Ethanol Fuel Injection Enrichment Controller for Gasoline Engines

Solution Overview

Problem

Gasoline-powered internal combustion engines designed for regular gasoline with low ethanol content face challenges when using ethanol fuels, requiring adjustments in fuel injection processes to achieve optimal operation.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a control unit, fuel ethanol sensor, ECU-fuel injector connector, and engine sensors that calculates an ideal enrichment pulse duration based on ethanol content and sensor data, allowing for real-time adjustments to fuel injection pulses to optimize engine operation with ethanol fuels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If fuel injection pulses are adjusted for ethanol fuels, then engine performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine performanceVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary device that sits between the ECU and fuel injector, intercepting and modifying the original fuel injection pulse signals. This intermediary controller calculates enrichment corrections based on ethanol content from a fuel sensor and applies these corrections to the injection pulses, thereby improving engine performance with ethanol fuels without requiring direct modification of the ECU itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs a fuel sensor that continuously monitors ethanol content in the fuel tank and automatically adjusts injection pulse duration based on detected ethanol levels. The control unit self-regulates the fuel injection process by comparing actual ethanol content against lookup tables to determine appropriate enrichment corrections, eliminating the need for manual intervention or complex external tuning systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If real-time ethanol content monitoring is implemented, then fuel injection accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel injection accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary device that sits between the ECU and fuel injector, intercepting and modifying the original fuel injection pulse signals. This intermediary controller calculates enrichment corrections based on ethanol content from a fuel sensor and applies these corrections to the injection pulses, thereby improving engine performance with ethanol fuels without requiring direct modification of the ECU itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the injection pulse duration parameter based on detected ethanol content. By monitoring ethanol levels and automatically adjusting pulse width according to pre-calibrated lookup tables, the system achieves accurate fuel injection for varying fuel compositions without requiring physical reconfiguration or complex manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If fuel injection pulse duration is increased for ethanol, then combustion efficiency is improved, but fuel consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidfuel consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the injection pulse duration parameter based on detected ethanol content. By monitoring ethanol levels and automatically adjusting pulse width according to pre-calibrated lookup tables, the system achieves accurate fuel injection for varying fuel compositions without requiring physical reconfiguration or complex manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit continuously monitors ethanol content through the fuel sensor and uses this feedback to adjust injection pulse duration in real-time. By comparing sensor readings against stored enrichment tables and dynamically modifying pulse width accordingly, the system optimizes combustion efficiency while minimizing excessive fuel consumption that would occur with fixed enrichment approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11047330B2Device for modifying the amount of fuel combusted for an electronically fuel injected combustion engine

Publication Date: 2021.06.29 STEPONETECH LTD

AI summary

A device that enables gasoline internal combustion engines to efficiently use fuel with higher ethanol content. The device measures various data such as ethanol content, RPM, temperature, intake air pressure, mass airflow, exhaust gas, crank sensor, among other data, to determine to an ideal enrichment pulse duration to apply to the fuel injector.