Engine Oil Exchange Control Using TBN and Oxidation Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large internal combustion engines face challenges in maintaining lubricating oil effectiveness without complete oil changes, as combustion of lubricating oil in cylinders leads to high exhaust gas emissions, necessitating frequent oil replenishment and eventual complete oil change, which is costly and undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A method and control unit that detect the total base number and oxidation of lubricating oil, determining an exchange oil quantity based on these measurements to remove and replace only the necessary amount, allowing for continuous lubrication without combustion in the cylinders, thus reducing emissions and avoiding complete oil changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lubricating oil is combusted in the cylinders to compensate for oil consumption, then the lubricating oil effectiveness is maintained, but exhaust gas emissions increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful combustion process is extracted and removed from the system. Instead of combusting lubricating oil in the cylinders, the patent introduces a separate oil regeneration system that extracts degraded oil components through filtration and regeneration processes, eliminating the need for cylinder combustion while maintaining oil effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary regeneration system is introduced between the lubricating oil supply and the cylinders. This system includes filters and regeneration devices that process the lubricating oil, removing degraded components without requiring combustion in the combustion chamber, thus acting as a mediator that preserves oil effectiveness while avoiding emission increases.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If complete oil change is performed to maintain lubricating oil effectiveness without combustion, then exhaust gas emissions are reduced, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding all lubricating oil through complete changes, the system recovers and regenerates used oil. The regeneration process separates and removes only the degraded components while retaining usable base oil, allowing partial reuse of lubricating oil and reducing both emissions and operational costs associated with frequent complete oil changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors and manages the quality parameters of lubricating oil (such as viscosity, contamination levels, and chemical composition) through sensors and control units. By tracking these parameters, the system determines optimal regeneration timing and intensity, preventing premature complete oil changes while ensuring oil effectiveness is maintained, thus reducing operational costs.
3Reliability
If lubricating oil is replenished frequently to compensate for combustion loss, then lubricating oil effectiveness is maintained, but the complexity of the oil management system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor lubricating oil quality parameters and consumption rates. This feedback information is processed by a control unit that automatically adjusts the regeneration process and replenishment timing, eliminating the need for complex manual monitoring and decision-making while maintaining oil effectiveness through data-driven management.
Solution Approach 2:
The lubricating oil management system performs self-service through automated regeneration and monitoring functions. The system independently assesses oil quality, initiates regeneration when needed, and manages replenishment without requiring extensive external intervention or complex manual procedures, thereby maintaining oil effectiveness while keeping the system relatively simple to operate.
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
This approach maintains lubricating oil effectiveness while minimizing exhaust gas emissions and eliminating the need for complete oil changes, reducing operational expenses and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
a measurement value of the total base number or a measurement value of the oxidation of the lubricating oil currently used in the oil circuit for the lubrication is detected
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating an internal combustion engine that is supplied with lubricating oil via an oil circuit. A measurement value of the total base number and/or a measurement value of the oxidation of lubricating oil currently used in the oil circuit for the lubrication is detected. Dependent on the established measurement value of the total base number and/or dependent on the established measurement value of the oxidation an exchange oil quantity for the oil circuit is determined. Currently used lubricating oil to an extent corresponding to the exchange oil quantity is removed from the oil circuit and new lubricating oil to an extent corresponding to the exchange oil quantity is supplied to the oil circuit.