Fugitive Fueling Detection in Internal Combustion Engines

Solution Overview

Problem

Internal combustion engines face damage due to fugitive fueling, where they receive excess fuel, leading to overspeed and potential severe damage, often caused by hydrocarbon contamination, lubrication system leaks, or impaired fuel injectors, necessitating a detection and response system to prevent uncontrolled operation.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that monitor the time-related variability of fuel-linked engine operating parameters, comparing them to a maximum permissible value, and activate mitigation measures, such as engine shutdown, when excessive variability is detected, using existing sensors and controllers to prevent engine damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the engine operates in a hydrocarbon-contaminated atmosphere or experiences lubrication system leaks, then the engine receives excess fuel leading to overspeed, but the engine suffers severe damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine operation safetyVSAvoidfugitive fueling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of fugitive fueling conditions by monitoring engine operating parameters before overspeed damage occurs. The controller continuously compares actual fueling rates against expected values and detects anomalies that indicate fugitive fueling, enabling preventive shutdown before severe damage happens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring engine operating parameters (such as fuel flow rate, engine speed, and load) and comparing actual values against expected values. When the deviation exceeds a threshold indicating fugitive fueling, the system triggers a shutdown signal to stop the engine, preventing further damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If traditional fuel monitoring systems are used, then basic fuel delivery is controlled, but fugitive fueling cannot be detected before engine damage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel variability detectionVSAvoiddetection time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring engine operating parameters (such as fuel flow rate, engine speed, and load) and comparing actual values against expected values. When the deviation exceeds a threshold indicating fugitive fueling, the system triggers a shutdown signal to stop the engine, preventing further damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of fugitive fueling conditions by monitoring engine operating parameters before overspeed damage occurs. The controller continuously compares actual fueling rates against expected values and detects anomalies that indicate fugitive fueling, enabling preventive shutdown before severe damage happens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7444229B1System and method for detecting and responding to fugitive fueling of an internal combustion engine

Publication Date: 2008.10.28 TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A method for detecting and responding to fugitive fueling of an internal combustion engine uses monitoring of the variability of at least one fuel-linked engine operating parameter to determine that fugitive fueling is occurring. Once fugitive fueling is detected, mitigation will be implemented so as to shut the engine down without consequential damage.