Vehicle Engine Control via Catalyst Temperature and Driving Mode
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine control systems face challenges in balancing exhaust gas regulations and fuel efficiency, particularly under varying driving conditions, as they often require delayed injection timing and excessive exhaust gas recirculation, leading to increased fuel consumption and decreased responsiveness.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that classify driving modes by using a catalyst temperature, operation period, and current time to optimize fuel injection and intake/exhaust system operations, adjusting parameters such as fuel injection timing, EGR amount, and turbocharger supply based on specific control plans for constant speed and transient states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If injection timing is delayed or post-injection is performed to activate catalysts rapidly, then catalyst activation temperature is achieved faster, but fuel efficiency decreases due to increased fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts injection timing and EGR amount based on real-time driving conditions (acceleration, deceleration, engine speed) rather than using fixed control strategies. This allows optimal balance between catalyst activation and fuel efficiency for each specific operating state
Solution Approach 2:
The control system changes multiple parameters simultaneously (injection timing, EGR amount, injection quantity) based on driving mode classification, enabling coordinated optimization of catalyst activation and fuel consumption rather than adjusting single parameters in isolation
2Temperature
If excessive EGR amount is adjusted to activate catalysts, then catalyst activation is improved, but pumping loss increases and smoke occurs due to insufficient air
Solution Approach 1:
EGR amount is dynamically adjusted based on real-time driving conditions including engine speed and acceleration state, preventing excessive EGR that would cause pumping loss while ensuring sufficient catalyst activation under each specific operating condition
Solution Approach 2:
The system coordinates EGR amount adjustment with other parameters such as injection timing and intake air management, ensuring that EGR is optimized in conjunction with overall combustion conditions to avoid smoke and pumping loss
3Reliability
If engine responsiveness is standardized under severe driving conditions to satisfy exhaust gas regulations, then exhaust gas regulations are met, but fuel efficiency decreases during constant speed driving with less rapid acceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The control system segments driving conditions into multiple modes (acceleration, deceleration, constant speed) and applies different control strategies for each mode, allowing optimized fuel efficiency for constant speed driving while maintaining exhaust regulation compliance through separate control for acceleration phases
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches control strategies based on real-time driving mode detection, applying severe condition optimization only when needed (during acceleration) and fuel-efficient control during constant speed operation, rather than maintaining fixed standardized responsiveness
4Object-generated harmful factors
If delayed injection timing is used to reduce NOx emissions, then exhaust gas regulations are satisfied, but fuel efficiency and engine responsiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Injection timing is dynamically adjusted based on real-time driving conditions, using delayed timing when NOx reduction is critical (high load acceleration) and advanced timing when responsiveness is prioritized (constant speed, low load), eliminating the need for fixed delayed timing
Solution Approach 2:
The control system segments operation into different driving modes and applies different injection timing strategies for each mode, allowing NOx control only when necessary while maintaining optimal responsiveness during normal operation
Data Source
AI summary
A method of improving fuel efficiency and an apparatus for operating a vehicle that performs the method are provided. The apparatus includes a storing unit that stores control plans for a fuel injection system and an intake/exhaust system that optimize responsiveness of an engine for a plurality of driving modes. A catalyst temperature obtaining unit obtains a catalyst temperature and an operation period determining unit determines an operation period of an engine based on rpm of the engine and an amount of fuel consumption. A driving mode determining unit determines any one of the driving modes as a current driving mode based on the catalyst temperature, the operation period, and present time. Additionally, a controller is configured to access a control plan that corresponds to the current driving mode and operate the fuel injection system and the intake/exhaust system based on the control plan corresponding to the current driving mode.