System and method for controlling a multi-fuel engine to reduce engine pumping losses

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9457789-B2
Application number	US-201414276031-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2014
Priority date	May 13, 2014
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

A fuel control module, based on an engine torque request, fuels N cylinders of an engine using a first fuel system. N is an integer greater than zero. A throttle control module, based on the engine torque request and the fueling of the N cylinders using the first fuel system, opens a throttle valve to a predetermined wide open throttle (WOT) position. A cost module, when the engine torque request is greater than a predetermined torque: determines a first cost value for fueling at least one of the N cylinders of the engine using a second fuel system; and determines a second cost value for adjusting at least one operating parameter other than fueling of the engine. An adjustment module, based on, the first and second cost values, one of: initiates the fueling of the at least one of the N cylinders using the second fuel system; and adjusts of the at least one operating parameter other than fueling of the engine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control system of a vehicle, comprising:
a fuel control module that, based on an engine torque request, fuels N cylinders of an engine using a first fuel system, wherein N is an integer greater than zero;
a throttle control module that, based on the engine torque request and the fueling of the N cylinders using the first fuel system, opens a throttle valve to a predetermined wide open throttle (WOT) position;
a cost module that, when the engine torque request is greater than a predetermined torque:
determines a first cost value for fueling at least one of the N cylinders of the engine using a second fuel system; and
determines a second cost value for downshifting a transmission of the vehicle; and

an adjustment module that:
when the first cost value is less than the second cost value, initiates the fueling of the at least one of the N cylinders using the second fuel system; and
when the second cost value is less than the first cost value, commands downshifting of the transmission.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein the cost module:
determines a first set of possible operating parameters based on current operating parameters and based on fueling at least one of the N cylinders of the engine using the second fuel system;
determines the first cost value based on the first set of possible operating parameters;
determines a second set of possible operating parameters based on the current operating parameters and based on downshifting the transmission; and
determines the second cost value based on the second set of possible operating parameters.

3. The control system of claim 2 further comprising a torque limit module that determines the predetermined torque based on the current operating parameters.

4. The control system of claim 1 further comprising:
the first fuel system, wherein the first fuel system injects a first type of fuel; and
the second fuel system, wherein the second fuel system injects a second type of fuel that is different than the first type of fuel.

5. The control system of claim 4 wherein:
the first type of fuel is compressed natural gas (CNG); and
the second type of fuel is gasoline.

6. The control system of claim 1 further comprising:
the first fuel system, wherein the first fuel system injects a first fuel at first locations associated with the cylinders, respectively;
the second fuel system, wherein the second fuel system injects a second fuel at second locations associated with the cylinders, respectively; and
wherein the first locations are different than the second locations.

7. The control system of claim 1 further comprising:
the first fuel system, wherein the first fuel system injects a first fuel into intake ports associated with the cylinders, respectively; and
the second fuel system, wherein the second fuel system injects a second fuel directly into the cylinders, respectively.

8. A control method for a vehicle, comprising:
based on an engine torque request, fueling N cylinders of an engine using a first fuel system, wherein N is an integer greater than zero;
based on the engine torque request and the fueling of the N cylinders using the first fuel system, opening a throttle valve to a predetermined wide open throttle (WOT) position;
when the engine torque request is greater than a predetermined torque:
determining a first cost value for fueling at least one of the N cylinders of the engine using a second fuel system; and
determining a second cost value for downshifting a transmission of the vehicle; and

when the first cost value is less than the second cost value, initiating the fueling of the at least one of the N cylinders using the second fuel system; and
when the second cost value is less than the first cost value, downshifting the transmission.

9. The control method of claim 8 further comprising:
determining a first set of possible operating parameters based on current operating parameters and based on fueling at least one of the N cylinders of the engine using the second fuel system;
determining the first cost value based on the first set of possible operating parameters;
determining a second set of possible operating parameters based on the current operating parameters and based on downshifting the transmission; and
determining the second cost value based on the second set of possible operating parameters.

10. The control method of claim 9 further comprising determining the predetermined torque based on the current operating parameters.

11. The control method of claim 8 wherein:
the first fuel system injects a first type of fuel; and
the second fuel system injects a second type of fuel that is different than the first type of fuel.

12. The control method of claim 11 wherein:
the first type of fuel is compressed natural gas (CNG); and
the second type of fuel is gasoline.

13. The control method of claim 8 wherein:
the first fuel system injects a first fuel at first locations associated with the cylinders, respectively;
the second fuel system injects a second fuel at second locations associated with the cylinders, respectively; and
the first locations are different than the second locations.

14. The control method of claim 8 wherein:
the first fuel system injects a first fuel into intake ports associated with the cylinders, respectively; and
the second fuel system injects a second fuel directly into the cylinders, respectively.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Assaf Tameem K
• Avallone Louis A

Classifications

• F02D41/26

  using computer, e.g. microprocessor · CPC title

• F02D2200/0404

  Throttle position · CPC title

• F02D41/0225

  in relation with the gear ratio or shift lever position · CPC title

• Y02T10/18

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F02D19/061

  by controlling fuel injectors · CPC title