Diesel Engine Control for Soot Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Diesel engines produce excessive soot during sudden torque demands, leading to inefficient combustion, fuel wastage, emissions, and DPF regeneration issues, which affect fuel economy and engine performance.
Innovation Solution
Adaptive engine control methods that vary engine operation based on the state of the emission control device and engine oil to reduce soot production, extending DPF regeneration intervals and minimizing fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the amount of fuel is increased to meet torque demand during transient events, then the torque output is improved, but soot production increases due to mis-fuelling
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-heating the exhaust gas and preparing the DPF for regeneration before the soot loading becomes critical. This allows the system to handle transient torque demands with higher fuel injection without immediately overwhelming the DPF, as the filter is pre-conditioned to better withstand and process the increased soot load during transient events
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the DPF regeneration strategy based on real-time operating conditions. During transient events, the control system modifies fuel injection timing and amount, and adjusts exhaust gas recirculation rates dynamically to optimize combustion efficiency and reduce soot production while maintaining torque output requirements
2Object-generated harmful factors
If DPF regeneration is performed frequently to remove soot, then soot loading is reduced, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic DPF regeneration at optimized intervals rather than continuously or too frequently. The control system monitors soot loading, exhaust temperature, and operating conditions to determine the optimal regeneration timing, performing regeneration only when necessary and conditions are favorable, thereby reducing unnecessary fuel consumption while maintaining acceptable soot levels
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters during regeneration by injecting additional fuel late in the combustion cycle to raise exhaust temperature for soot oxidation. The control system also adjusts air-to-fuel ratio, exhaust gas recirculation rate, and injection timing to optimize the regeneration process efficiency and minimize fuel penalty
3Object-generated harmful factors
If late fuel injection is used for DPF regeneration, then soot burning is improved, but un-burnt fuel impinges on cylinder walls and increases fuel in oil
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by targeting fuel injection specifically toward the DPF inlet region rather than uniform distribution in the combustion chamber. The injection strategy is designed to create localized high-temperature zones near the exhaust port and DPF inlet where un-burnt fuel can effectively ignite and burn off soot without traveling far enough to impinge on cylinder walls and contaminate the oil
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hot exhaust gas as an intermediary medium to transfer thermal energy from the combustion chamber to the DPF. The hot exhaust gases carry the energy needed for soot oxidation in the DPF, reducing the need for excessive late fuel injection and thereby minimizing fuel that would otherwise impinge on cylinder walls and contaminate oil
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 approach decreases soot production, enhances fuel economy, and reduces emissions by optimizing torque output and fuel usage, while preventing engine runaway and maintaining lubrication properties.
Implementation Method 1
fuel is injected into the engine late in the combustion cycle so that un-burnt fuel travels towards the DPF where it auto-ignites in an upstream catalyst before entering the DPF and the exhaust gases at an increased temperature enter the DPF and burn off the soot
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a diesel engine is disclosed in which the diesel engine is controlled to produce less soot when the operating state of an associated emission control device such as a diesel particulate filter or the amount of a contaminant such as fuel or soot in the oil used to lubricate the diesel engine exceed predetermined respective thresholds.