Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Edward George Himes

Malcolm James Grieve

Sergio E Garcia

Ningsheng Qiao

Dennis C Reed

William Henry Pettit

John P Salvador

Manish Sinha

Andrew Paul Bagnasco

Daniel I Harris

Derek R Lebzelter

Jeffrey M Pfeiffer

Akbar Chowdhury

Bart Hubert Schreurs

Todd Kenneth Preston

Krishnendu Kar

Martin M&uuml;ller

Joon-Ho Yoo

An apparatus and method to determine the relative humidity of a fuel cell system. A controller is cooperative with a first device and a second device to receive a valve signal and a high frequency resistance value. The controller controls the relative humidity of a fuel cell stack based on the estimation of the relative humidity of the fuel cell stack based on one or more algorithms. The controller modifies the relative humidity of the fuel cell stack through changes in the position of a valve based on at least one of the valve signal and the high frequency resistance value. In one form, the relative humidity of the fuel cell system is determined without the need of a humidity sensor.

Transient inlet relative humidity estimation via adaptive cathode humidification unit model and high frequency resistance

A system and method for reducing the frequency of stack stand-by mode events, if necessary, as a fuel cell stack ages and experiences lower performance. The method determines an irreversible voltage loss of the fuel cell stack at predetermined time intervals and determines a stack voltage degradation variable based on the irreversible voltage loss. The method also determines if the stack voltage degradation variable indicates that the fuel cell stack will not meet predetermined stack end-of-life voltage requirements and calculates a maximum allowed voltage degradation rate of the fuel cell stack. The method calculates a maximum number of stand-by mode events per unit time that can be allowed to prevent the stack from exceeding the maximum allowed degradation rate and controls the number of stand-by mode events based on the calculated maximum number of stand-by mode events.

Adaptive limitation of standby mode to enhance fuel cell system life

A system and method for controlling fuel delivery through a fuel injection system to an internal combustion engine is described. An engine controller calculates a mass of fuel for delivery to one of the cylinders through one of the fuel injectors, based upon the operation of the internal combustion engine. Gas temperature in the intake runner of the cylinder is determined, and a compensation term is selected based upon the calculated mass of fuel and the determined gas temperature in the intake runner of the cylinder. The calculated mass of fuel is adjusted using the compensation term, and the controller controls open time of the fuel injector based upon the adjusted calculated mass of fuel.

Method and apparatus to control fuel metering in an internal combustion engine

A cam phase control method for an internal combustion engine schedules cam phase to optimize emissions and fuel economy, but bounds the scheduled cam phase for continuous achievement of the desired inlet airflow. The volumetric efficiency required to achieve the desired inlet airflow at a specified intake manifold vacuum is compared to the maximum achievable volumetric efficiency at the specified vacuum. When the required volumetric efficiency is less than the maximum value, the cam phase is controlled according to the lesser of the scheduled cam phase and the highest cam phase for achieving the required volumetric efficiency; when the required volumetric efficiency is equal to or greater than the maximum value, the cam phase is controlled to a setting that maximizes the volumetric efficiency.

Method of bounding cam phase adjustment in an internal combustion engine

A fuel control system that estimates the fuel quantity received from purging of an evaporative emission control system and then accounts for the purge fuel in determining the amount of fuel to be injected into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. Purge fuel quantity is represented by a purge equivalence ratio which is computed based upon an estimate of the hydrocarbon concentration in the purge gas. The hydrocarbon concentration is adaptively learned using an iterative routine that updates the estimate based on the integrated error between the actual and desired air/fuel ratios. Wall wetting and closed loop corrections are applied only to the non-purge fuel portion of the total fuel delivered to the engine cylinder. The closed loop control includes a block learn memory that provides a correction to the factory fuel calibration. The hydrocarbon concentration is updated using the integrated error during purging, whereas the block learn memory is updated using the integrated error during periods when no purging is occurs. The evaporative emission control system includes a solenoid-operated purge valve that is controlled in a manner that provides improved fuel control during transient conditions. The solenoid duty cycle is controlled using a purge factor that operates to reduce the duty cycle when the intake airflow rate drops significantly.

Fuel control system with purge gas modeling and integration

A method of improving the operating characteristics of an internal combustion engine equipped with electronic throttle control employs variable cam timing to vary the phasing of the intake valves and/or exhaust valves so as to achieve lower feed gas emissions and improved fuel economy while delivering as closely as possible the desired torque. The method can be implemented using a fuel-lead strategy or an air-lead strategy. Whenever a change is requested in the amount of torque, the method responds by adjusting the amount of fuel flow, the spark timing, the position of the throttle and/or the positions of the intake valves and/or the exhaust valves so as to deliver the desired torque. The method adjusts those operating parameters in a way that improves the ability of the engine to deliver the desired torque, produce less feed gas emissions, idle more stably, and consume less fuel.

Method of increasing torque and/or reducing emissions by varying the timing of intake and/or exhaust valves

An evaporative emission control system that operates in a running loss mode and an active weathering mode during purge to substantially eliminate running losses during operation of an internal combustion engine. The evaporative emission control system includes a charcoal canister, a canister vent valve, and a purge valve that permits fuel vapors from the canister and engine fuel tank to be purged into the engine's air intake manifold. The running loss mode operates to close the canister vent valve when the gas pressure within the fuel tank increases above a threshold. The vent valve is maintained closed until the fuel tank pressure drops below a lower limit. This prevents running losses by closing the vent when higher pressures are detected that cannot be reduced by purging under the current engine operating conditions. The active weathering mode cycles the canister vent valve open and closed when the volatility of the fuel is determined to be too high for the current ambient temperature. This cycling forces air changes within the fuel tank to accelerate the weathering of the volatile components in the fuel. Fuel volatility is estimated based on tank temperature and fuel vapor concentration. The maximum desired volatility is determined for the ambient temperature and the active weathering mode is begun when the estimated volatility exceeds the maximum desired volatility.

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Pittsford, NY, United States of America

Edward George Himes