LPG fuel composition estimation method and system
AssigneeHyundai Motor Company
InventorWoo-Jik Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) fuel composition estimation method is provided that determines an LPG fuel composition from saturation vapor pressure data and an estimated fuel temperature and fuel pressure inside the fuel tank. A Liquefied Petroleum Gas Injection (LPI) System that employs the method is provided that employs the method of the invention.
Claims12
A liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel composition estimation method for an LPG injection (LPI) system, comprising:
- detecting a fuel pressure inside a fuel supply line, a fuel temperature inside the fuel supply line, a coolant temperature, and an intake air temperature at an ignition-on state;
- determining whether predetermined conditions exist between the detected temperatures;
- detecting the fuel temperature and the fuel pressure inside the fuel supply line at predetermined intervals;
- determining a fuel temperature and a fuel pressure inside a fuel tank based on the detected fuel temperature and fuel pressure inside the fuel supply line, if it is determined that the predetermined conditions exist;
- and
- determining an LPG fuel composition from saturation vapor pressure data based on the determined fuel temperature and fuel pressure inside the fuel tank.
An LPG composition estimation system for an LPI system, comprising:
- a fuel tank for storing LPG fuel;
- a fuel pump disposed inside the fuel tank, the fuel pump pressurizing the LPG fuel;
- an injector connected to the fuel pump via a fuel supply line;
- a pressure regulator disposed in a fuel return line connecting the injector and the fuel tank;
- a detecting unit for detecting one or more engine operating parameters and generating corresponding signals;
- and
- a control unit receiving the signals of the detecting unit and estimating an LPG fuel composition, the control unit being programmed to execute a method comprising:
- detecting a fuel pressure inside a fuel supply line, a fuel temperature inside the fuel supply line, a coolant temperature, and an intake air temperature at an ignition-on state;
- determining whether predetermined conditions fall within differences between the detected temperatures;
- detecting the fuel temperature and the fuel pressure inside the fuel supply line at intervals;
- determining a fuel temperature and a fuel pressure inside a fuel tank based on the detected fuel temperature and fuel pressure inside the fuel supply line;
- and
- determining an LPG fuel composition from saturation vapor pressure data based on the determined fuel temperature and fuel pressure inside the fuel tank.
A method for estimating the composition of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) in a LPG injection system, comprising:
- detecting an LPG temperature;
- determining whether the LPG temperature has stabilized;
- detecting an LPG pressure;
- determining whether the LPG pressure has stabilized;
- determining an LPG fuel tank temperature based on the detected LPG temperature;
- determining an LPG fuel tank pressure based on the detected LPG pressure;
- and
- estimating an LPG fuel composition based on the LPG fuel tank temperature and the LPG fuel tank pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.