Fuel system

A method of operating a fuel system for an engine, the method comprising:

• pressurizing a supply of fuel and directing the pressurized fuel to a plurality of fuel injectors via a common rail;
• sensing a parameter of the pressurized fuel within the common rail with a sensor associated with the common rail;
• generating a flow control offset value indicative of a difference between the value of the parameter and a desired value for the parameter;
• controlling operation of a source of the pressurized fuel in response to the flow control offset value when the sensor is determined to be functioning properly;
• storing the flow control offset value in a memory of the fuel system when the sensor is determined to be functioning properly and associating the stored flow control offset value with at least one operating condition of the engine;
• and
• controlling operation of the source of the pressurized fuel in response to previously stored flow control offset values when the sensor is determined to be malfunctioning.

An engine, comprising:

• an engine block forming a plurality of cylinders;
• a plurality of pistons disposed within the plurality of cylinders to form a plurality of combustion chambers;
• and
• a fuel system configured to inject pressurized fuel into the plurality of combustion chambers, the fuel system including:
• a source of pressurized fuel;
• a rail configured to receive the pressurized fuel;
• a plurality of fuel injectors in parallel fluid communication with the rail;
• a sensor configured to sense a pressure of the pressurized fuel within the rail and to generate a signal corresponding to the value of the pressure;
• and
• a controller in communication with the engine, the source of pressurized fuel, and the sensor, the controller being configured to:
• generate a flow control offset value indicative of a difference between the sensed pressure value and a desired pressure value;
• control operation of the source in response to the flow control offset value when the sensor is determined to be functioning properly;
• store the flow control offset value in a memory of the controller when the sensor is determined to be functioning properly and associate the stored flow control offset value with the current speed and load of the engine;
• and
• control operation of the source in response to previously stored flow control offset values when the sensor is determined to be malfunctioning.