Fuel Consumption Measurement Under Variable Engine Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining fuel consumption in refrigeration systems, such as those used in transport refrigeration units, lack accuracy and do not account for dynamic operating conditions, leading to incomplete information on fuel usage over time.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that calculate fuel consumption rate based on instantaneous fuel consumption, load on the internal combustion engine, and current operating conditions, using sensors and a controller to provide real-time data and historical analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current methods for determining fuel consumption are used, then the system is simple to operate, but the measurement precision is insufficient and does not account for dynamic operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors multiple parameters (instantaneous fuel consumption, load, operating conditions) and uses this feedback to dynamically calculate and update the fuel consumption rate, improving measurement precision by accounting for real-time variations in operating conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The controller performs multiple functions: monitoring fuel consumption, tracking load variations, detecting operating conditions, calculating fuel consumption rate, and providing predictions. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single integrated solution
2Loss of information
If fuel consumption rate calculation based on multiple parameters is implemented, then the information completeness improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges data from multiple sources (fuel consumption sensors, load sensors, operating condition detectors) into a unified calculation model within the controller, providing comprehensive fuel usage information through integration rather than separate measurement systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors changes in multiple parameters (instantaneous fuel consumption, load, operating conditions) and uses these parameter variations to dynamically adjust the fuel consumption rate calculation, capturing the dynamic nature of engine operation
3Productivity
If real-time fuel consumption tracking is implemented, then the productivity improves through better resource management, but the use of energy increases due to continuous monitoring and calculation
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the engine's own operational data (fuel consumption, load, operating conditions) to calculate fuel consumption rate, eliminating the need for external power-intensive measurement systems and using readily available sensor data from the engine control
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for determining a fluid consumption rate from a fluid tank is described. The fluid tank includes a fuel for an internal combustion engine and the internal combustion engine provides power to a powered system. The method includes determining instantaneous fluid consumption; determining an operating condition of the powered system, the powered system providing a load on the internal combustion engine; determining the load on the internal combustion engine and a state of the internal combustion engine; and calculating the fluid consumption rate based on the instantaneous fuel consumption, the load on the internal combustion engine, and the state of the internal combustion engine.