AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS

ELECTRONIC FUEL CONTROL

T.MOHANRAJ
Mechatronics
5-Jan-16

Electronic fuel control

Combustion Petrol and Diesel engines

Spark Ignition engines
Compression Ignition engines
Engine fuelling and exhaust emissions
Leaded and unleaded fuel
Exhaust emission regulations
Electronic control of carburation
Fuel injection (Single point & multi point fuel injection)
Components of a fuel injection system
Diesel fuel injection

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Spark Ignition engine combustion process

Single high intensity spark of high temperature passes between the

electrodes of the spark plug leaving behind it a thin thread of flame
A bubble of flame is built up that spreads radially outwards until the
whole mass of mixture is burning
1. Growth of a self-propagating flame.
2. Spread through the combustion chamber
1. Chemical process - nature of the fuel, the temperature and
pressure at the time and the speed at which the fuel will oxidize or
burn

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it appears as the interval from the spark (A)

to the time when an increase in pressure due
to combustion can first be detected (B).
While (C) represents the peak cylinder
pressure and the completion of flame travel

The speed at which fuel will oxidize or burn

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Range and rate of burning

Temperature and the time from spark

to propagation of flame

Mixture strength and rate of burning

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Flame temperature and mixture strength

Detonation

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limiting factor on the output and efficiency of the spark ignition engine
The setting up within the engine cylinder of a pressure wave
travelling at such velocity as, by its impact against the cylinder walls,
to set them in vibration, and thus produce a knock
The detonation pressure wave passes through the burning mixture at
a very high velocity and the cylinder walls emit the ringing knock
Dangerous in small engines
High compression temperature and pressure - promotes detonation

Combustion chamber design

The compression ratio should be 9 : 1 for normal use, 11 or 12 : 1 for

higher performance.
The plug or plugs should be placed to minimize the length of flame
travel - this reduces effective cooling and also increases the tendency
toward cyclical variations.
Stratification
very weak mixture - difficult to ignite - reducing emissions and
improving economy
Direct mixture injection - can allow a petrol engine to run with air-to-fuel
ratios in the region of 150 : 1

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Mixture strength and performance

Effect of varying mixture strength

while maintaining throttle, engine
speed and ignition timing constant

Comparison of engine power output

and fuel consumption, with changes in
airfuel ratio

14.7 : 1 - = 1
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Compression ignition engines

Delay depends on
The pressure and temperature of
the air.
The cetane rating of the fuel.
The volatility and latent enthalpy
of the fuel.
The droplet size.
Controlled turbulence

Phases of diesel combustion

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Engine fuelling and exhaust emissions

Operating conditions
Cold starting - a richer mixture
is needed
Load or acceleration - a richer
mixture
Cruise or light loads - a weaker
mixture
Overrun - very weak mixture

Leaded and unleaded fuel

Theoretical
results
of
burning
a
hydrocarbon fuel and actual combustion
results
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Electronic control of carburetion

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Carburetion - Process of breaking up and mixing the fuel with air

Carburetor device used for atomizing and vaporizing the fuel and
mixing it with the air in a varying proportion changing operating
conditions
Areas of control (Electronic control)
Idle speed
Fast idle
Choke (warm up enrichment)
Overrun fuel cut off

Fuel injection

Accurate control of the fuel quantity injected into the engine

Implementation of overrun cut off

Fuel injection- single point

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Fuel injection - multipoint MPFI

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Typical control layout for a fuel

injection system

Block diagram of inputs and outputs

common to most fuel injection systems
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Diesel fuel injection

Electronic control of diesel injection

Advantages
More precise control of fuel quantity injected.
Better control of start of injection.
Idle speed control.
Control of exhaust gas recirculation.
Drive by wire system (potentiometer on throttle pedal).
An antisurge function.
Output to data acquisition systems etc.
Temperature compensation.
Cruise control.

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Diesel fuel injection system

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Block diagram of typical electronic diesel

control system