Differential cylinder balancing for internal combustion engine

• US 10,408,158 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2016
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Klingbeil, Adam Edgar
• Primary Examiner(s): Zaleskas, John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scharpf, Susan E
• Application Number:
  US15/282,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20180094600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 123299
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0642 at least one fuel being gaseous, the other fuels being gaseous or liquid at standard conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/08 simultaneously using pluralities of fuels F02D19/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/389 for injecting directly into the cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0025 Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0027 the fuel being gaseous non-electrical control F02D19/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0085 Balancing of cylinder outputs, e.g. speed, torque or air-fuel ratio
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1446 the characteristics being exhaust temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/222 relating to the failure of sensors or parameter detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/34 with means for controlling injection timing or duration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/402 Multiple injections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A method of adjusting operation of an internal combustion engine includes injecting fuel into cylinders of the internal combustion engine (first fuel operation); obtaining a first fuel exhaust temperature profile during the first fuel operation; injecting two fuels into the cylinders in a dual fuel operation; obtaining a dual fuel exhaust temperature profile; and adjusting the injection quantity and/or an injection timing of one fuel in a cylinder(s), based on a difference between the first fuel exhaust temperature profile and the dual fuel exhaust temperature profile. Other methods of operating with single fuel and using sensors other than exhaust temperature sensors are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting operation of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

injecting a first fuel into a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine, thereby defining a first fuel operation;

obtaining a first exhaust temperature for each of the plurality of cylinders during the first fuel operation;

injecting a second fuel and the first fuel into the plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine, thereby defining a dual fuel operation;

obtaining a second exhaust temperature for each of the plurality of cylinders during the dual fuel operation; and

adjusting one of an injection quantity and an injection timing of one of the first fuel and the second fuel in at least one of the plurality of cylinders, such that a difference between each of the second exhaust temperatures of the plurality of cylinders and a first mean during the dual fuel operation is the same as a difference between each of the first exhaust temperatures of the plurality of cylinders and a second mean during the first fuel operation, respectively, wherein the first mean is a mean of two or more cylinder exhaust temperatures measured during the dual fuel operation and the second mean is a mean of two or more cylinder exhaust temperatures measured during the first fuel operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fuel comprises diesel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second fuel comprises natural gas.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the first exhaust temperature of each of the plurality of cylinders is in response to at least one of a maintenance event, a diagnostic event, and a factory calibration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the second exhaust temperature of each of the plurality of cylinders is in response to at least one of a maintenance event, a diagnostic event, and a factory calibration.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a first fuel engine operating profile of one or more operating parameters other than the first exhaust temperature of each of the plurality of cylinders during the first fuel operation; and

obtaining a dual fuel engine operating profile of one or more operating parameters other than the second exhaust temperature of each of the plurality of cylinders during the dual fuel operation;

wherein the adjusting is further based on a difference between the first fuel engine operating profile and the dual fuel engine operating profile.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the obtaining the first fuel engine operating profile and the dual fuel engine operating profile is by at least one of a knock sensor, a pressure sensor, and a stress/strain gage.

8. A method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising:

injecting a fuel into a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine, defining a baseline operating condition;

obtaining a first exhaust temperature of each of the plurality of cylinders during the baseline operation;

injecting the fuel into the plurality of cylinders, defining a second operating condition other than the baseline operating condition;

obtaining a second exhaust temperature of each of the plurality of cylinders during the second operating condition; and

adjusting one of an injection quantity and a spark timing of the fuel in at least one of the plurality of cylinders such that a difference between each of the second exhaust temperatures of the plurality of cylinders and a first mean during the second operating condition is the same as a difference between each of the first exhaust temperatures of the plurality of cylinders and a second mean during the baseline operating condition, respectively, wherein the first mean is a mean of two or more cylinder exhaust temperatures measured during the second operating condition and the second mean is a mean of two or more cylinder exhaust temperatures measured during the baseline operating condition.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising obtaining a third exhaust temperature of each of the plurality of cylinders after an event.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the event comprises one of a maintenance event, a diagnostic event, and a factory calibration.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the factory calibration or the maintenance event is performed using additional measurement and diagnostic equipment that is non-integrated with the internal combustion engine.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising replacing the first exhaust temperature of each of the plurality of cylinders with the third exhaust temperature of each of the plurality of cylinders.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

obtaining a baseline engine operating profile of one or more operating parameters other than the first exhaust temperature of each of the plurality of cylinders during the baseline operation; and

obtaining a second engine operating profile of one or more operating parameters other than the second exhaust temperature of each of the plurality of cylinders after an event;

wherein the adjusting is further based on a difference between the baseline engine operating profile and the second engine operating profile.

14. A method of adjusting operation of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

injecting a first fuel into a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine, thereby defining a first fuel operation;

obtaining a respective first exhaust temperature of each of the plurality of cylinders during the first fuel operation;

injecting a second fuel and the first fuel into the plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine, thereby defining a dual fuel operation;

obtaining a respective second exhaust temperature for each of the plurality of cylinders during the dual fuel operation; and

adjusting an injection quantity and/or an injection timing of one of the first fuel and the second fuel in at least one of the plurality of cylinders, such that a difference between each of the second exhaust temperatures of the plurality of cylinders and a first mean during the dual fuel operation is the same as a difference between each of the first exhaust temperatures of the plurality of cylinders and a second mean during the first fuel operation, respectively, wherein the first mean is a mean of two or more cylinder exhaust temperatures measured during the dual fuel operation and the second mean is a mean of two or more cylinder exhaust temperatures measured during the first fuel operation.

15. A method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising:

injecting a fuel into a plurality of cylinders of an internal combustion engine, defining a baseline operating condition;

obtaining a respective first exhaust temperature of each of the plurality of cylinders during the baseline operation;

injecting the fuel into the plurality of cylinders, defining a second operating condition other than the baseline operating condition;

obtaining a respective second exhaust temperature of each of the plurality of cylinders during the second operating condition; and

adjusting an injection quantity and/or a spark timing of the fuel in at least one of the plurality of cylinders, such that a difference between each of the respective second exhaust temperatures of the plurality of cylinders and a first mean during the second operating condition is the same as a difference between each of the respective first exhaust temperatures of the plurality of cylinders and a second mean during the baseline operating condition, wherein the first mean is a mean of two or more cylinder exhaust temperatures measured during the second operating condition and the second mean is a mean of two or more cylinder exhaust temperatures measured during the baseline operating condition.