Fuel management system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system, comprising:
- an engine that is capable of multiple operating modes, wherein the engine consumes different ratios of two or more different fuels when the engine operates in different modes of the multiple operating modes such that , when the engine operates in a first operating mode, the engine is configured to consume a first ratio of a first fuel to a second fuel and, when the engine operates in a different, second operating mode, the engine is configured to consume a different, second ratio of the first fuel to the second fuel; and
a controller operable to change the engine between the first operating mode and the second operating mode,wherein the controller is operable to control the engine according to a first trip plan and the controller is configured to change at least one of the first ratio or the second ratio during movement of a vehicle that includes the engine by applying weighted coefficients to amounts of each of the first and second fuel types in the first ratio and in the second ratio.
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Abstract
A system includes an engine and a controller. The engine is capable of multiple operating modes, and each mode has a relatively different fuel ratio such that as the engine is changed from a first operating mode having a first ratio of a first fuel to a second fuel to a second operating mode having a second ratio of the first fuel to the second fuel. The controller is operable to change the engine from one operating mode to another operating mode.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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an engine that is capable of multiple operating modes, wherein the engine consumes different ratios of two or more different fuels when the engine operates in different modes of the multiple operating modes such that , when the engine operates in a first operating mode, the engine is configured to consume a first ratio of a first fuel to a second fuel and, when the engine operates in a different, second operating mode, the engine is configured to consume a different, second ratio of the first fuel to the second fuel; and a controller operable to change the engine between the first operating mode and the second operating mode, wherein the controller is operable to control the engine according to a first trip plan and the controller is configured to change at least one of the first ratio or the second ratio during movement of a vehicle that includes the engine by applying weighted coefficients to amounts of each of the first and second fuel types in the first ratio and in the second ratio. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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implementing a first engine operating mode of a vehicle based on characteristic information for each of at least two different fuels and operational criteria for the vehicle, wherein the first engine operating mode dictates a first fuel ratio of at least a first fuel to a second fuel of the at least two different fuels that is to be supplied to an engine of the vehicle; implementing a different, second engine operating mode at a different time based on the characteristic information and the operational criteria, the second engine operating mode dictating a different, second fuel ratio of at least the first fuel to the second fuel that is to be supplied to the engine; controlling the engine according to a first trip plan; and adjusting at least one of the first fuel ratio or the second fuel ratio during movement of the vehicle according to the first trip plan by applying weighted coefficients to amounts of each of the first and second fuels in the first ratio and in the second ratio. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method, comprising:
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controlling a fuel system to concurrently supply a first fuel at a first flow volume and a second fuel at a second flow volume to an engine to define an initial fuel ratio; changing the first flow volume, the second flow volume, or both the first and second flow volumes to define a subsequent fuel ratio at which the first fuel and the second fuel are concurrently supplied to the engine in response to a change in a power demand on the engine or in a speed of the engine; controlling the engine according to a first trip plan; and adjusting at least one of the initial fuel ratio or the subsequent fuel ratio during movement of a vehicle that includes the engine.
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25. A method, comprising:
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controlling a fuel system to concurrently supply a first fuel at a first flow volume and a second fuel at a second flow volume to an engine to define an initial fuel ratio; changing the first flow volume, the second flow volume, or both the first and second flow volumes to define a subsequent fuel ratio at which the first fuel and the second fuel are concurrently supplied to the engine in response to a change in a location of the engine; controlling the engine according to a first trip plan; and adjusting at least one of the initial fuel ratio or the subsequent fuel ratio over a defined trip by applying weighted coefficients to each of the first and second fuels during movement of a vehicle that includes the engine according to the first trip plan.
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26. A method, comprising:
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receiving a control input responsive to a first trip plan for a vehicle from a user interface that is configured to display aspects of the first trip plan to a user; controlling a fuel system of the vehicle automatically based on the control input to supply a first fuel to an engine and to concurrently supply a different, second fuel to the engine, and the engine is operable to propel the vehicle using the first fuel and the second fuel, the control input is generated responsive to manipulation of the user interface, the control input comprising at least one of; a first signal that indicates a user-selected throttle setting for the vehicle, and the fuel system is automatically controlled to supply a combination of the first and second fuels to the engine based at least in part on the throttle setting, wherein a first ratio of the first fuel to the second fuel that is supplied to the engine in the combination changes for different user-selected throttle settings;
ora second signal that indicates a user-selected fuel ratio of the first fuel relative to the second fuel, and the fuel system is automatically controlled to supply the combination of the first and second fuels at the user-selected fuel ratio to the engine, wherein the first ratio of the first fuel to the second fuel that is supplied to the engine in the combination changes for different user-selected fuel ratios; controlling the engine according to a first trip plan; and adjusting at least one of the first fuel ratio or the user-selected fuel ratio over a defined trip by applying weighted coefficients to each of the first and second fuels, and by applying the weighted coefficients to the first trip plan or a different, second trip plan.
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Specification