Gas engine fast start fuel strategy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10502146-B2
Application number	US-201615221213-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2016
Priority date	Jul 27, 2016
Publication date	Dec 10, 2019
Grant date	Dec 10, 2019

Abstract

A priming system for an engine system having a throttle valve configured to regulate a flow of air and fuel into an intake manifold of an engine is disclosed. The priming system may include a first sensor configured to generate a first sensor signal indicative of a value of an engine parameter, an auxiliary fuel line configured to direct fuel from a fuel source to a primed cylinder subset of the plurality of cylinders, an auxiliary fuel valve disposed in the auxiliary fuel line, and a controller in communication with the first sensor and the auxiliary fuel valve. The controller may be configured determine the value of the engine parameter from the first sensor signal and cease directing fuel from the auxiliary fuel line to the primed cylinder subset when the engine parameter value is greater than or equal to a threshold engine parameter value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A priming system for an engine system having a throttle valve configured to regulate a flow of air and fuel into an intake manifold of an engine having a plurality of cylinders, the priming system comprising:
a first sensor configured to generate a first sensor signal indicative of a value of an engine parameter;
an auxiliary fuel line configured to direct fuel from a fuel source to a primed cylinder subset of the plurality of cylinders, wherein the auxiliary fuel line is not fluidly connected to a non-primed cylinder subset that comprises the plurality of cylinders that are not in the primed cylinder subset;
an auxiliary fuel valve disposed in the auxiliary fuel line; and
a controller in communication with the first sensor and the auxiliary fuel valve, wherein the controller is configured to determine the value of the engine parameter based on the first sensor signal, and to close the auxiliary fuel valve and cease directing fuel through the auxiliary fuel valve to the primed cylinder subset when the value of the engine parameter is greater than or equal to a threshold engine parameter value.

2. The priming system of claim 1 , wherein the engine parameter is one of an engine speed and a pressure differential.

3. The priming system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
track a time elapsed since a beginning of a cranking state of the engine; and
close the auxiliary fuel valve when the time elapsed exceeds an elapsed time limit.

4. The priming system of claim 1 , wherein the primed cylinder subset comprises one-half of the plurality of cylinders.

5. The priming system of claim 1 , wherein the primed cylinder subset comprises one-third of the plurality of cylinders.

6. The priming system of claim 1 , wherein the primed cylinder subset comprises one-fourth of the plurality of cylinders.

7. The priming system of claim 1 , wherein combustion in the plurality of cylinders occurs according to a cylinder firing order, and wherein the primed cylinder subset comprises every other one of the plurality of cylinders according to the cylinder firing order.

8. The priming system of claim 1 , wherein combustion in the plurality of cylinders occurs according to a cylinder firing order, and wherein the primed cylinder subset comprises every third one of the plurality of cylinders according to the cylinder firing order.

9. The priming system of claim 1 , wherein combustion in the plurality of cylinders occurs according to a cylinder firing order, and wherein the primed cylinder subset comprises every fourth one of the plurality of cylinders according to the cylinder firing order.

10. The priming system of claim 1 , wherein the intake manifold of the engine comprises:
a first intake manifold portion fluidly connected to the throttle valve and to the non-primed cylinder subset of the plurality of cylinders, wherein the auxiliary fuel line is not fluidly connected to the first intake manifold portion; and
a second intake manifold portion fluidly connected to the throttle valve, to the auxiliary fuel line and to the primed cylinder subset of the plurality of cylinders.

11. The priming system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cylinders in the primed cylinder subset is fluidly connected to the auxiliary fuel line by a corresponding runner.

12. A method of priming a fuel system for an engine system having a throttle valve configured to regulate a flow of air and fuel into an intake manifold of an engine having a plurality of cylinders, the method comprising:
supplying air and fuel to an inlet of the throttle valve;
directing fuel from a fuel source through an auxiliary fuel line to a primed cylinder subset of the plurality of cylinders, wherein the auxiliary fuel line is not fluidly connected to a non-primed cylinder subset that comprises the plurality of cylinders that are not in the primed cylinder subset;
determining a value of an engine parameter, and
closing an auxiliary fuel valve disposed in the auxiliary fuel line and ceasing directing fuel through the auxiliary fuel valve to the primed cylinder subset when the value of the engine parameter is greater than or equal to a threshold engine parameter value.

13. The method of priming of claim 12 , wherein the primed cylinder subset comprises one-half of the plurality of cylinders.

14. The method of priming of claim 12 , wherein the primed cylinder subset comprises one-third of the plurality of cylinders.

15. The method of priming of claim 12 , wherein the primed cylinder subset comprises one-fourth of the plurality of cylinders.

16. The method of priming of claim 12 , wherein combustion in the plurality of cylinders occurs according to a cylinder firing order, and wherein the primed cylinder subset comprises every other one of the plurality of cylinders according to the cylinder firing order.

17. The method of priming of claim 12 , wherein combustion in the plurality of cylinders occurs according to a cylinder firing order, and wherein the primed cylinder subset comprises every third one of the plurality of cylinders according to the cylinder firing order.

18. The method of priming of claim 12 , wherein combustion in the plurality of cylinders occurs according to a cylinder firing order, and wherein the primed cylinder subset comprises every fourth one of the plurality of cylinders according to the cylinder firing order.

19. The priming system of claim 12 , wherein the intake manifold of the engine includes a first intake manifold portion fluidly connected to the throttle valve and to the non-primed cylinder subset of the plurality of cylinders, and a second intake manifold portion fluidly connected to the throttle valve, to the auxiliary fuel line and to the primed cylinder subset of the plurality of cylinders, wherein the auxiliary fuel line is not fluidly connected to the first intake manifold portion, and wherein directing fluid from the fuel source to the primed cylinder subset comprised directing fluid from the fuel source to the second intake manifold portion.

20. A genset comprising:
an electric generator;
an engine system configured to drive the generator and including:
an engine mechanically coupled to the generator and configured to combust a fuel from a fuel source to rotate the generator,
a throttle valve having an inlet and an outlet and configured to regulate a flow of air and fuel to an intake manifold of the engine,
a first sensor configured to generate a first sensor signal indicative of a value of an engine parameter,
an auxiliary fuel line configured to direct fuel from the fuel source to a primed cylinder subset of a plurality of cylinders of the engine, wherein the auxiliary fuel line is not fluidly connected to a non-primed cylinder subset that comprises the plurality of cylinders that are not in the primed cylinder subset, and
an auxiliary fuel valve disposed in the auxiliary fuel line; and
a controller in communication with the first sensor and the auxiliary fuel valve, wherein the controller is configured to close the auxiliary fuel valve and cease directing fuel from the auxiliary fuel line to the primed cylinder subset when the value of the engine parameter is greater than or equal to a threshold engine parameter value.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Cress James J

Classifications

• F02M35/10255

  Arrangements of valves; Multi-way valves (F02M35/10032 takes precedence; valves in the plenum chamber F02M35/10065; check valves F02M35/10275) · CPC title

• F02D9/02 Primary

  concerning induction conduits (throttle valves, or arrangements thereof in conduits F02D9/08) · CPC title

• F02M35/104

  Intake manifolds · CPC title

• F02B63/04

  for electric generators · CPC title

• F02M37/0023

  Valves in the fuel supply and return system · CPC title