Engine Mass Flow Observer Fault Mitigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current engine systems rely on emissions and on-board diagnostics (OBD) alerts for fault detection, which can lead to delayed identification and increased costs due to emissions threshold crossings, necessitating new approaches for early fault mitigation.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a model-based system for calculating and implementing control signals in an engine system, using a modified model set that omits or underweights specific models to identify and respond to faults, incorporating additional sensed measurements to maintain system operation without relying on emissions or OBD alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a full model set is used for calculating parameters during ordinary operation, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates when faults occur in specific components
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between a full model set during ordinary operation and a modified model set during fault conditions. The ECU monitors system operation and automatically adapts the model configuration based on detected faults, allowing the system to optimize parameter calculation precision when healthy while ensuring reliability when components fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the configuration parameters of the model set based on fault detection. When a fault is detected in a component, the corresponding model is omitted or underweighted in the modified model set, and additional sensed measurement values are incorporated to compensate, thereby maintaining reliable operation under fault conditions.
2Reliability
If additional sensors are incorporated for fault detection, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ECU performs multiple functions using the same hardware resources. It not only controls engine operation but also monitors faults, switches between model sets, and adapts control strategies. This multi-functionality allows the system to gain enhanced fault detection capability without proportionally increasing hardware complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its existing sensors and processing capabilities to perform fault detection and adaptation. Rather than requiring entirely separate monitoring systems, the ECU leverages the same measurement values and computational resources already present in the engine control system, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the system waits for emissions threshold crossings for fault alerts, then ease of operation is maintained, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary fault detection by continuously monitoring system parameters and comparing them against expected values from the model set. Instead of waiting for emissions threshold crossings, the ECU proactively identifies faults through parameter analysis and model-based comparisons, enabling early intervention while maintaining simple operation through automated monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback monitoring where the ECU compares actual system parameters against model predictions and sensor measurements. This feedback mechanism provides real-time fault detection without requiring complex operator intervention, thereby reducing fault identification time while maintaining ease of operation through automated alerting.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Methods and systems for fault mitigation in an engine system. For ordinary operation, a set of control signals are generated after calculating airflows within the engine system using a set of flow models linked to components of the engine system, while underweighting or omitting an output of a sensor in the engine system. When a fault is identified, the set of flow models is analyzed differently by underweighting or omitting one or more flow models in favor of using the sensor output. By so doing, the engine system can continue to be operated without triggering an on-board diagnostic alert requiring cessation of operation.