Mixed Fuel Engine Control Circuit with Dummy Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dual-fuel engines face challenges in efficiently controlling the injection of secondary fuels to replace primary fuels in a way that maintains combustion energy equivalence, while existing solutions often require additional ECUs or complex modifications that can detect diesel substitution, leading to operational inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A mixed-fuel control circuit comprising a fuel injector, Engine Control Unit, Normally Open and Normally Closed switches, a ground, and a dummy load, where the switches are maintained in opposing states to equalize resistance in sub-circuits, allowing for seamless substitution of primary fuel with secondary fuel without altering the OEM ECM's functionality, enabling co-fueling operations without detection by the OEM ECM.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a secondary fuel is introduced to replace primary fuel in dual-fuel engines, then operational costs are reduced and emissions are decreased, but the complexity of the control system increases and may be detected by the OEM ECM
Solution Approach 1:
A dummy load resistor is introduced as an intermediary component in the fuel injector circuit. This dummy load serves as a mediator that absorbs excess voltage when the fuel injector is deactivated, preventing voltage spikes that would alert the OEM ECM. The dummy load enables the control system to secretly switch between primary and secondary fuels without triggering detection mechanisms, thus reducing operational costs while managing control system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a parallel electrical circuit path that copies the normal fuel injector circuit behavior. When secondary fuel is used instead of primary fuel, the dummy load resistor replicates the electrical characteristics of the active fuel injector circuit, making it appear to the OEM ECM as if the primary fuel system is still functioning normally. This copying mechanism allows undetected fuel substitution.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the fuel injector circuit is modified to enable secondary fuel injection, then co-fueling capability is achieved, but the electrical circuit stability and resistance balancing become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by dynamically switching the resistance values in the fuel injector circuit based on fuel type. When transitioning from primary to secondary fuel, the system changes the electrical parameters (resistance and voltage distribution) in the circuit. The dummy load resistor is selected with specific resistance values that match the original fuel injector circuit parameters, ensuring stable electrical characteristics regardless of which fuel path is active, thus maintaining circuit stability while enabling co-fueling versatility.
3Reliability
If additional ECUs or complex modifications are implemented to manage dual fuel injection, then fuel substitution control is improved, but detection by OEM ECM and operational inefficiencies increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the secondary fuel control functionality into the existing fuel injector control circuit by adding a parallel path with a dummy load resistor. Instead of implementing a separate complex ECU system, the invention combines the primary and secondary fuel control paths into a single integrated circuit arrangement. This merging approach maintains reliable fuel substitution control while avoiding the detection issues and operational inefficiencies associated with multiple ECUs and complex modifications.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method and circuit restricts the amount of a first fuel being provided to a duel-fuel engine, for example a diesel-natural gas engine; wherein a secondary circuit is provided, in parallel, to the circuit formed between the engine control unit, first fuel injector, and ground comprising a dummy load, and a normally closed switch inserted in the first fuel injection circuit; such that when the normally open switch is in a closed state the dummy load provides a resistance to the second sub-circuit, such that a total resistance in the second sub-circuit is equal to a total resistance in the first sub-circuit when the normally closed switch is in a closed state.