Engine Controller Air-Fuel Ratio Dynamics
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-performance vehicles typically sacrifice fuel economy for better acceleration, resulting in increased CO2 and NOx emissions due to higher engine speeds, which are not efficiently managed by traditional engine control methods.
Innovation Solution
An engine management system that adjusts the air-to-fuel ratio and gear ratio dynamically based on vehicle speed and load conditions, using a controller to increase the air-to-fuel ratio during constant speed and low load conditions to reduce fuel consumption while maintaining vehicle speed, and returns to a richer mixture during increased power demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If engine speed is increased to improve vehicle performance and acceleration, then vehicle performance is improved, but fuel consumption and emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the air-to-fuel ratio adjustable and variable based on operating conditions. The control system dynamically modifies the air-to-fuel ratio from a first value during acceleration to a second value during constant speed operation, allowing the system to adapt to changing performance requirements and optimize fuel consumption accordingly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the air-to-fuel ratio parameter from a first value to a second value based on engine operating conditions. This parameter change allows the system to maintain optimal combustion efficiency across different operating modes, reducing fuel consumption during constant speed operation while preserving acceleration performance when needed.
2Speed
If engine speed is increased to improve vehicle performance, then acceleration is improved, but CO2 and NOx emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the air-to-fuel ratio parameter based on engine operating conditions to optimize combustion efficiency. By adjusting this parameter from a first value during acceleration to a second value during constant speed operation, the system reduces CO2 and NOx emissions during steady-state operation while maintaining the capability for high-performance acceleration when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses feedback from sensors monitoring engine operating conditions to automatically adjust the air-to-fuel ratio. This closed-loop control ensures emissions are minimized during constant speed operation by optimizing combustion efficiency, while still allowing for high-performance acceleration when performance demands require higher engine speeds.
3Use of energy by moving object
If air-to-fuel ratio is increased to reduce fuel consumption, then fuel economy is improved, but power output may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the air-to-fuel ratio variable rather than fixed. The control system dynamically adjusts the ratio based on real-time operating conditions, using a richer mixture (first value) during acceleration to maintain power output and a leaner mixture (second value) during constant speed operation to improve fuel economy, thus resolving the power-fuel economy trade-off.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using a richer air-to-fuel ratio only when necessary for acceleration and power demands, rather than maintaining a rich mixture continuously. During constant speed operation, the system uses a leaner ratio to optimize fuel economy, applying the excessive fuel only partially when performance requirements demand it.
Data Source
AI summary
An engine management apparatus for a vehicle having a fuel ratio controller arranged to control the air to fuel ratio of a fuel mixture for the vehicle's engine, a power demand sensor arranged to sense power demands made of the engine, and an engine controller configured to increase the air to fuel ratio from a first selected value to a second selected value in the event that the rate of vehicle speed change is less than a first threshold and the demand is less than a second threshold.