Patent ID: 7904234
Filing Date: 2011-03-08
Classification: F02D,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A method for determining fuel volatility and consequently performing cold starting of an internal combustion engine, the method comprises the steps of: determining, before starting the engine, an enrichment percentage (% Enrich) as a function of a stored value (Vmem) for fuel volatility and as a function of the temperature (TH starting the engine using the previously determined enrichment percentage (% Enrich); determining a predicted value (MarkPred) for starting quality before performing starting as a function of the stored value (Vmem) for fuel volatility and as a function of the temperature (TH determining a measured value (MarkMeas) for starting quality during an initial rise in the speed (RPM) of the engine and at the beginning of the third TDC counting from the one at which the rise in the speed (RPM) of the engine occurs; determining a correction value (Vcorr) of the stored value (Vmem) for fuel volatility as a function of the comparison between the measured value (MarkMeas) for starting quality and the predicted value (MarkPred) for starting quality; and updating the stored value (Vmem) for fuel volatility by applying the correction value (Vcorr) to said stored value (Vmem); wherein, if cold starting of the engine is completed satisfactorily, the measured value (MarkMeas) for starting quality is determined as a function of a delay with which the rise in the speed (RPM) of the engine occurred and as a function of a rate of rise in the speed (RPM) of the engine during an initial rise in the speed (RPM) of the engine calculated at the beginning of the third TDC counting from the one at which the rise in the speed (RPM) of the engine occurs.