Humidity compensated charge density control for an internal combustion engine
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsSean R. Strubhar, William C. Boley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for determining a desired charge density for an engine having an inlet air pathway. A first characteristic indicative of an engine speed of the engine is determined. A second characteristic indicative of a load on the engine is determined. A third characteristic indicative of a humidity of air in the inlet air pathway. A value indicative of a desired charge density of a combustion mixture for the engine is determined as a function of the first, second, and third characteristics.
Claims35
An apparatus for determining a value indicative of a desired charge density of a combustion mixture for an engine having an inlet air pathway, comprising:
- a first sensor coupled with the engine and operable to determine a first characteristic indicative of an engine speed of the engine, and to transmit an engine speed signal as a function thereof;
- a second sensor coupled with the engine and operable to determine a second characteristic indicative of a load on the engine, and to transmit an engine load signal as a function thereof;
- a third sensor operable to determine a third characteristic indicative of a humidity of air in the inlet air pathway and to transmit a humidity signal as a function thereof;
- and
- a processing device coupled with the first sensor to receive the engine speed signal, with the second sensor to receive the engine load signal, and with the third sensor to receive the humidity signal, the processing device operable to determine a value indicative of a desired charge density for the combustion mixture as a function of the engine speed signal, the engine load signal, and the humidity signal.
An apparatus for determining a value indicative of a fuel flow for an engine having an inlet air pathway, and a generator coupled with the engine to receive power from the engine, comprising:
- a speed sensor coupled with the engine and operable to determine a first characteristic indicative of an engine speed of the engine, and to transmit an engine speed signal as a function thereof;
- a load sensor coupled with the generator and operable to determine a second characteristic indicative of a load on the engine, and to transmit an engine load signal as a function thereof;
- a pressure sensor coupled with the inlet air pathway and operable to determine a value indicative of a pressure of a combustion mixture in the inlet air pathway, and to transmit a pressure signal as a function thereof;
- a temperature sensor coupled with the inlet air pathway and operable to determine a value indicative of a temperature of the combustion mixture in the inlet air pathway, and to transmit a temperature signal as a function thereof;
- a humidity sensor coupled with the inlet air pathway and operable to determine a value indicative of a humidity of the air in the inlet air pathway, and to transmit a humidity signal as a function thereof;
- and
- a processing device coupled with the speed sensor to receive the engine speed signal, with the load sensor to receive the engine load signal, with the pressure sensor to receive the pressure signal, with the temperature sensor to receive the temperature signal, and with the humidity sensor to receive the humidity signal, the processing device operable to:
- determine a value indicative of a first desired charge density for the combustion mixture as a function of the engine speed signal and the engine load signal;
- determine a value indicative of a second desired charge density of the combustion mixture as a function of the first desired charge density and the humidity signal;
- determine a value indicative of an actual charge density for the combustion mixture as a function of the pressure signal divided by the temperature signal;
- and
- determine a value indicative of a fuel flow for the engine as a function of the value indicative of the second desired charge density and the value indicative of the actual charge density of the combustion mixture.
A method for determining a value indicative of a desired charge density for a combustion mixture for an engine having an inlet air pathway, comprising:
- determining a first characteristic indicative of an engine speed of the engine;
- determining a second characteristic indicative of a load on the engine;
- determining a third characteristic indicative of a humidity of air in the inlet air pathway;
- and
- determining a value indicative of a desired charge density for the combustion mixture as a function of the first, second, and third characteristics.
A method for determining a value indicative of a fuel flow of an engine having an inlet air pathway, comprising:
- determining a value indicative of a humidity of air in the inlet air pathway;
- determining a value indicative of a desired charge density of a combustion mixture for the engine as a function of the value indicative of the humidity in the inlet air pathway;
- and
- determining a value indicative of a desired fuel flow as a function of the value indicative of the desired charge density of the combustion mixture.
A method for determining a value indicative of a desired fuel flow for an engine coupled with a generator, comprising:
- determining a first characteristic indicative of an engine speed of the engine;
- determining a second characteristic that is indicative of a load on the generator;
- determining a third characteristic indicative of a pressure of the combustion mixture;
- determining a fourth characteristic indicative of a temperature of the combustion mixture;
- determining a fifth characteristic indicative of a humidity of the air in the inlet air pathway;
- determining a value indicative of a desired charge density for the combustion mixture as a function of the first, second, and fifth characteristics;
- determining a value indicative of an actual charge density of the combustion mixture as a function of the third characteristic divided by the fourth characteristic of the combustion mixture;
- and
- determining a value indicative of a desired fuel flow as a function of the values of the desired charge density and the actual charge density of the combustion mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.