Engine system and method for determining fuel characteristics
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsMichael Graziano, Jason J. Rasmussen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for determining a fuel characteristic, the method including receiving a gaseous fuel within a gaseous fuel rail of a dual fuel engine configured to run on at least the gaseous fuel and a diesel fuel. The method may include receiving a pressure signal from a pressure sensor indicating a pressure of the gaseous fuel within the gaseous fuel rail, and identifying at least one of an amplitude and a phase of the pressure signal, The method may further include determining a characteristic of the fuel within the fuel rail based on the amplitude or the phase of the pressure signal, and, based on the determined characteristic of the fuel, modifying an operational parameter of the dual fuel engine.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- receiving a gaseous fuel within a gaseous fuel rail of a dual fuel engine configured to run on the gaseous fuel and a diesel fuel;
- initiating a change in the pressure of the gaseous fuel by opening a gas admission valve (GAV) configured to supply fuel from the gaseous fuel rail to an engine cylinder;
- closing the GAV to seal the gaseous fuel rail;
- receiving a pressure signal from a pressure sensor indicating a fluctuating pressure of the gaseous fuel within the gaseous fuel rail;
- identifying a phase lag of the pressure signal;
- determining a characteristic of the gaseous fuel within the gaseous fuel rail based on the phase lag of the pressure signal;
- and
- based on the determined characteristic of the gaseous fuel, modifying an operational parameter of the dual fuel engine.
A method, comprising:
- initiating a change in a pressure of a gaseous fuel within a gaseous fuel rail by opening a gas admission valve (GAV) configured to supply the gaseous fuel from the gaseous fuel rail to an engine cylinder of an internal combustion engine;
- closing the GAV to seal the gaseous fuel rail;
- receiving a pressure signal representing the pressure of the gaseous fuel;
- identifying a phase lag or a time lag of the pressure signal after the GAV has closed;
- determining a specific gravity of the gaseous fuel within the gaseous fuel rail based on the phase lag or the time lag of the pressure signal;
- and
- based on the specific gravity of the gaseous fuel, performing one or more of:
- modifying an operational parameter of the internal combustion engine,
- displaying a warning on a display, or
- adjusting a quantity of the gaseous fuel.
A system, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine assembly including an internal combustion engine configured to operate with at least a gaseous fuel, the internal combustion engine assembly including:
- a fuel system;
- and
- a gaseous fuel rail of the fuel system, the gaseous fuel rail configured to receive the gaseous fuel;
- at least one sensor for measuring a pressure within the gaseous fuel rail;
- and
- a controller in communication with the at least one sensor and configured to:
- initiate a change in the pressure of the gaseous fuel by causing a gas admission valve (GAV) configured to supply fuel from the gaseous fuel rail to an engine cylinder to open;
- cause the GAV to close to seal the gaseous fuel rail;
- receive a pressure signal from the at least one sensor indicating a fluctuating pressure of the gaseous fuel within the gaseous fuel rail;
- identify a phase lag of the pressure signal;
- determine a characteristic of the gaseous fuel within the gaseous fuel rail based on the phase lag of the pressure signal;
- and
- based on the determined characteristic of the gaseous fuel, modify an operational parameter of the internal combustion engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.