Engine cold-start control
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsGopichandra Surnilla, Jianwen James Yi, Steven Wooldridge, Alexander O`Connor Gibson, Gary Alan Coulson, Foo Chern Ting
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for improving engine startability during cold-start conditions, when operating with gasoline fuels, alcohol fuels, or blended fuels. In one example, a method of engine cold-start control may include initiating fuel injection for cylinder combustion with manifold pressure lowered via intake throttle adjustments. The manifold pressure is lowered based on an optimization between cylinder charge reduction and improved fuel boiling at the lower pressure.
Claims20
A method for an engine comprising:
- during an engine cold-start,
- determining a fuel injection including an amount of fuel and a timing of injection based on engine operating conditions;
- and
- lowering manifold pressure for a first combustion event of each engine cylinder at the cold-start based on an estimate of fuel temperature at an end of the injection.
A method for an engine, comprising:
- for a first combustion event of each engine cylinder at an engine cold-start,
- lowering manifold pressure to a set-point selected based on change in boiling point of an injected fuel with pressure relative to a change in volume of cylinder aircharge with pressure;
- and
- delivering fuel as a single compression stroke injection at the lower manifold pressure.
An engine system coupled to a vehicle, comprising:
- an engine with an intake manifold, and one or more engine cylinders;
- a direct injector for direct injecting fuel into an engine cylinder;
- a throttle valve coupled in the intake manifold, an opening of the valve adjusted by an electromechanical actuator;
- a pressure sensor for estimating a pressure of the intake manifold;
- and
- a controller configured with computer-readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory for:
- during a first engine cold-start, delivering fuel on a first combustion event of each of the one or more engine cylinders at a higher manifold pressure, and then increasing manifold pressure above the higher manifold pressure after the first combustion event;
- during a second engine cold-start, delivering fuel on a first combustion event of each of the one or more engine cylinders at a lower manifold pressure, and then increasing manifold pressure to the higher manifold pressure after the first combustion event.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.