Compression Ignition Engine Fuel Injection Timing Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing compression ignition type internal combustion engines face challenges in stabilizing the ignition timing of main injection fuel, leading to issues such as rapid heat release, combustion noise, reduced engine output, and misfires, due to deviations in ignition timing from the optimum timing.

Innovation Solution

A control system where a smaller amount of auxiliary injection fuel is injected before the main injection fuel, igniting by premixed charge compression ignition, and the heat generated stabilizes the ignition timing of the main injection fuel by causing premixed charge compression ignition after the main injection fuel is started.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If auxiliary fuel is injected after completion of main fuel injection to control ignition timing, then ignition timing can be controlled, but ignition timing stability deteriorates and causes combustion noise and misfires

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveignition timing controlVSAvoidignition timing stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by injecting auxiliary fuel before the main fuel injection is completed, rather than after. This timing allows the auxiliary fuel to ignite first and stabilize the combustion chamber temperature and pressure conditions, ensuring that when the main fuel ignites, the ignition timing is stable and reliable. This resolves the contradiction by establishing proper combustion conditions in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Power

If ignition timing deviates from optimum timing, then engine output may increase temporarily, but combustion noise increases and misfires occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine outputVSAvoidcombustion noise and misfires
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback control by using a crank angle sensor to detect the actual ignition timing and comparing it with the target ignition timing. The ECU adjusts the auxiliary fuel injection timing and amount based on this feedback to maintain optimal ignition timing, thereby preventing combustion noise and misfires while maintaining engine output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of fuel injection timing by injecting auxiliary fuel before main fuel completion, and adjusts the amount of auxiliary fuel based on engine operating conditions. This parameter optimization ensures ignition timing remains at the optimum point, balancing engine output with reduction of combustion noise and misfires.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If rapid heat release occurs due to unstable ignition timing, then engine power may increase, but combustion noise increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine powerVSAvoidcombustion noise
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the auxiliary fuel ignite before the main fuel, which pre-heats the combustion chamber and stabilizes the ignition conditions. This prevents rapid, uncontrolled heat release from the main fuel, thereby reducing combustion noise while maintaining engine power through controlled sequential combustion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method effectively stabilizes the ignition timing of the main injection fuel, reducing fluctuations and ensuring consistent engine performance by controlling the injection timing of the auxiliary fuel to align with the target compression ignition timing, thereby minimizing combustion noise and maintaining optimal engine output.

Implementation Method 1

a smaller amount of auxiliary injection fuel QN than the main injection fuel QM is injected from the fuel injector 3 before the main injection fuel QM to ignite the auxiliary injection fuel QN by the premixed charge compression ignition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPremixed charge compression ignition: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

the heat generated by the premixed compression ignition of the auxiliary injection fuel QN causes premixed charge compression ignition of the main injection fuel QM

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat generation: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3246552B1Control system of compression ignition type internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2019.08.07 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3246552B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3246552B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3246552B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An action of injection of the main injection fuel (QM) from the fuel injector (3) is started within a range of crank angle from 10 degree before the compression top dead center to 10 degree after the compression top dead center. A smaller amount of the auxiliary injection fuel (QN) than the main injection fuel (QM) is made to be injected from the fuel injector (3) before the main injection fuel (QM) so as to make the auxiliary injection fuel (QN) ignite by the premixed charge compression ignition. The injection timing of the auxiliary injection fuel (QN) is controlled to a timing whereby a heat generated by the premixed charge compression ignition of the auxiliary injection fuel (QN) causes the premixed charge compression ignition of the main injection fuel (QM) after the start of injection of the main injection fuel (QM).