阅读说明：本技术 用于识别内燃机燃料系统故障的方法和评估单元 (Method and evaluation unit for detecting a malfunction of a fuel system of an internal combustion engine ) 是由 S·格拉斯莱纳 F·哈特尔 J·布吕克纳 于 2020-01-22 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于为内燃机的运行提供燃料的燃料系统的评估单元。所述燃料系统包括燃料泵,其构造用于将燃料输送到燃料储存器中,并且所述燃料系统包括一个或多个喷嘴,其构造用于将燃料从燃料储存器输送到内燃机的一个或多个气缸中。所述评估单元构造用于在燃料系统运行期间在采样时间点确定与燃料储存器中的物理压力相关的压力数据。此外,评估单元构造用于借助燃料系统的参考模型来确定参考压力变化并且基于压力数据和参考压力变化来检测燃料系统的缺陷。(The invention relates to an evaluation unit for a fuel system for supplying fuel for the operation of an internal combustion engine. The fuel system includes a fuel pump configured to deliver fuel into a fuel reservoir, and the fuel system includes one or more injection nozzles configured to deliver fuel from the fuel reservoir into one or more cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The evaluation unit is designed to determine pressure data relating to the physical pressure in the fuel tank at a sampling point in time during operation of the fuel system. Furthermore, the evaluation unit is designed to determine a reference pressure change by means of a reference model of the fuel system and to detect a defect of the fuel system on the basis of the pressure data and the reference pressure change.)

1. An evaluation unit (111) of a fuel system (100) for supplying fuel (110) for the operation of an internal combustion engine, the fuel system (100) comprising a fuel pump (105) which is designed to deliver the fuel (110) into a fuel reservoir (108), and the fuel system (100) comprising one or more injection nozzles (109) which are designed to deliver the fuel (110) from the fuel reservoir (108) into a working mixture of one or more cylinders of the internal combustion engine, the evaluation unit (111) being designed to,

-determining pressure data relating to a physical pressure (202) in the fuel reservoir (108) at a sampling point in time during operation of the fuel system (100);

-determining a reference pressure variation (318) at a sampling point in time by means of a reference model of the fuel system (100); and is

-detecting a defect of the fuel system (100) based on the pressure data and based on the reference pressure variation (318).

2. The evaluation unit (111) of claim 1,

-the reference model depends on one or more characteristics of the fuel pump (105) and of the one or more nozzles (109); and/or

-the reference model is designed to display pressure (202) variations in the fuel reservoir (108) that can be expected when the fuel system (100) is operated according to the reference model.

3. The evaluation unit (111) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reference model comprises one or more model parameters; and the evaluation unit (111) is designed to,

-determining adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters to reduce a deviation (319) of a reference pressure determined by means of the reference pressure variation (318) from an actual pressure (311) displayed by the pressure data; and is

-detecting a defect of the fuel system (100) based on the adjusted parameter value.

4. The evaluation unit (111) according to claim 3, wherein the evaluation unit (111) is configured for,

-comparing the adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters with initial parameter values of the one or more model parameters; and is

-detecting a defect of the fuel system (100) based on a comparison of the adjusted parameter value and the initial parameter value.

5. The evaluation unit (111) according to claim 4, wherein the reference model with initial parameter values of the one or more model parameters describes a target characteristic and/or a fault-free characteristic of the fuel system (100).

6. The evaluation unit (111) according to any one of claims 4 to 5, wherein the evaluation unit (111) is configured for,

-determining whether the adjusted parameter value deviates more than a minimum deviation from the initial parameter value; in particular the minimum deviation depends on manufacturing tolerances of the fuel system (100); and is

-detecting a defect of the fuel system (100) if it is determined that the adjusted parameter value deviates more than a minimum deviation from the initial parameter value.

7. The evaluation unit (111) of any one of claims 3 to 6,

-the evaluation unit (111) is designed to analyze the adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters by means of a pattern recognition algorithm, in particular in order to determine a defect type of the fuel system (100) from a plurality of different defect types;

in particular the plurality of different defect types comprises a defect of the fuel pump (105) and/or a defect of a specific nozzle (109) of the one or more nozzles (109) and/or a systematic measurement error of a pressure sensor (107) for detecting pressure data; and is

-the pattern recognition algorithm is learned beforehand by means of a machine learning method.

8. The evaluation unit (111) of any one of claims 3 to 7,

-the one or more model parameters depend on the flow rate and/or through-flow volume of the fuel (110) of the fuel pump (105) and/or the one or more nozzles (109); and/or

-the one or more model parameters comprise at least one model parameter showing a through-flow volume of fuel (110) igniting the charge pump (105) at a sampling time; and/or

-the one or more model parameters comprise at least one model parameter showing a throughflow volume of fuel (110) for a particular nozzle (109) of the one or more nozzles (109) at a sampling point in time.

9. The evaluation unit (111) of any one of the preceding claims,

-the evaluation unit (111) is designed to repeatedly determine pressure data at a plurality of successive sampling points in time in order to monitor the fuel system (100) at a plurality of successive sampling points in time; and/or

-a plurality of successive sampling points in time correspond to a respective plurality of angles (201) of the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine.

10. Method (400) for monitoring a fuel system (100) of an internal combustion engine, the fuel system (100) comprising a fuel pump (105) configured to deliver fuel (110) into a fuel reservoir (108), and the fuel system (100) comprising one or more injection nozzles (109) configured to deliver fuel (110) from the fuel reservoir (108) into one or more cylinders of the internal combustion engine, the method (400) comprising:

-determining (401) pressure data relating to a physical pressure (202) in the fuel reservoir (108) at a sampling point in time during operation of the fuel system (100);

-determining (402) a reference pressure variation (318) at a sampling point in time from a reference model of the fuel system (100); and is

-detecting (403) a defect of the fuel system (100) based on the pressure data and based on the reference pressure variation (318).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fuel system for an internal combustion engine. In particular, the invention relates to a method for identifying faults or defects in a fuel system and to a corresponding device or evaluation unit.

Background

A vehicle with an internal combustion engine comprises a fuel system for supplying the internal combustion engine with fuel, in particular gasoline or diesel. In order to identify and/or locate faults in the fuel system of a vehicle, active interventions are usually made into the fuel system, but this is mostly not possible during the operational use of the vehicle.

Disclosure of Invention

The technical task involved here is to enable an efficient and reliable identification and/or localization of fuel system faults during the operational operation of an internal combustion engine.

The object is solved by each of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims. It should be pointed out that additional features of the claims dependent on the independent claims, without the features of the independent claims or in combination with only some of the features of the independent claims, may constitute an independent invention independent of the combination of all the features of the independent claims, which may be a solution to the independent claims, to divisional applications or to subsequent applications. The same applies to the technical teaching described in the description, which may form an invention independent of the features of the independent claims.

According to one aspect, an evaluation unit or device for a fuel system is described. The fuel system is configured to provide fuel (in particular liquid fuel such as gasoline or diesel) for the operation of the internal combustion engine. The fuel system includes a fuel pump configured to deliver fuel to a fuel reservoir. Here, the fuel in the fuel reservoir may have a relatively high physical pressure (e.g., a pressure of 100 bar or more, 200 bar or more, or 300 bar or more, or 1000 bar or more). Physical pressures of 1000 bar or more or 3000 bar or more (about 3500 bar) can be used, especially in internal combustion engines for diesel fuel. On the other hand, the fuel system may be operated in a low pressure (ND) region, if necessary. In this case, the physical pressure in the fuel reservoir may lie between 1 bar and 10 bar.

In addition, the fuel system includes one or more injection nozzles configured to deliver fuel from the fuel reservoir into one or more cylinders of the internal combustion engine. In other words, the one or more nozzles may be configured to deliver fuel from a fuel reservoir to a working mixture (particularly a fuel-air mixture) of one or more cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The fuel system may have exactly one or at least one corresponding injection nozzle for each cylinder of the internal combustion engine. For example, a fuel system for a 4, 6 or 8 cylinder internal combustion engine may have 4, 6 or 8 injectors.

The fuel system may thus have one or more inflow components (such as one or more pumps and/or valves) via which fuel is supplied to the fuel reservoir. Furthermore, the fuel system may have one or more outflow elements (in particular one or more nozzles) through which the fuel is discharged from the fuel reservoir. The described evaluation unit makes it possible to balance and monitor the (in particular all) inflow and outflow of the fuel volume of the fuel reservoir on the basis of the control data for controlling the individual components.

The nozzles may be selectively opened or activated to deliver fuel to the respective cylinders based on an angle of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. Furthermore, the fuel pump can be operated between the opening or activation phases of the individual nozzles in order to refill the common fuel reservoir for the nozzles with fuel. Thus, each nozzle and fuel pump may be operated alternately to alternately drain fuel from the fuel reservoir or deliver fuel to the fuel reservoir. In one cycle (for example one or more revolutions of the crankshaft), the N injectors of the fuel system can be activated once and the fuel pump can be activated N times, for example, where N is 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 or more. For example, in a four-stroke internal combustion engine, one cycle may include two revolutions of the crankshaft (and thus a total angular range of 720 °). A cycle may in particular comprise or correspond to one complete cycle of intake, compression, expansion (work) and exhaust of all cylinders of the internal combustion engine.

The evaluation unit is designed to determine pressure data relating to the physical pressure in the fuel reservoir at a sampling point in time or at a specific crankshaft angle during operation of the fuel system. The pressure data can be detected by means of a pressure sensor of the fuel reservoir. The pressure data can be determined repeatedly at a plurality of successive sampling points in time or for a plurality of crankshaft angles. Here, a cycle (e.g., one or more revolutions of the crankshaft) may be divided into 100 or more, 500 or more, or 1000 or more samples or angular intervals. By repeatedly detecting and evaluating the pressure data, the fuel system can be monitored at a plurality of successive sampling points in time or at a plurality of different crankshaft angles.

Furthermore, the evaluation unit can be designed to determine the actual pressure change in the fuel reservoir at a sampling point in time (or at a plurality of sampling points in time) on the basis of the pressure data. In this case, the actual pressure change can be determined as the difference between the measured pressure at the current sampling time and the measured pressure at the (directly) preceding sampling time.

Furthermore, the evaluation unit is designed to determine a reference pressure change and, if necessary, to compare the actual pressure change with the reference pressure change. Here, the reference pressure change may be determined based on or may depend on a reference model of the fuel system. The reference model may depend on one or more characteristics (in particular flow) of the fuel pump and/or one or more characteristics (in particular flow) of the one or more nozzles. Further, the reference model may depend on compressibility characteristics of the fuel. In particular, the reference model can be designed to display the physical pressure changes in the fuel reservoir that can be expected when the fuel system is operated according to the reference model. In other words, the reference model can be configured to predict the expected change in physical pressure in the fuel reservoir at the sampling point in time.

Furthermore, the evaluation unit is designed to detect defects and/or malfunctions of the fuel system on the basis of the pressure data and on the basis of the (expected) reference pressure variations. Furthermore, the physical pressure detected at a (directly) previous sampling point in time may be taken into account in order to detect defects and/or malfunctions of the fuel system. In particular, the pressure resulting from the (expected) reference pressure change at the sampling time point can be compared with the pressure shown in the pressure data. Defects and/or faults of the fuel system may then be detected based on the comparison. In particular, a (faulty) operation of the fuel system or of a fuel system component, in particular of the fuel pump and/or the nozzle, which deviates from the normal operation can be detected in a reliable and efficient manner on the basis of a comparison of an actual pressure change produced from the pressure data with a calculated reference pressure change.

The reference model for determining the reference pressure variation may comprise one or more model parameters. The one or more model parameters may be dependent on the flow rate and/or throughflow volume of the fuel pump and/or the one or more nozzles. In particular, the one or more model parameters may comprise at least one model parameter which indicates the actual throughflow volume of the fuel pump at a sampling time (i.e. in the time interval between two directly successive sampling time). Alternatively or additionally, the one or more model parameters may comprise at least one model parameter which indicates the actual throughflow volume of the fuel of a particular nozzle of the one or more nozzles at a sampling time point (i.e. in the time interval between two directly successive sampling time points).

The evaluation unit can be designed to determine adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters in order to reduce a deviation of a reference pressure change determined by means of the reference model from an actual pressure change indicated by the pressure data or in order to reduce a deviation of a reference pressure determined by means of the reference model from an actual pressure indicated by the pressure data.

In other words, a deviation may be determined based on the measured pressure data and based on the model-based reference pressure change, which deviation may be reduced or minimized in order to determine an adjusted parameter value for the one or more model parameters. For example, the actual pressure and the reference pressure can be determined and subtracted from each other. In a corresponding manner, the actual pressure change and the reference pressure change can be determined and subtracted from each other.

The adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters can thus be determined such that the deviation between the reference pressure change and the actual pressure change (or the deviation between the reference pressure and the actual pressure) is reduced, in particular minimized. Thus, the reference model with adjusted parameter values for the one or more model parameters may describe or model the actual characteristics of the fuel system (where the actual characteristics of the fuel system may deviate from the target characteristics of the fuel system in the presence of a defect or fault).

Furthermore, the evaluation unit may be designed to detect a defect or a malfunction of the fuel system on the basis of the adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters. By determining the adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters, defects or faults can be identified in a particularly reliable manner.

The evaluation unit may be configured to compare the adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters with initial parameter values of the one or more model parameters. Here, the reference model with the initial parameter values of the one or more model parameters may describe or model a target characteristic and/or a fault-free characteristic of the fuel system. In particular, the initial parameter values of the one or more model parameters can be calibrated and/or measured or determined on a fault-free fuel system (for example during or before a commissioning of the fuel system). A defect or malfunction of the fuel system may then be detected in a particularly reliable manner based on a comparison of the adjusted parameter value with the initial parameter value.

In particular, the evaluation unit can be designed to determine whether the adjusted parameter value deviates more than a minimum deviation from the initial parameter value. The minimum deviation can depend on the manufacturing tolerances of the fuel system. If it is determined that the adjusted parameter value deviates from the initial parameter value by more than a minimum deviation, a defect or malfunction of the fuel system may be detected (if necessary only at that time). By taking into account the minimum deviation, the reliability of the fault detection can be further increased.

The evaluation unit can be designed to analyze the adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters by means of a pattern recognition algorithm, in particular in order to determine a defect type of the fuel system from a plurality of different defect types. The plurality of different defect types may include, for example, a defect of the fuel pump and/or a defect of a particular nozzle of the one or more nozzles. In addition, the defect type may also indicate whether the flow of the corresponding component of the fuel system (e.g., the fuel pump or the nozzle) is too high or too low. Alternatively or additionally, the defect type may indicate whether there is a systematic measurement error of the pressure sensor used to detect the pressure data. The pattern recognition algorithm may be learned in advance by a machine learning method. Using the pattern recognition algorithm enables a particularly reliable recognition of the fault behavior of the fuel system.

The evaluation unit may be configured to determine a respective set of adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters at a set of points in time. In other words, the development of the adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters may be determined as a function of time. Then, a prediction may be made based on the time order of the adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters: whether and at what point in time, if necessary, the adjusted parameter value is expected to deviate more than a minimum deviation from the initial parameter value. In other words, future fault characteristics of the fuel system may be predicted based on the time sequence of adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters (even before such fault characteristics occur).

According to another aspect, a fuel system is described, comprising an evaluation unit as described herein. The fuel system may be used in conjunction with an internal combustion engine, such as a stationary operating internal combustion engine or an internal combustion engine of a (land, water and/or air) vehicle.

According to a further aspect, a (road) motor vehicle (in particular a car or truck or bus or motorcycle) is described, comprising an evaluation unit as described herein or a fuel system as described herein.

According to another aspect, a method for monitoring a fuel system having a fuel reservoir is described. The method includes determining pressure data related to a physical pressure in a fuel reservoir at a sampling time point during operation of the fuel system. The method further comprises determining a reference pressure change in the fuel reservoir at the sampling time point based on a reference model for modeling a physical pressure in the fuel reservoir. Further, the method includes detecting a defect of the fuel system based on the pressure data and based on the reference pressure variation.

According to another aspect, a Software (SW) program is described. The software program may be configured for execution on a processor (e.g., on a controller of a vehicle) to thereby perform the methods described herein.

According to another aspect, a storage medium is described. The storage medium may include a software program configured for execution on the processor and configured to perform the methods described herein therefrom.

It should be noted that the methods, devices, and systems described herein can be used not only alone, but also in combination with other methods, devices, and systems described herein. Additionally, any aspects of the methods, apparatus and systems described herein may be combined with one another in a variety of ways. Especially the features of the claims, may be combined with each other in various ways.

Drawings

The present invention is explained in detail below with reference to examples. The attached drawings are as follows:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary fuel system for an internal combustion engine;

FIGS. 2a and 2b show exemplary (time and/or angle) plots of physical pressure in a fuel reservoir of a fuel system; and

fig. 3 and 4 illustrate a flow chart of an exemplary method for identifying a fuel system fault.

Detailed Description

As mentioned at the outset, this document relates to the efficient and reliable identification of faults in fuel systems during their in-service operation. In this regard, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary fuel system 100 having a low pressure region and a high pressure region. It should be noted that the aspects described herein may also be applied to a fuel system 100 having only a low pressure region, where fuel is injected directly from the low pressure region into the internal combustion engine.

The system 100 shown in fig. 1 comprises a fuel tank 101 in a low pressure region, from which fuel 110 is pumped by a pump 103 via a filter 102 into a high pressure region. The high pressure region includes a fuel pump 105 by which fuel 110 may be repeatedly pumped into a fuel reservoir 108. The high pressure region may be separated from the low pressure region by a valve 104. In addition, check valve 106 may inhibit backflow of fuel 110 from fuel reservoir 108 in the direction of fuel tank 101.

The fuel system 100 generally includes a plurality of injectors or nozzles 109 for a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine. Each nozzle 109 is configured to inject fuel 110 from a common fuel reservoir 108 into a respective cylinder. Further, the fuel system 100 generally includes a pressure sensor 107 configured to detect sensor data (also referred to herein as pressure data) related to a physical pressure in the fuel reservoir 108.

Thus, fig. 1 shows a direct injection system 100 with a low pressure (ND) fuel supply and a high pressure (HD) injection system. Even relatively small defects in the HD injection system can have a relatively large effect on the performance, emission and/or operating characteristics of the internal combustion engine and thus on the driving characteristics of the vehicle. The components of the HD spray system have a relatively high degree of integration with a plurality of functions and a relatively high component cost, at least in part. Furthermore, HD jetting systems usually have only relatively few sensors, such as only one so-called rail pressure sensor 107, which is used to measure the high pressure in the jetting system. Other physical quantities of the HD spray system for controlling, regulating and/or diagnosing the HD spray system are mainly modeled or calculated.

Important control systems, such as lambda control, combustion control and/or torque control of the internal combustion engine, usually interact with the injection.

The diagnosis of HD jetting faults is often relatively difficult based on a relatively small number of sensor values and based on interaction with other control systems. In particular, diagnostics often require active intervention for HD injections, which can only be performed during maintenance, but not during operational use of fuel system 100. This, in turn, adversely affects the accuracy of the diagnosis, since the diagnosis can usually only be carried out during idle operation of the internal combustion engine. Furthermore, the diagnosis during maintenance is mostly performed for failure information or for complaints from users of the fuel system 100, and therefore predictive maintenance cannot be achieved. Moreover, special diagnostics during maintenance are mostly associated with relatively high costs.

Fig. 2a shows an exemplary curve 203 of a physical pressure 202 in the fuel reservoir 108 of the fuel system 100 as a function of the engine crankshaft angle 201. In the example shown, the internal combustion engine has four cylinders, which are each supplied with fuel 110 in a dedicated angular range 203. The solid vertical line 221 in the cylinder angle range 203 represents the angle 201 at which the cylinder nozzle 109 is activated or opened to inject the fuel 110 from the fuel reservoir 108 into the cylinder. As a result, the pressure 202 in the fuel reservoir 108 drops. The dashed line 222 represents the angle 201 at which the cylinder nozzle 109 is deactivated or closed again, so that thereafter the pressure 202 in the fuel reservoir 108 remains substantially constant at a reduced (second) level 232.

Furthermore, fig. 2a shows another solid vertical line 211 in the cylinder angle region 203 at an angle 201 at which the fuel pump 105 is activated in order to pump new fuel 110 into the fuel reservoir 108. Thus, the physical pressure 202 in the fuel reservoir 108 rises again to the increased (first) level 231. The dashed line 212 represents the angle 201 at which the fuel pump 105 is deactivated again.

Thus, in one cycle, one of the N nozzles 109 of the fuel system 100 is operated alternately with the fuel pump 105, respectively, so that the pressure 202 is periodically lowered or raised. It should be noted that other sequences between activation of the fuel pump 105 and injector injection are possible. In particular, the number of pump delivery strokes per revolution may be different from the number of injector injections per revolution. If desired, fuel addition (via pump 105) and fuel discharge (via at least one injector 109) may be performed simultaneously.

As can be seen from fig. 2a, in the example in which the fuel pump 105 and the individual nozzles 109 are operated alternately, the pressure 202 in the fuel reservoir 108 fluctuates between a relatively high first level 231 and a relatively low second level 232 in the faultless fuel system 100. Here, repeated operation of fuel pump 105 results in a defined pressure increase of positive difference 233. On the other hand, operation of nozzle 109 results in a defined pressure drop of negative difference 233. In other words, a constant rise or fall of the measured pressure 202 within a fixed load point may be calculated during repeated operation of the fuel pump 105 and the injector 109. The difference (i.e., pressure change) 233 may be used to identify and/or locate a fault with the fuel system 100.

Fig. 2b shows an exemplary curve 203 of the physical pressure 202 in the fuel reservoir 108 in the case of a defect of the nozzle 109, which has an excessively high fuel flow. As can be seen from the pressure curve 203, the pressure drop of one of the N nozzles 109 has a relatively high difference 234, which exceeds a target difference 233. From the excessively high pressure drop, a malfunction of the nozzle 109 in the angular range 203 in which the excessively high pressure drop occurs can be inferred.

Thus, by monitoring the profile 203 of the physical pressure 202 in the fuel reservoir 108, a passive, observable diagnosis can be achieved, which can be used in service operation and has no effect on the operation of the fuel system 100. In particular, the pressure increase and/or the pressure decrease in the fuel reservoir 108 can be evaluated as a function of the respective current operating point or the current crankshaft angle 201. By means of the reference model, a reference increase and/or a reference decrease of the pressure 202 can be determined. The compressibility equation for the expected delivered fuel volume may be considered here. The reference increase or the reference decrease may then be compared with the respectively measured pressure increase or pressure decrease, in particular in order to detect a deviation between the actual pressure difference or the actual pressure change 234 and the target pressure difference or the target pressure change 233. Faults of the fuel system 100 can thus be detected and, if necessary, localized in a reliable manner.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary method 300 for identifying a fault in the fuel system 100. The method 300 may be performed by the evaluation unit 111 of the fuel system 100. At a certain sampling time point or at a certain crankshaft angle 201, the pressure 202 may be measured (step 301) by means of the pressure sensor 107 to provide an actual pressure value311 (where α is the current crankshaft angle 201). Further, a target pressure value may be provided based on the reference model318. From this the difference Δ p can be calculated_rail(. alpha.) 319 (step 309), i.e., as

The reference model used to determine the target pressure value 318 may be adjusted to reduce, and in particular minimize, the difference 319 (step 302). In particular, one or more parameters of the reference model may be adjusted to reduce or minimize the difference 319. The adjustment of the reference model can be performed iteratively as shown in fig. 3. The volume of fuel 110 delivered into the fuel reservoir 108 may be modeled based on one or more characteristics of the fuel valve 104 or fuel pump 105. Further, the volume of fuel 110 expelled from the fuel reservoir 108 may be modeled based on one or more characteristics of the one or more nozzles 109. Thus, the volume change dV of the fuel 110 in the fuel reservoir 108 may be determined (step 307) within a time interval or angular interval. The resulting pressure change dp can be determined by the compressibility equation(step 308), wherein V_railIs the volume of fuel reservoir 108, and K is the compression modulus (which can be assumed to be constant) of fuel 110. Then the dp and the target pressure value can be varied from the pressureOr previous time point or previous angle valueActual pressure value ofDetermining a current target or reference pressure value318。

One or more model parameters of the reference model may be adjusted, in particular with respect to determining the fuel valve 104 and/or the fuel pump105 or the nozzle 109 to reduce, in particular minimize, the pressure differential 319. When the termination criteria is reached (step 303), a new or adjusted set of parameter values 313 for the one or more model parameters may be provided. The new or adjusted parameter set PS may be used_final313 and the original or initial parameter set PS_ini317 are compared (step 304) in order to calculate the parameter deviation Δ PS 314, i.e. in particular as PS_ini-PS_final＝ΔPS。

It may then be checked (step 305) whether the parameter deviation Δ PS 314 exceeds a certain deviation threshold. If the deviation threshold is not exceeded, then it may be assumed that fuel system 100 is not malfunctioning. On the other hand, if the deviation threshold is exceeded, a fault may be assumed. Furthermore, the new or adjusted parameter set PS can be evaluated, for example, by means of pattern recognition_final313 and/or the parameter deviations Δ PS 314 (step 306) to obtain information relating to the type of failure and/or the failed component (e.g., the fuel valve 104, the fuel pump 105, and/or the particular nozzle 109).

Thus, an online optimization of the reference model parameters may be performed in order to reduce or minimize the deviation 319 between the actual pressure value 311 and the target pressure value starting from the initial set of parameters 317. The optimized or adjusted parameter values 313 can be compared with the initial parameter set 317 and used as an error matrix for deviation identification. If a maximum permissible deviation is exceeded, for example taking into account or depending on component tolerances, a diagnosis can be made with reference to a predefined fault type (for example by means of pattern recognition) in order to identify a fault in the fuel system 100.

Exemplary model parameters are:

the volume av of fuel 110 flowing through the nozzle 109 in one time interval or one angular interval; the volume can be varied here with time intervals or angle intervals; and/or

The volume av of fuel 110 pumped by the fuel pump 105 during a time interval or during an angular interval (e.g. each angular range 203); the volume may vary with time interval or angle interval; and/or

An offset value Δ p which has to be applied to the pressure curve determined by means of the reference model in order to bring the pressure curve determined by means of the reference model into agreement with the measured actual pressure curve 203. The offset value Δ p per time interval is here usually constant. The offset value Δ p may indicate a failure of the pressure sensor 107 (particularly a systematic error of the pressure sensor 107).

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary method 400 for monitoring the engine fuel system 100. The method 400 may be performed by the evaluation unit 111 of the fuel system 100, in particular by a controller. The fuel system 100 comprises a fuel pump 105, which is designed to deliver fuel 110 (in particular liquid fuel 110, such as gasoline or diesel) into a fuel reservoir 108 (in particular a so-called "common rail"). Furthermore, the fuel system 100 comprises one or more injection nozzles 109 configured for delivering fuel 110 from the (common) fuel reservoir 108 into one or more cylinders of the internal combustion engine. Typically, the fuel system 100 includes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, or 12 nozzles 109 (for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, or 12 cylinders, respectively).

The method 400 includes determining 401 pressure data relating to the physical pressure 202 in the fuel reservoir 108 at a sampling time point during operation of the fuel system 100. The pressure data may be detected by means of a pressure sensor 107. The pressure data can be detected at a plurality of successive sampling points in time (or a plurality of different crankshaft angles 201). In other words, the method 400 may be repeated at a number of successive sampling time points or crankshaft angles 201 to achieve quasi-continuous monitoring of the fuel system 100. The entire crankshaft angle range can be divided into 100, 500, 1000 or more sampling points or crankshaft angles 201.

The method 400 may also include determining an actual pressure change in the ignition charge reservoir 108 at the sample time based on the pressure data. The actual pressure change can be determined here by comparing (in particular by differencing) the pressure 202 at the current sampling time with the pressure 202 at the previous sampling time.

Further, the method 400 includes determining 402 a reference pressure change 318 at a sampling time point or within a time interval between a previous sampling time point and a current sampling time point. The reference pressure change 318 can be determined here by means of a reference model of the fuel system 100. Further, the actual pressure change may be compared to the reference pressure change 318 within the scope of the method 400. A deviation 319 between the actual pressure change and the reference pressure change 318 may then be determined.

Further, the method 400 includes detecting 403 a defect or failure of the fuel system 100 based on the pressure data and based on the reference pressure variation 318. In particular, a defect or malfunction of the fuel system 100 may be detected based on a comparison or deviation 319 between the actual pressure variation and the reference pressure variation 318 (or between the actual pressure 311 and a target or reference pressure).

The measures described herein enable a reliable diagnosis of the HD system and/or the ND system of the fuel system 100 during operation. The described diagnostic model is based on the control times of the components 105, 109 of the HD or ND system (in particular for opening and closing the components 105, 109) and therefore has no cross-influence with other controllers. The described measures enable the type of fault of the individual components 105, 109 of the fuel system 100 to be identified and differentiated on the basis of the pressure 202 curve 203 in the fuel reservoir 108. Furthermore, an impending fault can be predictably identified even before the fault causes the internal combustion engine to operate impaired. Furthermore, the described measures can be implemented in an efficient manner as software (without the use of additional hardware).

For predictive identification of an impending failure, the adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters of the reference model of the fuel system 100 may be determined along the operating time of the fuel system 100 (e.g. as a function of the mileage of the vehicle's internal combustion engine). Then, a trend of the adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters may be extracted or predicted based on the development of the adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters over time. In particular, it is possible to predict whether and if necessary when the adjusted parameter values of the one or more model parameters may deviate from the initial parameter values by more than a minimum deviation. An impending failure in fuel system 100 may be predicted (even before the failure occurs).

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and drawings are only intended to illustrate the principles of the proposed method, apparatus and system.