Fuel Pump Prognosis via Control Signal Gain Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel delivery systems in internal combustion engines face challenges in maintaining precise fuel pressure and detecting potential failures in fuel pumps, leading to degraded engine performance due to factors like solenoid wear and leakage, which are not effectively addressed by current technologies.
Innovation Solution
A fuel delivery system with a high-pressure fuel pump and a controller that adjusts the control signal gain to maintain setpoint fuel pressure, issues warnings based on gain value deviations, and provides prognosis messages for fuel pump health, using a solenoid inlet valve and pressure sensors to regulate fuel flow and pressure, thereby compensating for wear and leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the control signal gain is adjusted to maintain fuel pressure setpoint, then fuel delivery precision is improved, but the system complexity increases due to continuous monitoring and adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors actual fuel pressure and compares it to the setpoint pressure, automatically adjusting the control signal gain to eliminate deviations. This closed-loop feedback mechanism maintains precise fuel delivery without requiring complex manual intervention or oversimplified open-loop control.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel delivery system performs self-diagnosis and self-adjustment by monitoring its own performance parameters and automatically correcting gain values to maintain optimal operation, reducing the need for external monitoring systems while maintaining precision.
2Reliability
If the gain value is continuously monitored and adjusted, then fuel pump reliability is improved through early failure detection, but the measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors the control signal gain value and compares it against predetermined thresholds, providing automatic feedback when degradation is detected. This simplifies the detection process by using straightforward threshold comparisons rather than complex diagnostic algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system detects fuel pump degradation by monitoring changes in the control signal gain parameter over time. By tracking parameter drift and comparing it to calibrated baseline values, the system achieves reliable failure prediction through simple parameter threshold monitoring rather than complex multi-parameter analysis.
3Manufacturing precision
If the inlet valve is periodically closed to generate setpoint pressure, then fuel pressure control precision is improved, but the system operates with periodic discontinuous action rather than continuous flow
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet valve is actuated periodically to close and build pressure in the pumping chamber, then open to deliver fuel. This periodic action achieves precise pressure control by timing the valve closure to generate the required setpoint pressure, eliminating the need for continuous valve opening that would waste energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes energy efficiency by adjusting the timing and duration of inlet valve closure based on the required fuel pressure setpoint. By dynamically changing the valve actuation parameters to match demand, the system achieves precise pressure control while minimizing energy consumption during non-delivery periods.
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
The system ensures precise fuel delivery, extends fuel pump operational life, and provides timely warnings for maintenance, reducing engine performance degradation and potential failures by accurately monitoring and adjusting fuel pressure and solenoid valve operation.
Implementation Method 1
A direct-inject fuel pump prognosis system includes a solenoid inlet valve operable to regulate a fuel inlet flow into the fuel pump
Implementation Method 2
a sensor to provide a pressure signal indicative of fuel pressure downstream of the fuel pump
Data Source
AI summary
An engine fuel delivery system includes a fuel pump having a pumping chamber to increase fuel pressure and a closeable inlet valve, and a fuel rail to communicate pressurized fuel received from the fuel pump to at least one engine cylinder. The engine fuel delivery system also includes a controller programmed to issue a control signal to periodically close the inlet valve to generate a setpoint fuel pressure within the pumping chamber. The controller is also programmed to adjust a control signal gain value in response to deviation in an outlet fuel pressure relative to the setpoint fuel pressure. The controller is further programmed to issue a warning message in response to the control signal gain being adjusted by more than a predetermined threshold from a calibrated gain value.