High Pressure Fuel Pump Element Self-Diagnosis

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Solution Overview

Problem

High pressure pumps in fuel injection systems for combustion engines face inefficiencies due to leakage and wear, leading to suboptimal performance, which existing diagnostic methods fail to accurately assess and address.

Innovation Solution

A method that controls high pressure pump elements to deliver fuel pressure at different reference values, comparing performance against nominal and minimum curves to determine functionality and efficiency, allowing for optimal operation and maintenance by prioritizing the most efficient elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If pump elements are operated without individual performance assessment, then operation is simple, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to use of degraded elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoiddiagnostic complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pump system performs self-diagnosis by automatically testing each pump element's performance characteristics and comparing them against reference values. The system assesses its own elements without external intervention, determining efficiency ratings and making operational decisions based on self-assessed performance data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by measuring actual pressure development of each pump element, comparing it with stored reference pressure developments, and using this comparison to assess performance. This feedback loop enables continuous monitoring and optimization of pump element efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Object-generated harmful factors

If all pump elements are used equally, then operational simplicity is maintained, but noise increases and energy efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovenoiseVSAvoidoperational control
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by assigning different operational statuses to different pump elements based on their individual performance characteristics. Instead of uniform operation, each element is evaluated and classified locally, with efficient elements designated for use and degraded elements removed from service, thereby reducing overall noise and improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If pump elements are not monitored individually, then monitoring complexity is low, but performance degradation goes undetected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance assessment accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system is segmented by evaluating each pump element independently rather than as a group. Each element undergoes separate pressure development testing and comparison against reference values, allowing individual performance assessment. This segmentation enables precise identification of which specific elements are degraded.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Use of energy by moving object

If pump elements with leakage or wear are continued to be used, then operational continuity is maintained, but energy efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidoperational availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary assessment of pump element performance before operational decisions are made. By testing pressure development and comparing against reference values in advance, the system identifies efficient elements beforehand, allowing proactive selection of optimal elements for operation while preventing use of degraded elements that would waste energy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2999879B1Method and device for operation of a high pressure fuel pump
Publication Date: 2018.07.04 SCANIA CV AB
  • EP2999879B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2999879B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2999879B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a high pressure pump in a system for fuel injection in a combustion engine, it is determined whether a predetermined partial load operating condition prevails in the combustion engine, at which one single of several pump elements (10) in the high pressure pump is capable of alone delivering a fuel pressure requested in an accumulator tank (6), according to a first reference value, and to achieve a reproducible increase of the fuel pressure to a second reference value. If applicable, the high pressure pump's pump elements are controlled so that one single pump element alone delivers the fuel pressure in the accumulator tank according to the first reference value, whereupon this reference value is changed to the second reference value, and the actual development of the pressure in the accumulator tank as a function of time is determined, and compared with stored values of similar developments for the determination of information regarding the pump element's performance ability.