Internal Combustion Engine Exhaust Temperature Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for optimizing internal combustion engine performance, such as those described in US patent 4,399,774, are inadequate for precise performance drops during severe operating conditions, as they solely rely on engine cooling water temperature and do not effectively manage high exhaust gas temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A method that increments a time counter when the engine enters a critical operating zone defined by multiple parameters including exhaust gas temperature, and adjusts engine settings like fuel injection and air flow to reduce exhaust gas temperature after a cumulative time, specifically for turbocharged diesel engines, to mitigate damage from high temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the engine operates under severe conditions to increase performance, then the power output is improved, but the exhaust gas temperature becomes excessively high causing component damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine power outputVSAvoidexhaust gas temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control system performs preliminary detection of operating conditions and predicts upcoming critical zones. By incrementing the time counter in advance when entering a critical zone definition, the system prepares for performance reduction before the actual thermal damage occurs, allowing preventive action rather than reactive response

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors multiple parameters (speed, fuel flow, air flow, temperatures, pressure) and uses this feedback to determine when the engine enters a critical operating zone. The cumulative time counter provides feedback on exposure duration, triggering performance reduction when threshold is reached, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to actual operating conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If the engine cooling water temperature is used as the sole control criterion, then the control system is simple, but the performance optimization is insufficient during severe operating conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidperformance optimization reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is designed to be multi-functional by monitoring multiple parameters simultaneously (speed, fuel flow, air flow, temperatures, pressure) rather than relying on a single parameter. This universal approach allows the same control system to handle various operating conditions and severe scenarios, improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes from using a single control parameter (cooling water temperature) to using multiple parameters to define the critical operating zone. By monitoring combinations of parameters including exhaust gas temperature, air flow, fuel flow, and pressure, the system achieves more reliable performance optimization while maintaining reasonable complexity through integrated control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the engine performance is reduced continuously to prevent thermal damage, then the component reliability is improved, but the engine productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent reliabilityVSAvoidengine productivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuously reducing engine performance, the system applies partial action by only reducing power when the cumulative time in critical zones reaches the threshold. The time counter mechanism ensures that performance reduction is applied only when necessary (after exceeding cumulative exposure limits), allowing full performance during acceptable operating conditions while protecting components during severe sustained operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The performance reduction is applied periodically based on cumulative time exposure rather than continuously. The system allows the engine to operate in critical zones intermittently (incrementing the counter) and only triggers performance reduction when the cumulative threshold is reached, creating a periodic control pattern that balances productivity and reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2066894B1Method for optimising the performance of the internal combustion engine of a vehicle, such as an automotive vehicle
Publication Date: 2011.05.18 PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP2066894B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for optimising the performance of the internal combustion engine of a vehicle, such as an automotive vehicle. According to the invention, the method is characterised in that it comprises incrementing a time counter (CT) each time the engine enters a critical operation zone determined by the revolution speed and the load of the engine corresponding to the highest temperatures in the exhaust gases, and modifying the engine settings to decrease the temperature of the exhaust gases when the engine has been operating in the critical zone for a predetermined cumulated duration. The invention can be used in the field of automotive vehicles.