JP2020020804A - Method of controlling viscosity in fuel control system with vibratory meter - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a method of controlling viscosity in a fuel control system with a vibratory meter.SOLUTION: A method includes providing fuel to a vibratory meter, measuring a property of the fuel with the vibratory meter, and generating a signal on the basis of the measured property of the fuel. The method also includes providing the signal to a temperature control unit 420 configured to control temperature of the fuel provided to the vibratory meter.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The embodiments described below relate to a fuel control system, and in particular, to a method of controlling viscosity in a fuel control system using a vibrometer.

Heavy oil (HFO) is used as fuel for engines in the marine industry. Engine performance correlates with how well the fuel injector atomizes the fuel. The fuel injector is controlled by a controller, typically an engine control unit (ECU), to ensure that the spray is appropriate to achieve the desired performance. For example, the ECU can detect various parameters such as intake pressure, fuel pressure, and fuel temperature, and control the fuel injector from these parameters to increase or decrease the flow rate of fuel into the combustion chamber.

The characteristics of the fuel can determine whether the fuel is suitable for a given fuel injector. For example, cold fuel may have a viscosity that is too high for the fuel injector. Fuel injectors generally cannot atomize high viscosity fuels effectively or can only atomize fuels within a certain viscosity range. This is especially true in the case of HFOs that have a higher viscosity compared to other common fuels such as gasoline or other distillates.

However, the marine industry has developed advanced engine configurations and fuel control systems that can utilize HFO and other fuels, despite the wide range of viscosities of the fuel supply. These engine configurations and fuel control systems employ various technologies. For example, to reduce the viscosity of the fuel, the engine configuration includes a heater that heats the fuel. However, fuel is typically heated close to the fuel source, which is problematic because fuel control systems typically have long fuel supply lines that cool the fuel before it reaches the engine. obtain. Further, the cooling rate along the fuel line can vary significantly due to changing environmental conditions around the fuel line. As a result, the viscosity of the fuel as it reaches the engine may be unsuitable for a fuel injector.

  However, if the properties of the fuel are measured with the desired accuracy that can be achieved using a vibrometer, the viscosity of the fuel can be controlled. Accordingly, there is a need to control the viscosity of fuel in a fuel control system using a vibrometer. There is also a need to control the viscosity to compensate for heat losses along the fuel line.

  A method is provided for controlling the viscosity of a fuel in a fuel control system using a vibrometer. According to one embodiment, a method comprises: supplying a fuel to a vibrometer; measuring a property of the fuel using the vibrometer; generating a signal based on the measured property of the fuel; Providing a signal to a temperature control unit configured to control the temperature of the fuel applied to the fuel cell.

  A vibrometer is provided for controlling viscosity in a fuel control system. According to one embodiment, a vibrometer includes a meter assembly communicatively coupled to a fluid source and meter electronics communicatively coupled to the meter assembly. The meter electronics measures a property of the fuel using the meter assembly, generates a signal based on the measured property, and controls a temperature control unit configured to control a temperature of the fuel applied to the vibrometer. It is configured to provide a signal.

  A fuel control system configured to control a viscosity in a fuel control system is provided. According to one embodiment, the fuel control system is configured to receive a fuel from a fluid source with a vibrometer communicatively coupled to the temperature control unit and to communicate with the vibrometer and to allow fluid to circulate. A coupled temperature control unit. The temperature control unit is configured to receive a signal from the vibration meter and to control the temperature of the fuel based on the signal received from the vibration meter.

In accordance with one aspect, a method of controlling a viscosity of a fuel in a fuel control system using a vibrometer includes the steps of: supplying fuel to the vibrometer; measuring characteristics of the fuel using the vibrometer. Generating a signal based on the characteristics of the fuel and providing the signal to a temperature control unit configured to control the temperature of the fuel applied to the vibrometer.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of providing a signal to a fuel injection controller configured to control an engine that receives fuel from the vibrometer.
Preferably, generating the signal based on the measured property of the fuel comprises: comparing the value of the measured property to a reference value; and proportional to a difference between the value of the measured property and the reference value. Generating a signal to be generated.
Preferably, the temperature control unit includes a heater configured to heat the fuel to reduce the viscosity of the fuel.

Preferably, generating a signal based on the measured fuel property includes calculating a viscosity from the measured fuel property.
Preferably, the characteristic of the fuel measured is the density of the fuel.
Preferably, the vibrometer is a Coriolis flow meter.

According to one aspect, a vibrometer (5) for controlling viscosity in a fuel control system (400) includes a meter assembly (10) fluidly coupled to a fuel source (410), and a meter assembly (10). Meter electronics (20) communicatively coupled, wherein the meter electronics (20) measures a property of the fuel using the meter assembly (10) and generates a signal based on the measured property. , Configured to provide a signal to a temperature control unit (420) configured to control the temperature of the fuel provided to the vibrometer (5).

Preferably, the meter electronics (20) further comprises an engine (439) for receiving fuel from the vibrometer.
And is configured to provide a signal to a fuel injection controller (432) configured to control the fuel injection controller.
Preferably, the meter electronics (20) configured to generate a signal based on the measured characteristic compares the measured characteristic value with a reference value and calculates a difference between the measured characteristic value and the reference value. Is configured to generate a signal proportional to.

Preferably, the temperature control unit (420) includes a heater (424) configured to heat the fuel to reduce the viscosity of the fuel.
Preferably, the meter electronics (20) configured to generate a signal based on the measured fuel property is configured to calculate the viscosity from the measured fuel property.
Preferably, the characteristic of the fuel measured is the density of the fuel.
Preferably, the vibrometer is a Coriolis flow meter.

According to one aspect, a fuel control system (400) configured to control the viscosity of the fuel in the fuel control system (400) includes a vibration control system in which fluid is traversably and communicatively coupled to the temperature control unit (420). A temperature control unit (420) configured to receive fuel from the fluid source (410) and communicatively coupled to the vibrometer (5) and communicable with the fluid. (420) is configured to receive a signal from the vibrometer (5) and to control the temperature of the fuel based on the signal received from the vibrometer (5).

Preferably, the vibrometer (5) is configured to measure a property of the fuel and determine the viscosity of the fuel from the measured property.
Preferably, the vibrometer (5) is configured to determine a reference value and to provide the reference value to the temperature control unit (420) by a signal provided to the temperature control unit (420).

The same reference number represents the same element in all drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are not to scale.
FIG. 1 shows a vibrometer 5 for controlling the viscosity of fuel in a fuel control system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a viscosity-density graph 200 with the data, showing the relationship between fuel viscosity and density. FIG. 3 shows a temperature-viscosity graph 300 showing the relationship between fuel temperature and viscosity. FIG. 4 shows a fuel control system 400 with a vibrometer 5 for controlling the viscosity of the fuel. FIG. 5 illustrates a method for controlling the viscosity of a fuel in a fuel control system using a vibrometer, according to an embodiment.

  FIGS. 1-5 and the following description are specific examples for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art how to make and use the best mode of controlling fuel viscosity in a fuel control system using a vibrometer. Is shown. For the purpose of teaching inventive principles of the present invention, some conventional aspects have been simplified or omitted. Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations from these examples that fall within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described below can be combined in various ways to form a number of variations of the invention that use a vibrometer to control fuel in a fuel control system. . As a result, the embodiments described below are not limited to the specific examples described below, but only by the claims and their equivalents.

FIG. 1 shows a vibrometer 5 for controlling the viscosity of fuel in a fuel control system according to an embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vibration meter 5 includes a meter assembly 10 and meter electronics 20. Meter assembly 10 is responsive to the mass flow rate and density of the process material. Meter electronics 20 is connected to meter assembly 10 via leads 100 and provides density, mass flow, and temperature information as well as other information via path 26. Although the structure of a Coriolis flow meter is described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented as a vibrating tube density meter, tuning fork densitometer, and the like.

The meter assembly 10 includes a pair of manifolds 150, 150 'and a flange 103, 103' having a flange neck 110, 110 ', a pair of parallel flow tubes 130, 130', a driving mechanism 180, and a resistance temperature detector ( (RTD) 190 and a pair of pick-off sensors 170l and 170r. The flow tubes 130, 130 'have two essentially straight inlet legs 131, 131' and outlet legs 134, 134 'and converge toward each other at the flow tube mounting block 120, 120'. The flow tubes 130, 130 'bend at two symmetric points along their length and are substantially parallel throughout their length. Brace bars 140, 140 'serve to define axes W and W' about which flow tubes 130, 130 'oscillate. Legs 131, 131 'and 13 of flow tubes 130, 130'
4, 134 'are fixedly mounted to the flow tube mounting blocks 120, 120' and similarly fixed to the manifolds 150, 150 '. This provides a continuous closed material path through the meter assembly 10.

A flange 103, 103 'having holes 102, 102' is provided via an inlet end 104 and an outlet end 104 ',
When connected to a process line (not shown) that carries the process material to be measured, the material enters the flow meter inlet end 104 via the orifice 101 of the flange 103 and has a surface 121 through a manifold 150. Guided to the flow tube mounting block 120. The material is split in the manifold 150 and sent through flow tubes 130, 130 '. Upon exiting the flow tubes 130, 130 ', the process material is recombined into a block 120' with a surface 121 'and a single flow in the manifold 150', and then connected by a flange 103 'with a hole 102'. And is sent to a process line (not shown).

The flow tubes 130, 130 'are each selected to have substantially the same mass distribution, moments of inertia and Young's modulus about the bending axes WW and W'-W', respectively, and are suitable for the flow tube mounting blocks 120, 120 '. It is attached. These bending axes pass through brace bars 140, 140 '. Since the Young's modulus of the flow tube changes with temperature, and this change affects the flow and density calculations, the RTD 190 is mounted on the flow tube 130 'and continuously measures the temperature of the flow tube 130'. RTD 190 for the temperature of flow tube 130 ', and thus for a given current passing through the RTD
Is governed by the temperature of the material passing through the flow tube 130 '. The temperature dependent voltage appearing across the RTD 190 is used in a known manner by the meter electronics 20 to compensate for changes in the elasticity of the flow tubes 130, 130 'due to changes in the temperature of the flow tubes. RTD 190 is connected to meter electronics 20 by leads 195.

Both flow tubes 130, 130 'are driven by a drive mechanism 180 on both sides about their respective bending axes W and W', which is referred to as the first out-of-phase bending mode of the flow meter. This drive mechanism 180
Can include any one of a number of well-known configurations, such as a magnet attached to the flow tube 130 ′ and opposing coils attached to the flow tube 130, and both flow tubes 130, 130 'To make the vibrator pass. Appropriate drive signals are applied by meter electronics 20 to drive mechanism 180 via leads 185.

Meter electronics 20 receives the RTD temperature signal on lead 195 and the left and right sensor signals appearing on leads 165l and 165r, respectively. Meter electronics 20 generates a drive signal appearing on lead 185 in drive mechanism 180 to oscillate tubes 130, 130 '. Meter electronics 20 processes the left and right sensor signals and the RTD signal to calculate the mass flow rate and density of the material passing through meter assembly 10. This information, along with other information, is applied as a signal by meter electronics 20 via path 26.

As described in more detail below, the signal may be used to control the viscosity of the fuel in the fuel system. For example, the signal may be used to control the temperature of the fuel in the fuel system. By controlling the temperature of the fuel, the fuel applied to the engine is within a desired viscosity range. This signal can be generated based on characteristics such as density measured by vibrometer 5, as described in more detail below.

FIG. 2 shows a viscosity-density graph 200 with the data, showing the relationship between fuel viscosity and density. The viscosity-density graph 200 includes a viscosity axis 210 having a logarithmic scale in the range of 1.00E-02-1.00E-03 centistoke (cSt). The viscosity-density graph 200 also includes a density axis 220 ranging from 600.00 kg / m ³ to 1100.00 kg / m ³ . Fuel viscosity-density relationships are expressed in centistokes and kg / m ³ , respectively, although other units could be used in alternative embodiments.

The viscosity-density graph 200 shows a line 240 that is a linear fit to the viscosity-density data points 250 drawn as a circle. Line 240 can be calculated from viscosity-density data points 250 using any suitable method, such as, for example, linear regression. Line 240 may be stored in meter electronics 20 as a data set, equation, or the like. The viscosity-density data points 250 may be determined by various means including, for example, measuring the viscosity and density of various types of fuel over a predetermined temperature range.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, line 240 is an approximation of viscosity-density data point 250. In other words, viscosity-density data points 250 are relatively close to line 240 along the entire length of the line. Thus, line 240 may be used to provide a precise within-range relationship between fuel density and viscosity. The viscosity of the fuel can be determined from the density of the fuel using a viscosity-density relationship. For example, the vibration meter 5 can measure the density of the fuel in the vibration meter 5. Using the measured fuel density, line 240 can be used to determine the corresponding viscosity of the fuel. Other fuel properties, such as temperature, correlate with the viscosity of the fuel.

FIG. 3 shows a temperature-viscosity graph 300 showing the relationship between fuel temperature and viscosity. The temperature-viscosity graph 300 includes a temperature axis 310 and a viscosity axis 320. The unit of the temperature axis 310 is Celsius (° C.), and the unit of the viscosity axis 320 is centistokes (cSt). The viscosity axis 320 is shown on a log scale.
In alternative embodiments, any suitable units and scales may be used.

The temperature-viscosity graph 300 also includes a temperature-viscosity plot 330 that decreases as the temperature increases. Temperature-viscosity plot 330 includes a high viscosity fuel plot 332, a medium viscosity fuel plot 334, and a low viscosity fuel plot 336. Each temperature-viscosity plot 330 represents a particular grade of fuel, with fuel grades having different viscosities. The temperature-viscosity plot 330 can be obtained in any suitable manner, such as, for example, querying empirical data of the fuel supplied to the tank, referencing a table having viscosity-fuel grade data, and the like. . The temperature-viscosity graph 300 also shows a low temperature viscosity region 330a and an operating viscosity region 330b.

The low temperature viscosity area 330a is the viscosity of the fuel when the fuel is not heated. For example, the low temperature viscosity region 330a represents the fuel when the fuel is in the tank. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the low temperature viscosity region 330a has a relatively wide temperature-viscosity plot 330 viscosity range at a given temperature. For example, at 40 degrees Celsius, the high viscosity fuel plot 332 has a viscosity of 2000 centistokes. Low viscosity fuel plot 336 has a viscosity of about 700 centistokes at 40 degrees Celsius. Thus, the difference between the high viscosity fuel plot 332 and the low viscosity fuel plot 336 at 40 degrees Celsius is about 1300 centistokes.

In contrast, the operating viscosity region 330b has a narrower range of viscosities. For example, at 140 degrees Celsius, the high viscosity fuel plot 332 has a viscosity of 20 centistokes. The viscosity of the low viscosity fuel plot 336 at 140 degrees Celsius is about 15 centistokes. Thus, the difference between the high viscosity fuel plot 332 and the low viscosity fuel plot 336 at 140 ° C. is about 5 centistokes, rather than the 1300 centistokes difference at 40 ° C. Accordingly, different fuel grades within the operating viscosity region 330b may have properties such as viscosity suitable for a fuel injector in a fuel control system, and are described in more detail below.

FIG. 4 shows a fuel control system 400 having a vibrometer 5 for controlling the viscosity of the fuel. The fuel control system 400 includes a temperature control unit 420 and a fuel source 410 capable of flowing fluid, FIG.
And a fuel injection system 430 described with respect to FIG. Temperature control unit 420
Is connected to the vibrometer 5 via the fuel line 425 so that the fluid can flow back and forth. The length of the fuel line 425 is shown in dashed lines. Temperature control unit 420 is also communicatively connected to vibrometer 5 via communication path 429. The communication path 429 may be a part of the path 26 described with reference to FIG.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the fuel source 410 includes a fuel port 412 and a tank 414. Shown near the fuel port 412 is an arrow indicating that fuel is being supplied to the fuel port 412. Tank 414 is fluidly connected to fuel port 412 and configured to receive fuel supplied to fuel port 412. Tank 414 is shown as partially filled with fuel (example fuel levels are shown in dashed lines). Near the bottom of the tank 414 is a fuel line that fluidly connects the tank 414 to the temperature control unit 420.

Temperature control unit 420 includes a temperature controller 422 electrically coupled to heater 424, which is configured to heat fuel as it flows through heater 424. Temperature controller 422 is also communicatively connected to viscometer 426 in vibrometer 5, temperature transducer 428, and meter electronics 20. As can be seen from FIG. 4, fuel can flow from tank 414 through heater 424 and viscometer 426 to fuel line 425. Temperature transducer 428 can measure the temperature of the fuel and provide a signal to temperature controller 422.

The temperature controller 422 is configured to supply power such as power to the heater 424, for example. The power supplied to the heater 424 is proportional to the heat transferred from the heater 424 to the fuel flowing through the heater 424. The power supplied to heater 424 is proportional to the difference between the temperature measured by temperature transducer 428 and a reference temperature.

Temperature controller 422 may also receive a signal containing information about the fuel flowing through viscometer 426. For example, temperature controller 422 can receive a voltage signal from viscometer 426 that is proportional to the viscosity of the fuel. Alternatively, viscometer 426 may provide a digital value representing the viscosity of the fuel. In alternative embodiments, other means of providing information to the temperature controller 422 may be used. Similarly, temperature controller 422 may receive a signal from temperature transducer 428 that includes information regarding the temperature of the fuel flowing through fuel line 425. The measured temperature may be the temperature of the fuel, fuel line, ambient air, etc.

While the above describes an embodiment of a temperature control unit 420 that includes a temperature controller 422, a heater 424, a viscometer 426, and a temperature transducer 428, alternative embodiments may have different configurations. For example, embodiments may not include the viscometer 426, but may instead rely on the vibrometer 5 to determine the viscosity of the fuel.

However, the viscometer 426 is advantageous because it measures the viscosity of the fuel as it exits the heater 424 and provides information about the viscosity to the temperature controller 422 and / or the meter electronics 20. The meter electronics compares the viscosity with the result measured by the meter assembly 10. It will also be appreciated that the temperature controller 422 need not be part of the temperature control unit 420. For example, the temperature control unit 420 may be part of the meter electronics 20 of the vibrometer 5 previously described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, the vibrometer 5 is shown with the meter electronics 20 communicatively coupled to the meter assembly 10. Meter electronics 20 is also shown communicatively coupled to temperature control unit 420 and fuel injection system 430. Meter electronics 20 may be configured to provide signals to temperature control unit 420 and / or fuel injection system 430. For example, meter electronics 20 can receive measurements such as fuel density within meter assembly 10 and calculate a reference value that can be sent to temperature control unit 420 and / or fuel injection system 430.

Fuel injection system 430 is shown as including a fuel injection controller 432 communicatively coupled to meter electronics 20. Fuel injection controller 432 is also communicatively coupled to fuel pump 434 and fuel injector 438. Fuel pump 434 is fluidly coupled to fuel injector 438 via fuel distributor 436. The fuel pump 434 is configured to supply fuel at a constant pressure to the fuel injector 438 via the fuel distributor 436. The fuel injector 438 injects fuel into the engine 439.

The fuel injection controller 432 is configured to control parameters of the fuel injection system 430. For example, the fuel injection controller 432 can regulate the pressure of the fuel exiting the fuel pump 434. Accordingly, the pressure at the fuel injector 438 can be a desired value. Other parameters, such as operating parameters of the fuel injector 438, may also be controlled.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the fuel injection controller 432 can control the parameters of the fuel injection system 430 based on signals received from the meter electronics 20. For example, meter electronics 20 can generate information about fuel flowing through meter assembly 10 and provide a signal with the information. The information includes, for example, the density, viscosity, and temperature of the fuel. Using the information, the fuel injection controller 432 can determine the desired operating parameters of the fuel injection system 430. For example, the fuel injection controller 432 can adjust the pressure of the fuel exiting the fuel pump 434 based on the viscosity of the fuel.

In an alternative embodiment, fuel injection system 430 may not be in communication with meter electronics 20. Accordingly, fuel injection system 430 may not receive information regarding the viscosity or temperature of the fuel. In the above or other embodiments, the fuel control system 400 can control the viscosity of the fuel, as described in more detail below.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 for controlling the viscosity of fuel in a fuel control system using a vibrometer according to an embodiment. Method 500 begins at step 510 by fueling a vibrometer. For example, with reference to the fuel control system 400 described above, the method 500 supplies fuel from the fuel source 410 to the vibrometer 5 via the temperature control unit 420. At step 520, the characteristics of the fuel are measured by a vibrometer. Fuel properties include density, temperature, and the like. At step 530, the method 500 generates a signal based on the measured characteristics of the fuel. For example, the generated signal may be based on a viscosity calculated from a density measurement using a relationship between fuel properties. At step 540, method 500 provides the generated signal to a temperature control unit, such as temperature control unit 420 described above with reference to FIG.

For example, referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, line 240 is used to determine viscosity from the measured density. The meter electronics 20 can receive the measured density of the fuel via the lead 100 described with reference to FIG. The measured density can be used as a dependent variable in calculating the corresponding determined viscosity. The measured density may be used as received by meter electronics 20 or stored within meter electronics 20 for later use. Using the measured density and line 240 described above, the viscosity of the fuel in meter assembly 10 is determined. The determined viscosity is used to calculate a reference value.

The reference value compensates for the distance between the temperature control unit 420 and the vibrometer 5. As described above, the distance between the temperature control unit 420 and the vibrometer 5 is shown in FIG. This distance causes the fuel to cool after being heated by heater 424. Therefore,
The reference value can compensate for the cooling of the fuel as it flows through the fuel line 425.
Other factors, such as, for example, the mass flow rate of fuel through the fuel line 425, may also be compensated.

The reference value may be provided by the meter electronics 20 to the temperature control unit 420 via the generated signal. For example, meter electronics 20 can generate a digital representation of a reference value and use the digital representation to modulate a signal. Accordingly, the generated signal provided by meter electronics 20 may be a signal modulated by a digital representation of a reference value. Other methods can be employed, such as, for example, an analog direct current (DC) voltage that is proportional to the reference value. In embodiments, the signal may be proportional to the difference between the measured value and a reference value.

The reference value provided by meter electronics 20 can be any suitable value that can be used to control the viscosity of the fuel. For example, the reference value provided to the temperature control unit 420 may be a reference viscosity. That is, the meter electronics 20 uses one of the temperature-viscosity plots 330 by determining the viscosity from the measured density of the fuel in the meter assembly 10 and using the measured temperature provided by the temperature control unit 420. To calculate the reference viscosity. The temperature control unit 420 can calculate the reference temperature from the reference viscosity using, for example, one of the temperature-viscosity plots 330 shown in FIG.

In an alternative embodiment, the reference value provided by meter electronics 20 is a reference temperature. In this embodiment, meter electronics 20 provides a reference temperature to temperature control unit 420. The temperature control unit 420 can receive the reference temperature and heat the fuel to the reference temperature with the heater 424. Additionally or alternatively, meter electronics 20 may provide other reference values.

With the reference temperature, the temperature control unit 420 can use any suitable control means, such as, for example, a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control algorithm. For example, the control means compares the reference temperature provided by the meter electronics 20 or determined by the temperature control unit 420 with the temperature measured by the temperature transducer 428, and is supplied to the heater 424 based on the comparison result. Adjust the amount of power to be supplied. The amount of power supplied is proportional to the difference between the reference temperature and the measured temperature.

Because the vibrometer 5 is in the fuel control system 400 at a different location than the temperature control unit 420, the reference temperature provided to the temperature control unit 420 is not the same as the desired temperature of the fuel flowing through the meter assembly 10. This temperature difference is proportional to the distance between temperature control unit 420 and vibrometer 5. The distance between the temperature control unit 420 and the vibrometer 5 is, for example, 100 meters, but in alternative embodiments any distance exists. Therefore, the reference temperature is higher than the desired fuel temperature in the vibrometer 5.

In the above-described embodiment, the viscosity of the fuel in the fuel control system 400 is controlled using the vibrometer 5. As described above, the viscosity of the fuel in the fuel control system 400 is controlled by controlling the temperature of the fuel. The temperature can be controlled, for example, by a temperature control unit 420 having a heater 424. The heater 424 can heat the fuel to a reference temperature. Accordingly, the fuel entering the fuel injection system 430 has appropriate fuel characteristics. For example, the viscosity of the fuel in the fuel injection system 430 is within the operating viscosity region 330b shown in FIG.

In some embodiments, the determined viscosity may be provided to a fuel injection system 430. For example, the fuel injection controller 432 can use the determined viscosity to control various parameters within the fuel injection system 430. Accordingly, the fuel pump 434 and the fuel injector 438 may be controlled in a manner appropriate for the fuel received by the fuel injection system 430.
For example, the fuel pressure of the fuel exiting the fuel pump 434 may be appropriate for the viscosity determined by the vibrometer 5.

  The above detailed description of the embodiments is not a complete description of every embodiment contemplated by the inventors within the scope of the current description. In fact, those skilled in the art will recognize that certain elements of the above embodiments may be variously combined or removed to create further embodiments, and as such, further embodiments are It is within the scope of the present description and disclosure. It will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that all or some of the above embodiments may be combined to produce further embodiments within the scope and disclosure of the present description.

  Thus, while specific embodiments have been described herein for purposes of explanation, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the current description, as those skilled in the art will recognize. The disclosure provided herein is applicable to other vibrometers for controlling fuel in a fuel control system, and is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the scope of the above embodiments should be determined from the appended claims.

Claims (17)

A method for controlling the viscosity of fuel in a fuel control system using a vibration meter,
Fueling the vibrometer;
Measuring the properties of the fuel using a vibrometer;
Generating a signal based on the measured characteristics of the fuel;
Providing a signal to a temperature control unit configured to control the temperature of the fuel applied to the vibrometer.   The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a signal to a fuel injection controller configured to control an engine that receives fuel from the vibrometer.   Generating a signal based on the measured property of the fuel includes comparing the value of the measured property to a reference value and generating a signal proportional to a difference between the measured property value and the reference value. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, comprising the step of generating.   The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the temperature control unit includes a heater configured to heat the fuel to reduce the viscosity of the fuel.   The method of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein generating a signal based on the measured fuel property comprises calculating a viscosity from the measured fuel property.   The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the measured characteristic of the fuel is the density of the fuel.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the vibrometer is a Coriolis flow meter. A vibrometer (5) for controlling the viscosity in the fuel control system (400),
A meter assembly (10) fluidly coupled to the fuel source (410);
Meter electronics (20) communicatively coupled to the meter assembly (10),
The meter electronics (20) measures the characteristics of the fuel using a meter assembly (10),
Generate a signal based on the measured characteristics,
A vibrometer (5) configured to provide a signal to a temperature control unit (420) configured to control the temperature of the fuel provided to the vibrometer (5). The meter electronics (20) is further configured to provide a signal to a fuel injection controller (432) configured to control an engine (439) that receives fuel from the vibrometer (5).
A vibrometer (5) according to claim 8. The meter electronics (20) configured to generate a signal based on the measured property,
Compare the measured characteristic value with the reference value,
Vibrometer (5) according to claim 8 or 9, configured to generate a signal proportional to the difference between the measured characteristic value and the reference value. Vibrometer (5) according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the temperature control unit (420) comprises a heater (424) configured to heat the fuel and reduce the viscosity of the fuel.   The meter electronics (20) configured to generate a signal based on a measured fuel property is configured to calculate a viscosity from the measured fuel property. The vibration meter (5) according to any one of the above.   The vibrometer (5) according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the measured characteristic of the fuel is a density of the fuel.   The vibrometer (5) according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the vibrometer is a Coriolis flow meter. A fuel control system (400) configured to control a viscosity of a fuel in the fuel control system (400),
A vibrometer (5) connected to the temperature control unit (420) so that the fluid can flow back and forth, and
A temperature control unit (420) configured to receive fuel from a fluid source (410) and communicatively coupled to the vibrometer (5) and fluidly traversable;
The fuel control system (400), wherein the temperature control unit (420) is configured to receive a signal from the vibrometer (5) and to control the temperature of the fuel based on the signal received from the vibrometer (5). ). The vibrometer (5) is
Measure the characteristics of the fuel,
The fuel control system (400) of claim 15, configured to determine a viscosity of the fuel from the measured property. The vibrometer (5) determines a reference value,
17. The fuel control system (400) according to claim 15 or 16, configured to provide a reference value to the temperature control unit (420) by a signal provided to the temperature control unit (420).

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