Multi-fuel system and method
First Claim
1. A method for operating an engine configured to use a plurality of differing fuels, the method comprising:
- determining a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the engine based at least in part on one or more of a plurality of characteristic profiles comprising at least fuel cost and a location of one or more fuel stations along a defined path of a mobile asset in which the engine is disposed, to maintain one or more of a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels relative to defined 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 to deliver the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio, where the plurality of characteristic profiles further comprises global positioning sensor (GPS) information, terrain profile associated with a defined path, ambient temperature, and ambient pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method provides for operating an engine configured to use a plurality of differing fuels. The method includes determining a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the engine based at least in part on one or more of a plurality of characteristic profiles. This maintains one or more of a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels relative to defined corresponding threshold values. The fuel combustion ratio includes a ratio of the plurality of fuels to be delivered to the at least one engine cylinder. A fuel delivery system delivers the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio.
46 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for operating an engine configured to use a plurality of differing fuels, the method comprising:
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determining a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the engine based at least in part on one or more of a plurality of characteristic profiles comprising at least fuel cost and a location of one or more fuel stations along a defined path of a mobile asset in which the engine is disposed, to maintain one or more of a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels relative to defined 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; andcontrolling a fuel delivery system to deliver the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio, where the plurality of characteristic profiles further comprises global positioning sensor (GPS) information, terrain profile associated with a defined path, ambient temperature, and ambient pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A fuel system, comprising:
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a fuel controlling unit configured to deliver a plurality of differing fuels to at least one engine cylinder of an engine based at least in part on a fuel combustion ratio, wherein the fuel combustion ratio comprises a ratio of the plurality of fuels to be delivered to the at least one engine cylinder and is based at least in part on one or more of a plurality of characteristic profiles including a condition of a defined path on which a mobile asset in which the engine is disposed is operable to travel, and thereby the fuel controlling unit is operable to maintain one or more of a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels relative to defined corresponding threshold values, where the condition of the defined path includes a state of wear of the defined path. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A vehicle comprising:
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a fuel controlling unit configured to deliver a plurality of differing fuels to at least one engine cylinder of an engine based at least in part on a fuel combustion ratio, wherein the fuel combustion ratio comprises a ratio of the plurality of fuels to be delivered to the at least one engine cylinder and is based at least in part on one or more of a plurality of characteristic profiles, one or more sensors operable to communicate with fuel controlling unit sensor information, the fuel controlling unit operable to receive the sensor information and thereby to determine the one or more of the plurality of characteristic profiles, the sensor information including a knock level, and wherein the fuel controlling unit is configured to respond to receipt of the sensor information including the knock level that is greater than a determined threshold knock level by changing the fuel combustion ratio, and thereby the fuel controlling unit is operable to maintain one or more of a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels relative to defined corresponding threshold values, and the fuel controlling unit is further configured to signal a fuel demand to a regasification unit to supply at least one of the plurality of differing fuels.
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Specification