Patent ID: 6712503
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: F02D,G01N,Y02T

Abstract:
A method for calculating a fuel driveability index (DI) value on-board a vehicle having a fuel tank and an engine controller, said method comprising the steps of:providing a sensor in the vehicle in communication with a flow of fuel from the fuel tank, said sensor having a capacity to hold a known volume of fuel; holding the known volume of fuel from the fuel tank in the sensor; heated the sensor and volume of fuel therein; measuring temperatures of the sensor relative to the volume of fuel remaining in the sensor as the sensor is heating; and applying at least some of the measured temperatures to predetermined correlation equations for matching the measured temperatures with measured values from a standardized method of ASTM D86; calculating a DI value from measured T10, T50, and T90 values and the correlation equations, wherein T10 is the temperature when 10% of the fuel in the sensor has been distilled, T50 is the temperature when 50% of the fuel in the sensor has been distilled, and T90 is the temperature when 90% of the fuel in the sensor has been distilled.