Infrared Fuel Sensor Pressure Measurement via Absorbance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fuel monitoring systems in motor vehicles require additional pressure sensors, which are costly and prone to failures, to measure the pressure of compressed gaseous fuels, complicating real-time fuel composition and pressure control.
Innovation Solution
A method and device using an infrared quality sensor and electronic control unit that determines fuel pressure by measuring absorbance at specific wavelengths, comparing corrected absorbance values to nominal values, eliminating the need for an additional pressure sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an additional pressure sensor is installed to measure fuel pressure, then pressure measurement capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The infrared quality sensor is made multi-functional by enabling it to perform both fuel composition analysis and pressure measurement. The sensor measures absorbance at multiple wavelengths, where absorbance at a first wavelength provides compositional information and absorbance at a second wavelength provides pressure information, eliminating the need for a separate pressure sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the infrared sensor by configuring it to measure absorbance at multiple specific wavelengths. By selecting wavelengths where different gases in the fuel mixture have distinct absorption characteristics, the system can derive both compositional and pressure information from the same sensor measurements.
2Measurement precision
If an additional pressure sensor is installed to measure fuel pressure, then pressure measurement capability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The infrared quality sensor is made multi-functional by enabling it to perform both fuel composition analysis and pressure measurement. The sensor measures absorbance at multiple wavelengths, where absorbance at a first wavelength provides compositional information and absorbance at a second wavelength provides pressure information, eliminating the need for a separate pressure sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the pressure measurement function with the existing quality sensor function. By combining multiple wavelength measurements in a single sensor device, the system integrates what would traditionally require separate sensors into one unified measurement tool, reducing overall system cost.
3Measurement precision
If an additional pressure sensor is installed to measure fuel pressure, then pressure measurement capability is improved, but reliability decreases due to additional failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The infrared quality sensor is made multi-functional by enabling it to perform both fuel composition analysis and pressure measurement. The sensor measures absorbance at multiple wavelengths, where absorbance at a first wavelength provides compositional information and absorbance at a second wavelength provides pressure information, eliminating the need for a separate pressure sensor.
4Measurement precision
If absorbance measurements are taken at multiple wavelengths to determine both composition and pressure, then measurement capability is improved, but measurement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration by measuring absorbance at multiple wavelengths under known conditions and storing reference values. During operation, the controller compares real-time measurements against these pre-stored references to automatically determine both fuel composition and pressure, simplifying the operational measurement process.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller uses feedback from the absorbance measurements to iteratively determine fuel composition and pressure. By continuously comparing measured absorbance values at multiple wavelengths against expected values for different fuel compositions and pressures, the system automatically adjusts its calculations to achieve accurate simultaneous determination of both parameters.
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
Enables real-time, cost-effective, and accurate measurement of fuel pressure and composition without additional hardware, improving engine efficiency and reducing potential failures in the fuel system.
Implementation Method 1
measuring an absorbance value of the fuel at a first wavelength and at a second wavelength
Data Source
AI summary
A method for measuring pressure of a gaseous fuel compressed in a feed system of an engine equipping a motor vehicle, by a pressure measuring device having an infrared quality sensor and an electronic control unit, the measuring method being characterized in that it consists in determining a corrected absorbance value of the fuel based on absorbance measurements performed by infrared analysis, at preset wavelengths, and in comparing the value to a nominal absorbance value, determined beforehand based on absorbance measurements performed at a nominal pressure after a pressure stabilization phase of the fuel and at the same said wavelengths, in order to determine the fuel pressure.