Method for operating a fuel measurement system in a motor vehicle, computer program, control device and fuel measurement system

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer program, the computer program including a sequence of instructions executable on a control unit of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, the sequence of instructions which, when executed, cause the control unit to perform a method for controlling a fuel metering system of the internal combustion engine during a starting phase of the internal combustion engine to increase a fuel pressure in at least one high pressure area of the fuel metering system to an operating pressure, the method comprising:

• detecting a pressure in the high pressure area of the fuel metering system using at least one sensor;
• adjusting the pressure in the high pressure area using at least one pressure regulating element;
• and
• setting a limit to a rate of change in pressure in the high pressure area as a function of a specified value for an injection quantity error caused by pressure changes during a lag between a first time at which a fuel injection time is computed and a second time at which fuel injection begins.

A control unit for operating a fuel metering system of a motor vehicle, a fuel being delivered by at least one supply pump to at least one high pressure area and being injected by at least one fuel injector from the high pressure area directly into at least one combustion chamber, the control unit comprising:

• a processor for controlling, during a starting phase of an internal combustion engine, performance of a method to increase a fuel pressure in the high pressure area to an operating pressure, the controlling including:
• detection of pressure in the high pressure area using at least one sensor;
• adjustment of at least one pressure regulating element for adjusting the pressure in the high pressure area;
• and
• a setting of a limit to a rate of a change in pressure in the high pressure area as a function of a specified value for an injection quantity error caused by pressure changes during a lag between a first time at which a fuel injection time is computed and a second time at which fuel injection begins.

A fuel metering system for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:

• at least one high pressure area;
• at least one supply pump for delivering fuel to the at least one high pressure area;
• at least one fuel injector for direct injection of the fuel from the high pressure area into at least one combustion chamber of the engine;
• at least one sensor for detecting a pressure in the high pressure area;
• and
• at least one pressure regulating element for adjusting the pressure in the high pressure area;
• wherein, for increasing, during a starting phase of the internal combustion engine, a fuel pressure in the high pressure area to an operating pressure, a limit to a rate of change in pressure in the high pressure area is set as a function of a specified value for an injection quantity error caused by pressure changes during a lag between a first time at which a fuel injection time is computed and a second time at which fuel injection begins.