine cylinder; and

control a fuel delivery system of the mobile asset so as to deliver the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio.

22. A method for operating a mobile asset utilizing a plurality of fuels, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of characteristic profiles associated with the mobile asset moving from a first operating point to a second operating point along a predefined path;

determining a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the mobile asset based on the plurality of characteristic profiles so as to maintain a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to predefined corresponding threshold values;

wherein maintaining the plurality of actual values comprises maintaining an actual quantity of the plurality of fuels in the mobile asset to less than or equal to a predefined threshold quantity and an actual cost associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to a predefined threshold cost, wherein the fuel combustion ratio comprises a ratio of the plurality of fuels to be delivered to the at least one engine cylinder; and

controlling a fuel delivery system of the mobile asset so as to deliver the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio.

23. A method for operating a mobile asset utilising a plurality of fuels, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of characteristic profiles associated with the mobile asset moving from a first operating point to a second operating point along a predefined path;

determining a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the mobile asset based on the plurality of characteristic profiles so as to maintain a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to predefined corresponding threshold values as a function of time and a corresponding location of the mobile asset along the predefined path;

wherein the fuel combustion ratio comprises a ratio of the plurality of fuels to be delivered to the at least one engine cylinder; and

controlling a fuel delivery system of the mobile asset so as to deliver the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio.

24. A system comprising:

a fuel optimizing unit configured to;

determine a plurality of characteristic profiles associated with a mobile asset utilizing a plurality of fuels, moving from a first operating point to a second operating point along a predefined path;

determine a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the mobile asset based on the plurality of characteristic profiles so as to maintain a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to predefined corresponding threshold values;

wherein the fuel combustion ratio comprises a ratio of the plurality of fuels to be delivered to the at least one engine cylinder; and

control a fuel delivery system of the mobile asset so as to deliver the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio, and

maintain an actual emission level associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to a predefined threshold emission level, an actual quantity of the plurality of fuels in the mobile asset to less than or equal to a predefined threshold quantity, and an actual cost associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to a predefined threshold cost.

25. A system comprising:

a fuel optimizing unit configured to;

determine a plurality of characteristic profiles associated with a mobile asset utilising a plurality of fuels, moving from a first operating point to a second operating point along a predefined path;

determine a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the mobile asset based on the plurality of characteristic profiles so as to maintain a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to predefined corresponding threshold values as a function of time and a corresponding location of the mobile asset along the predefined path;

wherein the fuel combustion ratio comprises a ratio of the plurality of fuels to be delivered to the at least one engine cylinder; and

control a fuel delivery system of the mobile asset so as to deliver the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio.