Natural gas engine performance monitoring system and method

Abstract

The invention discloses a natural gas engine performance monitoring system and method, and relates to the technical field of engines, and the system comprises a controller, a quality sensor and a pressure sensor; the quality sensor comprises an engine oil quality sensor and an air outlet flow quality sensor; the engine oil quality sensor is used for detecting oil product information of engine oil in a static state; the gas outlet flow quality sensor is used for detecting the gas leakage amount of the engine and the gas quality information of the gas in the static state and the dynamic state; the pressure sensor is used for detecting the pressure of the crankcase in a static state and a dynamic state; in the static state, the controller judges whether engine oil of the engine is replaced or not according to data collected by the engine oil quality sensor and judges whether the engine can start or not according to data collected by the air outlet flow quality sensor and the pressure sensor; in the dynamic state, the controller can judge whether the dynamic measurement value of the engine is within the pressure difference range or not according to data collected by the air outlet flow quality sensor and the pressure sensor, and if the dynamic measurement value exceeds the pressure difference range, torque limiting is conducted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application belongs to the field of engine technology, and specifically relates to a natural gas engine performance monitoring system and method. Background Art

[0002] With the widespread use of trucks, how to maintain trucks has received more and more attention. Among them, the maintenance of the natural gas engine lubricating oil of trucks has become an important issue, because the quality of the oil will affect the engine's lubrication effect, engine fuel consumption and engine service life.

[0003] However, the working environment of truckload freight is relatively harsh, and is affected by the truckload freight mileage, speed and load. The oil quality and maintenance of natural gas engines cannot be guaranteed in a timely and effective manner, because usually the oil filter needs to be replaced after the maintenance mileage requirements; and the quality of engine oil and oil filter in the market is uneven, and the engine maintenance effect cannot be guaranteed to be in the best state; and if the engine fails to reach the best performance state when the whole vehicle is running, it will further aggravate the occurrence of poor engine maintenance effect. Once the maintenance effect is poor, the internal parts of the vehicle are prone to damage, and the damaged parts cannot be discovered in time, which will cause greater safety accidents.

[0004] At present, the gas composition of the crankcase gas of the natural gas engine of the whole vehicle cannot be detected, and the crankcase pressure can only be checked by sensors. This replacement method does not take into account the problems that may exist under special circumstances, and does not take into account the main gas composition factors of the crankcase exhaust gas. For example, when the engine has a short mileage, a harsh working environment, and uneven engine oil quality, it is very easy to cause the engine parts to wear faster, resulting in poor lubrication, which can easily cause the gap between the engine cylinder liner and the piston ring to become larger, and even carbon deposits will occur, causing engine damage. Engine oil of too poor quality may even cause post-processing blockage and poisoning. Once this problem occurs, it cannot be discovered in time, which will cause the risk of engine cylinder scuffing and causing the entire machine to be scrapped. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present application provides a natural gas engine performance monitoring system and method to solve the above-mentioned technical problems that the engine oil quality problem cannot be discovered in time, resulting in the failure to detect the damage of internal engine components in time, and the natural gas engine crankcase gas cannot be detected in time for gas composition and the risk of engine cylinder scuffing.

[0006] The technical solution adopted in this application is:

[0007] A natural gas engine performance monitoring system comprises a controller, a quality sensor and a pressure sensor respectively connected to the controller;

[0008] The quality sensor comprises an oil quality sensor and an air flow quality sensor respectively connected to the engine; the oil quality sensor is used to detect the oil quality information of the engine oil in a static state; the air flow quality sensor is used to detect the engine gas leakage and gas quality information in a static state and a dynamic state;

[0009] The pressure sensor is connected to the engine and is used to detect the crankcase pressure in static and dynamic conditions;

[0010] In the static state, the controller can determine whether the engine oil needs to be changed based on the accuracy of the oil information data collected by the oil quality sensor, and determine whether the engine can start based on the data collected by the exhaust flow quality sensor and the pressure sensor; in the dynamic state, the controller can determine the leakage volume and crankcase pressure value of each load point based on the data collected by the exhaust flow quality sensor and the pressure sensor, and determine whether the dynamic measurement value of the engine is within the pressure difference range. If the pressure difference range is exceeded, the controller controls the engine to limit the torque and issue a system prompt.

[0011] A natural gas engine performance monitoring system of the present application also has the following additional technical features:

[0012] The natural gas engine performance monitoring system also includes a display connected to the controller; the display is configured such that when the dynamic measurement value of the engine is within the pressure difference range, the controller controls the display to display green, indicating that the system is operating normally; when the dynamic measurement value of the engine exceeds the pressure difference range and is within the set threshold, the controller controls the display to display yellow to prompt the staff; when the dynamic measurement value of the engine exceeds the pressure difference range and exceeds the set threshold, the controller controls the display to display red, and the controller controls the torque limit of the engine through OBD.

[0013] The natural gas engine performance monitoring system also includes a dashboard connected to a controller, and the controller can display relevant warning content on the dashboard according to data collected by the oil quality sensor.

[0014] The oil quality information of the engine oil includes oil viscosity, oil density, oil dielectric constant, oil pH, iron particle concentration and non-metallic particle concentration.

[0015] The pressure sensor is installed above the engine rocker cover; when the crankcase pressure value detected by the pressure sensor exceeds the normal threshold, it is displayed on the instrument panel through the controller for maintenance; when the crankcase pressure value detected by the pressure sensor belongs to the normal threshold, it is displayed on the instrument panel through the controller to prompt the staff to start the vehicle or operate the vehicle normally.

[0016] The oil quality sensor is installed on the main oil passage of the engine and / or installed on the branch oil passage of the engine.

[0017] The outlet air flow quality sensor is installed inside the engine respirator. The outlet air flow quality sensor detects gas quality information including gas components and the proportion of each gas component.

[0018] The gas component includes at least one of carbon dioxide, methane, propane and nitrogen.

[0019] The present application also relates to a natural gas engine performance monitoring method, based on any one of the natural gas engine performance monitoring systems described above, static monitoring and dynamic monitoring are performed according to the engine running state; when the engine is not started, the specific steps of performing static monitoring are:

[0020] Detecting the oil quality information of the engine oil according to the oil quality sensor;

[0021] When the oil quality information of the engine oil is not within the normal threshold, the controller controls the instrument panel to alarm to prompt the staff to change the engine oil;

[0022] When the oil quality is within the normal threshold, the engine leakage and gas quality information are detected through the outlet air flow quality sensor;

[0023] When the engine leakage and gas quality information are not within the normal threshold, the controller controls the instrument panel to alarm to prompt the staff to perform maintenance;

[0024] When the engine gas leakage and gas quality information are within the normal threshold, the crankcase pressure value is detected by the pressure sensor and uploaded to the controller, and the controller determines whether the crankcase pressure value is within the normal threshold;

[0025] If the crankcase pressure value is within the normal threshold, the controller controls the instrument panel to display normal data to prompt the staff to start the vehicle;

[0026] If the crankcase pressure value is not within the normal threshold, the controller controls the instrument panel to alarm to prompt the staff to perform maintenance.

[0027] When the engine is in the starting state, the specific steps for dynamic monitoring are as follows:

[0028] The gas leakage and gas quality information of the engine under running state are collected through the gas flow quality sensor, and the crankcase pressure of the engine under running state is collected through the pressure sensor;

[0029] Determine the gas leakage and crankcase pressure value at each load point, and judge whether the engine dynamic measurement value is within the pressure difference range;

[0030] If the pressure difference range is not exceeded, the controller controls the display to display green to remind the staff that the engine is operating normally;

[0031] If the pressure difference is outside the range but within the set threshold, the controller controls the display to display yellow to prompt the staff to pay attention;

[0032] If the pressure difference is outside the range and exceeds the set threshold, the controller controls the display to display red and limits the torque of the engine.

[0033] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the beneficial effects achieved by this application are as follows:

[0034] 1. A natural gas engine performance monitoring system, comprising a controller, a quality sensor and a pressure sensor; the quality sensor comprises an oil quality sensor and an outlet flow quality sensor; the oil quality sensor is used to detect the oil quality information of the engine oil in a static state, so as to judge whether the oil quality is good or bad; the outlet flow quality sensor is used to detect the engine gas leakage and gas quality information in a static and dynamic state; thus, the gas composition of the exhaust gas after the engine combustion and the proportion of each component can be judged, and further judge whether the engine has a fault, evaluate the engine combustion efficiency and monitor whether the emission is compliant; it is possible to detect whether there is damage or fault without disassembling the engine;

[0035] When the engine is in a static state, the controller can accurately determine whether the engine oil needs to be replaced based on the data collected by the oil quality sensor. When the oil quality is within the normal range, there is no need to replace the oil. When it is confirmed that there is no need to replace the oil, the gas leakage, gas quality and gas component content are determined to be within the normal range based on the outlet flow quality sensor. When they are all within the normal range, the crankcase pressure is determined to be within the normal range based on the data collected by the pressure sensor. When the crankcase pressure value is within the normal range, it is determined that the engine can start. When the engine starts to run and is in a dynamic state, the controller can determine the leakage and crankcase pressure value of each load point based on the data collected by the outlet flow quality sensor and the pressure sensor, and determine whether the dynamic measurement value of the engine is within the pressure difference range. If the pressure difference range is exceeded, the controller controls the engine to limit the torque and issue a system prompt, thereby realizing real-time monitoring of the engine performance, ensuring that the engine is in the best performance state, and promptly eliminating faults at any time during the use of the engine, avoiding damage to internal components of the vehicle, and effectively reducing the risk of cylinder scuffing or even scrapping of the engine.

[0036] 2. As a preferred embodiment of the present application, it also includes a display connected to the controller; the display is configured such that when the dynamic measurement value of the engine is within the pressure difference range, the controller controls the display to display green to indicate that the system is operating normally; when the dynamic measurement value of the engine exceeds the pressure difference range and is within the set threshold, the controller controls the display to display yellow; when the dynamic measurement value of the engine exceeds the pressure difference range and exceeds the set threshold, the controller controls the display to display red, and the controller limits the torque of the engine through OBD.

[0037] The display can display red, yellow and green, and switch between the three in order to report the results of real-time monitoring of the engine to the staff in a timely manner. When it displays green, it means that the engine is in normal operation and can operate normally without changing the oil, locating the fault or going to a service station for repair. When the display displays yellow, it can remind the staff that there is a certain problem with the crankcase pressure or the exhaust quality of the engine at this moment. Although it exceeds the pressure difference range, it does not exceed the set threshold, and reminds the staff to pay real-time attention, but the engine torque limit is not required at this time; when the display displays red, it means that the engine is in a state where the crankcase pressure is too high or the exhaust quality is too poor, exceeding the set threshold outside the pressure difference range, and it is necessary to limit the torque or stop the engine in time. The staff can perform repairs by themselves, or go to the corresponding after-sales service station for repairs, so as to provide prompts and alarms on the engine performance in time, which is conducive to the timely elimination of engine faults and improving the safety guarantee capability of engine operation.

[0038] 3. As a preferred embodiment of the present application, it also includes a dashboard connected to the controller, and the controller can display relevant warning content on the dashboard according to the data collected by the oil quality sensor.

[0039] The instrument panel is used to display the oil quality information of the engine oil. When the oil quality information is good or there is a problem with a certain value of the oil quality information, it can be reflected on the instrument panel in time to provide timely prompts to the staff, provide real-time feedback on the engine performance, and improve the engine's operating stability and safety performance.

[0040] 4. As a preferred embodiment of the present application, a pressure sensor is installed above the engine rocker cover; when the crankcase pressure value detected by the pressure sensor exceeds the normal threshold, it is displayed on the instrument panel through the controller for maintenance; when the crankcase pressure value detected by the pressure sensor belongs to the normal threshold, it is displayed on the instrument panel through the controller to prompt the staff to start the vehicle.

[0041] In the static state, after the oil quality sensor detects that there is no problem with the oil quality and the exhaust flow quality sensor detects that there is no problem with the gas quality, the pressure sensor is used to detect whether the crankcase pressure is normal. If the crankcase pressure value is within the normal range, it will be displayed green on the display. At this time, the staff can start the vehicle, otherwise the staff will have to locate the fault for repair or go to the service station for repair; in the dynamic state, the pressure sensor and the exhaust flow quality sensor detect data and upload it to the controller. The controller determines whether the dynamic measurement value is within the pressure difference range based on the data. If it is within the pressure difference range, the engine runs normally. If it is not within the pressure difference range, the fault is repaired. In this way, the engine performance can be fully detected, the source of the problem can be found and maintenance can be carried out in time, which further improves the maintenance effect and enhances the engine's operating safety performance.

[0042] 5. As a preferred embodiment of the present application, an outlet air flow quality sensor is installed inside the engine respirator, and the outlet air flow quality sensor detects gas quality information of the gas including gas components and the proportion of each gas component.

[0043] The exhaust flow quality sensor is installed inside the engine breather to detect the gas components contained in the engine's exhaust gas and the proportion of the gas components, so as to further determine whether the engine has faults and combustion efficiency, and indirectly determine the engine's operating effect, so as to determine whether the engine is within the normal range. It can promptly and effectively determine possible problems with the engine from all aspects, avoid wear or accelerated wear of internal engine parts, avoid problems such as poor lubrication and the increase in the gap between the engine cylinder liner and the piston ring, avoid the risk of cylinder scuffing, and increase the service life of the engine. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present application and constitute a part of the present application. The illustrative embodiments of the present application and their descriptions are used to explain the present application and do not constitute an improper limitation on the present application. In the drawings:

[0045] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a natural gas engine performance monitoring system according to an implementation mode of the present application;

[0046] Figure 2 A logic diagram of a natural gas engine performance monitoring method according to an implementation mode of the present application;

[0047] In the figure,

[0048] 1. Oil quality sensor; 2. Exhaust flow quality sensor; 3. Engine; 4. Pressure sensor; 5. Controller; 6. Display. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] In order to more clearly illustrate the overall concept of the present application, a detailed description is given below in an illustrative manner in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0050] In the following description, many specific details are set forth to facilitate a full understanding of the present application. However, the present application may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0051] In addition, in the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0052] In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a communication; it can be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0053] In the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the first feature "above" or "below" the second feature may be that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "implementation method", "example", "one embodiment", "example" or "specific example" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in an appropriate manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0054] Glossary:

[0055] Piston: The piston is a reciprocating part in the engine cylinder. The basic structure of the piston can be divided into the top, head and skirt. The top of the piston is the main part of the combustion chamber. Its shape is related to the selected combustion chamber form. The mixture formation of the diesel engine is adapted to the combustion requirements.

[0056] Cylinder liner: Cylinder liner is a cylindrical part, placed in the cylinder hole of the engine body, and fixed by the cylinder head. The piston reciprocates in its inner hole, and it is cooled by cooling water outside.

[0057] Piston ring: Piston ring is a metal ring used to embed in the piston groove. There are two types of piston rings: compression ring and oil ring. Compression ring can be used to seal the combustible mixed gas in the combustion chamber; oil ring is used to scrape off excess oil on the cylinder. Piston ring is a metal elastic ring with large outward expansion deformation. It is assembled into the corresponding annular groove of the cross section. The reciprocating and rotating piston ring forms a seal between the outer surface of the ring and the cylinder and between the ring and one side of the ring groove by relying on the pressure difference of gas or liquid.

[0058] Leakage: Wear of cylinder and piston group parts after long-term use will lead to increased leakage and reduced sealing, thus affecting engine power and fuel consumption. Valve and valve seat wear and erosion will lead to reduced valve sealing, thus affecting engine performance. Cylinder block and cylinder head sealing surface warping. If the sealing surface of the cylinder block or cylinder head is warped, it will lead to increased leakage, thus affecting engine performance.

[0059] Oil-gas separator: The oil-gas separator is the main component of the crankcase ventilation system. It efficiently separates the engine oil in the crankcase blowby gas. Its separation performance has an important impact on the reliability and emissions of the engine.

[0060] Crankcase pressure: Crankcase pressure refers to the gas pressure in the engine crankcase. Under normal working conditions, the crankcase pressure is generally low. There is usually a ventilation system to maintain appropriate pressure to ensure the normal operation of the engine, to ensure that the gas in the crankcase can circulate normally, and to prevent oil leakage and seal damage. Abnormal conditions: the pressure is too high, such as piston ring wear, excessive cylinder wall clearance causing gas to leak down; crankcase ventilation system blockage; excessive ventilation of the crankcase ventilation system; some parts are not sealed tightly, causing too much outside air to enter the crankcase, etc.; it may affect the normal operation of the engine, leading to problems such as too lean mixture, excessive engine load causing oil leakage, engine seal damage, power reduction, etc. The crankcase pressure can be detected through a dedicated pressure sensor or other detection equipment. If the crankcase pressure is found to be abnormal, the engine should be checked and repaired in time to ensure its normal operation and service life.

[0061] The risk of cylinder scuffing and bearing chipping mainly involves serious engine failures, including cylinder scuffing and bearing chipping. Cylinder scuffing refers to obvious longitudinal mechanical scratches and scrapes on the inner wall of the cylinder within the range of motion of the piston ring. In severe cases, fusion wear occurs, causing difficulty in starting the engine or self-extinguishing. Bearing chipping refers to damage to the engine's bearings or oil seals due to poor lubrication. These risks have a serious impact on the performance and life of the engine, and may even cause the engine to be scrapped. In the prior art, trucks usually change the engine oil after the maintenance mileage is completed. However, during the use of the engine oil, the quality of the engine oil and the oil filter element varies, and when the engine fails to reach the optimal performance state, it may affect the performance of the engine and parts, resulting in damage to internal parts and carbon deposits, which may cause engine damage. Oil with poor quality may even cause blockage and poisoning in the post-processing. Therefore, the engine oil problem should be discovered and handled in time; while the prior art only focuses on static detection of the engine oil, and cannot timely and effectively monitor the engine in real time when the engine is not started and during the entire operation period, and does not monitor the engine gas, specifically including the detection of the composition of the engine gas and the proportion of each component. Therefore, it is impossible to accurately judge the problem of poor lubrication and poor maintenance at any time during the entire period simply through static physical analysis of the engine oil. The present application sets a natural gas engine performance monitoring system to realize the detection of the engine at any time during the entire static and dynamic period, ensuring that abnormalities during engine operation can be discovered in time for early warning reminders to improve safety operation efficiency and real-time detection and communication, and convey them to the driver, so that the engine can run safely and reliably.

[0062] Example 1

[0063] A natural gas engine performance monitoring system, such as Figure 1-2 As shown, it includes a controller 5, a quality sensor and a pressure sensor 4 respectively connected to the controller 5; the quality sensor includes an oil quality sensor 1 and an exhaust flow quality sensor 2 respectively connected to the engine 3; the exhaust flow quality sensor 2 is also connected to the pressure sensor 4, so that when the pressure sensor 4 is abnormal, it can be better discovered in time, and the exhaust flow quality sensor 2 can ensure that the data collected is more accurate;

[0064] The oil quality sensor 1 is used to detect the oil quality information of the engine 3 oil in static state; the exhaust flow quality sensor 2 is used to detect the gas leakage and gas quality information of the engine 3 in static and dynamic state; the pressure sensor 4 is connected to the engine 3 and is used to detect the crankcase pressure in static and dynamic state; in the static state, the controller 5 can judge whether the engine 3 needs to change the oil based on the accuracy of the oil information data collected by the oil quality sensor 1, and judge whether it can start based on the data collected by the exhaust flow quality sensor 2 and the pressure sensor 4; in the dynamic state, the controller 5 can determine the leakage and crankcase pressure value of each load point based on the data collected by the exhaust flow quality sensor 2 and the pressure sensor 4, and judge whether the dynamic measurement value of the engine 3 is within the pressure difference range. If the pressure difference range is exceeded, the controller 5 controls the engine 3 to limit the torque and issue a system prompt.

[0065] The quality sensor of the present application includes an oil quality sensor 1 and an outlet flow quality sensor 2; wherein the oil quality sensor 1 is used to detect the oil quality information of the engine 3 oil in a static state, so as to determine whether the oil quality is good or bad; the outlet flow quality sensor 2 is used to detect the gas leakage and gas quality information of the engine 3 in a static and dynamic state; thus, the gas composition of the exhaust gas after the combustion of the engine 3 and the proportion of each component can be determined, and further it can be determined whether the engine 3 has a fault, the combustion efficiency of the engine 3 is evaluated, and whether the emission is compliant; the outlet flow quality sensor 2 detects the fault of the engine 3, because the composition of the exhaust gas of the engine 3 is closely related to the working condition of the engine 3. For example, the increase of HC (hydrocarbons) usually indicates incomplete combustion or too rich mixture; the increase of CO (carbon monoxide) may be due to incomplete combustion caused by insufficient air; the increase of NOx (nitrogen oxides) may be related to excess oxygen or high temperature in the combustion chamber. By detecting the composition and proportion of these gases, the fault of the engine 3 can be determined, such as excessive fuel pressure, oil leakage from the injector, and air filter blockage. In addition, the data collected by the exhaust flow quality sensor 2 can evaluate the combustion efficiency, such as detecting the CO2 gas content. CO2 (carbon dioxide) is a combustion product, and its content can reflect the efficiency of combustion. When the CO2 content is abnormal, it means that the mixture is too rich or too lean, and the air-fuel ratio needs to be adjusted to optimize the combustion efficiency. In addition, the data collected by the exhaust flow quality sensor 2 can also indirectly monitor emission compliance. The content of harmful gases such as CO, HC, and NOx in the exhaust gas is an important indicator to measure whether the engine 3 emissions meet the standards. By regularly detecting the content of these gases, it can be ensured that the emissions of the engine 3 meet environmental standards and reduce pollution to the environment.

[0066] When the engine 3 is in a static state, the controller 5 can accurately determine whether the engine 3 needs to change the oil based on the data collected by the oil quality sensor 1. When the oil quality is within the normal range, there is no need to change the oil. When it is confirmed that there is no need to change the oil, the gas leakage amount, gas quality and gas component content are determined based on the outlet flow quality sensor 2 to determine whether they are within the normal range. When they are all within the normal range, the crankcase pressure is determined to be within the normal range based on the data collected by the pressure sensor 4. When all the detected data are within the normal range, it is determined that the engine can start.

[0067] Therefore, before the engine 3 is started, the detected data is first uploaded to the controller 5 in real time through the oil quality sensor 1, and the controller 5 determines whether it is within the normal range. When it is determined that the various quality data of the oil are within the correctness index, the oil does not need to be replaced. On the contrary, when it is within the abnormal range, the controller 5 controls the dashboard alarm to remind the staff that the oil needs to be changed. After the oil change, the oil quality sensor 1 is used to determine whether the oil needs to be replaced again. When it is determined that the oil does not need to be replaced, the air outlet flow quality sensor 2 is tested. When the leakage volume and gas quality are tested normally, the data collected by the pressure sensor 4 is used to determine whether the crankcase pressure is normal. When the crankcase pressure is within the normal range, the data displayed on the dashboard is normal, and the staff can start the vehicle. However, when any link, such as the gas quality detected by the outlet flow quality sensor 2, is unqualified, the abnormality will be displayed on the instrument panel in time, and the staff will be notified to locate the fault location for repair or go to the service station for repair. When the gas quality detected by the outlet flow quality sensor 2 is normal and the crankcase pressure detected by the pressure sensor 4 is in an abnormal range, an alarm will also be issued through the instrument panel, thereby prompting the staff to repair the fault or go to the service station for repair.

[0068] When the engine 3 starts to run, it is in a dynamic state. The controller 5 can determine the leakage volume and crankcase pressure value of each load point according to the data collected by the outlet flow quality sensor 2 and the pressure sensor 4, and judge whether the dynamic measurement value of the engine 3 is within the pressure difference range. If the pressure difference range is exceeded, the controller 5 controls the engine 3 to limit the torque and issue a system prompt, thereby realizing real-time monitoring of the performance of the engine 3, ensuring that the engine 3 is in the best performance state, and timely eliminating faults at any time during the use of the engine 3, avoiding damage to internal components of the vehicle, and effectively reducing the risk of cylinder scuffing or even scrapping of the engine 3.

[0069] As a preferred embodiment, the natural gas engine performance monitoring system also includes a display 6 connected to the controller 5; the display 6 is configured such that when the dynamic measurement value of the engine 3 is within the pressure difference range, the controller 5 controls the display 6 to display green to indicate that the system is operating normally; when the dynamic measurement value of the engine 3 exceeds the pressure difference range and is within the set threshold, the controller 5 controls the display 6 to display yellow to prompt the staff; when the dynamic measurement value of the engine 3 exceeds the pressure difference range and exceeds the set threshold, the controller 5 controls the display 6 to display red, and the controller 5 limits the torque of the engine 3 through the OBD.

[0070] The display 6 can display red, yellow and green, and switch between the three colors in order to report the results of real-time monitoring of the engine 3 to the staff in a timely manner. When it displays green, it indicates that the engine 3 is in normal operation, and there is no need to change the engine oil, locate the fault or go to a service station for repair, and the engine is running normally; when the display 6 displays yellow, it can remind the staff that the crankcase pressure or the exhaust quality of the engine 3 has certain problems at this moment but has not exceeded the set threshold, and remind the staff to pay real-time attention, but at this time there is no need to limit the torque of the engine 3; when the display 6 displays red, it indicates that the crankcase pressure of the engine 3 is too high or the exhaust quality is too poor, exceeding the set threshold outside the pressure difference range, and it is necessary to limit the torque or stop the engine in time. The staff can perform repairs by themselves or go to the corresponding after-sales service station for repairs, so as to prompt and alarm the performance of the engine 3 in time, which is conducive to the timely elimination of engine 3 faults and improve the safety guarantee capability of the engine 3 operation.

[0071] OBD is the abbreviation of On-Board Diagnost ics, which is translated into Chinese as "vehicle automatic diagnostic system". This system will monitor the car's engine operating status at any time. The main function of the OBD system is to monitor the car's emissions and performance. When the system detects potential emission problems or performance problems, it will trigger a fault code to alert the driver. If the problem is serious enough, the system may protect the engine by limiting the engine's torque output to avoid further damage.

[0072] As a preferred embodiment, the natural gas engine performance monitoring system further includes a dashboard connected to the controller 5 , and the controller 5 can display relevant warning content on the dashboard according to the data collected by the oil quality sensor 1 .

[0073] The instrument panel is used to display the oil quality information of the engine oil. When the oil quality information is good or a certain value of the oil quality information has a problem, it can be reflected on the instrument panel in time to give timely prompts to the staff, provide real-time feedback on the performance of the engine 3, and improve the operating stability and safety performance of the engine 3.

[0074] As a preferred implementation, the oil quality information of the engine oil 3 includes oil viscosity, oil density, oil dielectric constant, oil pH, iron particle concentration and non-metallic particle concentration.

[0075] The oil quality sensor 1 detects the oil quality information of the engine 3 oil, namely, oil viscosity, oil density, oil dielectric constant, oil pH, iron particle concentration and non-metallic particle concentration. In other words, the oil sensor is the initial source of various oil data.

[0076] As a preferred embodiment, the pressure sensor 4 is installed above the rocker cover of the engine 3; when the crankcase pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 4 exceeds the normal threshold, it is displayed on the instrument panel through the controller 5 for maintenance; when the crankcase pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 4 belongs to the normal threshold, it is displayed on the instrument panel through the controller 5 to prompt the staff that the engine is running normally and the vehicle can be started.

[0077] In a static state, after the oil quality sensor 1 detects that there is no problem with the oil quality and the exhaust flow quality sensor 2 detects that there is no problem with the gas quality, the pressure sensor 4 is used to detect whether the crankcase pressure is normal. If the crankcase pressure is within the normal range, the display 6 will display green, and the staff can start the vehicle at this time, otherwise the staff will have to locate the fault for repair or go to a service station for repair; in a dynamic state, the pressure sensor 4 and the exhaust flow quality sensor 2 detect data and upload it to the controller, which determines whether the dynamic measurement value is within the pressure difference range. If it is within the pressure difference range, the engine operates normally. If it is not within the pressure difference range, the fault is repaired; thereby, the performance of the engine 3 can be fully detected, and the source of the problem can be found and maintenance can be carried out in a timely manner, which further improves the maintenance effect and enhances the operating safety performance of the engine 3.

[0078] As a preferred embodiment, the oil quality sensor 1 is installed on the main oil passage of the engine 3 and / or installed on the branch oil passage of the engine 3. Preferably, the oil quality sensor 1 is installed on the main oil passage, at which time the oil has been filtered and cooled, so that the oil quality can be detected more accurately.

[0079] As a preferred implementation, the outlet air flow quality sensor 2 is installed inside the respirator of the engine 3. The outlet air flow quality sensor 2 detects gas quality information of the gas including gas components and the proportion of each gas component.

[0080] The exhaust flow quality sensor 2 is installed inside the breather of the engine 3, and is used to detect the components of the gas contained in the exhaust gas of the engine 3, as well as the proportion of each gas component, so as to further determine whether the engine 3 has a fault and the combustion efficiency, and indirectly determine the operating effect of the engine 3, so as to determine whether the engine 3 is within the normal range, and timely and effectively determine possible problems of the engine 3 from all aspects, avoid wear or accelerated wear of internal parts of the engine 3, avoid problems such as poor lubrication and the increase in the gap between the cylinder liner and the piston ring of the engine 3, avoid the risk of cylinder scuffing, and increase the service life of the engine 3.

[0081] Furthermore, the gas components include at least one of carbon dioxide, methane, propane and nitrogen. For example, when carbon dioxide gas and its content are detected, since carbon dioxide is a combustion product, its content can reflect the efficiency of combustion; when the carbon dioxide content is abnormal, it means that the mixture is too rich or too lean, and the air-fuel ratio needs to be adjusted to optimize the combustion efficiency.

[0082] Example 2

[0083] The present application also relates to a natural gas engine performance monitoring method, based on any one of the above-mentioned natural gas engine performance monitoring systems, which performs static monitoring and dynamic monitoring according to the operating state of the engine 3;

[0084] When the engine 3 is not started, the specific steps of performing static monitoring are as follows:

[0085] S1: Detecting the oil quality information of the engine 3 oil according to the oil quality sensor 1, and uploading the collected data to the controller 5 for analysis; the oil quality information includes but is not limited to oil viscosity, oil density, oil dielectric constant, oil pH, iron particle concentration and non-metallic particle concentration;

[0086] S2: When the oil quality information of the engine oil is not within the normal threshold, the controller 5 controls the instrument panel to alarm, so as to prompt the staff to change the engine oil or go directly to the service station for repair;

[0087] S21: After the engine oil is replaced, the engine oil quality is detected by the engine oil quality sensor 1. If the engine oil quality is not within the normal range after the engine oil is replaced, it can be repaired at a service station; if it is ensured that the quality of the new engine oil is within the normal range, the air leakage and gas quality are detected by the air flow quality sensor 2;

[0088] S22: When the gas quality or leakage is not within the normal range, the instrument panel will alarm and remind the staff again, requiring the staff to locate the fault or go to the service station for repair. When it is determined that the gas quality is within the normal range, the crankcase pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 4 is then used to determine whether it is within the normal range;

[0089] S23: If the crankcase pressure value is within the normal range, it is determined that the vehicle can be started; otherwise, the instrument panel alarms to prompt the staff, and the staff chooses to carry out fault location repair or repair at a service station;

[0090] S3: When the oil quality is within the normal threshold, the gas leakage of the engine 3 and the gas quality information of the gas are detected by the gas flow quality sensor 2;

[0091] Gas quality information includes but is not limited to gas composition and the content of each gas component, such as HC (hydrocarbon), CO (carbon monoxide) and NOx (nitrogen oxides) and their corresponding contents. An increase in HC (hydrocarbon) usually indicates incomplete combustion or too rich mixture; an increase in CO (carbon monoxide) may be due to incomplete combustion caused by insufficient air; an increase in NOx (nitrogen oxides) may be related to excess oxygen or high temperature in the combustion chamber, thereby reminding the staff to take corresponding measures;

[0092] S4: When the gas leakage amount of the engine 3 and the gas quality information of the gas are not within the normal threshold, the controller 5 controls the instrument panel to alarm, so as to prompt the staff to locate the fault and repair it or go to the service station for repair;

[0093] S5: When the gas leakage amount of the engine 3 and the gas quality information of the gas are within the normal threshold, the crankcase pressure value is detected by the pressure sensor 4 and uploaded to the controller 5, and the controller 5 determines whether the crankcase pressure value is within the normal threshold;

[0094] S6: If the crankcase pressure value is within the normal threshold, the controller 5 controls the instrument panel to display normal data to prompt the staff to start the vehicle;

[0095] S7: If the crankcase pressure value is not within the normal threshold, the controller 5 controls the instrument panel to alarm to prompt the staff to locate the fault and repair it, or go to a service station for repair.

[0096] When the engine 3 is in the starting state, the specific steps of dynamic monitoring are as follows:

[0097] A1: The gas leakage amount and gas quality information of the engine 3 under the running state are collected through the gas flow quality sensor 2, and the crankcase pressure of the engine 3 under the running state is collected through the pressure sensor 4;

[0098] A2: Determine the gas leakage and crankcase pressure value at each load point, and judge whether the dynamic measurement value of engine 3 is within the pressure difference range;

[0099] It should be noted that the load point of the engine 3 refers to the load size borne by the engine 3 during the operation of the engine 3, which is specifically manifested as the load situation borne by the engine 3 at a specific speed;

[0100] In addition, it should be noted that the universal characteristic test of the engine 3 is carried out on the test bench. In the universal characteristic test process, the engine 3 is first started and preheated, and the test is started when the cooling temperature and lubricating oil level of the engine 3 reach the specified range. The load characteristics at different speeds are completed in groups according to the engine 3 speed test method or load characteristic method;

[0101] The specific method for determining the leakage amount and crankcase pressure value at each load point and judging whether the dynamic measurement value of the engine 3 is within the pressure difference range is as follows:

[0102] A21: The gas leakage amount of the engine 3 and the crankcase pressure value of the engine 3 measured under the normal state of the engine 3 are used as the reference zero point value;

[0103] A22: Then, in the universal characteristic test of engine 3, the gas leakage amount and crankcase pressure value data values ​​at each load point are measured;

[0104] A23: When the engine 3 has cylinder scuffing (cylinder scuffing refers to obvious longitudinal mechanical scratches and scrapes on the inner wall of the cylinder within the movement range of the piston ring, and in severe cases, melting wear occurs, causing difficulty in starting the engine 3 or self-extinguishing), and the test conditions are not met, the test is stopped, and the leakage volume and crankcase pressure value data of the load point of the engine 3 when the requirements are not met are taken as the full-scale value, and the range between the reference zero point and the full-scale value is taken as the normal pressure difference range;

[0105] A24: The dynamic measurement value refers to the leakage volume and crankcase pressure value at each load point. The dynamic measurement value is then compared with the pressure difference range to determine in real time whether the dynamic measurement value is within the pressure difference range.

[0106] It should be noted that when the pressure difference range is exceeded, the engine 3 is abnormal. Generally, when the pressure difference range is exceeded but within the set threshold, that is, although the pressure difference range is exceeded but the amount exceeded is not high and does not reach the set threshold, the engine 3 can still be started and operated normally, and the staff needs to pay attention at all times. Only when the pressure difference range is exceeded to a certain extent, that is, the set threshold is exceeded outside the pressure difference range, the OBD needs to limit the torque of the engine or even shut it down.

[0107] A3: If the pressure difference range is not exceeded, the controller 5 controls the display 6 to display green to remind the staff that the engine is operating normally;

[0108] Green means that the value is within the normal range, and the crankcase pressure of the engine 3 and the gas quality detected by the outlet gas flow quality sensor 2 under the dynamic state of the engine 3 are within the set range, that is, the default state is normal;

[0109] A4: If the pressure difference is outside the range but within the set threshold, the controller 5 controls the display 6 to display yellow to prompt the staff to pay attention;

[0110] When the pressure difference exceeds the range to a certain extent, that is, exceeds the set threshold, the controller 5 control box display 6 can display yellow, and the yellow color represents that the data is greater than the normal range value and less than the torque limit setting range value. When the engine 3 is in a dynamic state, the crankcase pressure of the engine 3 and the gas quality and leakage amount detected by the outlet flow quality sensor 2 are within the warning range, which prompts the driver to go to the service station for maintenance as soon as possible. At this time, the engine 3 does not need to limit the torque;

[0111] A5: If the pressure difference is outside the range and exceeds the set threshold, the controller 5 controls the display 6 to display red and sets a torque limit on the engine 3;

[0112] The display 6 will only display red when the pressure difference range is exceeded and the set threshold is exceeded. Red represents a serious deviation from the normal data range. There is a serious risk of piston pulling during the operation of the whole machine. The controller 5 sets the torque limit on the engine 3 through OBD. The staff performs repairs or goes to a service station for repair. When the staff fails to solve the problem through self-repair, they need to go to a service station for repair. When the staff successfully repairs the problem themselves, the machine can be started normally again.

[0113] Anything not described in this application can be achieved by adopting or drawing on existing technologies.

[0114] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, and the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referenced to each other, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments.

[0115] The above are only embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. For those skilled in the art, the present application may have various changes and variations. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present application should be included within the scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A natural gas engine performance monitoring system, characterized in that: It comprises a controller (5), a quality sensor and a pressure sensor (4) respectively connected to the controller (5); The quality sensor comprises an oil quality sensor (1) and an air flow quality sensor (2) respectively connected to the engine (3); the oil quality sensor (1) is used to detect the oil quality information of the engine oil (3) in a static state; the air flow quality sensor (2) is used to detect the gas leakage and gas quality information of the engine (3) in a static state and a dynamic state; The pressure sensor (4) is connected to the engine (3) and is used to detect the crankcase pressure in static and dynamic conditions; In a static state, the controller (5) can determine whether the engine (3) needs to change the engine oil based on the accuracy of the oil quality information data collected by the oil quality sensor (1), and determine whether the engine can be started based on the data collected by the outlet flow quality sensor (2) and the pressure sensor (4); in a dynamic state, the controller (5) can determine the leakage volume and crankcase pressure value of each load point based on the data collected by the outlet flow quality sensor (2) and the pressure sensor (4), and determine whether the dynamic measurement value of the engine (3) is within the pressure difference range. If the pressure difference range is exceeded, the controller (5) controls the engine (3) to limit the torque and issue a system prompt.

2. A natural gas engine performance monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The device further comprises a display (6) connected to the controller (5); the display (6) is configured as follows: When the dynamic measurement value of the engine (3) is within the pressure difference range, the controller (5) controls the display (6) to display green, indicating that the system is operating normally; when the dynamic measurement value of the engine (3) is outside the pressure difference range and within the set threshold, the controller (5) controls the display (6) to display yellow to prompt the staff; when the dynamic measurement value of the engine (3) is outside the pressure difference range and exceeds the set threshold, the controller (5) controls the display (6) to display red, and the controller (5) limits the torque of the engine (3) through the OBD.

3. A natural gas engine performance monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a dashboard connected to the controller (5), and the controller (5) can display relevant warning content on the dashboard based on data collected by the engine oil quality sensor (1).

4. A natural gas engine performance monitoring system as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: The pressure sensor (4) is installed above the rocker cover of the engine (3); when the crankcase pressure value detected by the pressure sensor (4) exceeds a normal threshold, it is displayed on the instrument panel through the controller (5) for maintenance; when the crankcase pressure value detected by the pressure sensor (4) falls within the normal threshold, it is displayed on the instrument panel through the controller (5) to prompt the staff to start the vehicle.

5. A natural gas engine performance monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The oil quality sensor (1) is installed on a main oil passage of the engine (3) and / or installed on a branch oil passage of the engine (3).

6. A natural gas engine performance monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The outlet air flow quality sensor (2) is installed inside the engine (3) respirator. The outlet air flow quality sensor (2) detects gas quality information of the gas, including gas components and the proportion of each gas component.

7. A natural gas engine (3) performance monitoring system as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: The gas component includes at least one of carbon dioxide, methane, propane and nitrogen.

8. A natural gas engine performance monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The oil quality information of the engine (3) oil includes oil viscosity, oil density, oil dielectric constant, oil pH, iron particle concentration and non-metallic particle concentration.

9. A natural gas engine performance monitoring method, based on a natural gas engine performance monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: Static monitoring and dynamic monitoring are performed according to the running state of the engine (3); when the engine (3) is in an unstarted state, the specific steps of performing static monitoring are: The oil quality sensor (1) detects the oil quality information of the engine (3) and uploads the collected data to the controller (5) for analysis; When the oil quality information of the engine oil does not fall within the normal threshold, the controller (5) controls the instrument panel to alarm to prompt the staff to replace the engine oil; When the quality of the engine oil is within a normal threshold, the amount of gas leakage from the engine (3) and gas quality information of the gas are detected by an outlet gas flow quality sensor (2); When the gas leakage amount of the engine (3) and the gas quality information of the gas are not within the normal threshold, the controller (5) controls the instrument panel to alarm to prompt the staff to carry out maintenance; When the gas leakage amount of the engine (3) and the gas quality information of the gas are within the normal threshold, the crankcase pressure value is detected by the pressure sensor (4) and uploaded to the controller (5), and the controller (5) determines whether the crankcase pressure value is within the normal threshold; If the crankcase pressure value is within the normal threshold, the controller (5) controls the instrument panel to display normal data to prompt the staff to start the vehicle; If the crankcase pressure value is not within the normal threshold, the controller (5) controls the instrument panel to alarm to prompt the staff to perform maintenance.

10. A natural gas engine performance monitoring method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that: When the engine (3) is in the starting state, the specific steps of dynamic monitoring are as follows: The gas leakage amount and gas quality information of the engine (3) when the engine (3) is in operation are collected through the gas outlet flow quality sensor (2), and the crankcase pressure of the engine (3) when the engine (3) is in operation is collected through the pressure sensor (4); Determine the gas leakage and crankcase pressure value at each load point, and judge whether the dynamic measurement value of the engine (3) is within the pressure difference range; If the pressure difference range is not exceeded, the controller (5) controls the display (6) to display green to remind the staff that the vehicle can operate normally; If the pressure difference exceeds the range but is within the set threshold, the controller (5) controls the display (6) to display yellow to prompt the staff to pay attention; If the pressure difference is outside the range and exceeds a set threshold, the controller (5) controls the display (6) to display red and limits the torque of the engine (3).

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