Fuel Rate Optimization for Powertrain Efficiency Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for characterizing fuel consumption in vehicles do not account for varying power demands, making it impossible to compare fuel efficiency across different loads and operating conditions, which hinders optimization and troubleshooting.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a vehicle with sensors, an engine control unit (ECU), and a data store that calculates and compares fuel rate optimization values based on drive cycle records, allowing for the identification of optimal vehicle configurations for improved fuel efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing fuel consumption characterization techniques are used, then fuel rate can be monitored, but fuel efficiency cannot be compared across different power demands and operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fuel consumption metric by introducing a normalized fuel rate calculation that accounts for power demand. Instead of using raw fuel rate values, the system calculates a normalized value by dividing actual fuel rate by the minimum fuel rate required to produce the corresponding power level, enabling meaningful comparisons across different operating conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation layer between raw sensor data and fuel efficiency assessment. The normalized fuel rate serves as this intermediary metric, bridging the gap between actual fuel consumption and the theoretical minimum required, thereby enabling standardized comparison across diverse power demands and operating conditions
2Device complexity
If fuel consumption is measured in isolation without considering power demand, then measurement is simple, but the results cannot distinguish between efficient and inefficient performance under different loads
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations by storing minimum fuel rate data corresponding to various power levels before actual fuel consumption measurement. This pre-established reference data enables the normalized fuel rate calculation to accurately assess efficiency without requiring complex real-time analysis of power-demand-specific consumption patterns
3Quantity of substance
If overall fuel consumption is used as the metric, then total consumption can be tracked, but performance cannot be compared apples-to-apples across different vehicle configurations and test conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the overall fuel consumption measurement into discrete time-based intervals, calculating normalized fuel rate for each interval independently. This segmentation allows aggregation of comparable metrics across different vehicle configurations and test conditions, enabling meaningful performance comparison while still capturing total consumption patterns
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for improving fuel economy in vehicles such as Class 8 trucks are provided. In some embodiments, signals indicating states of the powertrain are collected and used to generate fuel rate optimization values. Fuel rate optimization values may indicate a difference between optimum fuel flow rates and actual fuel flow rates during a vehicle drive cycle. Recorded fuel rate optimization values may be used to compare different vehicle configurations during testing, and may also be used to evaluate vehicle performance during real-world operation.