Engine control system and method based on fuel quality

An engine control unit (ECU) comprising:

• one or more input(s) configured to receive an actual sulfur level in a fuel provided to an engine and receive a geographic location signal indicating the current geographic location of the engine;
• a processor coupled to the one or more inputs configured to:
• interpret the actual sulfur level and geographic location signal;
• determine whether the actual sulfur level exceeds a predetermined sulfur limit;
• determine a maximum emission level of an engine;
• determine whether an emission standard is regulated or unregulated;
• wherein a regulated emission standard corresponds to an emission limit in the current geographic location at or below than the maximum emission level of the engine, and
• wherein an unregulated emission standard corresponds to no emission regulation in the current geographic location or an emission limit in the current geographic location beyond the maximum emission level of the engine;
• and
• in response to an actual sulfur level exceeding the predetermined sulfur limit and an unregulated emission standard, produce an engine modification signal;
• and
• one or more output(s) coupled to the processor and configured to provide the engine modification signal.

An engine system comprising:

• an internal combustion engine adapted to receive a fuel;
• a fuel quality sensor mounted in an engine and configured to detect and provide an actual sulfur level in the fuel provided to the engine;
• a geographic location device configured to receive and provide a geographic location signal indicating the current geographic location of the engine;
• and
• an engine control unit (ECU) coupled to the fuel quality sensor and geographic location device, the ECU configured to control the internal combustion engine and configured to:
• receive the actual sulfur level and the geographic location signal;
• interpret the actual sulfur level and geographic location signal;
• determine whether the actual sulfur level exceeds a predetermined sulfur limit;
• determine a maximum emission level of an engine;
• determine whether an emission standard is regulated or unregulated;
• wherein a regulated emission standard corresponds to an emission limit in the current geographic location at or below than the maximum sulfur emission level of the engine, and
• wherein an unregulated emission standard corresponds to no emission regulation in the current geographic location or a regulated emission limit in the current geographic location beyond the maximum emission level of the engine;
• and
• in response to an actual sulfur level exceeding the predetermined sulfur limit and an unregulated emission standard, provide an engine modification signal;
• and
• an exhaust system connected to an output of the internal combustion engine comprising at least one of an exhaust aftertreatment system and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system.

A method of controlling an engine system comprising:

• receiving an actual sulfur level in the engine;
• receiving a current geographic location of the engine;
• determining a maximum emission level of an engine;
• determining whether an emission standard is regulated or unregulated;
• wherein a regulated emission standard corresponds to an emission limit in the current geographic location at or below than the maximum sulfur emission level of the engine, and
• wherein an unregulated emission standard corresponds to no emission regulation in the current geographic location or an emission limit in the current geographic location beyond the maximum emission level of the engine;
• in response to an actual sulfur level exceeding the predetermined sulfur limit and an unregulated emission standard, providing an engine modification signal.