Engine Control Unit Adapting Air and Fuel Settings for SCR Agent Conservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for managing nitrogen oxide emissions in vehicles are inefficient in optimizing fuel consumption and reducing agent usage, leading to vehicle immobilization when the reducing agent tank is empty, failing to meet regulatory standards.
Innovation Solution
A method that estimates the remaining distance before the reducing agent tank is empty, adjusts air and fuel settings, and modifies the injection of the reducing agent to optimize fuel and agent consumption, including triggering alerts and engine shutdown when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the quantity of nitrogen oxides emitted at the source is increased to reduce fuel consumption, then the fuel consumption is reduced, but the quantity of reducing agent required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the engine settings adjustable in real-time based on reducing agent tank levels. The control unit dynamically modifies air and fuel injection quantities according to the estimated remaining distance and current reducing agent consumption rate, allowing the system to adapt between fuel-efficient high-NOx settings and reducing-agent-conserving low-NOx settings
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters (air quantity, fuel quantity, injection timing) based on the reducing agent tank level. By modifying these parameters, the system can shift between different combustion modes that produce different NOx levels, thereby controlling the trade-off between fuel consumption and reducing agent consumption
2Use of energy by moving object
If the vehicle operates with standard air and fuel settings to optimize fuel consumption, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the vehicle becomes immobilized when the reducing agent tank is empty
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by estimating the remaining distance based on current reducing agent consumption rates before the tank is completely empty. This allows the control unit to proactively adjust engine settings to reduce NOx emissions and conserve reducing agent, ensuring the vehicle can continue operating beyond what would be expected with static settings
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring reducing agent consumption, estimating remaining distance, and using this information to adjust air and fuel injection settings. This closed-loop control ensures the system responds to changing conditions and maintains vehicle operability while optimizing fuel consumption
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the engine settings are adjusted to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions at the source, then emission standards are met, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the balance between emission control and fuel efficiency based on real-time conditions. Rather than using fixed conservative settings that always prioritize emission reduction, the system adapts its NOx reduction strategy according to the reducing agent availability and driving conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies periodic action by adjusting engine settings in stages based on the estimated remaining distance. As the vehicle approaches the point where reducing agent would be depleted, the system progressively increases NOx reduction efforts, creating a periodic pattern of emission control intensity that balances overall fuel consumption with emission standards compliance
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 extends the reducing agent filling interval, reduces fuel consumption, and ensures compliance with nitrogen oxide emission standards by dynamically adjusting engine settings based on driving profiles and reducing agent levels.
Implementation Method 1
Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR) using a reducing agent from a reducing agent reservoir
Implementation Method 2
the nitrogen oxides undergo post-treatment by selective catalytic reduction
Implementation Method 3
the nitrogen oxides 10 are generated by the combustion 13 within the combustion chamber of the engine
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for adapting the settings of an engine on the basis of the consumption of a nitrogen-oxide reducing agent onboard a vehicle, the vehicle including an engine and a nitrogen-oxide reducing agent tank, characterized in that the method includes: estimating, on the basis of the history of the consumption of the reducing agent (34), the distance remaining to be travelled by the vehicle before the reducing agent tank becomes empty; comparing the estimate of the remaining distance with a predetermined distance; adjusting the air (38) and fuel (39) injected into the engine on the basis of the comparison; and adjusting the injection of reducing agent on the basis of the adjustment of air and the amount of fuel injected. The invention further relates to a vehicle for implementing the method. The invention enables an increase in the maximum number of kilometers that the user can travel between two fill-ups of the reducing agent, or a reduction in fuel consumption.