Engine control system and method based on fuel quality
First Claim
1. An engine control unit (ECU) comprising:
- one or more input(s) configured to receive an actual sulfur level in a fuel provided to an engine and receive a geographic location signal indicating the current geographic location of the engine;
a processor coupled to the one or more inputs configured to;
interpret the actual sulfur level and geographic location signal;
determine whether the actual sulfur level exceeds a predetermined sulfur limit;
determine a maximum emission level of an engine;
determine whether an emission standard is regulated or unregulated;
wherein a regulated emission standard corresponds to an emission limit in the current geographic location at or below than the maximum emission level of the engine, andwherein an unregulated emission standard corresponds to no emission regulation in the current geographic location or an emission limit in the current geographic location beyond the maximum emission level of the engine; and
in response to an actual sulfur level exceeding the predetermined sulfur limit and an unregulated emission standard, produce an engine modification signal; and
one or more output(s) coupled to the processor and configured to provide the engine modification signal.
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Abstract
An engine control system and method includes sensing the quality of fuel in the engine relative to emissions, by for example sensing the level of an emission related constituent, such as sulfur. A fuel quality sensor detects a fuel quality of a fuel, such as the sulfur level in the fuel, and provides a signal in response to the fuel quality. The engine control system also includes a navigation device to determine whether an engine is located in a regulated or non-regulated region. The engine control system receives the signal and controls engine operation by, for example, enabling or disabling one or more engine algorithms to improve performance of the engine based on the fuel quality signal or, in other embodiments, the combination of the fuel quality and the location of the engine.
23 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An engine control unit (ECU) comprising:
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one or more input(s) configured to receive an actual sulfur level in a fuel provided to an engine and receive a geographic location signal indicating the current geographic location of the engine; a processor coupled to the one or more inputs configured to; interpret the actual sulfur level and geographic location signal; determine whether the actual sulfur level exceeds a predetermined sulfur limit; determine a maximum emission level of an engine; determine whether an emission standard is regulated or unregulated; wherein a regulated emission standard corresponds to an emission limit in the current geographic location at or below than the maximum emission level of the engine, and wherein an unregulated emission standard corresponds to no emission regulation in the current geographic location or an emission limit in the current geographic location beyond the maximum emission level of the engine; and in response to an actual sulfur level exceeding the predetermined sulfur limit and an unregulated emission standard, produce an engine modification signal; and one or more output(s) coupled to the processor and configured to provide the engine modification signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An engine system comprising:
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an internal combustion engine adapted to receive a fuel; a fuel quality sensor mounted in an engine and configured to detect and provide an actual sulfur level in the fuel provided to the engine; a geographic location device configured to receive and provide a geographic location signal indicating the current geographic location of the engine; and an engine control unit (ECU) coupled to the fuel quality sensor and geographic location device, the ECU configured to control the internal combustion engine and configured to; receive the actual sulfur level and the geographic location signal; interpret the actual sulfur level and geographic location signal; determine whether the actual sulfur level exceeds a predetermined sulfur limit; determine a maximum emission level of an engine; determine whether an emission standard is regulated or unregulated; wherein a regulated emission standard corresponds to an emission limit in the current geographic location at or below than the maximum emission level of the engine, and wherein an unregulated emission standard corresponds to no emission regulation in the current geographic location or a regulated emission limit in the current geographic location beyond the maximum emission level of the engine; and in response to an actual sulfur level exceeding the predetermined sulfur limit and an unregulated emission standard, provide an engine modification signal; and an exhaust system connected to an output of the internal combustion engine comprising at least one of an exhaust aftertreatment system and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of controlling an engine system comprising:
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receiving an actual sulfur level in the engine; receiving a current geographic location of the engine; determining a maximum emission level of an engine; determining whether an emission standard is regulated or unregulated; wherein a regulated emission standard corresponds to an emission limit in the current geographic location at or below than the maximum emission level of the engine, and wherein an unregulated emission standard corresponds to no emission regulation in the current geographic location or an emission limit in the current geographic location beyond the maximum emission level of the engine; in response to an actual sulfur level exceeding the predetermined sulfur limit and an unregulated emission standard, providing an engine modification signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification