Engine Fuel Property Determination via Catalyst Heat-Up Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional control apparatuses for internal combustion engines face challenges in accurately determining fuel properties, leading to unstable engine start-ups and increased costs due to fuel adhesion issues and varying fuel volatility, which affect air-fuel ratios and driveability.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus for internal combustion engines that includes intake air amount control, ignition timing control, catalyst heat-up control, air-fuel ratio detection, and fuel property determination through comparison of calculated parameter values with preset reference values during catalyst heat-up, creating a consistent transient operational state for accurate fuel property assessment without increasing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fuel injection control is performed considering fuel response delay to suppress deterioration in driveability, then driveability is improved, but measurement precision of fuel property determination deteriorates due to inability to make accurate determination on fuel property
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary fuel property determination during cold start before normal operation begins. By determining fuel property during the cold start period when the air-fuel ratio sensor is activated and catalyst heat-up control is performed, the system obtains fuel property information in advance. This preliminary determination allows subsequent fuel injection control to be optimized for the specific fuel type, improving both driveability and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the air-fuel ratio sensor and catalyst heat-up control processes that are already part of the engine operation to perform fuel property determination. By utilizing existing system components and operations, the patent enables self-service fuel property assessment without requiring additional external measurement devices or processes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If air-fuel ratio sensor is activated early to enable fuel property determination, then fuel property determination is enabled, but reliability of air-fuel ratio detection deteriorates due to unstable sensor output during cold start
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates the air-fuel ratio sensor during cold start to perform preliminary fuel property determination. By using this early period specifically for fuel type identification rather than for precise air-fuel ratio control, the system leverages the sensor's early readings for their intended purpose (fuel property assessment) before the sensor output becomes sufficiently stable for precise control applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the air-fuel ratio sensor output during cold start for fuel property determination even though the output is not yet fully stable. By accepting partial reliability (sufficient for fuel type classification but not for precise control) during this period, the system enables fuel property determination capability without waiting for complete sensor stabilization.
3Reliability
If catalyst heat-up control is performed to increase intake air amount, then catalyst activation is promoted, but manufacturing precision of consistent transient operational state deteriorates due to variations in fuel evaporation characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines fuel property during catalyst heat-up control by analyzing air-fuel ratio variations that occur under controlled transient conditions. By identifying characteristic patterns in air-fuel ratio changes specific to different fuel types during this controlled period, the system adapts the control parameters subsequently to compensate for variations in fuel evaporation characteristics, thereby maintaining consistent operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs fuel property determination during the catalyst heat-up period before normal operation begins. By completing fuel identification in advance during this controlled transient period, the system can then adjust control parameters for the subsequent normal operation to account for the specific fuel's evaporation characteristics, ensuring consistent operational states.
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
Enables high-accuracy fuel property determination, improving driveability and reducing exhaust contamination by stabilizing air-fuel ratios and maintaining consistent engine performance across different fuel types and conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an air-fuel ratio sensor which detects an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas or whether the air-fuel ratio is rich or lean
Implementation Method 2
the rest of the fuel adheres to inner wall surfaces of the intake ports or surfaces of intake valves and then gradually evaporates to be sucked into the cylinders
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine which can make a determination on fuel property with high accuracy without causing a cost increase. The control apparatus for the internal combustion engine includes: an intake air amount control unit for controlling an intake air amount of the engine;an ignition timing control unit for controlling an ignition timing of the engine; a catalyst heat-up control unit for increasing the intake air amount after cold start of the engine and performing control for retarding the ignition timing; an air-fuel ratio detecting unit for detecting an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas in the engine; and a fuel property determining unit for making a determination on fuel property through a comparison between a parameter value calculated from the air-fuel ratio and a preset reference value when the catalyst heat-up control unit performs the control for retarding the ignition timing.