US-12618379-B2 - Controller for internal combustion engine

US12618379B2US 12618379 B2US12618379 B2US 12618379B2US-12618379-B2

Abstract

A controller is configured to control an internal combustion engine. The controller is configured to perform a fuel pressure control of adjusting a fuel pressure downstream of an electromagnetic valve in a flow direction of fuel in a fuel passage to a prescribed pressure lower than a fuel pressure upstream of the electromagnetic valve by repeatedly performing opening and closing operations of the electromagnetic valve. The controller includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to execute a process of setting opening and closing time points of the electromagnetic valve such that a valve opening period of the electromagnetic valve during execution of the fuel pressure control overlaps with a valve opening period of the fuel injection valve.

Inventors

Yuki Suzuki
Mina TACHIBANA
Tomihisa Tsuchiya

Assignees

TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20241029

Claims (8)

1 . A controller configured to control an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine includes: a tank that stores fuel, a fuel injection valve that is provided on the internal combustion engine and supplies fuel to a cylinder, a fuel passage that connects the tank to the fuel injection valve, and an electromagnetic valve that is provided in the fuel passage so as to selectively open and close the fuel passage, in response to a request to operate at idle, the controller is configured to perform a fuel pressure control of adjusting a fuel pressure downstream of the electromagnetic valve in a flow direction of fuel in the fuel passage to a prescribed pressure lower than a fuel pressure upstream of the electromagnetic valve by first closing the electromagnetic valve until the fuel pressure downstream of the electromagnetic valve decreases to the prescribed pressure, then repeatedly performing opening and closing operations of the electromagnetic valve, the controller comprises processing circuitry, and the processing circuitry is configured to execute a process of setting opening and closing time points of the electromagnetic valve such that a valve opening period of the electromagnetic valve during execution of the fuel pressure control overlaps with a valve opening period of the fuel injection valve.
2 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the valve opening period of the electromagnetic valve is set such that an amount of fuel injected during the valve opening period of the fuel injection valve is equal to an amount of fuel passing through the electromagnetic valve during the valve opening period of the electromagnetic valve.
3 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein an opening time point of the electromagnetic valve is set to be synchronized with an opening time point of the fuel injection valve.
4 . The controller according to claim 3 , wherein a closing time point of the electromagnetic valve is set to be later than that of the fuel injection valve.
5 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein a closing time point of the electromagnetic valve is set to be synchronized with a closing time point of the fuel injection valve.
6 . The controller according to claim 5 , wherein an opening time point of the electromagnetic valve is set to be earlier than that of the fuel injection valve.
7 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel passage includes a pressure reducing valve, and the electromagnetic valve is provided downstream of the pressure reducing valve in a flow direction of fuel in the fuel passage.
8 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine uses hydrogen gas as a fuel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-222447, filed on Dec. 28, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND 1. Field The present disclosure relates to a controller for an internal combustion engine. 2. Description of Related Art For example, an internal combustion engine disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2022-182969 reduces the pressure of gas fuel stored in a tank to a prescribed fuel pressure before supplying the gas fuel to fuel injection valves. SUMMARY This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. In one general aspect, a controller is configured to control an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes a tank that stores fuel, a fuel injection valve that supplies fuel to a cylinder, a fuel passage that connects the tank to the fuel injection valve, and an electromagnetic valve that is provided in the fuel passage so as to selectively open and close the fuel passage. The controller is configured to perform a fuel pressure control of adjusting a fuel pressure downstream of the electromagnetic valve in a flow direction of fuel in the fuel passage to a prescribed pressure lower than a fuel pressure upstream of the electromagnetic valve by repeatedly performing opening and closing operations of the electromagnetic valve. The controller comprises processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to execute a process of setting opening and closing time points of the electromagnetic valve such that a valve opening period of the electromagnetic valve during execution of the fuel pressure control overlaps with a valve opening period of the fuel injection valve. The controller for the internal combustion engine can suppress pressure fluctuation of the fuel supplied to the fuel injection valve. Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an internal combustion engine and a controller according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a timing diagram showing a fuel pressure control according to the embodiment, where part (a) shows changes in a third pressure, and part (b) shows an operating state of a second shut-off valve. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processes executed by a controller according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a timing diagram showing opening and closing time points of a fuel injection valve and a second shut-off valve in the embodiment, where part (a) shows the opening and closing time points of the fuel injection valve, and part (b) shows the opening and closing time points of the second shut-off valve. FIG. 5 is a timing diagram showing opening and closing time points of the fuel injection valve and the second shut-off valve in a modification of the embodiment, where part (a) shows the opening and closing time points of the fuel injection valve, and part (b) shows the opening and closing time points of the second shut-off valve. FIG. 6 is a timing diagram showing opening and closing time points of the fuel injection valve and the second shut-off valve in a modification of the embodiment, where part (a) shows the opening and closing time points of the fuel injection valve, and part (b) shows the opening and closing time points of the second shut-off valve. FIG. 7 is a timing diagram showing opening and closing time points of the fuel injection valve and the second shut-off valve in a modification of the embodiment, where part (a) shows the opening and closing time points of the fuel injection valve, and part (b) shows the opening and closing time points of the second shut-off valve. FIG. 8 is a timing diagram showing opening and closing time points of the fuel injection valve and the second shut-off valve in a modification of the embodiment, where part (a) shows the opening and closing time points of the fuel injection valve, and part (b) shows the opening and closing time points of the second shut-off valve. Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. The drawings may not be to scale, and the relative size, proportions, and depiction of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience. DETAILED DESCRIPTION This description provides a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described. Modifications and equivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described are apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Sequ