System and method for supplying fuel to engine

• US 9,624,863 B1
• Filed: 10/28/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Ge, Xinyu, Yang, Shuowei
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwon, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang, Johnny H
• Application Number:
  US14/924,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20170122243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 701102-104, 701114, 701115, 123250253, 123258-261, 123264, 73 3512, 7311406, 7311438, 7311442, 7311443, 7311451
• 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 2200/0602 Fuel pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0606 Fuel temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 33/003 Controlling the feeding of liquid fuel from storage containers to carburettors or fuel-injection apparatus control of electrical fuel pumps F02D41/3082, controlling fuel flow to a common rail F02D41/3845; Failure or leakage prevention; Diagnosis or detection of failure; Arrangement of sensors in the fuel system; Electric wiring; Electrostatic discharge
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/263 the program execution being modifiable by physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/401 Controlling injection timing F02D41/402 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0052 Details on the fuel return circuit; Arrangement of pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A system for supplying fuel to an engine is disclosed. The system includes a first sensing unit for determining multiple operating parameters and multiple ambient conditions of the engine. The system includes an adaptive adjustment mechanism, a pressure regulator having a first valve and a second valve, and a controller communicating with the adaptive adjustment mechanism and the pressure regulator. The controller determines a first error and a second error associated with a pressure of a fuel supply to a pre-combustion chamber and a main combustion chamber, respectively, and receives an output signal indicative of an adjustment factor determined by the adaptive adjustment mechanism. The controller controls the first valve and the second valve based on the first error, the second error, and the output signal, to supply the fuel to the pre-combustion chamber and the main combustion chamber at a first pressure and a second pressure, respectively.

Claims

1. A system for supplying fuel to an engine, the system comprising:

a first sensing unit configured to generate signals indicative of multiple operating parameters of the engine, and multiple ambient conditions;

an adaptive adjustment mechanism in communication with the first sensing unit;

a pressure regulator having a first valve in communication with a pre-combustion chamber of the engine, and a second valve in communication with a main combustion chamber of the engine; and

a controller in communication with the adaptive adjustment mechanism and the pressure regulator, the controller configured to;

receive a signal indicative of a first error associated with a pressure of a fuel supply to the pre-combustion chamber;

receive a signal indicative of a second error associated with a pressure of a fuel supply to the main combustion chamber;

receive, using the adaptive adjustment mechanism, an output signal indicative of an adjustment factor determined based on the multiple operating parameters of the engine and the multiple ambient conditions;

control the first valve of the pressure regulator, based on the signals indicative of the first error, the second error, and the output signal indicative of the adjustment factor, to supply the fuel to the pre-combustion chamber at a first pressure; and

control the second valve of the pressure regulator, based on the signals indicative of the first error, the second error, and the output signal indicative of the adjustment factor, to supply the fuel to the main combustion chamber at a second pressure.

2. The system of claim 1 comprising a second sensing unit disposed downstream of the pressure regulator, the second sensing unit configured to generate signals indicative of the first pressure of the fuel supplied to the pre-combustion chamber and the second pressure of the fuel supplied to the main combustion chamber.

3. The system of claim 2 comprising a control module in communication with the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit, the control module configured to:

determine a first desired pressure of the fuel to be supplied to the pre-combustion chamber based on the signal received from the first sensing unit, wherein the first error is determined based on the first desired pressure and the first pressure of the fuel supplied to the pre-combustion chamber; and

determine a second desired pressure of the fuel to be supplied to the main combustion chamber based on the signal received from the first sensing unit, wherein the second error is determined based on the second desired pressure and the second pressure of the fuel supplied to the main combustion chamber.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the adaptive adjustment mechanism is in communication with the control module, and configured to:

receive signals indicative of the first desired pressure and the second desired pressure of the fuel to be supplied to the pre-combustion chamber and the main combustion chamber, respectively; and

determine the adjustment factor based on the signals indicative of the first desired pressure and the second desired pressure of the fuel.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the adaptive adjustment mechanism is in communication with the pressure regulator, and configured to:

receive signals indicative of a pressure and a temperature of the fuel received within the pressure regulator; and

determine the adjustment factor based on the signals indicative of the pressure and the temperature of the fuel received within the pressure regulator.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

generate a first control signal and a second control signal based on the signals indicative of the first error and the second error, and the output signal indicative of the adjustment factor;

communicate the first control signal to a first actuator associated with the first valve; and

communicate the second control signal to a second actuator associated with the second valve.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple operating parameters of the engine comprises a speed of the engine, a quantity of fuel supplied to the engine and an ignition mode of the engine.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple ambient conditions comprises a pressure and a temperature of ambient air.

9. A method of supplying fuel to an engine, the method comprising:

determining multiple operating parameters of the engine;

determining multiple ambient conditions of the engine;

determining, using a control module, a first error and a second error associated with a pressure of a fuel supply to a pre-combustion chamber and a main combustion chamber of the engine, respectively, based on the multiple operating parameters of the engine and the multiple ambient conditions;

determining, using an adaptive adjustment mechanism, an adjustment factor based on the multiple operating parameters of the engine and the multiple ambient conditions;

controlling a first valve of a pressure regulator communicated to the engine to supply the fuel to the pre-combustion chamber at a first pressure based on the first error, the second error, and the adjustment factor; and

controlling a second valve of the pressure regulator communicated to the engine to supply the fuel to the main combustion chamber at a second pressure based on the first error, the second error, and the adjustment factor.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising monitoring the first pressure of the fuel and the second pressure of the fuel, downstream of the pressure regulator.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

determining a first desired pressure of the fuel to be supplied to the pre-combustion chamber based on the multiple operating parameters of the engine and the multiple ambient conditions, wherein the first error is determined based on the first desired pressure and the first pressure of the fuel supplied to the pre-combustion chamber; and

determining a second desired pressure of the fuel to be supplied to the main combustion chamber based on the multiple operating parameters of the engine and the multiple ambient conditions, wherein the second error is determined based on the second desired pressure and the second pressure of the fuel supplied to the main combustion chamber.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving signals indicative of the first desired pressure and the second desired pressure of the fuel to be supplied to the pre-combustion chamber and the main combustion chamber, respectively, by the adaptive adjustment mechanism; and

determining the adjustment factor based on the signals indicative of the first desired pressure and the second desired pressure of the fuel.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving signals indicative of a pressure and a temperature of the fuel received within the pressure regulator; and

determining the adjustment factor based on the signals indicative of the pressure and the temperature of the fuel received within the pressure regulator.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

generating a first control signal and a second control signal based on the first error, the second error, and the adjustment factor;

communicating the first control signal to a first actuator associated with the first valve; and

communicating the second control signal to a second actuator associated with the second valve.

15. An engine comprising:

a main combustion chamber;

a pre-combustion chamber in communication with the main combustion chamber; and

a system for supplying fuel to the main combustion chamber and the pre-combustion chamber, the system comprising;

a first sensing unit configured to generate signals indicative of multiple operating parameters of the engine and multiple ambient conditions;

an adaptive adjustment mechanism in communication with the first sensing unit;

a pressure regulator having a first valve in communication with a pre-combustion chamber of the engine and a second valve in communication with a main combustion chamber of the engine; and

a controller in communication with the adaptive adjustment mechanism and the pressure regulator, the controller configured to;

receive a signal indicative of a first error associated with a pressure of a fuel supply to the pre-combustion chamber;

receive a signal indicative of a second error associated with a pressure of a fuel supply to the main combustion chamber;

receive, using the adaptive adjustment mechanism, an output signal indicative of an adjustment factor determined based on the multiple operating parameters of the engine and the multiple ambient conditions;

control the first valve of the pressure regulator, based on the signals indicative of the first error, the second error, and the output signal indicative of the adjustment factor, to supply the fuel to the pre-combustion chamber at a first pressure; and

control the second valve of the pressure regulator, based on the signals indicative of the first error, the second error, and the output signal indicative of the adjustment factor, to supply the fuel to the main combustion chamber at a second pressure.

16. The engine of claim 15, wherein the system comprises a second sensing unit disposed downstream of the pressure regulator, the second sensing unit configured to generate signals indicative of the first pressure of the fuel supplied to the pre-combustion chamber and the second pressure of the fuel supplied to the main combustion chamber.

17. The engine of claim 16, wherein the system comprises a control module in communication with the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit, the control module configured to:

determine a first desired pressure of the fuel to be supplied to the pre-combustion chamber based on the signal received from the first sensing unit, wherein the first error is determined based on the first desired pressure and the first pressure of the fuel supplied to the pre-combustion chamber; and

determine a second desired pressure of the fuel to be supplied to the main combustion chamber based on the signal received from the first sensing unit, wherein the second error is determined based on the second desired pressure and the second pressure of the fuel supplied to the main combustion chamber.

18. The engine of claim 17, wherein the adaptive adjustment mechanism is in communication with the control module, and configured to:

receive signals indicative of the first desired pressure and the second desired pressure of the fuel to be supplied to the pre-combustion chamber and the main combustion chamber, respectively; and

determine the adjustment factor based on the signals indicative of the first desired pressure and the second desired pressure of the fuel.

19. The engine of claim 15, wherein the adaptive adjustment mechanism is in communication with the pressure regulator, and configured to:

receive signals indicative of a pressure and a temperature of the fuel received within the pressure regulator; and

determine the adjustment factor based on the signals indicative of the pressure and the temperature of the fuel received within the pressure regulator.

20. The engine of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to:

generate a first control signal and a second control signal based on the signals indicative of the first error and the second error, and the output signal indicative of the adjustment factor;

communicate the first control signal to a first actuator associated with the first valve; and

communicate the second control signal to a second actuator associated with the second valve.