Patent classifications
F02D19/029
Natural gas engines with fuel quality determination
A system for determining properties of fuel supplied to an internal combustion (IC) engine and for adjusting operations of the IC engine based on the determined properties. The system includes an air-flow throttle configured to control the air supplied to the IC engine; a fuel-flow throttle configured to control the fuel supplied to the IC engine; and an engine control module (ECM) configured to receive readings from and control operation of the throttles. The ECM is configured to perform a fuel-air determination program where the ECM determines a percent-error air-to-fuel ratio (AF) based on a true AF ratio compared to an ideal AF ratio. The ECM is configured to perform a fuel property determination and adjustment program in which the ECM is configured to adjust operations of the IC engine based on a fuel property value determined using the percent-error AF ratio.
METHOD OF SUPPLYING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINE WITH GASEOUS FUEL CONTAINING HYDROGEN AND HYDROCARBONS
A method enables an internal combustion piston engine to be supplied with gaseous fuel containing hydrogen and hydrocarbons.
Combustion system control device
An ECU, as a combustion system control device, includes various control units such as a first estimation unit, a second estimation unit, a comparison/selection unit, and an injection control unit. The first estimation unit estimates, as a first estimation value, the mixing ratio of each molecular structure species contained in fuel based on the value detected by an in-cylinder pressure sensor that is a combustion sensor. The second estimation unit estimates, as a second estimation value, the above mixing ratio based on the values detected by a density sensor and a dynamic viscosity sensor that are property sensors. The comparison/selection unit compares the first estimation value with the second estimation value to select an estimation value with higher estimation accuracy, and various control units such as the injection control unit control the operation of a combustion system by using the selected estimation value.
FUEL TYPE PREDICTION FROM MASS FLOW MEASUREMENTS AND THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY SENSOR
The present disclosure provides a method for predicting a fluid type, comprising sensing, by a first sensor, mass flow data of a fluid in an engine, wherein the first sensor operates based on a first fluid property; sensing, by a second sensor, mass flow data of the fluid, wherein the second sensor operates based on a second fluid property; and detecting, by a logic circuit of a controller, a percent difference in the mass flow data provided by the first and second sensors, the percent difference indicating that the fluid is comprised of at least a first fluid type.
System and method for managing a volatile organic compound emission stream
A Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) mitigation system employs a combination of technologies coupling VOC laden exhaust with a reciprocating engine and generator system (Combined Heat & Power (CHP) System) with heat recovery to destroy the VOC emissions and generate electric power and useful thermal energy.
A METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR ADAPTING ENGINE CONTROL OF A GAS ENGINE IN A VEHICLE
The present invention relates to a method for adapting engine control of a gas engine in a vehicle. The method comprises determining, during operation of the gas engine, the specific gas constant of a fuel gas for the gas engine. The method further comprises determining the stoichiometric air fuel ratio of the fuel gas for the gas engine. The control of the gas engine is adapted based on the determined specific gas constant and the determined stoichiometric air fuel ratio. The present invention also relates to a system for adapting engine control of a gas engine in a vehicle, to a vehicle, and to a computer program product.
Method for operating an internal combustion engine based on a characteristic value determined from a lamda value, and internal combustion engine
A method for operating an internal combustion engine, having of the following steps: operating the internal combustion engine with a gas fuel; detecting a lambda value in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine; determining at least one variable from the detected lambda value, characterizing the quality of the gaseous fuel; and controlling the internal combustion engine based on the at least one variable.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELF-ADJUSTING ENGINE PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS DURING FUEL QUALITY VARIATION
A system and method for self-adjusting engine performance parameters in response to fuel quality variations that includes an exhaust sensor for measuring a level of carbon dioxide present in an exhaust manifold, at least one of a knock sensor and a cylinder pressure transducer for determining a location of peak pressure and a centroid, respectively, a controller in communication with the exhaust sensor and the at least one of the knock sensor and the cylinder pressure transducer, the controller correlating a methane number of the fuel used by the engine to a brake specific carbon dioxide value calculated using the level of carbon dioxide measured by the exhaust sensor and the at least one of the centroid and the location of peak pressure, and an adjusting mechanism, wherein the adjusting mechanism adjusts an engine performance parameter based on the determined methane number.
Natural Gas Engines with Fuel Quality Determination
Systems and methods for automatic calibration of large industrial engines in applications where the quality of the fuel supply is unknown and/or variable over time, particularly engines that drive compressors on a natural gas well site. A combination of throttles and an oxygen sensor are disclosed, whereby the combination involves a mass-flow-air (MFA) throttle and a mass-flow-gas (MFG) throttle to determine the mass flow of air and mass flow of gas. As a response to exhaust gas oxygen level readings, the mass flow measurements are used to determine real time air-fuel ratios. An algorithm uses the air-fuel ratios as input data, wherein a microcontroller adjusts the throttles to meet engine performance demands. Additionally, using the air-fuel ratio data and suggested engine OEM calibration specifications as block multiplier inputs, particular fuel properties can be accurately interpolated, thereby enabling automatic calibration of the engine and other interventions as desired.
Determining the composition of a combustion gas
A method for determining a combustion gas composition of a combustion gas for an internal combustion engine includes operating the engine, and establishing an operating point of the internal combustion engine during operation. The method also includes detecting a nitrogen oxide emission of the internal combustion engine at the operating point. The method further includes detecting an exhaust gas temperature of the internal combustion engine at the operating point, and detecting a combustion air ratio of the internal combustion engine at the operating point. The combustion gas composition of the combustion gas is determined based on the operating point, the detected nitrogen oxide emission, the detected exhaust gas temperature and the detected combustion air ratio.