Oil heater control system and method for internal combustion engine system

Abstract

A system includes a heater for heating a fluid of a lubrication system, a controller coupled with the heater, the controller including at least one processor coupled with at least one memory device, the memory device storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor, the at least one processor is configured to heat the fluid of the lubrication system. The controller is caused to receive information of an engine operating parameter, receive information about a lubrication system operating parameter, and activate the heater when it is determined that at least one of the engine operating parameter or the lubrication system operating parameter is at or below a predetermined threshold.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 550,546, filed February 6, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. 19 / 042,929, filed January 31, 2025, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to systems, methods, and computer-readable media for oil heater control of a hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine system. Background Art

[0003] A hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine (H2-ICE) uses hydrogen (H2) as fuel. Specifically, an H2-ICE burns a mixture of hydrogen fuel and ambient air. Combusting hydrogen fuel in the presence of air produces water (H2O) as a byproduct. Typically, water is discharged from the H2-ICE through the exhaust system (e.g., the exhaust aftertreatment system). However, in some cases, some of this water may leak into the engine's oil system (e.g., the oil lubrication system, the oil cooling system, etc.), which may adversely affect the operation of the oil system. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One embodiment relates to a system comprising a heater configured to heat fluid in a lubrication system and a controller coupled to the heater. The controller comprises at least one processor coupled to at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the controller to: receive information about an engine operating parameter of an engine; receive information about an operating parameter of the lubrication system; and activate the heater when at least one of the engine operating parameter or the lubrication system operating parameter is determined to be at or below a predetermined threshold.

[0005] Another embodiment relates to a method comprising: receiving a first operating parameter of an engine; receiving a second operating parameter of a lubrication system associated with the engine; and activating a heater associated with the lubrication system when at least one of the first operating parameter is at or below a first predetermined threshold or the second operating parameter is at or below a second predetermined threshold.

[0006] Yet another embodiment relates to a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receive a first operating parameter of an engine; receive a second operating parameter of an oil system associated with the engine; and activate a heater associated with the oil system when at least one of the first operating parameter is at or below a first predetermined threshold, or the second operating parameter is at or below a second predetermined threshold, is satisfied.

[0007] A large amount of specific details are provided, so that the embodiments of the present application's theme are thoroughly understood. The described features of the present application's theme can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments and / or implementations. In this regard, one or more features of an aspect of the present invention can be combined with one or more features of different aspects of the present invention. In addition, in certain embodiments and / or implementations, additional features may be provided, which may not be present in all embodiments or implementations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] According to an example embodiment, Figure 1 It is a block diagram of the engine system.

[0009] According to an example embodiment, Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Block diagram of the system controller.

[0010] According to an example embodiment, Figure 3 It is from Figure 1 A flow chart of a method for removing water from a lubrication system of an engine system.

[0011] According to an example embodiment, Figure 4 It is from Figure 1 A flow chart of another method of removing water from a lubrication system of an engine system.

[0012] According to an example embodiment, Figure 5 It is from Figure 1 A flow chart of another method of removing water from a lubrication system of an engine system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Below is a more detailed description of various concepts and implementations of methods, devices, and systems for controlling heaters, particularly lubricating oil or oil heaters for hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine systems. Before turning to the drawings that describe certain example embodiments in detail, it should be understood that this application is not limited to the details or methods described in the description or drawings. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

[0014] As used herein, the term "content" and similar terms are used to refer to the amount of a substance in a mixture. The amount can be expressed as a numerical value, such as a mass value (e.g., measured in grams, kilograms, etc.), a weight value (e.g., measured in ounces, pounds, etc.), or other appropriate values, such as molar values. In some embodiments, the amount can be expressed as a concentration (e.g., the amount of a substance divided by the total amount of the mixture), such as parts per million, weight percentage, mass percentage, molar concentration, volume concentration, etc. For example, the water content in an engine oil system can be the mass of water, the concentration of water relative to the engine oil, the weight percentage of water relative to the weight of the engine oil, etc. In another example, the water content in an airflow can be the mass of water, the concentration of water relative to the airflow, the weight percentage of water relative to the airflow, etc.

[0015] As used herein, the term "estimate" (or "estimate") is used to refer to determining a non-measured value, such as a measured value other than a physical sensor (e.g., a temperature measured by a temperature sensor, etc.). In other words, an estimate refers to an approximation of a value that may be different from an actual or measured value. The estimated value can be based on information from a physical sensor (e.g., sensor data, historical sensor data, real-time sensor data, etc.) or information from other sources. In some embodiments, one or more models (e.g., statistical models, artificial intelligence models, machine learning models, etc.) can be used to estimate the value. For example, estimating a temperature value can include using data (e.g., sensor data) and a model to determine the temperature value. As used herein, the term "measurement" and similar terms are used to refer to determining an approximate value based on detecting or receiving information about a desired parameter (e.g., using a sensor). A measured value may be close to, but not necessarily exactly equal to, the actual value of the measured value, but is a closer or more accurate approximation relative to an "estimated" value.

[0016] As used herein, the term "operational data" and similar terms are used to refer to data relating to the operation of a system (e.g., an engine system). In some embodiments, the operational data may include settings, values, or other information relating to the operation of the system. For example, the operational data for the engine system may include the ratio of the amount of air provided to the engine for combustion relative to the amount of fuel (referred to herein as the "air-fuel ratio"). In some embodiments, the operational data may be measured (e.g., by one or more physical sensors) or estimated (e.g., by one or more virtual sensors or computer devices or processing circuitry).

[0017] As used herein, the term "duty cycle" refers to one or more characteristics of the operation of a system (e.g., an engine system) over a predetermined period of time or other unit of system operation. An engine system's duty cycle may include a set of values or characteristics measured or determined over a predetermined period of time, including engine speed, engine load, engine oiling characteristics (e.g., fuel consumption), system temperature values (e.g., engine temperature, aftertreatment system temperature, oil system temperature, etc.), and / or other suitable characteristics. In some embodiments, this set of values or characteristics may repeat over a corresponding period of time. Duty cycles of a system may be grouped by similarity, such as engine speed relative to engine load. For example, a "low" duty cycle may refer to relatively low engine speed, engine load, oiling characteristics, and / or temperature values. More specifically, a low duty cycle may refer to one or more operating characteristics being at or below a respective predetermined "low" threshold. For example, a low duty cycle may refer to low engine load or during engine idling. Similarly, a "high" duty cycle may refer to relatively high engine speed, engine load, oiling characteristics, and / or temperature values. More specifically, a high duty cycle may refer to one or more operating characteristics being at or above a predetermined respective "high" threshold. In any of the above embodiments, the predetermined time period may be a specific time value (e.g., 1 hour, 8 hours, 12 hours, etc.), or a dynamic time value based on the system task, such as the time to complete the system task, the remaining time of the system task, etc.

[0018] As described herein, an engine system may include an engine (e.g., a hydrogen fuel engine), an oil system coupled to the engine, and at least one heater coupled to the oil system. A control system or controller may be coupled to the engine and / or the heater. The control system may use one or more sensors (e.g., physical sensors and / or virtual sensors) to monitor one or more parameters of engine system components to collect and / or determine sensor data. Specifically, the sensor data may include the water content in the oil system. The water content may be a measured water content (e.g., measured by one or more physical sensors) and / or an estimated water content (e.g., estimated by a control system and / or one or more virtual sensors). In some embodiments, the control system may use the sensor data together with one or more models, lookup tables, etc. to determine various data, such as an estimated water content.

[0019] From a technical and cost-effective perspective, the systems, methods, and apparatus described herein provide intelligent heater control for heating an oil system coupled to a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine. In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein can be applied to other low-carbon gaseous fuels used in internal combustion engines (e.g., natural gas, propane, butane, dual-fuel, or multi-fuel). Moisture entering an engine's oil system can cause mechanical problems for the engine system. For example, the oil can prematurely age or cause engine damage. Therefore, it is desirable to remove (e.g., eliminate or substantially eliminate) moisture that has entered the oil system. Removing water from the oil system can help extend the life of the engine system. Various systems, processes, and methods related to removing water from an oil system are disclosed herein. Water content can be estimated to determine when to initiate a water removal process for the oil system. A controller or control system can estimate water content based on data received from one or more sensors and / or one or more models (e.g., machine learning models, statistical models, etc.). For example, the control system can estimate water content based on a known air-fuel ratio (i.e., the ratio of the amount of air to the amount of fuel supplied to the engine's combustion cylinders, also referred to herein as "AFR"). The systems, computer-readable media, and methods described herein can advantageously remove water from an engine oil system. They provide a relatively accurate, low-cost, reliable, and durable process for removing water from an engine oil system. Specifically, the systems, computer-readable media, and methods described herein provide a technical solution to the technical problem of removing or substantially removing water from an engine oil system.

[0020] In one example embodiment, an engine system includes a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine. The system includes an oil system coupled to the engine and a heater coupled to the oil system. The system includes a controller for controlling the heater. For example, the controller may activate the heater upon determining the presence of water in the oil system. Advantageously, when the controller activates the heater, the fluid in the oil system (e.g., an oil-water mixture) is heated, causing the water to be removed from the oil system (e.g., by evaporation). In this manner, the controller may use one or more methods to remove the water from the oil system. In one example scenario, a control system (e.g., a controller, a vehicle controller, etc.) obtains data regarding the water content in the oil system using one or more methods. The control system may estimate the water content in the oil system. The water content may be estimated based on a ratio of the amount of water in the oil system (e.g., mass and / or volume, which may be a measured value or an estimated value) to the total amount of oil in the oil system (e.g., mass and / or volume, which may be a known value, a measured value, and / or an estimated value). The water content in the oil system may be expressed as a percentage or a ratio (e.g., parts per million). In some embodiments, a sensor may estimate the water content in the oil system. Water content can be estimated by measuring the ambient humidity within and / or around the engine oil system and correlating this value with water content (e.g., via one or more lookup tables, algorithms, etc.). In some embodiments, the control system may estimate water content based on data received from one or more sensors and one or more models (e.g., machine learning models, statistical models, etc.). In some embodiments, the control system may estimate water content based on a known air-fuel ratio (i.e., the ratio of the amount of air supplied to the engine's combustion cylinders to the amount of fuel, also referred to herein as "AFR"). In some embodiments, the controller may not access data related to water content. In one example embodiment, a method for removing water from an engine oil system includes receiving data related to an operating cycle and / or an idle state of an engine system and removing water from the engine oil system based on a point in the operating cycle or idle state. In another example embodiment, the method for removing water from an engine oil system includes receiving data related to a shutdown event of the engine system and removing water from the engine oil system before, during, or after the shutdown event. In another example embodiment, the method for removing water from an engine oil system includes receiving data related to the life of the oil in the engine oil system and removing water from the engine oil system based on the life of the oil. These features and advantages are described below.

[0021] Reference Figure 1 , a schematic diagram of a block diagram of an engine system 100 is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. The engine system 100 includes an engine 102 and an aftertreatment system 120 in exhaust gas receiving communication with the engine 102. The system 100 may also include a controller 140 (e.g., Figure 2) and an operator input / output (I / O) device 130, wherein a controller 140 is communicatively coupled to each of the aforementioned components. In some embodiments, the system 100 further includes an oil system 145 coupled to the engine 102. The system 100 further includes a heater 150 coupled to the oil system 145. The controller 140 may be communicatively coupled to the heater 150. In some embodiments, the engine system 100 further includes a turbine device 122 disposed between the engine 102 and the aftertreatment system 120, such that the turbine device 122 is in exhaust receiving communication with the engine 102 and in exhaust providing communication with the aftertreatment system 120. In these embodiments, the aftertreatment system 120 is in exhaust receiving communication with the engine 102 (e.g., via the turbine device 122).

[0022] exist Figure 1 In a configuration, engine system 100 is included in a vehicle. The vehicle can be any type of on-highway or off-highway vehicle, including but not limited to loaders, forklifts, long-haul trucks, medium-duty trucks (e.g., pickup trucks), sedans, sports cars, and any other type of vehicle. In another embodiment, engine system 100 can be embodied in a stationary device, such as a generator or generator set. All such variations are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0023] exist Figure 1 In the illustrated configuration, engine 102 is a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine (ICE). The hydrogen-fueled ICE can consume hydrogen fuel to generate power. In other embodiments, engine 102 can be part of a hybrid engine system that includes a combination of an ICE and at least one electric motor coupled to at least one battery. In some embodiments, the hybrid engine system can be configured as a mild hybrid powertrain, a parallel hybrid powertrain, a series hybrid powertrain, or a series-parallel hybrid powertrain.

[0024] The engine 102 includes one or more cylinders 104 (eg, combustion cylinders). Figure 1 As shown, the engine 102 includes six cylinders 104. However, it should be understood that the engine 102 may include more than Figure 1 More or fewer cylinders 104 (eg, at least one) are shown. Additionally, the cylinders 104 may be arranged in a different manner (eg, in-line, horizontal, V-shaped, or other suitable cylinder arrangements).

[0025] The engine system 100 includes an intake duct 110 and an intake manifold 112. The intake duct 110 is configured to direct an intake flow including air (e.g., ambient air) to the intake manifold 112. The intake manifold 112 is configured to direct the intake flow from the intake duct 110 to the engine 102. More specifically, the intake manifold 112 is configured to direct air from the intake duct 110 to each cylinder 104.

[0026] The engine system 100 includes an intake throttle (IAT) valve 114. The IAT valve 114 is disposed on the intake conduit 110 upstream of the intake manifold 112. The IAT valve 114 is used to control the amount of air supplied to the engine 102. The IAT valve 114 can be actuated between an open position and a closed position (e.g., by an actuator controlled by a controller 140). In the open position, the IAT valve 114 allows a maximum amount of air to flow from the intake port to the engine 102. In the closed position, the IAT valve 114 allows a minimum amount of air to flow from the intake port to the engine 102. The controller 140 can selectively actuate the IAT valve 114 (e.g., by controlling the actuator) between a plurality of positions, including an open position and a closed position, to adjust the amount of air received by the engine 102. In some embodiments, the IAT valve 114 is operable to control the amount and / or timing of air supplied to the engine 102 to achieve a target air-fuel ratio (AFR). For example, the controller 140 may control the IAT valve 114 to adjust the amount of air provided to the engine 102 relative to the amount of fuel provided to the engine 102 .

[0027] Engine system 100 includes an exhaust manifold 116 and an exhaust conduit 118. Exhaust manifold 116 is configured to direct exhaust flow from engine 102 to exhaust conduit 118. More specifically, exhaust manifold 116 is configured to direct exhaust flow from each cylinder 104 to exhaust conduit 118. Exhaust conduit 118 is configured to direct exhaust flow from exhaust manifold 116 to downstream components, such as an aftertreatment system 120 and / or a turbine device 122. In some embodiments, a first portion of exhaust conduit 118 is disposed between exhaust manifold 116 and turbine device 122. The first portion of exhaust conduit 118 is configured to direct exhaust flow from exhaust manifold 116 to turbine device 122. In some embodiments, a second portion of exhaust conduit 118 is disposed at the location of turbine device 122. The second portion of exhaust conduit 118 is configured to direct exhaust flow from turbine device 122 to aftertreatment system 120.

[0028] Aftertreatment system 120 is in exhaust gas receiving communication with engine 102. Aftertreatment system 120 includes components for reducing exhaust emissions, such as a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, an oxidation catalyst, an ammonia slip catalyst (ASC), a particulate filter for removing particulate matter (e.g., soot) from exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust conduit system, an exhaust fluid injection module (e.g., an injector) for supplying an injection fluid (e.g., hydrogen (H2)) to the exhaust gas flowing through the aftertreatment system, a plurality of sensors for monitoring the aftertreatment system (e.g., a nitrogen oxide (NOx) sensor, a sulfur oxide (SOx) sensor, a temperature sensor, etc.), and / or other components. One or more catalytic devices (i.e., an SCR catalyst, an oxidation catalyst, a three-way catalyst, etc.) can be configured to facilitate the conversion of exhaust gas constituents (e.g., nitrogen oxides, NOx, sulfur oxides, SOx, etc.) into less harmful elements (e.g., water, nitrogen, N2, etc.). In some embodiments, a fluid may enter aftertreatment system 120. This fluid may be water or NOx generated by the combustion of hydrogen with ambient air. In some embodiments, this fluid may be hydrogen that has not been combusted by engine 102. In some embodiments, a reductant may be introduced into the exhaust gas. The reductant may reduce the emission of undesirable components in the exhaust gas.

[0029] The turbine device 122 may be any type of turbomachine, such as a turbocharger, a supercharger, a variable geometry turbocharger, a power turbine, etc. The turbine device 122 may be operatively coupled to the engine 102 and / or other components of the engine system 100 (e.g., a transmission, a battery, an electric machine, or other suitable components).

[0030] The engine system 100 also includes a fuel system 124. The fuel system 124 is configured to provide fuel (e.g., hydrogen) to the engine 102. Specifically, the fuel system 124 is configured to provide fuel to each of the one or more cylinders 104. The fuel system 124 may include one or more components for providing fuel to the engine 102, such as a storage tank for storing fuel, one or more regulators (e.g., valves, solenoids, etc.) for controlling the amount or timing of fuel provided to the engine 102, and / or fuel injectors. In some embodiments, the fuel injectors are disposed at the intake manifold 112. In other embodiments, the fuel system 124 is equipped with a separate fuel injector for each cylinder 104, so that the fuel system 124 can directly inject fuel into each cylinder 104.

[0031] In some embodiments, controller 140 is operatively coupled to fuel system 124 such that controller 140 can control the operation of fuel system 124. Specifically, controller 140 can control fuel system 124 to control the amount and / or timing of fuel provided to engine 102. In some embodiments, fuel system 124 can be operable to control the amount and / or timing of fuel provided to engine 102 to achieve a target air-fuel ratio. For example, controller 140 can control fuel system 124 to adjust the amount of fuel provided to engine 102 relative to the amount of air provided to engine 102.

[0032] As shown, engine system 100 includes multiple sensors 125. The number, location, and type of sensors included in engine system 100 are for illustrative purposes only. That is, in other configurations, the number, location, and type of sensors may vary. Sensors 125 may include composition sensors (e.g., NOx sensors, oxygen sensors, H2O / humidity sensors, etc.), temperature sensors, particulate matter (PM) sensors, flow sensors (e.g., mass flow sensors, volumetric flow sensors, etc.), other exhaust emission composition sensors, pressure sensors, or some combination thereof. Composition sensors may include H2O / humidity sensors configured to acquire data indicating the presence of water in the oil system (e.g., water content). Data from the H2O / humidity sensors can be used to estimate the water content in the oil system. Sensor 125 may be a condensation sensor that measures condensation and correlates the sensor value with the water content. Sensor 125 for determining the water content in the oil system may be located within oil system 145. For example, sensor 125 may be located within, on, or near the oil sump of oil system 145 and / or within, on, or near the oil pump of oil system 145. Sensor 125 can be located directly upstream of oil system 145 to detect water entering oil system 145. In some embodiments, sensor 125 determines the amount of water in oil system 145 in the form of water activity (i.e., an indication of free water formation). In some embodiments, sensor 125 can monitor the amount of dissolved water in the oil. In some embodiments, sensor 125 can be located in the oil sump and can indicate when water has accumulated in the oil sump.

[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, the sensors 125 may be located at or near the intake duct 110, the intake manifold 112, the exhaust manifold 116, and the exhaust duct 118. It will be appreciated that the location of the sensors may vary, and the engine system 100 may include more than one Figure 1 More or fewer sensors are shown. In one embodiment, engine system 100 may include sensors 125 located before and after aftertreatment system 120. In some embodiments, engine system 100 may include sensors 125 located near oil system 145.

[0034] Additional sensors may also be included in system 100. These sensors may include engine-related sensors (e.g., torque sensors, speed sensors, pressure sensors, flow sensors, temperature sensors, etc.). Sensors may also include sensors associated with other vehicle components, such as aftertreatment system 120, turbine equipment 122, fuel system 124, and / or oil system 145. For example, the sensors may include a water sensor configured to obtain water content data in the vicinity of the sensor.

[0035] The sensors 125 can be physical sensors or virtual sensors (i.e., non-physical sensors implemented as program logic within the controller 140 for use in making various estimates or determinations). For example, an engine speed sensor can be a physical or virtual sensor that measures or otherwise obtains data, values, or information indicative of the speed of the engine 102 (typically expressed in revolutions per minute). When implemented as a physical sensor, the sensor is coupled to the engine and configured to send a signal indicative of the speed of the engine 102 to the controller 140. When implemented as a virtual sensor, the controller 140 can use at least one input in an algorithm, model, lookup table, etc. to determine or estimate a parameter of the engine (e.g., power output, etc.). Any of the sensors 125 described herein can be physical or virtual sensors.

[0036] The controller 140 is coupled, and in particular, communicatively coupled, to the sensors 125. Thus, the controller 140 is configured to receive data from one or more sensors 125 and to provide instructions / information to one or more sensors 125. The controller 140 may use the received data to control one or more components in the system 100 and / or for monitoring and thermal management purposes.

[0037] Operator input / output (I / O) devices 130 may be coupled to controller 140 so that information may be exchanged between controller 140 and I / O devices 130. Figure 1 The operator I / O devices 130 enable an operator of the system 100 to communicate with the controller 140 and the Figure 1 The controller 140 may communicate with one or more components of the system 100. For example, the operator input / output device 130 may include, but is not limited to, an interactive display, a touch screen device, one or more buttons and switches, a voice command receiver, etc. In this manner, the operator input / output device 130 may provide one or more indications or notifications to the operator, such as a malfunction indicator light (MIL), etc. In addition, the vehicle may include a port that enables the controller 140 to be connected or coupled to a scan tool to obtain fault codes and other information about the vehicle.

[0038] The oil system 145 may include an oil pan, a pump, and an oil filter. The oil system 145 may circulate lubricant throughout the engine system to remove heat from certain areas of the system and / or reduce friction of various components. For example, the oil system may provide oil to the engine 102 for lubrication and / or cooling purposes. Although lubricant is described herein as "oil," it should be understood that the system may use other types of lubricants. For example, the lubricant may be engine oil, grease, penetrating lubricant, synthetic lubricant, mineral lubricant, biosynthetic lubricant, and / or petroleum lubricant. In some cases, water produced from ambient air or when burning hydrogen in the presence of air may enter the oil system. When the oil temperature in the oil system is low (e.g., at or below a first oil temperature threshold), water may be trapped in the oil system (e.g., in the oil pan and / or oil filter). When the oil temperature in the oil system is high (eg, at or above the second oil temperature threshold), water may evaporate and flow out of the oil system (eg, to the environment or the aftertreatment system 120 ).

[0039] The at least one heater 150 can be any type of external heat source that is structured or configured to increase the temperature of the engine oil in the engine oil system 145 relative to the current temperature of the engine oil. Thus, the heater 150 can be an electric heater, an induction heater, a microwave heater, or a fuel-burning (e.g., hydrocarbon-fueled) heater. It should be understood that the systems and methods described herein can utilize existing heater technology. For example, the systems and methods described herein can utilize an engine block heater intended for cold start assistance as part of the processes described herein. Thus, the systems and methods described herein can enable and provide for unconventional and non-conventional uses of existing heaters or heat sources. In other embodiments, a heater or heat source can be dedicated to the functions and operations described herein. The heater can be powered by the battery of the vehicle housing the system 100 when the vehicle battery's state of charge is sufficient to power the heater (e.g., the state of charge is at or above a predetermined threshold for powering the at least one heater 150). In certain circumstances, if the battery's state of charge is below a predetermined threshold, the systems and methods utilizing the at least one heater 150 may be disabled (not executed / operated) or adjusted (i.e., operated at a lower power level).

[0040] At least one heater can be of a convection type, in which heat is transferred to the oil, or a conductive type, in which the heater heats a component that transfers heat to the oil. The heater can be configured to increase the temperature of at least one component of the oil system 145 and / or the oil flowing through the oil system 145 relative to a current temperature. When the thermal management mode is enabled, heater 150 can be activated to increase the temperature of at least one component of the oil system 145 and / or the oil flowing through the oil system 145. In some embodiments, heater 150 can be located within the oil system 145. For example, heater 150 can be located at or below the oil sump of the oil system 145 to heat the oil collected in the sump. In some embodiments, heater 150 can be a heater coupled to a portion of the engine 102, such as the engine block. Heater 150 can heat the oil as it flows through the engine 102. In some embodiments, heater 150 can be located upstream of the oil system 145. For example, heater 150 may be positioned to heat the oil and remove moisture before the oil re-enters oil system 145 and then exits oil system 145 into the remainder of system 100 .

[0041] In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may be applicable to systems that do not utilize a vehicle cooling system to heat engine oil or systems that do not have a cooling system. In some embodiments, the oil cooler may be or include a heat exchanger configured to cool (i.e., reduce the temperature of) engine oil in the oil system 145 passing through the oil cooler. The oil system 145 may include a first valve and a second valve, an oil cooler, a heater 150, an oil conduit system, and oil passages. The oil system 145 may be configured to transport oil from the oil system 145 to the engine 102, the heater 150, and / or the oil cooler. One or more conduits, pipes, etc. of the oil conduit system may transport oil to various components of the system 100 via one or more oil passages. The first valve may be located at or near the engine 102 and selectively transport oil to the engine 102. The second valve may be located downstream of the engine 102 and selectively transport oil from the engine 102. The first and second valves may be operable between a plurality of positions and may transport oil to one or more components of the system 100. System 100 may include additional valves for routing oil to various components. For example, the position of the second valve may cause a first portion of oil in oil system 145 to be routed from engine 102 to the oil sump, while a second portion of oil in oil system 145 is routed to heater 150. In some embodiments, one or more components may be bypassed. For example, valves may be configured to bypass the oil cooler and route oil to heater 150, thereby heating the oil without passing through the cooling system. In some embodiments, system 100 may not include a cooling system. Valves may be configured to route oil to and from various components of the system, such as heater 150 and engine 102.

[0042] The controller 140 is used to at least partially control the operation of the system 100 and related subsystems such as the engine 102, the operator I / O device 130, and the heater 150. Communication between components can be achieved through any number of wired or wireless connections. For example, a wired connection can include a serial cable, a fiber optic cable, a CAT5 cable, or any other form of wired connection. In contrast, a wireless connection can include the Internet, Wi-Fi, cellular, radio, etc. In one embodiment, a controller area network (CAN) bus provides for the exchange of signals, information, and / or data. The CAN bus includes any number of wired and wireless connections. Since the controller 140 is connected to Figure 1 The systems and components shown are communicatively connected, and the controller 140 can be Figure 1 One or more components shown receive data. The structure and function of the controller 140 are shown in FIG. Figure 2 Further described in .

[0043] like Figure 1 As shown, among the components of system 100, controller 140 can be implemented as one or more electronic control units (ECUs), such as one or more microcontrollers. Controller 140 can be independent of or included in at least one of a transmission control unit, an exhaust aftertreatment control unit, a powertrain control module, an engine control unit, an engine control module, and the like.

[0044] Reference Figure 2 , according to an example embodiment, shows Figure 1 FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a controller 140 of the system 100. As shown, the controller 140 includes at least one processing circuit 202 (having at least one processor 204 and at least one memory 206), an oil heating control circuit 210, and a communication interface 216. The controller 140 is configured to control a heater 150 to remove or substantially remove unwanted fluid (e.g., water) from the oil system 145 when the presence of water is determined or detected in the oil system 145. As described herein, the estimated water content may be based on the air-fuel ratio, the water content in the intake air flow, the water content in the exhaust air flow, the ambient humidity level, and / or the humidity / condensation level determined by a sensor. A specific process for removing water from the oil system is described below.

[0045] In one configuration, the oil heating control circuit 210 is embodied as instructions (e.g., stored by memory 206) that can be executed by a processor (e.g., processor 204). As described herein and in other uses, these instructions facilitate the execution of certain operations to achieve the reception and transmission of data. For example, a machine-readable medium may provide instructions (e.g., commands, etc.) (e.g., to obtain data). In this regard, the machine-readable medium may include programmable logic that defines the frequency of data acquisition (or transmission). The computer-readable medium instructions may include code that can be written in any programming language, including but not limited to Java or similar languages and any traditional programming language, such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages. The computer-readable program code can be executed on one processor or multiple remote processors. In the latter case, the remote processors can be interconnected via any type of network (e.g., a CAN bus, etc.).

[0046] In another configuration, the oil heating control circuit 210 is implemented as a hardware unit, such as one or more electronic control units. Thus, the oil heating control circuit 210 may be implemented as one or more circuit components, including, but not limited to, processing circuitry, network interfaces, peripheral devices, input devices, output devices, and the like. In some embodiments, the oil heating control circuit 210 may take the form of one or more analog circuits, electronic circuits (e.g., integrated circuits (ICs), discrete circuits, system-on-a-chip (SOC) circuits, microcontrollers, etc.), telecommunications circuits, hybrid circuits, and any other type of "circuitry." In this regard, the oil heating control circuit 210 may include any type of component used to perform or facilitate the operations described herein. For example, the circuits described herein may include one or more transistors, logic gates (e.g., NAND, AND, NOR, OR, XOR, NOT, XNOR, etc.), resistors, multiplexers, registers, capacitors, inductors, diodes, wiring, and the like. The oil heating control circuit 210 may also include or be a programmable hardware device, such as a field programmable gate array, programmable array logic, or a programmable logic device. The oil heating control circuit 210 may include one or more memory devices for storing instructions executable by a processor of the oil heating control circuit 210. The one or more memory devices and the processor may have the same definitions as provided below with respect to the memory 206 and the processor 204. In some hardware unit configurations, the oil heating control circuit 210 may be geographically dispersed at different locations within the vehicle. Alternatively, as shown, the oil heating control circuit 210 may be embodied in or within a single unit / housing, which is shown as the controller 140.

[0047] In the illustrated example, controller 140 includes processing circuitry 202 having a processor 204 and memory 206. Processing circuitry 202 may be constructed or configured to execute or implement the instructions, commands, and / or control processes described with respect to oil heating control circuitry 210. The illustrated configuration indicates that oil heating control circuitry 210 is embodied as a machine- or computer-readable medium. In some embodiments, instructions may be contained in memory 206. However, as noted above, this illustration is not limiting, as the present disclosure contemplates other embodiments in which oil heating control circuitry 210 is configured as a hardware unit. All such combinations and variations are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0048] The processor 204 may be implemented as one or more single-chip or multi-chip processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and / or suitable processors (e.g., other programmable logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc., to perform the functions described herein). The processor may be a microprocessor, a group of processors, etc. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. In some embodiments, one or more processors may be shared by multiple circuits (e.g., the oil heating control circuit 210 may include or otherwise share the same processor, which in some example embodiments may execute instructions stored or otherwise accessed via different areas of memory). Additionally or alternatively, one or more processors may be configured to perform certain operations independently of one or more coprocessors. In other example embodiments, two or more processors may be coupled via a bus to enable independent, parallel, pipelined, or multi-threaded instruction execution. All of these variations are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0049] The memory 206 (e.g., memory, storage unit, storage device) may include one or more devices (e.g., RAM, ROM, flash memory, hard disk storage) for storing data and / or computer code to perform or facilitate the various processes, layers, and modules described in this disclosure. For example, the memory 206 may include dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The memory 206 may be communicatively connected to the processor 204 to provide computer code or instructions to the processor 204 for performing at least some of the processes described herein. In addition, the memory 206 may be or include tangible, non-transient volatile memory or non-volatile memory. Thus, the memory 206 may include a database component, an object code component, a script component, or any other type of information structure to support the various activities and information structures described herein.

[0050] The communication interface 216 may include any combination of wired and / or wireless interfaces (e.g., jacks, antennas, transmitters, receivers, transceivers, wire terminals) for communicating data with various systems, devices, or networks configured to enable intra-vehicle communication (e.g., between vehicle components) and extra-vehicle communication (e.g., communication with a remote server). For example, with respect to extra-vehicle / system communication, the communication interface 216 may include an Ethernet card and port for sending and receiving data over an Ethernet-based communication network, and / or a Wi-Fi transceiver for communicating over a wireless communication network. The communication interface 216 may be configured to communicate over a local area network or a wide area network (e.g., the Internet), and may use various communication protocols (e.g., IP, LON, Bluetooth, ZigBee, radio, cellular, near-field communication).

[0051] like Figure 2 As shown, communication interface 216 may enable communication with engine 102 , aftertreatment system 120 (and / or components thereof), one or more sensors 125 , IAT valve 114 , oil system 145 , heater 150 , and / or fuel system 124 .

[0052] The oil heating control circuit 210 is configured to determine the amount of water in the oil system 145. In some embodiments, the oil heating control circuit 210 is configured to receive sensor data regarding the amount of water in the oil system 145 (e.g., data from sensor 125). In some embodiments, the oil heating control circuit 210 is configured to estimate the amount of water in the oil system 145 based on the received sensor data and / or other information described herein.

[0053] Sensor data may include water content in the oil system 145. In some embodiments, the water content in the oil system 145 may be measured by a sensor (e.g., a water sensor, a humidity sensor, etc.) located at the inlet of the oil system 145 or elsewhere upstream of the engine 102. In some embodiments, the water content in the oil system 145 may be estimated (e.g., by the controller 140 and / or the virtual humidity sensor 125). For example, the water content in the oil system 145 may be equivalent to and / or estimated based on ambient humidity (e.g., using a lookup table that correlates ambient humidity with water content at a specific location. This lookup table may be based on experimental data for various ambient humidities under various engine operating conditions (e.g., temperature ranges). For example, a "high" humidity level (e.g., 70% or higher ambient humidity (or other thresholds may be used)) may correspond to a "high" water content (e.g., 0.02% water in the oil system). A lookup table may be used to maintain various correlations so that the water content can be readily determined based on ambient humidity values, etc. In some embodiments, the ambient humidity may be measured by an ambient humidity sensor. In other embodiments, the ambient humidity may be received by the controller 140 from an external computing system (e.g., a weather service, etc.) via the communication interface 216. In some embodiments, the water content may be estimated based on the oil life of the oil in the oil system 145. In various embodiments, the water content may increase as the oil life decreases. For example, if it is determined that 50% of the oil life remains, the water content may be estimated to be 0.015%. If it is determined that 100% of the oil life remains, the water content may be estimated to be 0%. This may be based on a lookup table or other formula, algorithm, etc. that the controller can access when determining the water content, which correlates the oil life with the water content. In other embodiments, a combination of parameters (e.g., remaining oil life, ambient humidity, duty cycle, air-fuel ratio, sensor data, etc.) may be used to determine the water content in the system (e.g., based on one or more models, algorithms, processes, lookup tables, etc.).

[0054] In some embodiments, the oil heating control circuit 210 is configured to receive information regarding the ambient humidity near the system 100 from a remote computing system (e.g., a computing system located remotely from the system 100). The information regarding the ambient humidity may include a water content value, a relative humidity value, an ambient temperature value, a condensation value, and / or other information regarding the ambient humidity near the system 100. In this manner, the water content in the oil system 145 may include or be based on the information regarding the ambient humidity. This correlation may be based on a model (e.g., a physical model, a machine learning model, a mathematical model, a statistical model, etc.) and / or a lookup table. The correlation may be based on a lookup table that correlates ambient humidity with the water content at a specific location. The lookup table may be based on experimental data for various ambient humidities under various engine operating conditions (e.g., temperature ranges). In various embodiments, the water content in the intake and / or exhaust airflow may be correlated with and / or indicative of the water content in the oil system 145. In various embodiments, the water content in the fuel system 124 may be correlated with and / or indicative of the water content in the oil system 145. The correlation may be based on a model (eg, a physical model, a machine learning model, a mathematical model, a statistical model, etc.) or a lookup table.

[0055] In some embodiments, the oil heating control circuit 210 is configured to receive system operating data. The system operating data may include information regarding the operation of the system 100. For example, the system operating data may include an air-fuel ratio. In some embodiments, the air-fuel ratio is a target air-fuel ratio (e.g., an air-fuel ratio commanded by the controller 140). In other embodiments, the air-fuel ratio (AFR) is a measured air-fuel ratio (e.g., an air-fuel ratio measured and / or estimated by one or more sensors 125 (e.g., a lambda sensor)). For example, one or more sensors 125 (e.g., an oxygen sensor) may be disposed on or within the intake manifold 112 and / or the exhaust manifold 116. The oxygen sensor may acquire data regarding the oxygen content in the oil system, the intake air flow, and / or the exhaust air flow. In some embodiments, the oil heating control circuit 210 may utilize one or more lookup tables or one or more models (e.g., a mathematical model, a statistical model, a machine learning model, etc.) that correlate the air-fuel ratio with the water content in the oil system. Specifically, the lookup table and / or model may relate the air / fuel ratio to the amount of water in the oil system based on one or more additional operating parameters, such as the time since the last water purge, known combustion characteristics of the engine 102 (e.g., the relative amounts of fuel, water, and other exhaust constituents expected to be present in the exhaust based on the air / fuel ratio), and / or other operating parameters.

[0056] In various embodiments, the water content of the engine oil system can be estimated based on oil supply parameters of the engine system 100. For example, at a constant humidity value (e.g., a humidity value maintained for a predetermined period of time), a leaner air-fuel ratio of the engine oil (i.e., a relatively high air-fuel ratio) corresponds to a relatively lower water content in the exhaust flow of the engine system, and thus the expected water content in the engine oil system may be lower. Similarly, a richer air-fuel ratio of the engine oil corresponds to a relatively higher water content in the exhaust flow of the engine system, and thus the expected water content in the engine oil system may be higher.

[0057] In various embodiments, ambient humidity may affect the amount of water in the oil system 145. For example, if ambient humidity is high and the engine is operating at a low duty cycle, the amount of water in the oil system 145 may be high. In various embodiments, a telematics device may be used to estimate the amount of water in the oil system. For example, the telematics device may transmit weather data for the vehicle's location. The oil heating control circuit 210 may estimate the amount of water in the oil system based on weather information (e.g., outdoor temperature, humidity, dew point, etc.).

[0058] In various embodiments, the water content of one or more of the intake air flow, the exhaust air flow, and / or the fuel system may be correlated with the water content of the oil system 145. This correlation may be based on a model (e.g., a physical model, a machine learning model, a mathematical model, a statistical model, etc.) or a lookup table.

[0059] In various embodiments, the system 100 may be embodied in a vehicle in a fleet. When the system 100 is embodied as a vehicle in a fleet, the correction factor or adjustment factor may be used to perform maintenance on one or more vehicles in the fleet in response to determining that a problem exists with one or more vehicles in the fleet. In these embodiments, the remote computing system 218 (e.g., Figure 2As shown) can receive data from each vehicle in the fleet or a predetermined subset of vehicles. The remote computing system 218 is a computing system such as a remote server, a cloud computing system, etc. Therefore, as used herein, a "remote computing system" refers to a computing or data processing system having terminals that are remote from a central processing unit, through which users and / or other computing systems communicate with the central processing unit. In some embodiments, the remote computing system 218 is part of a larger computing system (such as a multi-purpose server or other multi-purpose computing system). In other embodiments, the remote computing system 218 is implemented on a third-party computing device operated by a third-party service provider (such as AWS, Azure, GCP and / or other third-party computing services). The remote computing system 218 can be operated by a product and / or service provider. Therefore, in some embodiments, the remote computing system 218 is a computing system of a service and / or system / component provider, and is in turn controlled, managed, or otherwise associated with the service and / or system / component provider (such as an engine manufacturer, a vehicle manufacturer, an exhaust aftertreatment system manufacturer, etc.).

[0060] The data received by remote computing system 220 may include operational data regarding the operation of each vehicle in the fleet or a predetermined subset of vehicles. The operational data may include air-fuel ratio values (as described above), ambient humidity values, engine duty cycle information, and / or other suitable information. Based on the received data, remote computing system 218 may determine that one or more vehicles in the fleet have elevated levels of water in their fuel or oil systems (e.g., water levels above a predetermined elevated threshold). Remote computing system 220 may determine that a problem exists in the fleet based on the water levels in the fuel or oil systems of a predetermined number or number of vehicles in the fleet exceeding a predetermined threshold. In other words, remote computing system 220 may extrapolate the determination regarding the subset of vehicles to the entire fleet. In response to determining that a problem exists in the fleet (e.g., upon determining that at least a predetermined number of vehicles in the fleet have elevated levels of water in their fuel or oil systems), remote computing system 220 may perform one or more actions to correct the problem. For example, the manner in which maintenance on system 100 is performed may be adjusted, or the manner in which the equipment operates may be adjusted. In various embodiments, the layout of system 100 may be corrected by an independent manufacturer or the original equipment manufacturer to address the problem. For example, the type or formulation of oil and / or oil additives used in the oil system 145 may be adjusted.

[0061] In various embodiments, the controller 140 is configured to initiate or otherwise enable a purge operation or process to remove, substantially remove, or otherwise attempt to remove or substantially remove water, or at least a certain amount thereof, from the oil system 145 (or, in some embodiments, another component of the system 100), based on the water content in the oil system 145. The controller 140 can purge the water content from the oil system 145 via the oil heating control circuit 210. The water content of the oil system 145 can be regulated by operating the heater 150. The heater 150 can be activated to heat one or more components of the oil system 145 to a temperature that causes the water in the oil system 145 to evaporate and / or otherwise be purged from the system, while not affecting the oil and / or other components of the oil system 145.

[0062] Heater 150 can be activated and operated in a variety of ways. For example, controller 140 can activate heater 150 and adjust its operation so that heater 150 produces a relatively high temperature output and / or a lower or reduced power output (e.g., providing a lower temperature). The operating time of heater 150 can be adjusted (e.g., increasing the operating time when the water concentration in the oil system is high relative to when the water concentration is low). Heater 150 can also be turned on and / or off during high duty cycles, allowing the heater to remain active and operational during low duty cycles (i.e., when water may accumulate in the oil system 145). Heater 150 can also be turned off or deactivated when the water concentration in the oil system 145 and / or fuel system 124 is low. For example, heater 150 can be configured to operate within a threshold range corresponding to an upper and lower water content. If the water content falls below a predetermined lower water content, heater 150 can be automatically or manually shut down. Heater 150 can also be activated at an earlier time based on the upcoming operating conditions of system 100. For example, if the system 100 and / or engine 102 is about to shut down, the heater 150 can be activated earlier to completely purge the oil system 145 of moisture before the shutdown occurs. In some embodiments, when the ambient humidity is high (i.e., above a certain threshold), the heater can be controlled more aggressively (i.e., higher temperature, longer duration). The heater 150 can be activated, deactivated, and / or controlled using various other methods or under various parameters or conditions not described herein.

[0063] In some embodiments, the water content in the oil system 145 can be controlled by activating and controlling the heater 150 based on the duty cycle. In some embodiments, during periods of low vehicle duty cycles, more water may accumulate in the oil system. System 100 or its components may receive data indicating the water concentration in the oil system 145. This data may come from, for example, one or more sensors 125. Sensors 125 may be humidity and / or condensation sensors that measure humidity and / or condensation and correlate the sensor values to water content. In some embodiments, more water may accumulate during periods of low vehicle speed or extended idling. Controller 140 of system 100 may receive data related to the vehicle's duty cycle. Controller 140 may also receive data related to the vehicle's idle speed. If the data related to the duty cycle and / or idle speed indicates that the water concentration in the oil system 145 may be too high (e.g., reaching or exceeding a predetermined high threshold), controller 140 may activate heater 150. Heater 150 may be activated by oil heating control circuit 210. In some embodiments, controller 140 may adjust the operation of heater 150 based on the water concentration in the oil system 145. For example, if the controller 140 and / or other components of the system 100 anticipate activating and controlling the heater 150 during low duty cycles and / or extended idle conditions, the controller 140 may activate the heater 150 during relatively low duty cycles (i.e., when one or more operating characteristics of the system 100, such as engine speed, engine load, engine temperature, oil system temperature, etc., are at or below a predetermined threshold). This allows the heater to be activated and operational during low duty cycles, thereby fully and effectively removing water from the oil system 145. In some embodiments, the heater may be deactivated during relatively high duty cycles (e.g., a higher duty cycle relative to a lower duty cycle), allowing the heater to remain active or primarily active during low duty cycles. In some embodiments, the controller 140 may not receive data indicating the water content of the oil system 145 from the sensor 125 or any other component of the system. The controller 140 may operate the heater 150 without relying on a sensor to indicate the water content. For example, if the controller 140 receives data indicating that the system 100 has been operating at a low speed or extended idle state for an extended period of time, the controller 140 may activate and control the heater 150 to purge water from the oil system 145 without receiving an indication of the water content, as long periods of low speed or extended idle time typically result in the engine 102 operating under such conditions, causing the engine 102 to generate water that may be present in the oil system 145.

[0064] In some embodiments, the water content in the oil system 145 can be controlled by activating and controlling the heater 150 before, during, or after the engine 102 is shut down. The controller 140 may receive information that the engine 102 is about to be shut down for a period of time. For example, the engine 102 may be shut down when the system 100 reaches the end of a route or trip, when the driver of the system 100 and / or the system 100 completes a shift, or when the driver of the system 100 takes a break during a route. After the controller 140 receives information that the engine 102 is about to be shut down, the controller 140 may activate the heater 150 before the engine is shut down. Operation of the heater 150 can reduce the amount of water remaining in the oil system 145 during the engine shutdown period. In some embodiments, the controller 140 may determine the water content in the oil system 145. The water content may be, but is not limited to, a water-to-oil ratio, a water volume, and / or a water concentration. The water content of the oil system 145 may be determined by one or more sensors 125. The operation of heater 150 may be adjusted based on the level or amount of water detected in oil system 145. For example, if the water content reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold (concentration, ratio, etc.), heater 150 may operate more aggressively to remove more water and / or remove water from oil system 145 more quickly.

[0065] In some embodiments, heater 150 can be activated and controlled after engine 102 is shut down. In some embodiments, heater 150 operates after shutdown (e.g., based on controller 140 receiving an indication or detecting the presence of water in oil system 145). In some embodiments, heater 150 may operate after shutdown even if there is no indication or detection of water in oil system 145. In some embodiments, heater 150 may operate during engine shutdown. In some embodiments, heater 150 may operate individually or in combination at any time before, during, and / or after engine shutdown.

[0066] In some embodiments, the water content in oil system 145 can be used to activate and control heater 150 based on the oil life of the oil in oil system 145. In some embodiments, oil life may be related to oil quality (i.e., the amount of contaminants or particles present in the oil). In some embodiments, oil life may be determined based on an oil change interval (i.e., how often the oil should be drained and replaced with new oil). In some embodiments, an oil change monitor or sensor can estimate oil life by tracking vehicle mileage and / or other parameters and comparing this value to a predetermined mileage interval indicating a need (or recommendation) for an oil change. For example, the predetermined mileage interval may be 5,000 miles, and the current mileage may be 2,500 miles, which may indicate 50% remaining oil life. As the engine operates, oil quality may degrade. In some embodiments, oil with 100% oil life may be oil that has been newly added to oil system 145 and / or other components of system 100 and is free of contaminants or particles associated with the operation of system 100. Oil that has 100% oil life may hold less water than degraded oil (ie, oil life less than 100%, such as 50%).

[0067] Controller 140 of system 100 can receive information regarding the oil life of the oil in oil system 145. Oil life can be estimated using various methods. For example, oil life can be estimated based on the oil change interval of oil system 145. Oil life can also be estimated using an oil change monitor, a time-based calculation, a mileage-based calculation, and / or a calculation based on the number of engine hours since the last oil change. Controller 140 can modify the control of heater 150 based on the oil life of the oil in oil system 145. In some embodiments, controller 140 may more aggressively control the operation of heater 150 as oil life decreases. For example, as oil life decreases from 100% to 50%, controller 140 may adjust the operation of heater 150 so that the heater operates for ten minutes to purge water from oil system 145 when oil life is 100%, and operates for twenty minutes to purge water from oil system 145 when oil life is 50%. In some embodiments, one or more methods of controlling heater 150 may be used simultaneously. For example, when the oil life is at 50%, the heater 150 may operate for a longer period and at a higher temperature than when the oil life is at 100%. In some embodiments, controlling the heater 150 based on oil life can be used alone or in combination with other methods for removing water from the oil system described herein. For example, the heater 150 may be activated and controlled before the engine 102 is shut down. In this example, if the oil life is at a lower percentage of oil life, the heater 150 may operate for a longer period before the engine is shut down (relative to the time the heater 150 operates at 100% oil life). In some embodiments, the controller 140 may automatically adjust the activation and control of the heater 150 based on the oil life. For example, the controller 140 may configure the oil heating control circuit 210 to gradually increase the duration of operating the heater 150 as the oil life decreases. In some embodiments, as the oil life increases (e.g., from 10% to 100%) after an oil change in the oil system 145, the heater control may be reset to be less aggressive and / or reset to standard operating conditions associated with 100% oil life.

[0068] In some embodiments, controller 140 and / or its various components may include an oil regeneration and / or purge cycle timer function. This function may be configured as part of oil heating control circuit 210 or as another component of controller 140. In some embodiments, the oil regeneration / purge cycle timer function may monitor the number of engine operating hours since the last oil regeneration (i.e., oil change) of system 100. The oil regeneration / purge cycle timer function may also monitor the number of engine operating hours since the last oil regeneration of system 100 under specific engine operating parameters (e.g., low idle, low load, etc.). Controller 140 may use the oil regeneration and / or purge cycle timer data to adjust the operation of heater 150 under various operating conditions. The oil regeneration and / or purge cycle timer may also use a humidity and / or condensation sensor (e.g., sensor 125) as described herein to determine the amount of water in oil system 145. In some embodiments, the oil regeneration and / or purge cycle timer may monitor the rate of oil degradation. For example, the oil regeneration and / or purge cycle timer may detect that the oil life is degrading at a faster rate than expected since the last oil regeneration. This data can be communicated to the controller 140, and the operating parameters of the heater 150 can be modified. For example, if the oil life is degrading faster than expected, the controller 140 can increase the operating time of the heater 150 to a longer time than it would have if the oil life were degrading as expected, in order to purge water from the oil system 145.

[0069] In some embodiments, heater 150 may be activated and controlled based on various other operating parameters of system 100. For example, heater 150 may be activated based on the temperature of the oil in oil system 145. For example, if the oil has reached or exceeded a predetermined temperature (e.g., equal to or greater than 100 degrees Celsius), heater 150 may be operated at a lower temperature or for a shorter period of time because moisture is being removed by the heat of the oil itself.

[0070] Heater 150 may also be activated in response to condensation in engine 102 or other components of system 100. Sensor 125 may detect that condensation has formed in a component of system 100. In some embodiments, sensor 125 may determine that condensation may be forming in a component of system 100. The sensor data may be transmitted to controller 140, which may operate heater 150 accordingly.

[0071] In some embodiments, heater 150 may be activated during or in response to a cold start of engine 102. If the ambient air temperature and / or the coolant temperature is below a first predetermined threshold, controller 140 may activate heater 150 until the engine oil temperature is above a second predetermined threshold. For example, if the ambient air temperature is at or below a predetermined temperature (e.g., 0 degrees Celsius), heater 150 may be activated to heat the engine oil until it reaches a temperature of 110 degrees Celsius or greater.

[0072] In some embodiments, system 100 may include an oil sump coupled to or contained within oil system 145. The oil sump may be located in a chamber separate from oil system 145. The oil sump may be configured to allow water to separate from oil system 145 and accumulate within the sump. A heater 150 may then be applied to the oil sump to evaporate or remove the water from oil system 145.

[0073] refer to Figure 3 , according to an example embodiment, a flow chart of a method 300 for removing water from the oil system 145 is shown. Specifically, the controller 140 and / or one or more components thereof (such as the oil heating control circuit 212) are configured to perform the method 300. It should be understood that the order of the method 300 is shown only as an example. That is, one or more processes may be performed simultaneously, partially simultaneously, sequentially, and / or in a manner similar to the above. Figure 3 Furthermore, some processes of method 300 may be omitted, while other processes may be added to method 300. Method 300 may be executed periodically and / or dynamically in response to changes (e.g., changes in information from sensor 125).

[0074] At process 302 , the controller 140 receives one or more operating parameters (eg, engine operating parameters) associated with the engine 102 . For example, at step 302 , the controller may receive duty cycle data.

[0075] In some embodiments, during process 302, the controller may receive a first operating parameter of the engine 102 (e.g., an engine operating parameter). For example, the controller 140 may receive duty cycle data and / or idle speed data. The duty cycle data may include one or more operating parameters associated with the engine 102 (e.g., an engine operating parameter). The duty cycle data may include one or more operating parameters associated with a lubrication system (e.g., an engine oil system 145) (e.g., a lubrication system operating parameter). Accordingly, during process 302, the controller may receive a second operating parameter of the engine oil system 145 (e.g., a lubrication system operating parameter).

[0076] In some embodiments, the duty cycle data may include information regarding whether and when the system 100 is operating at a high duty cycle and / or a low duty cycle. The controller 140 may also receive operating parameters of the engine 102 in addition to and / or in lieu of the idle data. The idle data may include whether and when the system 100 is operating at a low idle and / or extended idle. The idle data may also include the duration of the low idle and / or extended idle. The idle data may include data regarding past, present, and / or future idle states of the system 100.

[0077] In process 304, the water content of the engine oil system 145 is determined or estimated. The controller 140 receives or estimates the water content of the engine oil system 145. In some embodiments, process 304 is optional and may not be implemented. In process 304, the water content may be estimated via one or more sensors 125. The controller 140 may estimate the water content via one or more sensors 125 (e.g., physical sensors or virtual sensors). The estimated water content may be transmitted to the controller 140. For example, the controller 140 may receive the estimated water content from a physical sensor or estimate the water content via a virtual sensor.

[0078] In some embodiments, the water content can be estimated based on the amount of water in the oil system 145 (e.g., mass or volume, which can be a measured value or an estimated value) and the total amount of oil in the oil system (e.g., mass or volume, which can be a known value, a measured value, or an estimated value). For example, the controller 140 can receive the amount of water in the oil system 145 (from one or more sensors 125). The controller 140 can also receive the amount of oil in the oil system 145 (from one or more sensors 125). The controller 140 can then determine the water content based on the amount of water relative to the amount of oil.

[0079] In process 306, controller 140 selectively turns on or activates heater 150. Controller 140 may activate heater 150 in response to determining that an operating parameter of the engine is equal to or below a predetermined threshold. For example, controller 140 may activate the heater in response to determining that system 100 is operating at a low duty cycle and / or extended idle. In some embodiments, in process 306, controller 140 may activate heater 150 in response to determining that system 100 was previously operating at a low duty cycle and / or will be operating at a low duty cycle in the near future (e.g., within a predetermined time period). In some embodiments, process 306 may be delayed. For example, in response to determining that system 100 is currently operating at a high duty cycle, the controller may delay process 306 until controller 140 determines that system 100 is operating at a low duty cycle.

[0080] At process 308, the controller 140 may selectively adjust the operation of the heater 150. The heater 150 may be adjusted based on one or more operating parameters of the system 100 described above. The controller 140 may selectively adjust the operation of the heater 150 based on, for example, one or more operating parameters of the system 100 described above. For example, in response to determining that the water content is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the temperature of the heater 150 may be increased relative to the current temperature of the heater 150. In response to determining that the water content is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, the controller 140 may increase the heat output of the heater 150 relative to the current heat output of the heater 150.

[0081] In some embodiments, process 308 may include shutting down heater 150. Controller 140 may selectively shut down heater 150 during process 308. Heater 150 may be shut down in response to determining that the water content in oil system 145 is at or below a predetermined threshold and has been cleared or substantially cleared from oil system 145. For example, controller 140 may shut down heater 150 in response to the water content in oil system 145 being at or below a predetermined threshold and / or in response to the water content in oil system 145 being cleared or substantially cleared. For example, controller 140 may receive data from sensor 125 indicating that the water content is at or below a threshold. In some embodiments, heater 150 may be shut down without determining the water content in oil system 145. Controller 140 may shut down heater 150 without determining the water content in oil system 145. For example, controller 140 may be configured to shut down heater 150 after a predetermined period of time, regardless of the amount of water remaining in oil system 145 at the end of the predetermined period of time.

[0082] In some embodiments, controller 140 may adjust the operation of heater 150 by adjusting a control parameter of heater 150. A control parameter is a parameter value of a control signal provided by controller 140 to heater 150, such as a power value, a heat value, a temperature value, etc. Thus, the control parameter may be one or more of the temperature of heater 150, the activation duration of heater 150, and / or the time at which heater 150 is activated. For example, in response to a fluid level in the oil system 145 (e.g., the water content of the oil system 145) being equal to or greater than a first predetermined water content threshold, controller 140 may increase the control parameter of heater 150, which in turn increases the heat output of heater 150. In one example implementation, controller 140 increasing the control parameter of heater 150 includes at least one of: increasing the temperature output of heater 150 relative to the current temperature output of the heater, increasing the heater's operating duration relative to the current operating duration of the heater (or continuing the heater's activation duration despite the heater being normally commanded off), or activating the heater during a high duty cycle. In another example implementation, controller 140 increasing the control parameter of heater 150 includes deactivating the heater during a high duty cycle.

[0083] In some embodiments, the controller 140 may adjust (e.g., increase) the control parameter of the heater 150 before, during, or after the engine 102 is shut down. For example, when the water content value is at or below a second predetermined water content threshold value before the engine 102 is shut down (indicating that water has been purged or substantially purged from the oil system 145), the controller 140 may increase the control parameter of the heater 150 during a first period of time before the engine 102 is shut down. As another example, when the water content value is at or below a second predetermined water content threshold value during the engine 102 shutdown (indicating that water has been purged or substantially purged from the oil system 145), the controller 140 may increase the control parameter of the heater 150 during the engine 102 shutdown. As another example, when the water content value is at or below a second predetermined water content threshold value after the engine is shut down (indicating that water has been purged or substantially purged from the oil system 145), the controller 140 may increase the control parameter of the heater 150 during the engine 102 shutdown.

[0084] Reference Figure 4 , a flow chart illustrating a method 400 for removing water from the oil system 145 according to an example embodiment. Specifically, the controller 140 and / or one or more components thereof (e.g., the oil heating control circuit 212) are configured to perform the method 400. It should be understood that the order of the method 400 is merely an example. That is, one or more processes may be performed concurrently, partially concurrently, sequentially, and / or in a manner different from Figure 4 Furthermore, some of the processes of method 400 may be omitted, while other processes may be added to method 400. The method 400 may be performed periodically and / or dynamically in response to changes (e.g., changes in information received from one or more sensors 125).

[0085] In process 402, controller 140 receives operating parameters of engine 102 (e.g., engine operating parameters or first operating parameters of engine 102). For example, controller 140 receives engine shutdown data. The engine shutdown data may include information about when system 100 and / or engine 102 will shut down. The shutdown data may be for the next shutdown or a shutdown at a further time in the future. If it is determined that the engine shutdown will not occur within a predetermined time from the current time, method 400 may be stopped or terminated. For example, if it is determined that the engine will not shut down within 12 hours, method 400 may be stopped. If it is determined that the engine will shut down within a predetermined time (e.g., 12 hours or less), method 400 may be resumed.

[0086] In process 404, the water content of the engine oil system 145 is estimated or determined. Controller 140 receives or estimates the water content of the engine oil system 145. In some embodiments, process 404 is optional and may not be performed. In process 404, the water content may be estimated via one or more sensors 125. Controller 140 may receive or estimate the water content via one or more sensors 125 (e.g., physical sensors or virtual sensors). The estimated water content may be transmitted to controller 140. For example, controller 140 may receive the water content from a physical sensor or estimate the water content via a virtual sensor.

[0087] In some embodiments, the water content can be estimated based on the amount of water in the oil system 145 (e.g., mass or volume, which can be a measured value or an estimated value) and the total amount of oil in the oil system (e.g., mass or volume, which can be a known value, a measured value, or an estimated value). For example, the controller 140 can receive the amount of water in the oil system 145 (from one or more sensors 125). The controller 140 can also receive the amount of oil in the oil system 145 (from one or more sensors 125). The controller 140 can then determine the water content based on the ratio of the amount of water to the amount of oil.

[0088] During process 406, controller 140 may selectively turn on or activate heater 150. Controller 140 may selectively activate heater 150 when it is determined that engine operating parameters are within or below a predetermined time threshold. For example, heater 150 may be activated when controller 140 determines that the engine will shut down within fifteen minutes. Controller 140 may activate heater 150 in response to an engine shutdown occurring within a predetermined time threshold. In some embodiments, process 406 may be delayed when controller 140 determines that engine operating parameters are outside of a predetermined time threshold. For example, process 406 may be delayed if it is determined that engine 102 will not shut down within an upcoming predetermined time (e.g., one hour). In some embodiments, process 406 may be delayed until engine shutdown is imminent. In some embodiments, process 406 may be performed at any time before, during, or after engine shutdown occurs.

[0089] In process 408, controller 140 may adjust the operation of heater 150. Heater 150 may be adjusted based on one or more operating parameters of system 100 described above. For example, when it is determined that the water content is at or above a predetermined threshold and engine shutdown will occur within a predetermined time threshold (e.g., within 5 minutes), the temperature of heater 150 may be increased relative to the current temperature of heater 150. When the water content is at or above the predetermined threshold and engine shutdown will occur within the predetermined time threshold, controller 140 may increase the heat output of heater 150 relative to the current heat output of heater 150. In some embodiments, process 408 may include shutting down heater 150. When it is determined that the water content is at or below a predetermined threshold and has been cleared or substantially cleared from the oil system 145, heater 150 may be shut down. When the water content is at or below a predetermined threshold and has been cleared or substantially cleared from the oil system 145, controller 140 may shut down heater 150. Sensor 125 may be used to determine whether the water content has fallen below the threshold. The controller 140 may receive the moisture content from the one or more sensors 125 and may use the received moisture content to determine whether the moisture content has fallen below a threshold.

[0090] In some embodiments, heater 150 may be shut down without knowing the amount of water in oil system 145. For example, heater 150 may be configured to shut down after a predetermined period of time, regardless of the amount of water remaining in oil system 145 at the end of the predetermined period of time. Controller 140 may be configured to shut down heater 150 after a predetermined period of time, regardless of the amount of water remaining in oil system 145 at the end of the predetermined period of time. In some embodiments, heater 150 may be shut down when it is determined that an operating parameter of engine 102 has occurred. For example, heater 150 may be shut down when it is determined that engine 102 has been shut down. Controller 140 may shut down heater 150 based on the operating parameter of engine 102. For example, controller 140 may shut down heater 150 in response to engine 102 being shut down.

[0091] In some embodiments, controller 140 may regulate the operation of heater 150 by adjusting a control parameter of heater 150. For example, when the fluid level of the fluid in oil system 145 (e.g., the water content of oil system 145) is at or above a first predetermined water content threshold, controller 140 may increase the control parameter of heater 150, which in turn increases the heat output of heater 150. In one example implementation, controller 140 increasing the control parameter of heater 150 includes at least one of increasing the temperature output of heater 150 relative to the current temperature output of the heater, increasing the heater operating duration relative to the current operating duration of the heater (e.g., a previously scheduled activation duration), or activating the heater during a high duty cycle. In another example implementation, controller 140 increasing the control parameter of heater 150 includes deactivating the heater during a high duty cycle.

[0092] In some embodiments, the controller 140 may adjust (e.g., increase) the control parameter of the heater 150 before, during, or after the engine 102 is shut down. For example, when the water content value is at or below a second predetermined water content threshold value before the engine 102 is shut down (indicating that water has been purged or substantially purged from the oil system 145), the controller 140 may increase the control parameter of the heater 150 during a first period of time before the engine 102 is shut down. As another example, when the water content value is at or below a second predetermined water content threshold value during the engine 102 shutdown (indicating that water has been purged or substantially purged from the oil system 145), the controller 140 may increase the control parameter of the heater 150 during the engine 102 shutdown. As another example, when the water content value is at or below a second predetermined water content threshold value after the engine is shut down (indicating that water has been purged or substantially purged from the oil system 145), the controller 140 may increase the control parameter of the heater 150 during the engine 102 shutdown.

[0093] Reference Figure 5 , a flow chart of a method 500 for removing water from the oil system 145 according to an example embodiment is shown. Specifically, the controller 140 and / or one or more components thereof (e.g., the oil heating control circuit 212) are configured to perform the method 500. It should be understood that the order of the method 500 is merely an example. That is, one or more processes may be performed concurrently, partially concurrently, sequentially, and / or in a manner different from Figure 5 Furthermore, certain processes of method 500 may be omitted, and other processes may be added to method 500. Method 500 may be performed periodically and / or dynamically in response to changes (e.g., changes in information received from one or more sensors 125).

[0094] During process 502, the controller 140 may receive operating parameters of the oil system 145 (e.g., oil system operating parameters). In some embodiments, the operating parameters of the oil system 145 may include oil life data. The oil life data may include information regarding the useful life or remaining life of the oil in the oil system 145. The useful life or remaining life of the oil may be represented by a single value, referred to as an "oil life value," which may be expressed as a percentage. For example, the oil life value may be an amount of remaining life relative to a predetermined life of the oil (e.g., 100% oil life represents fresh oil, 50% oil life represents partially degraded oil, and 0% represents fully degraded oil).

[0095] In process 504, the water content of the engine oil system 145 is estimated or determined. The controller 140 estimates, determines, or receives the water content of the engine oil system 145. In some embodiments, process 504 is optional and may not be performed. In process 504, the water content may be estimated using one or more sensors 125. The estimated water content may be transmitted to the controller 140. For example, the controller 140 may receive the estimated water content from one or more physical sensors. In another example, the controller 140 may estimate the water content using one or more virtual sensors.

[0096] In some embodiments, the water content can be estimated based on the amount of water in the oil system 145 (e.g., mass or volume, which can be a measured value or an estimated value) and the total amount of oil in the oil system (e.g., mass or volume, which can be a known value, a measured value, or an estimated value). For example, the controller 140 can receive the amount of water in the oil system 145 from one or more sensors 125. The controller 140 can also receive the amount of oil in the oil system 145 from one or more sensors 125. The controller 140 can then determine the water content based on the ratio of the amount of water to the amount of oil.

[0097] At process 506, the controller 140 may selectively turn on or activate the heater 150. The heater 150 may be activated when it is determined that an operating parameter of the oil system 145 is at or below a predetermined threshold. The controller 140 may activate the heater 150 in response to the operating parameter of the oil system 145 being at or below the predetermined threshold. For example, the heater 150 may be activated when it is determined that the oil life of the oil system 145 is at or below a predetermined percentage (e.g., 50%). In another example, the controller 140 may activate the heater 150 in response to the oil life value of the oil system 145 being at or below a predetermined oil life threshold or percentage (e.g., 50%). In some embodiments, the controller 140 may activate the heater 150 regardless of the operating parameter of the oil system 145. That is, the controller 140 may activate the heater 150 even if the operating parameter of the oil system 145 is not at or below the predetermined threshold.

[0098] In process 508, the controller 140 may selectively adjust the operation of the heater 150. The heater 150 may be adjusted based on the oil life data received in process 502. The controller 140 adjusts the operation of the heater 150 based on the oil life data received in process 502. The adjustment of the heater 150 may be associated with the extent to which an oil system operating parameter is below a predetermined threshold. The controller 140 may adjust the operation of the heater 150 based on a relationship between a predetermined oil life threshold and an operating parameter of the oil system (e.g., a life value), such as the difference between the predetermined oil life threshold and the life value. For example, the operation of the heater 150 may be associated with the life of the oil. In some embodiments, as the oil life decreases, the intensity of the operation of the heater 150 may increase relative to the current operating state. For example, when it is determined that the oil life is 50%, the temperature of the heater 150 may be increased relative to the current temperature when it is determined that the oil life is 100%.

[0099] In some embodiments, process 508 may include shutting down heater 150. Heater 150 may be shut down when it is determined that the water content of oil system 145 is at or below a predetermined threshold. Sensor 125 may be used to determine that the water content has fallen below the threshold and has been cleared or substantially cleared from oil system 145. In some embodiments, controller 140 may shut down heater 150 without knowing the water content in oil system 145. For example, controller 140 may shut down heater 150 after a predetermined period of time, regardless of the amount of water remaining in oil system 145 at the end of the predetermined period of time.

[0100] In some embodiments, controller 140 may adjust the operation of heater 150 by adjusting a control parameter of heater 150. For example, when the fluid level of the fluid in oil system 145 (e.g., the water content of oil system 145) is at or above a first predetermined water content threshold, controller 140 may increase the control parameter of heater 150, which in turn increases the heat output of heater 150. In one example implementation, controller 140 increasing the control parameter of heater 150 includes at least one of increasing the temperature output of the heater relative to a current temperature output, increasing the duration of the heater run time relative to a current run time (e.g., increasing the run time relative to a previously defined or scheduled run time), or activating the heater during a high duty cycle. In another example implementation, controller 140 increasing the control parameter of heater 150 includes deactivating the heater during a high duty cycle.

[0101] In some embodiments, the controller 140 may adjust (e.g., increase) the control parameters of the heater 150 before, during, and / or after the engine 102 is shut down. For example, if the water content value is at or below a second predetermined water content threshold value before the engine 102 is shut down (indicating that water has been purged or substantially purged from the oil system 145), the controller 140 may increase the control parameters of the heater 150 during a first period of time before the engine 102 is shut down. As another example, if the water content value is at or below a second predetermined water content threshold value during the engine 102 shutdown (indicating that water has been purged or substantially purged from the oil system 145), the controller 140 may increase the control parameters of the heater 150 during the engine 102 shutdown. As another example, if the water content value is at or below a second predetermined water content threshold value after the engine is shut down (indicating that water has been purged or substantially purged from the oil system 145), the controller 140 may increase the control parameters of the heater 150 during the engine 102 shutdown.

[0102] Regarding method 300, method 400, and method 500, in general, Figure 3 、 Figure 4 and Figure 5 Methods 300, 400, and 500 described herein may be implemented individually or in combination. For example, controller 140 may execute method 300 concurrently or partially concurrently with method 400 and / or method 500. Similarly, controller 140 may execute method 400 concurrently or partially concurrently with method 300 and / or method 500. Finally, controller 140 may execute method 500 concurrently or partially concurrently with method 300 and / or method 400. Of course, methods 300, 400, and 500 may also be executed sequentially (e.g., in any order) or independently of one another.

[0103] For example, when one or more of method 300, method 400, or method 500 is performed simultaneously or partially simultaneously, process 302, process 402, and process 502 can be performed simultaneously or partially simultaneously. Similarly, process 304, process 404, and process 504 can be performed simultaneously or partially simultaneously. Furthermore, process 306, process 406, and process 506 can be performed simultaneously or partially simultaneously. Finally, process 308, process 408, and process 508 can be performed simultaneously or partially simultaneously.

[0104] As another example, when methods 300 and 500 are executed simultaneously or partially simultaneously, controller 140 may receive a first operating parameter of engine 102 (e.g., as described in process 302). Controller 140 may also receive a second operating parameter regarding oil system 145 (e.g., as described in process 502). Controller 140 may then activate heater 150 in response to at least one of the first operating parameter being at or below a first predetermined threshold (e.g., as described in process 306) or the second operating parameter being at or below a second predetermined threshold (e.g., as described in process 506).

[0105] As another example, when one or more of method 300, method 400, or method 500 are executed simultaneously or partially simultaneously, the controller 140 may receive information about the water content of the oil system from one or more sensors 125 (e.g., one or more virtual sensors or one or more physical sensors) (e.g., as described in process 304, process 404, and / or process 504).

[0106] In additional and / or alternative embodiments, when one or more of methods 300, 400, or 500 are performed simultaneously, partially simultaneously, or sequentially, controller 140 may activate heater 150 in response to determining that an operating parameter of oil system 145 is at or above a predetermined threshold value during process 306, process 406, and / or process 506. For example, controller 140 may activate heater 150 in response to determining that the water content in oil system 145 is at or above a second predetermined threshold value.

[0107] As used herein, the terms "approximately," "about," "substantially," and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning consistent with that commonly understood and used by persons of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure relates. Those skilled in the art, when reviewing this disclosure, should understand that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without limiting those features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or insignificant modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are within the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.

[0108] It should be noted that the term "exemplary" and variations thereof used herein to describe various embodiments are intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, or illustrations (these terms are not intended to imply that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or best examples).

[0109] As used herein, the term "couple" and its variations refer to the direct or indirect connection of two components together. This connection can be fixed (e.g., permanent or fixed) or removable (e.g., removable or releasable). This connection can be achieved by coupling the two components directly, coupling the two components through one or more independent intermediate components, or coupling the two components through an intermediate component that forms a single integral unit with one of the components. If "couple" or its variations are modified by an additional term (e.g., "directly coupled"), the general definition of "couple" above will be modified based on the literal meaning of the additional term (e.g., "directly coupled" means connecting two components without any independent intermediate components), thereby forming a narrower definition than the general definition of "couple" above. This coupling can be mechanical, electrical, or fluidic. For example, circuit A being "coupled" to communicate with circuit B can mean that circuit A communicates directly with circuit B (i.e., without an intermediary) or indirectly with circuit B (e.g., through one or more intermediaries).

[0110] References herein to element positions (e.g., "top," "bottom," "above," "below") are intended only to describe the orientation of the elements in the drawings. It should be noted that the orientation of the elements may vary according to other exemplary embodiments, and such variations are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0111] Although Figure 2 While various circuits are shown with specific functions, it should be understood that controller 140 may include any number of circuits to perform the functions described herein. For example, the activities and functions of oil heating control circuit 210 may be combined in multiple circuits or as a single circuit. Additional circuits with additional functions may also be included. Furthermore, controller 140 may control other activities beyond the scope of this disclosure.

[0112] As mentioned above, in one configuration, a "circuit" may be implemented in a machine-readable medium and executed by various types of processors (e.g., Figure 2204). For example, executable code may include one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions, which may be organized as objects, procedures, or functions. However, these executable codes need not be physically located in the same location, but may include different instructions stored in different locations, which, when logically combined together, constitute a circuit and achieve the intended purpose of the circuit. In practice, a circuit of computer readable program code may be a single instruction or multiple instructions, and may even be distributed across several different code segments, different programs, and multiple memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated in the circuit and may be embodied in any appropriate form and organized in any appropriate type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set or distributed across different locations, including across different storage devices, and may exist at least in part only as electronic signals on a system or network.

[0113] Although the term "processor" has been briefly defined above, "processor" and "processing circuitry" should be understood broadly. In this regard, as described above, a "processor" can be implemented as one or more processors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or other suitable electronic data processing components that are configured to execute instructions provided by a memory. One or more processors can take the form of a single-core processor, a multi-core processor (e.g., a dual-core processor, a triple-core processor, a quad-core processor, etc.), a microprocessor, etc. In some embodiments, one or more processors can be located outside the device, for example, one or more processors can be remote processors (e.g., cloud-based processors). Alternatively, one or more processors can be internal and / or local processors of the device. In this regard, a given circuit or its components can be located locally (e.g., as part of a local server, a local computing system, etc.) or remotely (e.g., as part of a remote server such as a cloud-based server). To this end, the "circuitry" described herein may include components distributed in one or more locations.

[0114] Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure include program products comprising a computer or machine-readable medium that carries or stores computer or machine-executable instructions or data structures. Such machine-readable media can be any available medium accessible to a computer. A computer-readable medium can be a tangible computer-readable storage medium that stores computer-readable program code. A computer-readable storage medium can be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, holographic, micromechanical, or semiconductor system, device, or apparatus, or any suitable combination thereof. More specific examples of computer-readable media can include, but are not limited to, a portable computer disk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc (DVD), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a holographic storage medium, a micromechanical storage device, or any suitable combination thereof. In the context of this document, a computer-readable storage medium can be any tangible medium that can contain and / or store computer-readable program code for use by and / or in connection with an instruction execution system, device, or apparatus. Machine-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a computer or processing machine to perform a certain function or group of functions.

[0115] Computer-readable media may also be computer-readable signal media. A computer-readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal having computer-readable program code embodied therein, for example as part of a baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take a variety of forms, including but not limited to electrical, electromagnetic, magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer-readable signal medium may be any computer-readable medium that is not a computer-readable storage medium and that is capable of communicating, propagating, or transmitting computer-readable program code for use by an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The computer-readable program code embodied on a computer-readable signal medium may be transmitted using any suitable medium, including but not limited to wireless, wired, fiber optic cable, radio frequency (RF), or any suitable combination thereof.

[0116] In one embodiment, the computer readable medium may include a combination of one or more computer readable storage media and one or more computer readable signal media. For example, the computer readable program code may be transmitted as an electromagnetic signal through an optical fiber cable for execution by a processor, and stored on a RAM storage device for execution by a processor.

[0117] The computer readable program code for executing various aspects of the present disclosure can be written in any combination of one or more other programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages (such as Java, Smalltalk, C++, etc.) and traditional procedural programming languages (such as "C" programming language or similar programming languages). The computer readable program code can be executed completely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as an independent computer readable package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or completely on a remote computer or server. In the latter case, the remote computer can be connected to the user's computer through any type of network (including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN)), or can be connected by an external computer (for example, by using an internet service provider through the internet).

[0118] The program code may also be stored in a computer-readable medium, which may direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus or other device to operate in a specific manner so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce a product that implements the functions / actions specified in one or more modules in the flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0119] Although the illustrations and descriptions may illustrate a particular order of method steps, the order of these steps may vary from that described, unless otherwise indicated above. In addition, two or more steps may be performed simultaneously or partially simultaneously, unless otherwise indicated above. Such variations may depend on the software and hardware systems selected and the designer's preferences. All such variations are within the scope of this disclosure. Similarly, software implementations of the methods can use standard programming techniques, including rule-based logic and other logic, to complete the various connection steps, processing steps, comparison steps, and decision steps.

[0120] It should be noted that the structures and arrangements of the devices and systems shown in the various exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. In addition, any element disclosed in one embodiment may be combined or used with any other embodiment disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A system, characterized in that: include: heaters for heating the fluid in the lubrication system; as well as a controller coupled to the heater, the controller comprising at least one processor, the at least one processor coupled to at least one memory, the at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the controller to: receiving information on engine operating parameters of the engine; receiving information on operating parameters of the lubrication system; as well as The heater is activated in response to determining that at least one of the engine operating parameter or the lubrication system operating parameter is at or below a predetermined threshold.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: When executed by the at least one processor, the instructions cause the controller to perform the following further operations: receiving data related to an amount of water in the lubrication system from one or more sensors; as well as A water content of the fluid in the lubrication system is determined based on an amount of water in the lubrication system relative to an amount of lubricant in the lubrication system.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that When executed by the at least one processor, the instructions cause the controller to perform the following further operations: In response to determining that the fluid level in the lubrication system is at or above the predetermined threshold, a control parameter of the heater is increased based on at least one of the engine operating parameter or the operating parameter of the lubrication system, wherein the control parameter of the heater is one or more of a temperature of the heater, an operating duration of the heater, and a point in time when the heater is activated.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein: The engine operating parameter is at least one of a duty cycle of the engine or a shutdown parameter of the engine; and The operating parameter of the lubrication system is a predetermined life value of a lubricant of the lubrication system.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein: Increasing the control parameters of the heater also includes: When the fluid level of the lubrication system is above a first predetermined threshold, the control parameter is increased relative to a current control parameter of the heater.

6. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that Increasing the control parameter of the heater includes at least one of: increasing the temperature output relative to a current temperature output of the heater, increasing the operating duration relative to a current operating duration of the heater, activating the heater during a high duty cycle, or deactivating the heater during the high duty cycle.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein: Increasing the control parameter of the heater occurs during at least one of a time period before, during, or after shutdown of the engine.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein: In response to determining that the fluid has been drained or substantially drained from the lubrication system before engine shutdown, increasing the control parameter of the heater occurs during a period of time before engine shutdown; In response to determining that the fluid has been drained or substantially drained from the lubrication system during the engine shutdown, the increasing the control parameter of the heater occurs during the engine shutdown; as well as In response to determining that the fluid has been drained or substantially drained from the lubrication system after the engine is shut down, increasing the control parameter of the heater occurs a time period after the engine is shut down.

9. A method, characterized in that include: receiving a first operating parameter of the engine; receiving a second operating parameter of a lubrication system associated with the engine; as well as A heater associated with the lubrication system is activated in response to at least one of the following two conditions being met: the first operating parameter is at or below a first predetermined threshold, or The second operating parameter is at or below a second predetermined threshold.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that Also includes: receiving a first amount of water in the lubrication system from one or more sensors; as well as The water content of the lubrication system is determined based on a first amount of water in the lubrication system relative to a second amount of lubricant in the lubrication system.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that Also included is increasing a control parameter of the heater in response to the water content being above a predetermined threshold.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that Increasing the control parameters of the heater includes at least one of the following: increasing a temperature output relative to a current temperature output of the heater; increasing the operating duration relative to the current activation duration of the heater; or The heater is activated during high duty cycle periods.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that At least one of the following: In response to the water content being at or below a second predetermined water content threshold before the engine is shut down, the increasing the control parameter of the heater occurs a first time period before the engine is shut down; In response to the water content being at or below the second predetermined water content threshold during the engine shutdown, the increasing the control parameter of the heater occurs during the engine shutdown; or In response to the water content being at or below the second predetermined water content threshold after the engine is shut down, increasing the control parameter of the heater occurs a second time period after the engine is shut down.

14. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that Also includes: receiving a life value of a lubricant in the lubrication system; activating the heater in response to the life value being at or below a predetermined lubricant life threshold; as well as Operation of the heater is adjusted relative to the life value based on the predetermined lubricant life threshold.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receiving a first operating parameter of the engine; receiving a second operating parameter of an oil system associated with the engine; and A heater associated with the oil system is activated in response to at least one of the following two conditions being met: the first operating parameter is at or below a first predetermined threshold, or The second operating parameter is at or below a second predetermined threshold.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein: When executed by the one or more processors, the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform the following further operations: receiving a first amount of water in the engine oil system from one or more sensors; and A water content for the oil system is determined based on a first amount of water in the oil system relative to an amount of oil in the oil system.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein: The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the following further operations: increasing a control parameter of the heater in response to the water content being above a predetermined threshold.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein: Increasing the control parameters of the heater includes at least one of the following: increasing a temperature output relative to a current temperature output of the heater; increasing the operating duration relative to the current activation duration of the heater; or The heater is activated during high duty cycle periods.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein: When executed by the one or more processors, the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform at least one of the following operations: In response to the water content being at or below a second predetermined water content threshold before the engine is shut down, the increasing the control parameter of the heater occurs a first time period before the engine is shut down; In response to the water content being at or below the second predetermined water content threshold during the engine shutdown, the increasing the control parameter of the heater occurs during the engine shutdown; or In response to the water content being at or below the second predetermined water content threshold after the engine is shut down, increasing the control parameter of the heater occurs a second time period after the engine is shut down.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein: The first operating parameter is at least one of a duty cycle of the engine or a shutdown parameter of the engine; and The second operating parameter is the life value of the engine oil in the engine oil system.

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