CN120752425A

CN120752425A - Gaseous fuel system including multiple injectors per cylinder

Info

Publication number: CN120752425A
Application number: CN202480012697.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: D·J·本森; A·M·萨博里
Original assignee: Cummins Inc
Current assignee: Cummins Inc
Priority date: 2023-02-17
Filing date: 2024-02-14
Publication date: 2025-10-03
Also published as: WO2024173470A1; WO2024173470A9; DE112024000905T5

Abstract

A system includes an engine including a plurality of cylinders, a gaseous fuel supply system including a plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors, each set of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors operable to provide fuel to a respective cylinder of the plurality of cylinders, each set of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors including at least two gaseous fuel injectors, and an electronic control system in operative communication with the gaseous fuel supply system. The electronic control system is configured to determine whether to perform fueling of a respective cylinder using less than all of the injectors of the set of injectors, determine at least one injector command to operate less than all of the injectors of the set of injectors to perform fueling of the respective cylinder, and execute the at least one injector command to use less than all of the injectors of the set of injectors to fuel the respective cylinder.

Description

Gaseous fuel system comprising a plurality of injectors per cylinder

Cross reference

The present disclosure claims priority and benefit from U.S. application Ser. No.63/485,580 filed on day 2/17 of 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to gaseous fuel delivery systems and related devices, controls, diagnostics, processes, systems, and techniques that include multiple injectors per combustion cylinder.

Background

The gaseous fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine and the control of such a system present a number of drawbacks, including those concerning accuracy, complexity, computational burden, dedicated hardware requirements, precision, reliability and robustness, among others. There remains a significant need for the unique apparatus, methods, systems, and techniques disclosed herein.

Disclosure of exemplary embodiments

In order to clearly, concisely, and accurately describe exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, manner and method of making and using the same, and to enable the practice, making and using thereof, reference will now be made to certain exemplary embodiments, including those illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, and that the invention includes and protects such alterations, modifications and further applications of the exemplary embodiments as would occur to one skilled in the art.

Disclosure of Invention

Some embodiments include unique gaseous fuel supply system control. Additional embodiments include unique devices, systems, and methods that include or embody such control. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and drawings.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating certain aspects of an exemplary engine system including an exemplary gaseous fuel supply system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating certain aspects of an exemplary gaseous fuel supply system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating certain aspects of an exemplary gaseous fuel supply system.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating certain aspects of an exemplary process.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating certain aspects of an exemplary control.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating certain aspects of an exemplary control.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating certain aspects of an exemplary control.

Detailed Description

Referring to FIG. 1, a system 11 is shown that includes an engine 10 and a gaseous fuel supply system 9. The gaseous fuel supply system 9 is configured to supply a gaseous fuel, such as natural gas, hydrogen, biologically derived gaseous fuel, hydrogen, mixed gas fuel, or other gaseous fuel, for combustion by the engine 10. The engine 10 includes a combustion chamber 13 (also referred to as a cylinder) of a reciprocating in-cylinder piston engine configured to generate mechanical power from combustion of gaseous fuel supplied by a fuel injector 12. The fuel injectors 12 are in fluid communication with respective combustion chambers 13 of the engine 10 and are configured to inject gaseous fuel that is provided to their respective combustion chambers 13. In the illustrated embodiment, fuel injector 12 is configured and arranged as a port fuel injector configured to inject fuel directly into a respective port of intake manifold 37 leading to a respective combustion chamber 13 of engine 10. Other embodiments may include other types and configurations of injectors, such as direct fuel injectors configured to inject fuel directly into respective combustion chambers 13 of engine 10. In the illustrated embodiment, four fuel injectors 12a, 12b and two combustion chambers 13a, 13b (also referred to herein as cylinders 13) are depicted. It should be appreciated that engine 10 may include a greater number of fuel injectors 12, a greater number of combustion chambers 13, and/or a greater number of fuel injectors per cylinder. In some forms, for example, system 11 may be provided in a variety of forms, including as a prime mover system (or component of a prime mover system) of a vehicle, a generator set, other power load system.

In the illustrated embodiment, the gaseous fuel supply system 9 includes a gaseous fuel supply and injection system 17 and a gaseous fuel source system 32. The gaseous fuel supply and injection system 17 includes one or more rails 30 and one or more sets of injectors 12 operatively coupled with and supplied gaseous fuel by a respective one of the one or more rails 30. The one or more rails 30 are, in turn, configured to receive pressurized fuel from a gaseous fuel source system 32.

Gaseous fuel source system 32 may include a high pressure tank configured to store a high pressure gaseous fuel supply. In some embodiments, the gaseous fuel source system 32 may include additional elements such as a compressor configured to compress gaseous fuel received from a fuel tank, supply the compressed gaseous fuel to one or more rails 30 and/or an accumulator, and an electronically controllable valve configured to control the supply of gaseous fuel to and from the accumulator and/or one or more rails 30.

It should be understood that the illustrated form of the gaseous fuel supply system 9 is only one example of a fuel supply system according to the present disclosure. In other embodiments, the gaseous fuel supply system 9 may be configured and arranged as another type of gaseous fuel supply system, for example, a gaseous hydrogen fuel supply system. In other embodiments, the gaseous fuel supply system 9 may be configured and arranged in other forms, such as a high pressure common rail diesel fuel injection system or other types of fuel supply systems.

The system 11 also includes an Electronic Control System (ECS) 20 in communication with the engine 10 and configured to control one or more aspects of the engine 10, including controlling the injection of fuel into the engine 10 via the fuel injectors 12. Thus, the ECS20 may be in communication with the fuel injectors 12 and configured to command each fuel injector 12 to open and close at prescribed times to inject fuel into the engine 10 as desired. The ECS20 generally includes at least one Electronic Control Unit (ECU) 22 configured to perform operations of the ECS20 as further described herein, and in some embodiments, the ECS20 may include additional ECUs configured to perform operations of the ECS20 as further described herein.

ECS20 may also be configured to control other parameters of engine 10, which may include aspects of engine 10 that may be controlled by actuators activated by ECS20. For example, the ECS20 may be in communication with actuators and sensors for receiving and processing sensor inputs and transmitting actuator output signals. The actuators may include, but are not limited to, fuel injectors 12. The sensors may include any suitable means to monitor the operating parameters and functions of the system 11. For example, the sensors may include one or more pressure sensors 16 and one or more temperature sensors 18. The one or more pressure sensors 16 are in communication with the one or more rails 30 and are configured to communicate pressure measurements (also referred to as fuel rail pressure or rail pressure) of the gaseous fuel in the one or more rails 30 to the ECS20. The one or more temperature sensors 18 are in communication with the one or more rails 30 and are configured to communicate temperature measurements (also referred to as fuel rail temperature or rail temperature) of the gaseous fuel in the one or more rails 30 to the ECS20. The system 11 includes an Intake Manifold Pressure (IMP) sensor 38 in communication with the intake manifold 37 and configured to sense the pressure of the intake manifold.

As will be appreciated from the following description, the techniques described herein relating to fuel injectors or fuel injection parameters may be implemented in an ECS20 that may include one or more controllers for controlling different aspects of the system 11. In certain embodiments, the ECS20 includes one or more Electronic Control Units (ECUs), such as an engine control unit or an engine control module. ECS20 may include digital circuitry, analog circuitry, or a hybrid combination of the two types. Additionally, the ECS20 may be programmable, integrated state machines, or a hybrid combination thereof. The ECS20 may include one or more Arithmetic Logic Units (ALUs), central Processing Units (CPUs), memories, limiters, regulators, filters, format converters, etc., not shown for clarity. In one form, the ECS20 is a programmable variety that executes algorithms and processes data according to operational logic defined by program instructions (such as software or firmware). Alternatively or additionally, the operating logic for the ECS20 may be defined at least in part by hardwired logic or other hardware.

In addition to the sensor types described herein, any other suitable sensor and its associated parameters may also be encompassed by the systems and methods. Thus, the sensors may include any suitable means for sensing any relevant physical parameter, including electrical, mechanical, and chemical parameters of the engine system 11. As used herein, the term sensor may include any suitable hardware and/or software for directly or indirectly sensing or estimating any engine system parameter and/or various combinations of such parameters.

Referring to fig. 2, further details of an exemplary embodiment of the gaseous fuel supply system 9 are shown. In the illustrated example of gaseous fuel supply system 9, gaseous fuel source system 32 is configured to supply pressurized gaseous fuel to front rail 30f and rear rail 30r. The front rail 30f and the rear rail 30r are configured and arranged as physically separate or discrete gaseous fuel containing structures that may be provided in a variety of forms including, for example, physically separate or discrete tubular fuel rails or conduits or physically separate or discrete apertures formed in engine components such as an intake manifold or cylinder head.

The front rail 30f and the rear rail 30r are preferably supplied with pressurized gaseous fuel from the gaseous fuel source system 32 at separate and distinct locations to effectively provide a degree of isolation between their respective pressures. The front rail 30f is configured and operable to supply pressurized gaseous fuel to a front plurality of injectors 12f configured to inject gaseous fuel into a particular one of the plurality of front cylinder intake ports 14f associated with the first plurality of cylinders 13 f. In the illustrated example, the first plurality of cylinders 13f includes first, second, and third cylinders formed in a block of the inline six cylinder engine 10 i. In the example shown, the front plurality of injectors 12f includes injectors 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B. Injectors 1A and 1B are configured to supply gaseous fuel to a first intake passage of an intake manifold 37 leading to a first combustion cylinder. Injectors 2A and 2B are configured to supply gaseous fuel to a second intake passage of an intake manifold 37 leading to a second combustion cylinder. Injectors 3A and 3B are configured to supply gaseous fuel to a third intake passage of an intake manifold 37 leading to a third combustion cylinder.

Rear rail 30r is configured and operable to supply pressurized gaseous fuel to a rear plurality of injectors 12r configured to inject gaseous fuel into a particular one of a plurality of rear cylinder intake ports 14r associated with second plurality of cylinders 13 r. In the illustrated example, the second plurality of cylinders 13r includes fourth, fifth, and sixth cylinders formed in a block of the inline six cylinder engine 10 i. In the example shown, the rear plurality of injectors 12r includes injectors 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B. Injectors 4A and 4B are configured to supply gaseous fuel to a fourth intake passage leading to an intake manifold 37 of a fourth combustion cylinder. Injectors 5A and 5B are configured to supply gaseous fuel to a fifth intake passage leading to an intake manifold 37 of a fifth combustion cylinder. Injectors 6A and 6B are configured to supply gaseous fuel to a sixth intake passage leading to an intake manifold 37 of a sixth combustion cylinder.

It should be appreciated that the front rail 30f and the rear rail 30r are one example of one form of one or more of the rails 30 shown and described in connection with fig. 1 including a first rail and a second rail that is separate or apart from the first rail. Other embodiments are also contemplated wherein the one or more rails 30 include a first rail and a second rail that is separate or apart from the first rail. Such embodiments include, for example, systems including the relative placement and positioning of multiple fuel rails that service a set of in-line cylinders (except for the preceding and following cylinders), systems in which one or more rails 30 include three or more rails, and/or systems in which one or more rails 30 include two or more rails configured to supply gaseous fuel to the same set or group of cylinders. Also, while the illustrated example relates to an engine including six cylinders, other embodiments relate to other engines including more or less than six cylinders.

It should be appreciated that the gaseous fuel supply system 9 may be provided in a variety of forms. Some forms of gaseous fuel supply system 9 may include a single rail 30 instead of front rail 30f and rear rail 30r. Rail 30 may be configured and operable to supply pressurized gaseous fuel to injectors 12f, 12 r. Some forms of gaseous fuel supply system 9 may include multiple sets of gaseous fuel injectors. Each of the plurality of groups may be configured and operable to provide fuel to a respective one of the plurality of cylinders and may include at least two gaseous fuel injectors. In the embodiment shown in fig. 2, for example, the first group includes injectors 1A, 1B configured and operable to provide fuel to cylinder 1, the second group includes injectors 2A, 2B configured and operable to provide fuel to cylinder 2, the third group includes injectors 3A, 3B configured and operable to provide fuel to cylinder 3, the fourth group includes injectors 4A, 4B configured and operable to provide fuel to cylinder 4, the fifth group includes injectors 5A, 5B configured and operable to provide fuel to cylinder 5, and the sixth group includes injectors 6A, 6B configured and operable to provide fuel to cylinder 6.

Each of the at least two gaseous fuel injectors in each group may be configured and provided as injectors of substantially the same design or type, e.g., injectors configured and operable to provide substantially the same maximum fuel supply (e.g., the same design or nominal maximum fuel supply). Each of the at least two gaseous fuel injectors of each group may be configured to introduce fuel at substantially similar locations of the engine system.

As shown in fig. 3, for example, a group of injectors 12n including at least injector 12na and injector 12nb may be configured and positioned to inject gaseous fuel into a location of intake port 14n that provides flow to each of the plurality of intake valves 131a, 131b, such as a common flow location upstream of the split location of intake port 14 n. In other forms, a group of injectors 12n ', including at least injector 12na ' and injector 12nb ', may be configured and positioned to inject gaseous fuel into a location of intake port 14n that provides a majority or substantially all of the flow to a particular one of the plurality of intake valves 131a, 131b, such as a split location of intake port 14 n. In other forms, a group of injectors 12n "including at least injector 12na" and injector 12nb "may be configured and positioned to inject gaseous fuel directly into cylinder 13 n.

Referring to fig. 4, an exemplary process 400 for operating an electronic control system (e.g., ECS20, another electronic control system) in operative communication with a fuel supply system (e.g., gaseous fuel supply system 9 or another fuel supply system) is shown. Process 400 may be implemented in and/or performed by one or more components of an electronic control system, such as one or more electronic control units (e.g., ECU 22 and/or other electronic control units).

Process 400 begins at start operation 402 and proceeds to evaluate whether conditions 404 for commanded fueling may be met or provided using less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors configured and operable to provide fuel to a particular cylinder. Condition 404 may perform a number of operations related to such evaluation, including, for example, evaluating a commanded fuel supply amount relative to a maximum possible fuel supply of a gaseous fuel injector that is supplying fuel to a particular cylinder. An exemplary control configured and operable to perform the operation of condition 404 or usable by condition 404 is shown and described in fig. 5.

If the evaluation of condition 404 is negative, process 400 proceeds to operation 440, where operation 440 operates the fuel delivery system to perform fueling using all of the gaseous fuel injectors configured and operable to deliver fuel to the particular cylinder. If the evaluation of condition 404 is affirmative, control 400 proceeds to condition 406.

Condition 406 evaluates whether there are one or more potential calibration, diagnostic, measurement, and/or predictive purposes for operating the gaseous fuel supply system with fewer than all of the gaseous fuel injectors configured and operable to supply fuel to the particular cylinders. Condition 406 may evaluate whether a number of potential calibration, diagnostic, measurement, and/or prediction operations may benefit from performing injections with fewer than all of the gaseous fuel injectors configured and operable to provide fuel to a particular cylinder (e.g., with a single such gaseous fuel injector). Examples of such calibrations, diagnostics, and/or predictions include evaluating whether to diagnose injector accuracy, calibrating or adjusting injection to improve accuracy or injection quantity relative to commanded injection quantity, measuring injection quantity (for diagnostic and/or operational control purposes), diagnosing or predicting injector health, and combinations of these and/or other calibrations, diagnostics, or predictions.

Condition 406 may perform multiple evaluations to evaluate whether one or more potential calibration, diagnostic, measurement, and/or prediction purposes exist for operation with less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors, e.g., to evaluate whether a given time or operating threshold has been reached that triggers calibration, diagnostic, measurement, and/or prediction, and to evaluate whether one or more system operating parameters indicate that calibration, diagnostic, measurement, and/or prediction should be performed (e.g., operating parameters exceeding a predetermined limit or threshold, or an error, fault, or repair code or flag exists).

If the evaluation of condition 406 is negative, process 400 proceeds to condition 408. If the evaluation of condition 406 is affirmative, process 400 proceeds to operation 416 where operation 416 determines injector operation and associated commands for one or more calibration, diagnostic, measurement, and/or prediction purposes identified by condition 406, e.g., selecting one or more gaseous fuel injectors to disable, inhibit, or command or control not to perform injection, and selecting one or more other gaseous fuel injectors to enable, disable, or command or control to perform injection. From operation 416, process 400 proceeds to condition 408. Alternatively, in some embodiments or implementations, the process 400 may proceed from operation 416 to operation 420.

Condition 408 evaluates whether there are one or more potential fueling control benefits for operating with fewer than all of the gaseous fuel injectors configured and operable to provide fuel to the particular cylinders. A variety of potential fueling control benefits may be evaluated. Some embodiments or implementations may evaluate whether improved injection quantity accuracy or control may be achieved by using fewer than all of the gaseous fuel injectors configured and operable to provide fuel to a particular cylinder (e.g., by using a single such injector) or by using fewer than a particular one of the gaseous fuel injectors configured and operable to provide fuel to a particular cylinder (e.g., a particular single such injector identified as more accurate than other such injectors). Some embodiments or implementations may evaluate whether a balance of injection amounts is improved between groups of injectors configured and operable to supply gaseous fuel to respective ones of a plurality of cylinders.

If the evaluation of condition 408 is negative, process 400 proceeds to condition 410. If the evaluation of condition 408 is affirmative, process 400 proceeds to operation 418, where operation 418 determines injector operation and associated commands for one or more calibration, diagnostic, measurement, and/or prediction purposes identified by condition 408, e.g., selecting one or more gaseous fuel injectors to disable, inhibit, or command or control not to perform injection, and selecting one or more other gaseous fuel injectors to enable, disable, or command or control to perform injection. From operation 418, process 400 proceeds to condition 410. Alternatively, in some embodiments or implementations, the process 400 may proceed from operation 418 to operation 420.

Condition 410 evaluates whether there are one or more potential efficiency benefits to operate from utilizing fewer than all of the gaseous fuel injectors configured and operable to provide fuel to a particular cylinder. A variety of potential efficiency benefits may be evaluated. Some embodiments or implementations may evaluate whether the energy savings associated with performing injections using less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors exceeds a current value, while evaluating the impact of such operations on combustion efficiency to evaluate potential net efficiency benefits.

If the evaluation of condition 410 is negative, process 400 proceeds to operation 440, as described above. If the evaluation of condition 408 is affirmative, process 400 proceeds to operation 420, where operation 420 determines injector operation and associated commands for one or more calibration, diagnostic, measurement, and/or prediction purposes identified by condition 408, e.g., selecting one or more gaseous fuel injectors to disable, inhibit, or command or control not to perform injection, and selecting one or more other gaseous fuel injectors to enable, disable, or command or control to perform injection. From operation 418, the process 400 proceeds to operation 425.

Operation 425 determines whether the injector operations determined by one or more of operations 416, 218, and 420 are compatible with each other, and if not, may arbitrate between the determined injector operations, for example, by applying a predetermined priority or order of priority between the determined injector operations. From operation 425, process 400 proceeds to operation 430, where operation 430 commands injector operation using the determined injector operation selected or arbitrated by operation 425. From operation 430 or operation 440, process 400 proceeds to end operation 499 and may end, repeat, or later recall or restart.

Referring to FIG. 5, an exemplary control 500 is illustrated that may be implemented in and operated by one or more components of an electronic control system (such as ECS 20) or another electronic control system configured for operative communication with a fuel delivery system. In some forms, at least a portion of control 500 may be implemented in one or more electronic control units of an electronic control system, such as ECU 22, or in additional or alternative electronic control units.

Control 500 is configured to evaluate whether commanded fueling may be met or provided using less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors configured and operable to provide fuel to a particular cylinder, which may be performed or utilized by condition 404. Control 500 includes injector demand assessment logic 510 that receives as input a fueling command 502, injection pressure 504, injector performance information 506, and may receive additional information 508.

Fueling command 502 may include information indicative of the amount of fueling, or other amounts of fueling, commanded, required, or requested for a given cylinder. Injection pressure 504 may include information indicative of the pressure of the gaseous fuel injected by the gaseous fuel injector, e.g., the pressure of a fuel rail of the gaseous fuel injector configured and operable to provide gaseous fuel to a particular cylinder. Injector performance information 506 may include information regarding actual operation of a gaseous fuel injector configured and operable to provide fuel to a particular cylinder, e.g., information regarding whether one or more injectors are operating at a reduced capacity.

In response to the received inputs, the injector demand evaluation logic 510 determines whether a commanded fueling may be met or provided using less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors configured and operable to provide fuel to the particular cylinder. This determination may be made using a variety of techniques, such as comparing the commanded fuel quantity or other indicator to an assumed or nominal maximum fuel supply quantity or indicator for one or more individual gaseous fuel injectors, modified versions of such comparison, wherein the assumed or nominal maximum fuel supply quantity or indicator is modified or adjusted in response to one or more of injection pressure 504, injector performance information 506, intake manifold pressure 507, and additional information 508. The injector demand evaluation logic 510 provides an injector demand output 520 that may indicate a minimum number of gaseous fuel injectors that need to be operated (or a maximum number of gaseous fuel injectors that do not need to be operated), a particular subset of gaseous fuel injectors that need to be operated (or do not need to be operated), or other information regarding the ability of the gaseous fuel supply system to operate using less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

Referring to fig. 6, an exemplary control 600 is illustrated that may be implemented in and operated by one or more components of an electronic control system, such as ECS20, or another electronic control system configured for operative communication with a fuel supply system. In some forms, at least a portion of control 600 may be implemented in one or more electronic control units of an electronic control system, such as ECU 22, or in additional or alternative electronic control units.

Control 600 is configured to evaluate whether injection control benefits may be realized by operating the gaseous fuel supply system with fewer than all of the gaseous fuel injectors configured and operable to provide fuel to a particular cylinder, which may be performed or utilized by condition 408. Control 600 includes injection control benefit logic 610, which may include a plurality of logic components, such as load/speed condition logic 620 and engine feedback logic 630.

The load/speed condition logic 620 receives as input the engine speed 602, the engine torque, or the fueling information 604 (e.g., fueling information or other information proportional to, related to, or otherwise indicative of the engine torque or load), and may receive additional information 606. Load/speed condition logic 620 may include logic such as one or more calculation routines, maps, tables, and/or other data structures, as well as logic operable to identify under which conditions injection control benefits may be achieved by operating the gaseous fuel supply system using less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors. For example, a look-up table (LUT) may be configured based on empirical data or physical principles to specify combinations or regions of low-load, low-speed operation under which injection control benefits may be achieved by operating the gaseous fuel supply system using less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors. The load/speed condition logic 620 may provide all or part of the injection control benefit identification output 650 alone or in combination with the engine feedback logic 630 (e.g., using sensor fusion techniques to enhance control robustness, reliability, or accuracy). It should be appreciated that the load/speed condition logic 620 provides one example of open loop type control that may be used by the injection control benefit logic 610.

Engine feedback logic 630 receives as input engine feedback parameters 608, which may include engine speed, exhaust oxygen content information, or other parameters indicative of engine operating conditions. The engine feedback logic may include logic such as one or more calculation routines, maps, tables, and/or other data structures, as well as logic operable to identify under which conditions injection control benefits may be achieved by operating the gaseous fuel supply system using less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors, the logic operable to determine under which engine operating conditions injection control benefits may be achieved using less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors. For example, fluctuations in engine speed and/or exhaust gas oxygen information, deviate from commanded engine speed. The engine feedback logic 630 may provide all or part of the injection control benefit identification output 650 alone or in combination with the load/speed condition logic 620 (e.g., using sensor fusion techniques to enhance control robustness, reliability, or accuracy). It should be appreciated that the engine feedback logic 630 provides one example of open loop type control that may be used by the injection control benefit logic 610.

Referring to fig. 7, an exemplary control 700 is illustrated that may be implemented in and operated by one or more components of an electronic control system, such as ECS20, or another electronic control system configured for operative communication with a fuel supply system. In some forms, at least a portion of control 700 may be implemented in one or more electronic control units of an electronic control system, such as ECU 22, or in additional or alternative electronic control units.

Control 700 is configured to evaluate whether an operating efficiency control benefit may be achieved by operating the gaseous fuel supply system with fewer than all of the gaseous fuel injectors configured and operable to provide fuel to a particular cylinder, which may be performed or utilized by condition 410. Control 700 includes efficiency-benefit control logic 710, which may include a plurality of logic components, such as one or more computing routines, maps, tables, and/or other data structures, and logic operable to identify under which conditions efficiency benefits may be achieved by operating the gaseous fuel supply system using less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors, which logic is operable to determine under which engine operating conditions injection control benefits may be achieved using less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

In the illustrated example, efficiency-benefit logic 710 receives as input engine speed 702, engine torque or fueling information 704 (e.g., fueling amount information or other information proportional to, related to, or otherwise indicative of engine torque or load), combustion parameters 706 (e.g., exhaust oxygen information), and injector system electrical load information 708, and may receive additional information 709. The efficiency-benefit logic 710 may evaluate or determine the impact on combustion efficiency in a variety of ways in response to the received input. In some embodiments and examples, the efficiency-benefit logic 710 may evaluate or determine the impact on combustion efficiency in an open-loop manner in response to the engine speed 702 and the engine torque or fueling information 704, e.g., using a look-up table (LUT) configured based on empirical data or physical principles to specify combustion efficiency values corresponding to a combination of the engine speed 702 and the engine torque or fueling information 704. In some embodiments and examples, the efficiency-benefit logic 710 may evaluate or determine the impact on combustion efficiency in a closed-loop manner in response to an expected value of the combustion parameter 706 (e.g., exhaust oxygen information), the engine speed 702, and the engine torque or fueling information 704, and an actual feedback value of the combustion parameter 706 (e.g., exhaust oxygen information). In some embodiments, a combination of open loop and closed loop logic may be used (e.g., using sensor fusion techniques to enhance control robustness, reliability, or accuracy). The efficiency-benefit logic 710 may provide all or part of the efficiency-benefit identification output 650.

It should be appreciated that the present disclosure contemplates a variety of processes and systems that may benefit from operating using fewer than all of the gaseous fuel injectors dedicated to a given cylinder (e.g., a single injector per cylinder). Some such processes may improve the accuracy of the injection quantity, such as by updating the injector control. Some such processes improve the balance of injection quantities of the operating injector. Some such processes improve diagnosis and prediction of operating injectors, for example, based on improved estimates of injection quantity. Some such processes may reduce the total electrical power from the driver to the injector. Some such processes improve the ability to measure injection characteristics using a single-operation injector. Some such processes improve the ability to compare the injection characteristics associated with each injector and their impact on the engine. In spite of injector failure, some such processes can improve system robustness by allowing the engine to continue to operate.

As shown in this detailed description, the present disclosure contemplates a number and variety of embodiments, including but not limited to the following exemplary embodiments. A first exemplary embodiment is a system that includes an engine including a plurality of cylinders, a gaseous fuel supply system including a plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors, each of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors operable to provide fuel to a respective cylinder of the plurality of cylinders, each of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors including at least two gaseous fuel injectors, and an electronic control system in operative communication with the gaseous fuel supply system, the electronic control system configured to determine whether to perform fueling of the respective cylinder using less than all of the injectors of a set of injectors, determine at least one injector command to operate less than all of the injectors of the set of injectors to perform fueling of the respective cylinder, and execute the at least one injector command to use less than all of the injectors of the set of injectors to supply fuel to the respective cylinder.

A second exemplary embodiment includes features of the first exemplary embodiment, wherein the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to use fewer than all of the injectors of a group of injectors to perform fueling for the respective cylinder includes the electronic control system being configured to determine whether fewer than all of the injectors of the group of cylinders can be used to provide commanded fueling for the respective cylinder.

A third exemplary embodiment includes features of the first exemplary embodiment, wherein the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to perform fueling of the respective cylinder using less than all of the injectors of a group of injectors includes the electronic control system being configured to determine one or more calibration, diagnostic, measurement, and/or predictive purposes for operating the gaseous fuel supply system with less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

A fourth exemplary embodiment includes the features of the first exemplary embodiment, wherein the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to perform fueling of the respective cylinders using less than all of the injectors of a group of injectors includes the electronic control system being configured to determine an injection control benefit of operating the gaseous fuel supply system with less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

A fifth exemplary embodiment includes the features of the first exemplary embodiment, wherein the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to use fewer than all of the injectors of a group to perform fueling of the respective cylinders includes the electronic control system being configured to determine an efficiency benefit of operating the gaseous fuel supply system with fewer than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

A sixth exemplary embodiment includes the features of the first exemplary embodiment wherein the at least two gaseous fuel injectors of each of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors are configured and operable to provide the same nominal maximum injection amount or rate.

A seventh exemplary embodiment includes features of the first exemplary embodiment wherein each of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors is configured and positioned to inject gaseous fuel into one of (a) an intake port or (b) directly into the cylinder.

An eighth exemplary embodiment is a method of operating an engine system that includes an engine that includes a plurality of cylinders, a gaseous fuel supply system that includes a plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors, each of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors operable to provide fuel to a respective cylinder of the plurality of cylinders, each of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors including at least two gaseous fuel injectors, the method including determining whether to perform fueling of the respective cylinder using less than all of the injectors of a set of injectors, determining at least one injector command to operate less than all of the injectors of the set of injectors to perform fueling of the respective cylinder, and executing the at least one injector command to use less than all of the injectors of the set of injectors to fuel the respective cylinder.

A ninth exemplary embodiment includes the features of the eighth exemplary embodiment, wherein the determining whether to use fewer than all of the injectors of a group of injectors to perform fueling for the respective cylinder includes determining whether fewer than all of the injectors of a group of cylinders can be used to provide commanded fueling for the respective cylinder.

A tenth exemplary embodiment includes the features of the eighth exemplary embodiment, wherein said determining whether to use fewer than all of the injectors of a group to perform fueling of the respective cylinders includes determining one or more calibration, diagnostic, measurement, and/or predictive purposes for operating the gaseous fuel supply system with fewer than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

An eleventh exemplary embodiment includes the features of the eighth exemplary embodiment, wherein said determining whether to use fewer than all of the injectors of a group to perform fueling of the respective cylinders comprises determining an injection control benefit of operating the gaseous fuel supply system with fewer than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

A twelfth exemplary embodiment includes the features of the eighth exemplary embodiment, wherein said determining whether to use fewer than all of the injectors of a group to perform fueling of the respective cylinders includes determining efficiency benefits of operating the gaseous fuel supply system with fewer than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

A thirteenth exemplary embodiment includes the features of the eighth exemplary embodiment wherein the at least two gaseous fuel injectors of each of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors are configured and operable to provide the same nominal maximum injection amount or rate.

A fourteenth exemplary embodiment includes the features of the eighth exemplary embodiment, wherein each of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors is configured and positioned to inject gaseous fuel into one of (a) an intake port or (b) directly into the cylinder.

A fifteenth exemplary embodiment is an apparatus configured to be in operative communication with a gaseous fuel supply system comprising a plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors, each of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors being operable to supply fuel to a respective cylinder of a plurality of cylinders of an engine, each of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors comprising at least two gaseous fuel injectors, the apparatus comprising an electronic control system in operative communication with the gaseous fuel supply system, the electronic control system configured to determine whether to perform fueling of the respective cylinder using less than all of the injectors of a set of injectors, determine at least one injector command to operate less than all of the injectors of the set of injectors to perform fueling of the respective cylinder, and execute the at least one injector command to use less than all of the injectors of the set of injectors to supply fuel to the respective cylinder.

A sixteenth exemplary embodiment includes the features of the fifteenth exemplary embodiment, wherein the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to use fewer than all of the injectors of a group of injectors to perform fueling for the respective cylinder includes the electronic control system being configured to determine whether fewer than all of the injectors of a group of cylinders can be used to provide commanded fueling for the respective cylinder.

A seventeenth exemplary embodiment includes the features of the fifteenth exemplary embodiment, wherein the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to perform fueling of the respective cylinders using fewer than all of the injectors of a group includes the electronic control system being configured to determine one or more calibration, diagnostic, measurement, and/or predictive purposes for operating the gaseous fuel supply system with fewer than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

An eighteenth exemplary embodiment includes the features of the fifteenth exemplary embodiment, wherein the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to use fewer than all of the injectors of a group to perform fueling of the respective cylinders includes the electronic control system being configured to determine an injection control benefit of operating the gaseous fuel supply system with fewer than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

A nineteenth exemplary embodiment includes the features of the fifteenth exemplary embodiment, wherein the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to use fewer than all of the injectors of a group to perform fueling of the respective cylinders includes the electronic control system being configured to determine an efficiency benefit of operating the gaseous fuel supply system with fewer than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

The twentieth exemplary embodiment includes the features of the fifteenth exemplary embodiment including the gaseous fuel system.

A twenty-first exemplary embodiment includes the features of the twentieth exemplary embodiment including the gaseous fuel system including the engine. It should be understood that terms such as "non-transitory memory," "non-transitory storage medium," and "non-transitory storage device" refer to various types of devices and storage media that may be configured to store information, such as data or instructions, that is capable of being read or executed by a processor or other component of a computer system, and that such terms include and encompass a single or unitary device or medium that stores such information, multiple devices or media across or in which respective portions of such information are stored, and multiple devices or media across or in which multiple copies of such information are stored.

It should be appreciated that when used in connection with a control method or process, an electronic control system or controller, an electronic control, or the foregoing components or operations, terms such as "determining" or the like refer to any of a number of actions, configurations, devices, operations, and techniques, alone or in combination, including but not limited to, estimation or calculation of a parameter or value, obtaining a parameter or value from a look-up table or using a look-up operation, receiving an electronic signal (e.g., a voltage, frequency, current, or Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal) indicative of the parameter or value from a data link or network communication, receiving a sensor output indicative of the parameter or value, receiving other outputs or inputs indicative of the parameter or value, reading the parameter or value from a memory location on a computer readable medium, receiving the parameter or value as a run-time parameter, and/or by receiving a parameter or value that may be used to calculate an interpreted parameter, and/or by referencing a default value that is interpreted as a parameter value.

While exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only certain exemplary embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the claimed invention are desired to be protected. It should be understood that while the use of words such as those preferred, preferred or more preferred utilized in the description above may more desirable features so described, it may not be necessary and embodiments without such words are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims. In reading the claims, it is intended that when words such as "a," "an," "at least one," or "at least one portion" are used, it is not intended that the claims be limited to only one item unless explicitly stated to the contrary in the claims. When the language "at least a portion" and/or "a portion" is used, an item may include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an engine including a plurality of cylinders;

a gaseous fuel supply system comprising a plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors, each set of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors operable to provide fuel to a respective cylinder of the plurality of cylinders, each set of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors comprising at least two gaseous fuel injectors, and

An electronic control system in operative communication with the gaseous fuel supply system, the electronic control system configured to:

Determining whether to perform fueling of the respective cylinder using less than all of the injectors in the set of injectors;

Determining at least one injector command for operating less than all of the injectors of the set to perform fueling of the respective cylinder, and

The at least one injector command is executed to supply fuel to the respective cylinder using less than all of the injectors in the set of injectors.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to use fewer than all of the injectors of a group of injectors to perform fueling for the respective cylinder comprises the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to use fewer than all of the injectors of a group of cylinders to provide commanded fueling for the respective cylinder.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to perform fueling of a respective cylinder using less than all of a set of injectors comprises the electronic control system being configured to determine one or more calibration, diagnostic, measurement, and/or predictive purposes for operating the gaseous fuel supply system with less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to perform fueling of the respective cylinders using less than all of the injectors of a group of injectors comprises the electronic control system being configured to determine an injection control benefit of operating the gaseous fuel supply system with less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to perform fueling of the respective cylinders using less than all of the injectors of a group of injectors comprises the electronic control system being configured to determine an efficiency benefit of operating the gaseous fuel supply system with less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least two gaseous fuel injectors in each of the plurality of groups of gaseous fuel injectors are configured and operable to provide the same nominal maximum injection amount or rate.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors is configured and positioned to inject gaseous fuel into one of (a) an intake port or (b) directly into the cylinder.

8. A method of operating an engine system including an engine including a plurality of cylinders, a gaseous fuel supply system including a plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors, each of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors operable to provide fuel to a respective cylinder of the plurality of cylinders, each of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors including at least two gaseous fuel injectors, the method comprising:

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining whether to perform fueling of the respective cylinder using less than all of the injectors of the group of injectors comprises determining whether to enable commanded fueling of the respective cylinder using less than all of the injectors of the group of cylinders.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining whether to perform fueling of the respective cylinders using less than all of the injectors of a set of injectors comprises determining one or more calibration, diagnostic, measurement, and/or predictive purposes for operating the gaseous fuel supply system with less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining whether to perform fueling of the respective cylinders using less than all of the injectors of a group of injectors comprises determining an injection control benefit of operating the gaseous fuel supply system with less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining whether to perform fueling of the respective cylinders using less than all of the injectors of a group of injectors comprises determining an efficiency benefit of operating the gaseous fuel supply system with less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least two gaseous fuel injectors in each of the plurality of groups of gaseous fuel injectors are configured and operable to provide the same nominal maximum injection amount or rate.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors is configured and positioned to inject gaseous fuel into one of (a) an intake port or (b) directly into the cylinder.

15. An apparatus configured for operative communication with a gaseous fuel supply system comprising a plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors, each of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors operable to provide fuel to a respective cylinder of a plurality of cylinders of an engine, each of the plurality of sets of gaseous fuel injectors comprising at least two gaseous fuel injectors, the apparatus comprising:

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to use fewer than all of the injectors of the group to perform fueling for the respective cylinder comprises the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to use fewer than all of the injectors of the group to provide commanded fueling for the respective cylinder.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to perform fueling of a respective cylinder using less than all of a set of injectors comprises the electronic control system being configured to determine one or more calibration, diagnostic, measurement, and/or predictive purposes for operating the gaseous fuel supply system with less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to perform fueling of the respective cylinders using less than all of the injectors of a group of injectors comprises the electronic control system being configured to determine an injection control benefit of operating the gaseous fuel supply system with less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the electronic control system being configured to determine whether to perform fueling of the respective cylinders using less than all of the injectors of a group of injectors comprises the electronic control system being configured to determine an efficiency benefit of operating the gaseous fuel supply system with less than all of the gaseous fuel injectors.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, comprising the gaseous fuel system.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, comprising the engine.