Method and apparatus for fuel injection and dynamic combustion control

An apparatus for fuel injection in an internal combustion engine fuelled with a gaseous fuel comprising:

• a direct injection apparatus for directly introducing a pilot fuel and a main fuel into a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine, said main fuel is said gaseous fuel;
• a pilot fuel supply system delivering said pilot fuel to said direct injection apparatus;
• a main fuel supply system delivering said main fuel to said direct injection apparatus;
• a controller configured to actuate said direct injection apparatus to introduce said pilot fuel and said main fuel into said combustion chamber, and programmed to:
• actuate said direct injection apparatus in a first stage of fuel injection to introduce a first amount of pilot fuel;
• actuate said direct injection apparatus in a second stage of fuel injection to introduce a first amount of main fuel;
• and
• actuate said direct injection apparatus in a third stage of fuel injection to introduce a second amount of main fuel, said first and second amounts of main fuel contribute to load and speed demand of said internal combustion engine;
• wherein said pilot fuel and said main fuel burn in a diffusion combustion mode.

A method of fuel injection for an internal combustion engine fuelled with a gaseous fuel comprising:

• when an operating point of said internal combustion engine transitions from a first characteristic region to a second characteristic region, when injecting said gaseous fuel:
• employing calibrations from a first engine map after said operating point transitions into said second characteristic region while a first measured parameter is less than a first predetermined threshold;
• while said first measured parameter is between said first predetermined threshold and a second predetermined threshold:
• blending calibrations from said first engine map and a second engine map;
• and
• employing said blended calibrations;
• and
• employing calibrations from said second engine map when said first measured parameter is greater than said second predetermined threshold.

An apparatus for fuel injection in an internal combustion engine fuelled with a gaseous fuel comprising:

• a direct injection apparatus for directly introducing a main fuel into a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine, said main fuel is said gaseous fuel;
• a main fuel supply system delivering said main fuel to said direct injection apparatus;
• a controller configured to actuate said direct injection apparatus to introduce said main fuel into said combustion chamber, when an operating point of said internal combustion engine transitions from a first characteristic region to a second characteristic region, when injecting said gaseous fuel said controller is programmed to:
• employ calibrations from a first engine map after said operating point transitions into said second characteristic region while a first measured parameter is less than a first predetermined threshold;
• while said first measured parameter is between said first predetermined threshold and a second predetermined threshold:
• blend calibrations from said first engine map and a second engine map;
• and
• employ said blended calibrations;
• and
• employ calibrations from said second engine map when said first measured parameter is greater than said second predetermined threshold.