Method for sensing a fuel composition to restrict the usability of a vehicle in the event of a misfueling

Abstract

A method for CO.sub.2 certification and/or CO.sub.2-dependent homologation of vehicles that takes into account at least one design feature of the vehicle, which is characterized in that the detected use of a CO.sub.2-reduced fuel is taken into account as a design feature of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for CO.sub.2 certification and/or CO.sub.2-dependent homologation of a vehicle on the basis of at least one design feature of the vehicle which includes an approved use of a CO.sub.2-reduced fuel in the vehicle, the method comprising: detecting, by at least one fuel sensor arranged in a fuel tank of the vehicle or a fuel feed line that extends between the fuel tank and an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, whether a fuel in the vehicle is a CO.sub.2-reduced fuel which is approved for the vehicle or is a non-CO.sub.2-reduced fuel which would indicate that a misfueling of the vehicle has occurred; and displaying at least one error notification to a user of the vehicle, via at least one display element in the vehicle, when the at least one fuel sensor detects that the fuel in the vehicle is the non-CO.sub.2-reduced fuel so that a corrective action can be undertaken, wherein a specific chemical composition of the fuel is detected by the at least one fuel sensor, wherein a specific chemical composition pattern is created from the specific chemical composition of the fuel and is compared with standard reference composition patterns of CO.sub.2-reduced fuels, so that a fuel considered to be CO.sub.2-reduced is inferred in the event of a match, wherein the at least one error notification that is displayed includes at least a message about the misfueling that has occurred and a corresponding prompt for the corrective action to be undertaken, the corresponding prompt being a prompt to visit the nearest repair shop within a predefinable travel distance, wherein after issuing the prompt to visit the nearest repair shop, information is additionally provided in the display element about restrictive actions to occur in the future as a result of the misfuelling, wherein the restrictive actions have graduated effectiveness and are initiated to prevent circumvention of the at least one error notification by the user, wherein the restrictive actions, listed in increasing graduated effectiveness, include: a limitation of a maximum speed of the vehicle or of a speed of the internal combustion engine; and/or a reduction in a torque of the internal combustion engine; and/or a prevention of a predefinable nth engine start (n=predefinable number of remaining permissible engine starts), wherein n=0 is possible so that even one next engine start is prevented, or a prevention of a predefinable nth engine start (n=predefinable number of remaining permissible engine starts) in combination with the reaching of a predefined travel distance, wherein only n predefinable engine starts (n=predefinable number of remaining permissible engine starts) is/are permitted once the predefined travel distance is reached, wherein n=0 is possible so that even one next engine start is prevented after the predefined travel distance is reached.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one design feature of the vehicle includes additional features that are detected, the additional features include aerodynamics and/or lightweight construction and/or engine efficiency and/or use of a renewably generated green power content.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a differentiation of a non-CO.sub.2-reduced fuel from a CO.sub.2-reduced fuel is made on the basis of chemical components in the specific chemical composition pattern that have CO.sub.2-reducing effects, wherein the chemical components are also contained in the standard reference composition patterns, so that a fuel considered to be CO.sub.2-reduced is inferred in the event of a match.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a differentiation of a non-CO.sub.2-reduced fuel from a CO.sub.2-reduced fuel is made on the basis of at least one marker detected in the specific chemical composition pattern that is known to be added to a fuel approved as a CO.sub.2-reduced fuel, wherein the at least one marker is also contained in the standard reference composition patterns, so that a fuel considered to be CO.sub.2-reduced is inferred in the event of a match.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the chemical components of the fuel are detected through an analysis method associated with the at least one fuel sensor that recognizes the chemical components.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein a predefinable threshold value of the chemical components of the fuel is defined, wherein the threshold value must be exceeded for the fuel to be recognized and classified as CO.sub.2-reduced fuel.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein a spectroscopic method or NIR spectroscopy (NIR=near-infrared) or NMR spectroscopy (NMR=nuclear magnetic resonance) or LIF spectroscopy (LIF=laser-induced fluorescence) or TR-LIF spectroscopy (TR-LIF=time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence) is carried out as the analysis method for analyzing the chemical components of the fuel.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the use of a CO.sub.2-reduced fuel in the vehicle is ensured by permitting use of the vehicle only when the CO.sub.2-reduced fuel is utilized.

9. The method according to claim 4, wherein the at least one marker is detected through an analysis method associated with the at least one fuel sensor that recognizes the at least one marker added to the fuel approved as a CO.sub.2-reduced fuel.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein an analysis method specifically associated with the relevant marker is carried out as the analysis method for analyzing the at least one marker, with which method is associated a specific one of the at least one fuel sensor that detects only the at least one marker.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein a spectroscopic method or NIR spectroscopy (NIR=near-infrared) or NMR spectroscopy (NMR=nuclear magnetic resonance) or LIF spectroscopy (LIF=laser-induced fluorescence) or TR-LIF spectroscopy (TR-LIF=time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence) is carried out as the analysis method for analyzing the at least one marker.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation to illustrate the flow of material and signals of a vehicle that permits a sensing of the fuel composition and/or of a marker by an associated fuel supply system,

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic representation to illustrate the flow of material and signals of the vehicle that permits a sensing of the fuel composition and/or of a marker in the associated fuel supply system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) The invention is explained in an overview of FIGS. 1 and 2, with reference accordingly being made in the description to the figures.

(5) The invention is based on the starting point of a fuel supply system with which is associated a suitable control device, in particular an engine control unit 10, and which has a control connection to an internal combustion engine 100 and, according to the invention, to a particular fuel sensor 300.

(6) The fuel supply system includes a fuel tank 200 and the usual additional components that likewise can be controlled by the engine control unit 10; these are not shown in the simplified schematic representations in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(7) In FIG. 1, the fuel sensor 300 is arranged in the fuel tank 200.

(8) In FIG. 2, the fuel sensor 300 is arranged in the fuel feed line between fuel tank 200 and internal combustion engine 100.

(9) Fundamentally, the basic idea is that the fuel sensor 300 has a control connection to the engine control unit 10, wherein the fuel sensor 300 is designed such that it recognizes which fuel is in the fuel tank 200 and is currently being used in operating the internal combustion engine 100.

(10) Provision is made that the signals from the fuel sensor 300 are checked by the engine controller in respect of whether a CO.sub.2-reduced fuel for which the vehicle has also been homologated (approved) is in the fuel tank 200.

(11) Provision is made according to the invention that, in the event that the fuel sensor 300 detects that no CO.sub.2-reduced fuel is in the fuel tank 200, actions are taken by the engine controller, which are explained below.

(12) a) The user is informed of the misfueling by clear messages in a display element 20 of the fuel supply system of the vehicle and is prompted to visit the nearest repair shop within an additional predefinable travel distance x (x=100 km, for example). At the repair shop, the fuel supply system is cleaned and the vehicle is filled again with the approved CO.sub.2-reduced fuel so that operational readiness is reestablished.

(13) If the user does not take the vehicle to the repair shop within the predefined travel distance (100 km, for example), additional actions are taken.

(14) b) The user is informed of the misfueling by clear messages in a display element 20 of the fuel supply system of the vehicle and is informed of restrictive actions as a result of the misfueling, in order to force the user to take the vehicle to the repair shop so that the fuel supply system can be cleaned and the vehicle can be filled again with the approved fuel.

(15) The following coercive actions Zn are proposed:

(16) According to a first action Z1, a limitation of the maximum speed takes place.

(17) According to a second action Z2, a reduction in the torque of the internal combustion engine 100, and thus poor drivability of the vehicle, is brought about.

(18) According to a third action Z3, only n remaining engine starts (n=predefinable number of remaining permissible engine starts) are permitted, wherein n=0 is possible so that even one next engine start is prevented.

(19) According to a fourth action Z4, the third action Z3 is combined with a predefinable remaining permissible travel distance x=km, wherein only n engine starts (n=predefinable number of remaining permissible engine starts) is/are permitted once the predefined travel distance is reached, wherein n=0 is possible so that even one next engine start is prevented.

(20) The fuel sensor 300 and the associated analysis method are designed such that CO.sub.2-reduced fuels, in particular synthetic and biocomponents of CO.sub.2-reduced fuels, or CO.sub.2-reducing additives or CO.sub.2-reduced fuels, is possible on the basis of specific markers in the specific composition pattern through comparison with the at least one reference composition pattern standardized or standard as a CO.sub.2-reduced fuel.

(21) CO.sub.2-reduced fuels: biodiesel (for example the applicant's R33 BlueDiesel), paraffinic diesel, Sweden Class

(22) CO.sub.2-reducing additives: OME (polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers), ethanol additives of all types Markers signaling CO.sub.2-reduced fuels and/or CO.sub.2-reducing additives

(23) CO.sub.2-reduced fuel with chemical markers or markers that mark through other means

(24) It is proposed to use a homologation method in which the CO.sub.2 values of a vehicle, in particular of a passenger car or a truck, are identified.

(25) Such a method consists essentially of a calculation tool that is based on computation of components, technical equipment, and design features with relevance for the CO.sub.2 emissions of the relevant vehicle (passenger car, truck, and so on).

(26) This calculation tool takes CO.sub.2-reducing design features into account for the vehicle, in particular features of aerodynamics, lightweight construction, engine efficiency, and/or the use of a renewably generated green power content of an electrical charging of a plug-in hybrid vehicle, and also the use of a fuel that is classified as a CO.sub.2-reduced fuel under a standard, wherein it is substantially ensured in accordance with the inventive method that only CO.sub.2-reduced fuel and/or renewably generated green power content of an electrical charging is used.

(27) It is proposed, in particular, to expand the European Commission's VECTO calculation tool (Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool) currently under development by adding the feature of the use of a CO.sub.2-reduced fuel in the vehicle, and to introduce a specific homologation of certain “CO.sub.2-reduced vehicles.” In this way, an effective contribution can be made to reducing CO.sub.2 emissions that takes into account the method according to the invention and the associated system.

(28) The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.