Engine control system and method based on fuel quality
First Claim
1. An engine control system, comprising:
- a fuel constituent sensor to determine a level of an emissions related constituent of fuel and to provide a fuel constituent level signal based on the level of the emissions related constituent;
a geographic location device; and
an electronic control device to control operation of the engine based on said fuel constituent level signal, wherein the electronic control device is configured to determine a maximum emission level of the engine,wherein at least one of the electronic control device and the geographic location device are configured to determine whether an emission standard is regulated or unregulated, wherein a regulated emission standard comprises an emission limit in a current geographic location of the engine at or below the maximum emission level of the engine and an unregulated emission standard comprises no emission limit in the current geographic location or an emission limit in the current geographic location beyond the maximum emission level of the engine; and
wherein the electronic control device is configured to generate a control signal to modify operation of the engine based on said fuel constituent level and whether the emission standard is regulated or unregulated.
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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 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.
24 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An engine control system, comprising:
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a fuel constituent sensor to determine a level of an emissions related constituent of fuel and to provide a fuel constituent level signal based on the level of the emissions related constituent; a geographic location device; and an electronic control device to control operation of the engine based on said fuel constituent level signal, wherein the electronic control device is configured to determine a maximum emission level of the engine, wherein at least one of the electronic control device and the geographic location device are configured to determine whether an emission standard is regulated or unregulated, wherein a regulated emission standard comprises an emission limit in a current geographic location of the engine at or below the maximum emission level of the engine and an unregulated emission standard comprises no emission limit in the current geographic location or an emission limit in the current geographic location beyond the maximum emission level of the engine; and wherein the electronic control device is configured to generate a control signal to modify operation of the engine based on said fuel constituent level and whether the emission standard is regulated or unregulated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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6. A method for controlling an engine, comprising:
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determining a level of an emissions related constituent of fuel; determining a maximum emission level of the engine; determining whether an emission standard is regulated or unregulated, wherein a regulated emission standard comprises an emission limit in a current geographic location of the engine at or below the maximum emission level of the engine and an unregulated emission standard comprises no emission limit in the current geographic location or an emission limit in the current geographic location beyond the maximum emission level of the engine; and controlling operation of the engine based on said fuel constituent level and whether the emission standard is regulated or unregulated. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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16. A method for controlling an engine, comprising:
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detecting a quality of a fuel present in the engine; providing a signal indicative of the fuel quality; determining whether an emission standard is regulated or unregulated, wherein a regulated emission standard comprises an emission limit in a current geographic location of the engine at or below the maximum emission level of the engine and an unregulated emission standard comprises no emission limit in the current geographic location or an emission limit in the current geographic location beyond the maximum emission level of the engine; and controlling operation of the engine based on the fuel quality signal and whether the engine is located in a geographic region with a regulated or unregulated emission standard. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification