Method and system for improving change of fuel in bi-fuel vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9945307-B2
Application number	US-201514681973-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2015
Priority date	Nov 14, 2014
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A method for improving a change of fuel in a bi-fuel vehicle includes: a step of measuring an LPG level in an LPG fuel tank; a pressure reference driving step of continuing the driving of the vehicle using the LPG fuel; a pressure change rate reference driving step of continuing the driving of the vehicle using the LPG fuel when it is determined that the vehicle may be driven by the LPG fuel by comparing an LPG rail pressure change quantity and a pressure change quantity in the LPG fuel tank with a set reference value; and a fuel expanding step of continuing the driving of the vehicle using the LPG fuel when it is determined that the vehicle may be driven by the LPG fuel by comparing an injection quantity of LPG fuel and an accumulated value of mileage with a set reference value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for improving a change of fuel in a bi-fuel vehicle, comprising:
a step of measuring a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) level in an LPG fuel tank and when it is determined that the LPG level is smaller than a first reference value, continuing driving of the vehicle using LPG fuel;
a pressure reference driving step of continuing the driving of the vehicle using the LPG fuel when it is determined that the vehicle is driven by the LPG fuel by comparing an LPG rail pressure and a pressure of the LPG fuel tank with a second reference value and a third reference value, respectively;
a pressure change rate reference driving step of continuing the driving of the vehicle using the LPG fuel when it is determined that the vehicle is driven by the LPG fuel by comparing an LPG rail pressure change quantity and a pressure change quantity in the LPG fuel tank with a fourth reference value and a fifth reference value, respectively; and
a fuel expanding step of continuing the driving of the vehicle using the LPG fuel when it is determined that the vehicle is driven by the LPG fuel by comparing an injection quantity of LPG fuel and an accumulated value of mileage with a sixth reference value and a seventh reference value, respectively,
wherein in the pressure reference driving step, when the LPG rail pressure is equal to or less than the second reference value or the pressure in the LPG fuel tank is equal to or less than the third reference value, the vehicle is driven by changing fuel to gasoline fuel.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the pressure change rate reference driving step, when the LPG rail pressure change quantity is larger than the fourth reference value or the pressure change quantity in the LPG fuel tank is larger than the fifth reference value, the vehicle is driven by changing fuel to gasoline fuel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the LPG level is smaller than the first reverence value, a warning light is lit up to call a driver's attention and the injection quantity of LPG fuel and a mileage are stored after the warning light is lit up.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the fuel expanding step, when the injection quantity of LPG fuel is larger than the sixth reference value or the accumulated value of mileage is larger than the seventh reference value, the vehicle is driven by changing fuel to a mixed fuel of LPG and gasoline.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein at the time of changing fuel in the vehicle to the mixed fuel of gasoline and LPG, the ratio of gasoline in the mixed fuel of LPG and gasoline is increased to a constant ratio in consideration of the injection quantity of LPG fuel.

6. A method for improving a change of fuel in a bi-fuel vehicle, comprising steps of:
driving the vehicle using a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel, when an LPG level of a LPG fuel tank is less than a first reference value;
continuing driving the vehicle using the LPG fuel, when an LPG rail pressure and a pressure of the LPG fuel tank are greater than a second reference value and a third reference value, respectively;
continuing driving the vehicle using the LPG fuel, when a change of the LPG rail pressure and a change of the pressure of the LPG fuel tank are less than a fourth reference value and a fifth reference value, respectively; and
continuing driving the vehicle using the LPG fuel, when an injection quantity of the LPG fuel and an accumulated mileage are less than a sixth reference value and a seventh reference value, respectively,
wherein, when the LPG rail pressure is equal to or less than the second reference value or the pressure in the LPG fuel tank is equal to or less than the third reference value, the vehicle is driven by changing fuel to gasoline fuel.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Seo Yoo Jin

Classifications

• Y02T10/30

  Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels · CPC title

• F02D41/0025 Primary

  Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures · CPC title

• F02D41/0027

  the fuel being gaseous (non-electrical control F02D19/02) · CPC title

• Y02T10/36

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F02D2200/0602

  Fuel pressure · CPC title