Engine Control Device Catalyst Heating via Fuel Vapor Purge
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fuel feeding process in spark-ignited internal combustion engines reduces fuel efficiency by consuming fuel from the tank, and there is a need to efficiently increase the temperature of the three-way catalyst to burn and remove particulate matter from the filter without overheating the catalyst.
Innovation Solution
A control device and method that perform a purging process to draw fuel vapor into the intake passage and supply fuel to the cylinder during the fuel feeding process without burning the air-fuel mixture, using the fuel injection valve to adjust the fuel amount and control the catalyst temperature, thereby optimizing fuel efficiency and catalyst temperature increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If fuel is injected into the cylinder during the fuel feeding process to increase three-way catalyst temperature, then the catalyst temperature increases effectively, but fuel efficiency deteriorates due to consumption of fuel from the fuel tank
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the source of fuel from liquid fuel in the fuel tank to fuel vapor from the fuel tank. By utilizing fuel vapor that would otherwise be wasted and injecting it into the cylinder during the fuel feeding process, the system increases three-way catalyst temperature while avoiding consumption of liquid fuel, thus improving fuel efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the fuel vapor naturally generated in the fuel tank during normal operation and redirects it through the canister and purge passage to the cylinder. This self-service approach converts a waste byproduct (fuel vapor) into a useful resource for heating the catalyst, eliminating the need for additional liquid fuel consumption
2Temperature
If fuel injection amount is decreased to prevent three-way catalyst overheating, then catalyst temperature control is maintained, but the ability to burn particulate matter from the filter is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fuel source from liquid to vapor phase, which provides more precise control over fuel delivery. Fuel vapor can be metered more accurately through the purge valve, allowing better control of the combustion process in the three-way catalyst while ensuring sufficient temperature for particulate matter removal without overheating
3Loss of energy
If fuel vapor is drawn into the intake passage during the fuel feeding process, then fuel efficiency is improved by using vapor instead of liquid fuel, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the existing purge system serve dual functions: its normal function of drawing fuel vapor into the intake passage during idle operation, and an additional function of supplying fuel during the fuel feeding process. By controlling the purge valve during fuel feeding, the system utilizes the same hardware infrastructure for both evaporative emission control and catalyst heating, avoiding additional complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the fuel vapor delivery function with the existing evaporative emission control system. The canister and purge passage, originally designed for emission control, are integrated into the fuel feeding process to provide fuel supply, combining two functions into a unified system that reduces overall complexity
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 enhances fuel efficiency by minimizing fuel consumption during the fuel feeding process and ensures effective catalyst temperature increase without overheating, improving the overall performance of the internal combustion engine.
Implementation Method 1
The unburned air-fuel mixture drawn into the exhaust passage then flows into the three-way catalyst and is burned in the three-way catalyst. When the heat generated by the combustion increases the temperature of the three-way catalyst
Implementation Method 2
Then, the heat of the high temperature gas increases the temperature of the filter to the ignition temperature of the particulate matter or higher so that the particulate matter deposited on the filter is burned and removed
Data Source
AI summary
A control device for an internal combustion engine includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to execute a purging process that draws the fuel vapor trapped in the canister into the intake passage by controlling the purge valve, a fuel feeding process that feeds the air-fuel mixture, which includes the fuel supplied to the cylinder, to the exhaust passage without burning the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder, and a fuel supply process that supplies fuel to the cylinder when the fuel feeding process is being performed. The processing circuitry is further configured to perform the fuel supply process by performing the purging process.