US 2017/0284897 A1 · CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING PISTON RIM DAMAGE COUNTING

Abstract

An imbedded control system is disclosed for use with an engine having a combustion chamber and an associated piston associated. The control system may have at least one sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a combustion process occurring inside the combustion chamber, and a controller in communication with the at least one sensor. The controller may be configured to determine an amount of heat and a pressure generated inside the combustion chamber based on the signal and a combustion model, to determine a heat flux through the piston based on the amount of heat and a heat flux model, and to determine a temperature at a rim of the piston based on the heat flux and a thermal model. The controller may be further configured to track a time at the temperature and the pressure, and to determine a damage count of the piston based on the time.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A control system imbedded within an engine having at least one combustion chamber and a piston associated with the at least one combustion chamber, the control system comprising:

at least one sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a combustion process occurring inside the at least one combustion chamber;
and
a controller in communication with the at least one sensor and configured to:
determine an amount of heat and a pressure generated inside the at least one combustion chamber based on the signal and a combustion model of the engine;
determine a heat flux through the piston based on the amount of heat and a heat flux model of the piston;
determine a temperature at a rim of the piston based on the heat flux and a thermal model of the piston;
track a time at the temperature and the pressure;
and
determine a damage count of the piston based on the time at the temperature and pressure.

6 more elements

A method of monitoring an engine by an imbedded control system, the method comprising:

sensing at least one parameter of a combustion process occurring inside at least one combustion chamber of the engine;
determining an amount of heat and a pressure generated inside the at least one combustion chamber based on the at least one parameter, a known compression ratio of the engine, a known bore diameter of the at least one combustion chamber, a known stroke length of an associated piston, an assumed mixing of fuel and air occurring inside the at least one combustion chamber, and a combustion model of the engine;
determining a heat flux through the piston based on the amount of heat, known material and geometry data of the piston, and a heat flux model of the engine;
determining a temperature of coolant circulating through the piston;
determining a temperature at a rim of the piston based on the heat flux, a thermal model of the piston, and the temperature of the coolant;
tracking a time at the temperature and the pressure;
and
determining in real-time a damage count of the piston based on the time at the temperature and pressure and based on a damage model of the piston.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Control system having piston rim damage counting

Life of this patent

Control system having piston rim damage counting

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20