Turbocharged natural gas engine control system
AssigneeCooper Cameron Corporation
InventorPaul D. Freen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control system for an internal combustion engine can include a fuel molecular weight sensor to determine an actual and a desired Excess Air Ratio for an air/fuel mixture supplied to the engine. To prevent engine overload, the control system limits the amount of fuel delivered to the engine based on the amount of air available to the engine. High pressure exhaust gas can drive an air compressor which pressurizes inlet air. A exhaust bypass valve controls the amount of power delivered to the compressor, and the pressure and amount of inlet air delivered to the engine. Independent control of the main fuel flow and pilot fuel flow allows the control system to maintain a desired air/fuel ratio in the main combustion chamber and in the precombustion chamber.
Claims5
A method of controlling an internal combustion engine, said engine including a control system, means for determining an air flow rate and a fuel quality, and an exhaust turbine which drives an inlet air compressor, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining an air flow rate;
- sensing a fuel quality;
- computing a maximum fuel flow limit based on the air flow rate and torque limit determined by the fuel quality;
- limiting an amount of fuel delivered to the engine based on the maximum fuel flow limit;
- directing a desired amount of exhaust gas to the exhaust turbine to supply a desired air flow rate to the engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.