Fuel Supply Control Apparatus for Pressure Stabilization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The instability of fuel pressure in the supply pipe after a change in the type of fuel supplied to the engine can adversely affect fuel injection control, leading to potential operational instabilities.

Innovation Solution

A control apparatus for the fuel supply apparatus that executes relief pressure control by opening a relief valve until a predetermined termination condition is met, stabilizing the fuel pressure in the supply pipe, and uses mappings to estimate fuel properties like alcohol concentration and temperature without the need for dedicated sensors, ensuring accurate fuel control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If fuel supply type is changed, then fuel variety is improved, but fuel pressure stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel varietyVSAvoidfuel pressure stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control apparatus executes relief pressure control before normal fuel supply resumes after a fuel type change. This preliminary action stabilizes the fuel pressure by controlling the relief valve to maintain pressure within a predetermined range, preventing the instability that would otherwise occur when switching between different fuel types with different properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If relief pressure control is executed, then fuel pressure stability is improved, but control process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel pressure stabilityVSAvoidcontrol process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control apparatus uses feedback control by monitoring the fuel pressure and adjusting the relief valve accordingly. The control process checks whether fuel pressure is within the predetermined range and modifies relief valve operation based on this feedback, achieving stable fuel pressure through a systematic feedback mechanism rather than complex open-loop control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If fuel properties are estimated without sensors, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidfuel properties measurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control apparatus estimates fuel properties (alcohol concentration, temperature) by analyzing data from existing sensors already present in the system, such as fuel injection quantity, fuel pressure, and engine operating conditions. This self-service approach uses the system's own operational data to infer fuel properties without requiring additional dedicated sensors, thereby maintaining measurement capability while avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3913206B1Control apparatus for fuel supply apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3913206B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3913206B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3913206B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A control apparatus for a fuel supply apparatus (50) is used in an engine system. The engine system includes an engine (12) including a fuel injection valve, and the fuel supply apparatus (50) including a fuel pump configured to supply fuel in a fuel tank to a supply pipe connected to the fuel injection valve, and a relief valve provided in the supply pipe. The control apparatus for the fuel supply apparatus includes an executor configured to execute, when the fuel is supplied to the fuel tank, relief pressure control for driving the fuel pump to open the relief valve until a predetermined termination condition is satisfied.