Engine Methane Number Estimation From Combustion Heat Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining methane number in gaseous fuels for internal combustion engines are cumbersome and require advance knowledge of fuel composition, failing to account for changes due to active fuel blending or inaccurately compensating for engine performance impacts.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing sensors to measure heat release and pressure signals, combined with a controller to estimate methane number based on combustion timing and adjust for factors like humidity and air temperature, enabling dynamic and accurate methane number calculation without prior knowledge of fuel constituents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sampling fuel to determine methane number is performed, then methane number can be determined, but the process becomes cumbersome and requires advance knowledge of fuel composition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical fuel sampling and laboratory analysis system with an optical/electronic sensor-based system. The sensor measures combustion characteristics (pressure, temperature, heat release rate) directly in the engine, and the controller calculates methane number from these measurements, eliminating the need for physical fuel sampling and advance fuel composition knowledge.
2Measurement precision
If methane number is determined based on detected excess air or air-fuel ratio, then methane number can be calculated, but the calculation becomes inaccurate when excess air is not present or when engine performance compensation independently impacts excess air quantity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces combustion characteristics (heat release rate, pressure rise rate, combustion duration) as intermediary measurements that directly reflect fuel combustion properties. These intermediaries are more directly correlated with methane number than excess air measurements, providing reliable calculations across all operating conditions including when excess air is absent or when engine performance compensation is active.
3Adaptability or versatility
If active fuel blending is performed, then fuel composition changes, but existing methods fail to account for these changes in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system where the sensor continuously measures combustion characteristics and the controller continuously calculates methane number, providing real-time feedback on actual fuel composition. This allows the system to adapt to active fuel blending by detecting the actual methane number resulting from blending operations, rather than relying on predetermined or historical fuel composition data.
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 accurate and real-time estimation and adjustment of methane number, improving engine performance by minimizing detonation resistance variations and facilitating proactive control strategies.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a heat release of fuel combusted with an internal combustion engine
Implementation Method 2
a pressure sensor configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of pressure within one or more of the engine cylinders
Data Source
AI summary
A system for estimating methane number of fuel includes a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a heat release of fuel combusted with an internal combustion engine and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the signal from the sensor, determine a methane number of fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine based on the signal from the sensor, and output a notification based on the methane number.