Fuel Pressure Wave Analysis for Real-Time Fuel Quality Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining fuel properties in internal combustion engines are costly, require engine shutdown, or provide insufficient accuracy, especially when dealing with non-standard fuels, leading to uncontrolled engine emissions and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing pressure fluctuations in the fuel system during discontinuous delivery and withdrawal, combined with Fourier transform analysis, to identify fuel type and emissions, allowing for real-time monitoring and adjustment of engine and exhaust aftertreatment parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If vapor pressure measurement method is used to determine fuel properties, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and loss of time increase due to requiring engine shutdown and isolation of fuel system

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel property determination accuracyVSAvoidengine shutdown time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous fuel property monitoring during engine operation by using existing pressure sensors in the fuel system to detect pressure fluctuations caused by fuel injection. This eliminates the need for engine shutdown and isolation procedures, allowing real-time detection of unauthorized fuels while maintaining continuous engine operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the engine's own existing pressure sensors and fuel system components to perform fuel property determination. The pressure fluctuations naturally occurring during fuel injection are utilized as the measurement signal, eliminating the need for additional actuators, vacuum pumps, or isolation valves required by other methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If actuator-based vibration method is used to determine fuel viscosity, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to additional actuators and sensors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel viscosity determination accuracyVSAvoidsensor and actuator system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the engine's existing pressure sensors and fuel injection system to perform fuel property determination. The pressure fluctuations naturally occurring during fuel injection are utilized as the measurement signal, eliminating the need for additional actuators, vacuum pumps, or isolation valves required by other methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The existing pressure sensors in the fuel system serve dual purposes: monitoring fuel pressure for engine control and simultaneously detecting fuel properties for unauthorized fuel detection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated measurement systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If combustion noise detection method is used to determine fuel quality, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to influence of multiple factors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel quality detection simplicityVSAvoidfuel type identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent focuses on detecting local pressure fluctuations in the fuel system that are specifically caused by fuel injection characteristics. By analyzing pressure changes in the fuel rail or injection system rather than general combustion noise, the method isolates the signal to a specific location and source, improving measurement precision while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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, cost-effective, and real-time differentiation between fuels, optimizing exhaust emissions and protecting the engine from unauthorized fuel use, with the ability to adjust operating parameters and extend service intervals.

Implementation Method 1

pressure fluctuations in the fuel system during discontinuous delivery and withdrawal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure fluctuations:

Implementation Method 2

combined with Fourier transform analysis, to identify fuel type and emissions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFourier transform:

Data Source

PatentEP3786434B1Determination of fuel properties and their influence on exhaust emissions during combustion engine operation

Publication Date: 2025.11.05 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE

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AI summary

In a method for determining the deviation of the quality of a fuel from a reference quality and the resulting change in exhaust emissions by evaluating pressure waves in the fuel, it is provided that the internal combustion engine is equipped with a discontinuous fuel supply and/or fuel extraction system.During operation, pressure fluctuations forming in the fuel system are detected using a sensor, and by analyzing this pressure profile in an electronic control unit, the deviation from a fuel reference quality and/or the fuel type is determined, and from this, deviations of the raw emissions from the raw emissions when using the reference fuel and/or influences on the changed behavior of an aftertreatment system downstream of the internal combustion engine compared to operation with reference fuel are determined, and/or if a deviation from the reference fuel quality is determined, the service intervals and/or the engine oil change intervals are changed.