Natural Gas Quality Virtual Sensor for Dual Fuel Engines
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for dual fuel engines, particularly those using wellhead natural gas, face challenges in accurately controlling and estimating natural gas quality parameters, which affects combustion efficiency and operational performance.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for estimating natural gas quality parameters using sensed parameters from a dual fuel engine, employing a processing subsystem that determines parameters like lambda, methane number, specific gravity, lower heating value, and Wobbe index through direct calculations and predetermined relationships, without requiring intermediate calculations of hydrogen-to-carbon and inert matter-to-carbon ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional methods are used to estimate natural gas quality parameters, then intermediate calculations of hydrogen-to-carbon and inert matter-to-carbon ratios are required, but this increases calculation complexity and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate calculation steps for hydrogen-to-carbon and inert matter-to-carbon ratios from the traditional estimation method. By directly calculating quality parameters (Wobbe index, lower heating value, methane number) from sensed engine parameters using predetermined relationships, the complex intermediate steps are removed while maintaining estimation accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes predetermined relationships between engine parameters and natural gas quality parameters beforehand. These pre-defined correlations allow direct calculation of quality parameters without performing intermediate ratio calculations during actual operation, thus simplifying the real-time computation process
2Productivity
If direct calculation methods are used for natural gas quality parameters, then calculation time is reduced, but control precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller continuously monitors engine parameters and uses predetermined relationships to calculate natural gas quality parameters in real-time. The system adjusts fuel injection and combustion control based on these calculated parameters, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains precision while enabling fast direct calculations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from calculating quality parameters through intermediate chemical ratio determinations to directly using engine operational parameters (temperature, pressure, flow rates) that correlate with gas quality. This parameter transformation enables faster calculation while maintaining accuracy through the predetermined relationships between engine parameters and gas properties
3Measurement precision
If multiple intermediate calculations are performed to determine gas quality, then estimation accuracy may be improved, but system response time decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate calculation steps for hydrogen-to-carbon and inert matter-to-carbon ratios from the estimation process. By directly calculating quality parameters from sensed engine parameters using predetermined relationships, the system achieves both fast response time and accurate estimation without the time-consuming intermediate steps
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods and apparatus for controlling operation of an engine structured to combust gaseous fuel such as a dual fuel engine, including an estimation of key parameters dependent on natural gas quality, are disclosed. The natural gas quality parameters are estimated from natural gas properties obtained from various sensed parameters associated with the engine.