Gasoline Engine Fuel Heater for Cold Start PM Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gasoline engine controllers struggle to effectively reduce the number of particulate matter (PM) particles in exhaust gas without a particulate filter, as mass-based emission regulations inadvertently allow small PM particles to remain unregulated, and fuel consumption increases when trying to stabilize engine operation during cold idling.
Innovation Solution
A gasoline engine controller that heats fuel using an electric heater to enhance atomization, reducing residual fuel droplets and increasing the pre-mixture degree of fuel and air, thereby decreasing PM particles in the exhaust, even without a particulate filter, while optimizing fuel injection amounts to stabilize engine operation and reduce fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fuel injection amount is increased during cold idling to stabilize engine operation, then engine stability is improved, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the fuel by heating it before injection. This parameter change improves atomization quality and combustion efficiency, allowing the engine to maintain stability during cold idling without requiring excessive fuel injection amounts, thus resolving the contradiction between engine stability and fuel consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical approach of increasing fuel quantity to maintain stability with a thermal approach - heating the fuel to improve its combustion characteristics. This substitution allows maintaining engine stability through improved fuel quality rather than increased fuel quantity, reducing fuel consumption
2Use of energy by moving object
If fuel is injected without heating during cold conditions, then fuel consumption is reduced, but PM particle number in exhaust increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies parameter change by heating the fuel to a specific temperature range before injection. This temperature parameter modification enhances fuel atomization and vaporization, improving combustion completeness and reducing PM particle formation in exhaust, while maintaining fuel-efficient injection quantities
3Object-generated harmful factors
If fuel is heated before injection, then PM particle number in exhaust is reduced, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the heating temperature parameter within a specific range that achieves sufficient fuel atomization and PM reduction while minimizing the energy required for heating. This balanced parameter selection resolves the contradiction between PM reduction and fuel consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the approach of reducing PM through increased fuel injection with a thermal processing approach - heating the fuel to improve combustion efficiency. This substitution achieves PM reduction through enhanced combustion quality rather than quantity, minimizing additional fuel consumption
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
The solution effectively reduces the number of PM particles in the exhaust, stabilizes engine operation during cold idling, and minimizes fuel consumption by enhancing fuel atomization and adjusting fuel injection amounts, even when the engine is cold and idling.
Implementation Method 1
the fuel injected from the fuel injection valve is heated by the heating device
Implementation Method 2
This enhances atomization of the injected fuel
Implementation Method 3
A gasoline engine controller that heats fuel using an electric heater
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4(a)~4(d)
AI summary
With the present invention, a gasoline engine is equipped with an electric heater, which is embedded in a port-type fuel injection valve and heats the fuel in the fuel injection valve. An electronic control device heats the fuel by means of the electric heater when the engine is cold. In addition, when the fuel is not heated by the electric heater, the electronic control device controls a fuel injection valve such that the engine rotational speed NE is a rotational speed (a second prescribed value N2) which is higher than the idle rotational speed (a third prescribed value N3) when the engine is warm. When idle running is performed when the engine is cold and the fuel injected from the fuel injection valve is heated by the electric heater, the amount Q of fuel injected by the fuel injection valve is controlled such that the engine rotational speed NE is less than the second prescribed value N2.