Feedback control of fuel reformer-engine system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10260460-B2
Application number	US-201514948041-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2015
Priority date	Nov 20, 2015
Publication date	Apr 16, 2019
Grant date	Apr 16, 2019

Abstract

A system for reforming a fuel may include a first sensor configured to measure an operating parameter of an engine. The operating parameter may correlate to a NO x emission level of the engine. The system may also include a controller in communication with the sensor and a reformer. The controller may be configured to determine a target NO x emission level for the engine. The controller may be also configured to determine a target value of the operating parameter corresponding to the target NO x emission level. The controller may be further configured to control the reformer to reform at least a portion of the fuel based on a difference between the measured value and the target value of the operating parameter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for reforming a fuel, comprising:
a first sensor configured to measure an operating parameter of an engine, the operating parameter correlating to a NO x emission level of the engine; and
a controller in communication with the sensor and a reformer, the controller being configured to:
determine a target NO x emission level for the engine;
determine a target value of the operating parameter corresponding to the target NO x emission level; and
control the reformer to reform at least a portion of the fuel based on a difference between the measured operating parameter and the target value of the operating parameter.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor comprises at least one of:
a pressure sensor configured to measure an in-cylinder pressure of the engine;
a temperature sensor configured to measure an average temperature in a combustion chamber of the engine;
an ion sensor configured to measure a flame speed of the engine; or
a NO x sensor configured to measure a NO x concentration at a tailpipe of the engine.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the reformer to reform the fuel based on at least one of a power output or a speed of the engine.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
control a composition of a reformed fuel; and
control a flow rate of the reformed fuel.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second sensor configured to detect a composition of an unreformed fuel;
wherein the controller is further configured to control the reformer based on the composition of the unreformed fuel.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third sensor configured to detect a composition of a reformed fuel;
wherein the controller is further configured to control the reformer based on the composition of the reformed fuel.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the reformer to enrich the fuel with an amount of H 2 .

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel is natural gas.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine is a reciprocating internal combustion engine.

10. A method for controlling the reforming of a fuel, comprising:
measuring, by a first sensor, an operating parameter of an engine, the operating parameter correlating to a NO x emission level of the engine;
determining, by a controller, a target NO x emission level for the engine;
determining, by the controller, a target value of the operating parameter corresponding to the target NO x emission level; and
controlling, by the controller, a reformer to reform at least a portion of the fuel based on a difference between the measured operating parameter and the target value of the operating parameter.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the operating parameter of the engine comprises at least one of:
an in-cylinder pressure of the engine;
an average temperature in a combustion chamber of the engine;
a flame speed of the engine; or
a NO x concentration at a tailpipe of the engine.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
controlling, by the controller, the reformer to reform the fuel based on at least one of a power output or a speed of the engine.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein controlling the reformer to reform at least a portion of the fuel further comprises:
controlling a composition of a reformed fuel; and
controlling a flow rate of the reformed fuel.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
detecting, by a second sensor, a composition of an unreformed fuel; and
controlling, by the controller, the reformer based on the composition of the unreformed fuel.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
detecting, by a third sensor, a composition of a reformed fuel; and
controlling, by the controller, the reformer based on the composition of the reformed fuel.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein controlling the reformer to reform at least a portion of the fuel further comprises:
controlling the reformer to enrich the fuel with an amount of H 2 .

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fuel is natural gas.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the engine is a reciprocating internal combustion engine.

19. A controller for reforming a fuel, comprising:
a memory storing instructions; and
a processor configured to execute the instructions to:
receive an operating parameter of an engine, the operating parameter correlating to a NO x emission level of the engine;
determine a target NO x emission level for the engine;
determine a target value of the operating parameter corresponding to the target NO x emission level; and
control a reformer to reform at least a portion of the fuel based on a difference between the measured operating parameter and the target value of the operating parameter.

20. The controller of claim 19 , wherein the operating parameter of the engine comprises at least one of:
an in-cylinder pressure of the engine;
an average temperature in a combustion chamber of the engine;
a flame speed of the engine; or
a NO x concentration at a tailpipe of the engine.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Singh Jaswinder
• Ginter David
• Willi Martin L
• Hiltner Joel D

Classifications

• F01N2560/026

  for measuring or detecting NOx · CPC title

• Y02T10/47

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F01N13/008

  Mounting or arrangement of exhaust sensors in or on exhaust apparatus (sensor arrangements for engine control F02D41/1439) · CPC title

• F01N2240/30

  a fuel reformer · CPC title

• F01N2900/08

  said parameters being related to the engine · CPC title