# US 2013/0158752 A1 · Fuel optimizing system for a mobile asset, and a related method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158752 A1 - Document ID: US20130158752A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/328,438 - Filed: 2011-12-16 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Inventors: Daniel George Norton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158752A1 ## CPC - F02D 19/081: {Adjusting the fuel composition or mixing ratio; Transitioning from one fuel to the other} - F02D 19/0618: {depending on the engine's or vehicle's position, e.g. on/off road or proximity to a harbor} - F02D 19/0647: {the gaseous fuel being liquefied petroleum gas [LPG], liquefied natural gas [LNG], compressed natural gas [CNG] or dimethyl ether [DME]} - F02D 41/0025: {Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures} - F02D 41/021: {Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine (conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18)} - F02D 41/0027: {the fuel being gaseous (non-electrical control F02D19/02)} - F02D 41/1444: {characterised by the characteristics of the combustion gases} - F02D 2200/701: Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal - F02D 2250/36: Control for minimising NOx emissions - Y02T 10/30: Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A method includes determining a plurality of characteristic profiles associated with a mobile asset moving from a first operating point to a second operating point along a predefined path. The method further includes determining a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the mobile asset based on the plurality of characteristic profiles so as to maintain a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to predefined corresponding threshold values. The method also includes controlling a fuel delivery system of the mobile asset so as to deliver the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating a mobile asset utilizing a plurality of fuels, the method comprising: determining a plurality of characteristic profiles associated with the mobile asset moving from a first operating point to a second operating point along a predefined path; determining a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the mobile asset based on the plurality of characteristic profiles so as to maintain a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to predefined corresponding threshold values; wherein the fuel combustion ratio comprises a ratio of the plurality of fuels to be delivered to the at least one engine cylinder; and controlling a fuel delivery system of the mobile asset so as to deliver the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of characteristic profiles comprises at least one asset sensed information comprising at least one of an engine emission level, a fuel usage level, a power output, an engine load, engine speed, fuel cost, and fuel injection profile. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of characteristic profiles comprises a global positioning sensor (GPS) information comprising at least one of a distance from the first operating point to the second operating point along the predefined path, terrain profile associated with the path, ambient temperature and pressure, time required to traverse the distance, and location of one or more fuel stations along the predefined path. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of characteristic profiles comprises memory stored information associated with the mobile asset. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising determining the plurality of characteristic profiles associated with the mobile asset as a function of time and a corresponding location of the mobile asset along the predefined path. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein maintaining the plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to the predefined corresponding threshold values comprises maintaining an actual emission level associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to a predefined threshold emission level. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein maintaining the plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to the predefined corresponding threshold values comprises maintaining an actual quantity of the plurality of fuels in the mobile asset to less than or equal to a predefined threshold quantity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein maintaining the plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to the predefined corresponding threshold values comprises maintaining an actual cost associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to a predefined threshold cost. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising maintaining the plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to the predefined corresponding threshold values as a function of time and a corresponding location of the mobile asset along the predefined path. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fuels comprises diesel, and natural gas. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset comprises a locomotive. ### Claim 12 A system comprising: a fuel optimizing unit configured to: determine a plurality of characteristic profiles associated with a mobile asset utilizing a plurality of fuels, moving from a first operating point to a second operating point along a predefined path; determine a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the mobile asset based on the plurality of characteristic profiles so as to maintain a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to predefined corresponding threshold values; wherein the fuel combustion ratio comprises a ratio of the plurality of fuels to be delivered to the at least one engine cylinder; and control a fuel delivery system of the mobile asset so as to deliver the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the fuel optimizing unit comprises a plurality of sensors disposed in the mobile asset, for sensing the plurality of characteristic profiles comprising at least one of an engine emission level, a fuel usage level, a power output, an engine load, engine speed, fuel cost, and fuel injection profile as a function of time and a corresponding location of the mobile asset along the predefined path. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the fuel optimizing unit comprises a global positioning sensor disposed in the mobile asset for sensing the plurality of characteristic profiles comprising at least one of a distance from the first operating point to the second operating point along the predefined path, terrain profile associated with the path, ambient temperature and pressure, time required to traverse the distance, and location of one or more fuel stations along the predefined path. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, further comprising a control unit configured to determine the fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the mobile asset based on the plurality of characteristic profiles. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the control unit is further configured to control the fuel delivery system of the mobile asset so as to deliver the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the fuel optimizing unit comprises a memory for storing the plurality of characteristic profiles comprising sensed information associated with the mobile asset. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the fuel optimizing unit is configured to maintain an actual emission level associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to a predefined threshold emission level. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the fuel optimizing unit is configured to maintain an actual quantity of the plurality of fuels in the mobile asset to less than or equal to a predefined threshold quantity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the fuel optimizing unit is configured to maintain an actual cost associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to a predefined threshold cost. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the fuel optimizing unit is configured to maintain the plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to the predefined corresponding threshold values as a function of time and a corresponding location of the mobile asset along the predefined path. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the fuel optimizing unit is disposed in the mobile asset comprising a locomotive. ### Claim 23 A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a program to instruct a processor-based fuel optimizing unit to: determine a plurality of characteristic profiles associated with a mobile asset moving from a first operating point to a second operating point along a predefined path; determine a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of the fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the mobile asset based on the plurality of characteristic profiles so as to maintain a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of fuels to less than or equal to predefined corresponding threshold values; wherein the fuel combustion ratio comprises a ratio of the plurality of fuels to be delivered to the at least one engine cylinder; and control a fuel delivery system of the mobile asset so as to deliver the plurality of fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio.