Engine control system and method based on fuel quality

Abstract

An engine control system and method includes sensing the quality of fuel in the engine relative to emissions, by for example sensing the level of an emission related constituent, such as sulfur. A fuel quality sensor detects a fuel quality of a fuel, such as the sulfur level in the fuel, and provides a signal in response to the fuel quality. The engine control system also includes a navigation device to determine whether an engine is located in a regulated or non-regulated region. The engine control system receives the signal and controls engine operation by, for example, enabling or disabling one or more engine algorithms to improve performance of the engine based on the fuel quality signal or, in other embodiments, the combination of the fuel quality and the location of the engine.

1 . An engine control system, comprising:
 a fuel constituent sensor to detect a level of an emissions related constituent of fuel present in an engine and to provide a fuel constituent level signal based on the detected level of the constituent in the fuel present in the engine; and   an electronic control device to control operation of the engine based on said fuel constituent level signal.   
     
     
         2 . The engine control system of  claim 1 , wherein said emissions related constituent is sulfur and said fuel constituent sensor detects a level of sulfur in the fuel present in the engine. 
     
     
         3 . The engine control system of  claim 1 , wherein said electronic control device is adapted to receive said fuel constituent level signal and to deactivate an engine exhaust gas recirculation system when said fuel constituent level signal is above a predetermined level. 
     
     
         4 . The engine control system of  claim 1 , wherein said electronic control device is adapted to receive said fuel constituent level signal and to modify operation of an engine exhaust aftertreatment system when said fuel constituent level signal is above a predetermined level. 
     
     
         5 . The engine control system of  claim 4 , wherein said aftertreatment system is a selective catalytic reduction system with diesel exhaust fluid dosing, said electronic control device adapted to disable said selective catalytic reduction system to prevent dosing of diesel exhaust fluid when said fuel constituent level signal is above a predetermined level. 
     
     
         6 . A method for controlling an engine, comprising:
 detecting a level of an emissions related constituent of fuel present in an engine while the fuel is in the engine; and   controlling operation of the engine based on said fuel constituent level.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said emissions related constituent is sulfur and said detecting includes detecting a level of sulfur in the fuel present in the engine. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including deactivating an engine exhaust gas recirculation system when said fuel constituent level is one of above a predetermined level, below a predetermined level, and within a predetermined value range. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further including modifying operation of an engine exhaust aftertreatment system when said fuel constituent level is one of above a predetermined level, below a predetermined level, and within a predetermined value range. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said aftertreatment system includes a selective catalytic reduction system with diesel exhaust fluid dosing, further including disabling said selective catalytic reduction system to prevent dosing of diesel exhaust fluid when said fuel constituent level is above a predetermined level. 
     
     
         11 . An engine control system connected to an engine, comprising:
 a fuel quality sensor positioned in the engine to detect a quality of a fuel present in the engine and provide a signal indicative of the fuel quality;   a geographic location device to determine a geographic location of the engine and generate a location signal; and   an electronic control device in communication with said fuel quality sensor and said geographic location device to receive the fuel quality signal and the geographic location signal, said electronic control device adapted to control operation of the engine based on the fuel quality signal and said geographic location signal.   
     
     
         12 . The engine control system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said geographic location device and said electronic control device is adapted to determine whether the engine is located in an emissions regulated geographic region based on said geographic location signal, said electronic control device adapted to modify operation of the engine upon determining the engine is located in an unregulated region. 
     
     
         13 . The engine control system of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel quality sensor senses a level of sulfur in the fuel present in the engine, said fuel quality signal being indicative of the level of sulfur in the fuel. 
     
     
         14 . The engine control system of  claim 11 , wherein said electronic control device is in communication with an engine exhaust gas recirculation system, said electronic control device adapted to receive said fuel quality signal and said geographic location signal and to deactivate the engine exhaust gas recirculation system when said fuel quality signal indicates a quality below a predetermined level and the geographic location signal indicates the engine is not in a regulated region. 
     
     
         15 . The engine control system of  claim 11 , wherein said electronic control device is in communication with an engine exhaust aftertreatment system, said electronic control device adapted to receive said fuel quality signal and said geographic location signal and to deactivate the engine exhaust aftertreatment system when said fuel quality signal indicates a quality below a predetermined level and the geographic location signal indicates the engine is not in a regulated region. 
     
     
         16 . The engine control system of  claim 15 , wherein said aftertreatment system includes a selective catalytic reduction system with diesel exhaust fluid dosing, said electronic control device adapted to disable said selective catalytic reduction system to prevent dosing of diesel exhaust fluid when said fuel quality signal indicates a quality below a predetermined level. 
     
     
         17 . A method for controlling an engine, comprising:
 detecting a quality of a fuel present in the engine;   providing a signal indicative of the fuel quality;   determining whether the engine is located in an emissions regulated region; and   controlling operation of the engine based on the fuel quality signal and whether the engine is located in an emissions regulated geographic region.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein detecting a fuel quality includes detecting a level of sulfur in the fuel present in the engine, said fuel quality signal being indicative of the level of sulfur in the fuel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein controlling operation of the engine includes controlling an engine exhaust gas recirculation system when both said fuel quality signal indicates a quality below a predetermined level and a determination is made that the engine is not in a regulated region. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein controlling operation of the engine includes controlling the engine exhaust aftertreatment system based on said fuel quality signal and the determination of whether the engine is located in a regulated region.