Selectably fueling with natural gas or direct injection ethanol
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJoseph Norman Ulrey, Gopichandra Surnilla, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various approaches are described for controlling operation of an engine. One example method includes delivering a gaseous fuel to the engine during a first operating range when an amount of stored gaseous fuel is greater than a threshold; and disabling the delivery of the gaseous fuel during the first operating range when the amount of stored gaseous fuel is less than the threshold and delivering a second fuel to operate the engine, yet continuing to deliver the gaseous fuel to start the engine during a cold start even when the amount of stored gaseous fuel is less than the threshold.
Claims19
A method for controlling operation of an engine, comprising:
- delivering a gaseous fuel to the engine during a first operating range when an amount of stored gaseous fuel is greater than a threshold;
- and
- disabling the delivery of the gaseous fuel during the first operating range when the amount of stored gaseous fuel is less than the threshold and delivering a second fuel to operate the engine, yet continuing to deliver the gaseous fuel to start the engine during a cold start even when the amount of stored gaseous fuel is less than the threshold.
A system for an engine having a cylinder, comprising:
- a first gaseous fuel system including a port injector for delivering the gaseous fuel to the cylinder;
- a second liquid fuel system including a direct injector for delivering the liquid fuel to the cylinder;
- a controller to operate in a first mode when an amount of stored gaseous fuel is greater than a threshold, wherein during the first mode, the controller delivers the gaseous fuel to the engine during a first operating range;
- and to operate in a second mode when the amount of stored gaseous fuel is less than the threshold, wherein during the second mode, the controller delivers the liquid fuel to operate the engine during the first operating range, and delivers the gaseous fuel to start the engine during a cold start.
A method for controlling operation of an engine, comprising:
- delivering a CNG fuel via a port injector and a liquid alcohol-gasoline fuel blend via direct injection to the engine during a first operating range when an amount of stored GNG fuel is greater than a threshold, where during a first portion of the first operating range, CNG fuel injection is increased in response to engine knock, and during a second portion of the first operating range, the alcohol-gasoline fuel is increased in response to engine knock;
- and
- disabling the delivery of the CNG fuel during the first operating range and increasing delivery of the liquid fuel blend when the amount of stored CNG fuel is less than the threshold, yet continuing to deliver the CNG fuel to start the engine during a cold start even when the amount of stored CNG fuel is less than the threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.