Marine Engine Controller for Idle Shutdown and Auxiliary Restart
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Solution Overview
Problem
Marine engines face inefficiencies in idle conditions, where turning off the engine can be unsafe or inconvenient, and manually restarting it can distract operators, while leaving the engine running consumes fuel and resources.
Innovation Solution
A marine power system with a controller that determines idle conditions and uses an auxiliary power source to deactivate and reactivate the engine based on demand, incorporating interlock schemes and sensors to manage engine state and power levels, including a time delay to prevent unnecessary shutdowns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the engine is turned off during idle conditions to save fuel, then fuel consumption is reduced, but operator safety and convenience deteriorate due to delayed engine restart capability
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining the engine in a deactivated state during idle conditions while keeping the control system active and monitoring for demand signals. The auxiliary power source is pre-positioned to enable immediate engine restart without requiring manual intervention, thus resolving the contradiction between fuel savings and restart readiness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting idle conditions and managing engine deactivation/reactivation based on throttle control inputs. The controller monitors throttle position and automatically manages engine state transitions without operator intervention, reducing fuel consumption while maintaining safety through automated readiness detection.
2Reliability
If the engine remains running during idle periods to ensure immediate availability, then reliability is improved, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by transitioning the engine from a static always-on state to a dynamic state that adapts based on operational conditions. The engine alternates between deactivated and active states based on real-time throttle control monitoring, optimizing fuel consumption while maintaining availability when needed through automated state transitions.
3Loss of energy
If manual engine restart is required after idle shutdown to respond to power demand, then fuel efficiency is improved, but operator workload and distraction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting when power demand occurs through throttle control monitoring and autonomously reactivating the engine without requiring operator action. This eliminates the need for manual restart operations, reducing operator workload and distraction while maintaining fuel efficiency benefits from idle shutdown.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring throttle control inputs and using this information to automatically trigger engine reactivation when power demand is detected. This closed-loop feedback mechanism eliminates the need for manual operator intervention, reducing workload while preserving fuel efficiency gains from intelligent idle management.
Data Source
AI summary
A marine power system may include an engine arranged to provide mechanical output power for a boat, and a controller coupled to the engine, the controller configured to determine an idle condition of the boat, deactivate the engine based, at least in part, on the idle condition, determine a demand for the mechanical output power for the boat, and activate, using an auxiliary power source, the engine based, at least in part, on the demand. The controller may be configured to determine the demand based, at least in part, on a throttle control for the boat. The controller may be configured to determine the demand based, at least in part, on a position of a mechanical component of the throttle control. The controller may be configured to determine the demand based, at least in part, on a sensor on the throttle control.