EP1787022A1 - Method for determining and regulating the glow plug temperature - Google Patents

Method for determining and regulating the glow plug temperature

Info

Publication number
EP1787022A1
EP1787022A1 EP05759454A EP05759454A EP1787022A1 EP 1787022 A1 EP1787022 A1 EP 1787022A1 EP 05759454 A EP05759454 A EP 05759454A EP 05759454 A EP05759454 A EP 05759454A EP 1787022 A1 EP1787022 A1 EP 1787022A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
glow
plug
voltage
temperature
heating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP05759454A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Urban Simoncic
Damjan Golob
Robert Kovacic
Mark Plesko
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cosylab d o o
Original Assignee
Cosylab d o o
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cosylab d o o filed Critical Cosylab d o o
Publication of EP1787022A1 publication Critical patent/EP1787022A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02P—IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES
    • F02P19/00—Incandescent ignition, e.g. during starting of internal combustion engines; Combination of incandescent and spark ignition
    • F02P19/02—Incandescent ignition, e.g. during starting of internal combustion engines; Combination of incandescent and spark ignition electric, e.g. layout of circuits of apparatus having glowing plugs
    • F02P19/025—Incandescent ignition, e.g. during starting of internal combustion engines; Combination of incandescent and spark ignition electric, e.g. layout of circuits of apparatus having glowing plugs with means for determining glow plug temperature or glow plug resistance
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D41/00—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents
    • F02D41/20—Output circuits, e.g. for controlling currents in command coils
    • F02D2041/202—Output circuits, e.g. for controlling currents in command coils characterised by the control of the circuit
    • F02D2041/2024—Output circuits, e.g. for controlling currents in command coils characterised by the control of the circuit the control switching a load after time-on and time-off pulses
    • F02D2041/2027—Control of the current by pulse width modulation or duty cycle control

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the field of diesel engine cold start equipment, in particular to the field of control of glow plugs for diesel engine preheating.
  • the problem to be solved is glow plug control, wherein the temperature of the glow tip is determined from the measured voltage between the electrode and the glow tube and the heating power supplied to the glow plug is adjusted based on the such determined temperature.
  • the goal of the invention is to simplify the glow plug temperature regulation, to reduce temperature deviation from the target temperature and to preserve a simple construction of the glow plug or even to simplify it.
  • the activity of glow plugs which enable fuel self-ignition in diesel engines while it is not warm enough, is in general determined by the glow plug controller.
  • the glow plug controller can be a simple switch, which connects the glow plugs to the power supply when their operation is required and disconnects them when their operation is no longer required. In this case the glow plugs must be of self-regulating type.
  • the glow plug temperature is affected by several factors. The supply voltage that determines the power supplied to the glow plugs can vary considerable. Also the glow plug cooling varies considerable in different engine operation regimes. None of the mentioned factors is compensated by the simplest glow plug controllers, therefore the glow plugs usually do not operate at the optimal temperature. If the plug temperature is too low, the conditions for fuel ignition at the right time are not satisfied.
  • glow plug controllers regulate the supplied electric power. As many factors as possible that affect the glow tip temperature are considered for the regulation. Some important factors can be easily measured and compensated for directly by the controller, such as the variations in the supply voltage. But data about the engine operation regime must be obtained by the controller from other devices. This loads communication lines, complicates software and increases the possibility for failures. Besides, a lot of effort is necessary at the engine development stage to measure glow plug cooling at all relevant engine operation regimes.
  • Patents JP59068569 and JP56066456 treat glow tip temperature measurement by thermal voltage measurement on a sensor embedded in the glow plug. These dedicated thermocouple sensors may measure the temperature precisely, but the solution is expensive due to the integration of an additional thermocouple in the glow tip and the corresponding electric feed wiring. These additional elements are not required in the present invention. Another advantage of the present invention is that it can be used on existing models and types of plugs.
  • the main idea of the invention is a regulation of the supplied power, with regard to the measured thermal voltage between joints of different materials in the glow part of the plug, regardless of how the aforementioned thermal voltage is measured.
  • the thermal voltage on the glow part of the plug is preferably measured by measuring the voltage between the electrode and the glow tube.
  • the term "thermal voltage”, as used in this patent, is the voltage that appears in an electric circuit, which consists of conductors of different materials and where the joints between the conductors are on different temperatures.
  • the measured thermal voltage is used, which appears predominantly on the glow part of the glow plug.
  • the temperature of the glow tip is determined from the value of the thermal voltage. This temperature and the reference temperature is used by a controller to regulate the electric heating power. Pulse width modulation is preferably used for adjusting the electric heating power, wherein the current that heats the plug is alternately
  • the time between pulses, when the switch is turned off, is taken advantage of to determine the voltage between the electrode and the glow tube.
  • the average power the plug receives can be set by choosing the width of the pulses or their period. The required power is determined from the measured temperature and the given target temperature of the glow tip.
  • the glow part 1 of the plug has a considerably higher temperature than the other parts. Therefore the thermal voltages on the joints between different metals in the glow part of the plug are much higher than all the other thermal voltage on other joints in the circuit that occurs when the voltage between the electrode 2 and the glow tube 3 is measured.
  • the solution in accordance with the invention works equally well with any number of elements and joints in the plug.
  • the joint 6 between the glow tube and the heating element 5, which is usually the heating coil, and the joint 8 between the heating element 5 and the electrode 2 of the plug always exist.
  • the amplitude of the thermal voltage on a single joint depends on the temperature of the joint and on the composition of both materials. With a suitable selection of materials, it is achieved that the voltages on all joints do not cancel out.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ignition Installations For Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
  • Control Of Resistance Heating (AREA)

Abstract

The subject of the invention is the regulation of the glow plug temperature, wherein the measured voltage between the electrode (2) and the glow tube (3) is used to regulate the electric power supplied to the glow part of the plug. The plug is preferably supplied by a pulse width modulated voltage. By changing the pulse width or its period, the average electric heating power is changed. The voltage between the electrode and the glow tube is measured in time intervals, when there is no power supply voltage applied to the glow part. The temperature of the glow part of the plug is determined from this voltage, because it is comprised mainly of the thermal voltage of the glow part of the plug when it is hot. The regulation of the glow plug heating enables to keep a constant temperature of the glow part of the plug, without any knowledge about its cooling or heating. Consequently, the controller receives only the on and off commands and optionally the desired temperature of the plug at a given moment. To maintain a constant temperature, the controller does not have to receive data about the regime of engine operation that would allow to infer the necessary heating power. Since the data about the regime of engine operation are not required, it is also not necessary to assess their effect on the cooling and heating of the plug.

Description

METHOD FOR DETERMINING AND REGULATING THE GLOW PLUG TEMPERATURE
Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of diesel engine cold start equipment, in particular to the field of control of glow plugs for diesel engine preheating.
Description of the Problem
The problem to be solved is glow plug control, wherein the temperature of the glow tip is determined from the measured voltage between the electrode and the glow tube and the heating power supplied to the glow plug is adjusted based on the such determined temperature. The goal of the invention is to simplify the glow plug temperature regulation, to reduce temperature deviation from the target temperature and to preserve a simple construction of the glow plug or even to simplify it.
Description of Related Art
The activity of glow plugs, which enable fuel self-ignition in diesel engines while it is not warm enough, is in general determined by the glow plug controller. The glow plug controller can be a simple switch, which connects the glow plugs to the power supply when their operation is required and disconnects them when their operation is no longer required. In this case the glow plugs must be of self-regulating type. The glow plug temperature is affected by several factors. The supply voltage that determines the power supplied to the glow plugs can vary considerable. Also the glow plug cooling varies considerable in different engine operation regimes. None of the mentioned factors is compensated by the simplest glow plug controllers, therefore the glow plugs usually do not operate at the optimal temperature. If the plug temperature is too low, the conditions for fuel ignition at the right time are not satisfied. This results in worse combustion, higher pollution, higher fuel consumption, higher engine wearing and similar. If the glow plug temperature is too high, it consumes more energy than it would at the optimal temperature and also plug degradation is considerably higher. To ensure glow plug operation at the optimal temperature, better glow plug controllers regulate the supplied electric power. As many factors as possible that affect the glow tip temperature are considered for the regulation. Some important factors can be easily measured and compensated for directly by the controller, such as the variations in the supply voltage. But data about the engine operation regime must be obtained by the controller from other devices. This loads communication lines, complicates software and increases the possibility for failures. Besides, a lot of effort is necessary at the engine development stage to measure glow plug cooling at all relevant engine operation regimes.
Patents JP59068569 and JP56066456 treat glow tip temperature measurement by thermal voltage measurement on a sensor embedded in the glow plug. These dedicated thermocouple sensors may measure the temperature precisely, but the solution is expensive due to the integration of an additional thermocouple in the glow tip and the corresponding electric feed wiring. These additional elements are not required in the present invention. Another advantage of the present invention is that it can be used on existing models and types of plugs.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The main idea of the invention is a regulation of the supplied power, with regard to the measured thermal voltage between joints of different materials in the glow part of the plug, regardless of how the aforementioned thermal voltage is measured. The thermal voltage on the glow part of the plug is preferably measured by measuring the voltage between the electrode and the glow tube. The term "thermal voltage", as used in this patent, is the voltage that appears in an electric circuit, which consists of conductors of different materials and where the joints between the conductors are on different temperatures.
The control of the glow plug by measuring the thermal voltage of the glow part of the plug, according to the present invention, is described in figure 1 , where the longitudinal section of the glow plug is shown.
In order to regulate the glow plug heating power, the measured thermal voltage is used, which appears predominantly on the glow part of the glow plug. The temperature of the glow tip is determined from the value of the thermal voltage. This temperature and the reference temperature is used by a controller to regulate the electric heating power. Pulse width modulation is preferably used for adjusting the electric heating power, wherein the current that heats the plug is alternately
SUBSTnUTE SHEET (RULE aS) switched on and off, as already known from existing solutions. According to the present invention, the time between pulses, when the switch is turned off, is taken advantage of to determine the voltage between the electrode and the glow tube. The average power the plug receives can be set by choosing the width of the pulses or their period. The required power is determined from the measured temperature and the given target temperature of the glow tip. When the glow plug is at the operating temperature, the glow part 1 of the plug has a considerably higher temperature than the other parts. Therefore the thermal voltages on the joints between different metals in the glow part of the plug are much higher than all the other thermal voltage on other joints in the circuit that occurs when the voltage between the electrode 2 and the glow tube 3 is measured. At the glow part 1 of the plug there are usually several joints of different metals. The solution in accordance with the invention works equally well with any number of elements and joints in the plug. The joint 6 between the glow tube and the heating element 5, which is usually the heating coil, and the joint 8 between the heating element 5 and the electrode 2 of the plug always exist. There is usually a resistance element 4 between the heating element 5 and the electrode 2, which is made of a different material, creating an additional joint 7. The amplitude of the thermal voltage on a single joint depends on the temperature of the joint and on the composition of both materials. With a suitable selection of materials, it is achieved that the voltages on all joints do not cancel out.
Example 1
Measurements on plugs that are sold as spare parts and are not meant to be regulated via thermal voltage measurements, have shown that the thermal voltage on the glow plug at 1000 0C was about 20 mV, thus allowing regulation via thermal voltage measurement. Such thermal voltage was not difficult to measure and the plug heating was regulated in such a way that the plug tip temperature was kept constant at different heat drains.

Claims

1. A method for determining and regulating the glow plug temperature, wherein measuring the thermal voltage is done on the glow part (1 ), preferably between the electrode (2) and the glow tube (3).
2. A method for determining and regulating the glow plug temperature according to claim 1 , wherein the supplied power to the glow part (1 ) is set with respect to the requested temperature and the temperature determined by the measured thermal voltage on the glow part.
3. A method for determining and regulating the glow plug temperature according to claim 2, wherein the power supplied to the glow part (1 ) is set by pulse width modulation of the supply voltage for the glow part (1 ) and by changing the ratio between pulse width and pulse period.
4. A method for determining and regulating the glow plug temperature according to claim 3, wherein the voltage between the electrode (2) and the glow tube (3) is measured in time intervals between pulses, when the power supply to the glow part is disconnected.
EP05759454A 2004-07-19 2005-07-19 Method for determining and regulating the glow plug temperature Withdrawn EP1787022A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SI200400212A SI21858A (en) 2004-07-19 2004-07-19 Procedure for determining and controlling the temperature of a sparking plug
PCT/SI2005/000022 WO2006009523A1 (en) 2004-07-19 2005-07-19 Method for determining and regulating the glow plug temperature

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1787022A1 true EP1787022A1 (en) 2007-05-23

Family

ID=35376930

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05759454A Withdrawn EP1787022A1 (en) 2004-07-19 2005-07-19 Method for determining and regulating the glow plug temperature

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1787022A1 (en)
SI (1) SI21858A (en)
WO (1) WO2006009523A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1933025A1 (en) * 2006-12-16 2008-06-18 GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. A system and method for controlling resistive loads with ground return connected to the engine ground
DE102008035039B4 (en) 2008-07-26 2011-08-25 Beru AG, 71636 Method for energizing a glow plug
EP2224124A1 (en) * 2009-02-27 2010-09-01 Robert Bosch GmbH A glow plug controller for vehicles
GB201318748D0 (en) * 2013-08-24 2013-12-04 Bayram Peter J A Glo-plugged 4-stroke hybrid diesel engine with active glo-plug technology

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5493734A (en) * 1978-01-04 1979-07-25 Ngk Spark Plug Co Ltd Heating apparatus for combustion chamber of internal combustion engine
GB2161214A (en) * 1984-07-02 1986-01-08 Iskra Sozd Elektro Indus Controlling glow plugs in an internal combustion engine
DE3738055A1 (en) * 1987-11-09 1989-05-18 Siemens Ag Method for controlling the temperature of glow plugs in diesel engines and circuit arrangement for carrying out the method

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5968569A (en) * 1982-10-14 1984-04-18 Nissan Motor Co Ltd Preheating control device of diesel engine
US5144922A (en) * 1990-11-01 1992-09-08 Southwest Research Institute Fuel ignition system for compression ignition engines
DE19718750B4 (en) * 1996-05-10 2008-12-24 Volkswagen Ag Method and device for measuring the temperature of glow plugs of a self-igniting internal combustion engine
DE19810000A1 (en) * 1998-03-09 1999-09-16 Eberspaecher J Gmbh & Co Glow element with electrical heating wire to ignite fuel-air mixture

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5493734A (en) * 1978-01-04 1979-07-25 Ngk Spark Plug Co Ltd Heating apparatus for combustion chamber of internal combustion engine
GB2161214A (en) * 1984-07-02 1986-01-08 Iskra Sozd Elektro Indus Controlling glow plugs in an internal combustion engine
DE3738055A1 (en) * 1987-11-09 1989-05-18 Siemens Ag Method for controlling the temperature of glow plugs in diesel engines and circuit arrangement for carrying out the method

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO2006009523A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2006009523A1 (en) 2006-01-26
SI21858A (en) 2006-02-28

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