Orlando Volpato, Delphi - AEA – Associação Brasileira de ...

One of the advantages of a diesel-ethanol engine, over an engine converted to
ethanol only operation (i.e. using Otto cycle) is that the engine can run in a diesel fuel
only mode, if desired.
In figure 16 is depicted how the engine control module and the associated sensors
and actuators are connected in the diesel-ethanol system.
Fig. 16: Agricultural tractor diesel-ethanol control system
In the original diesel engine, a pedal connected to the control lever via a cable
controls the amount of fuel delivered. A conventional throttle position sensor is
mounted on the control lever to inform the ECM of the diesel fuel pump position; this
will enable the modeling of the diesel fuel delivered. See figure 17.
Fig. 17: Accelerator pedal sensor mounting
Besides the electronic control module, minimal components were added for the
correct working of the system. Those include a 58X crank wheel (an engine timing
wheel with 60 teeth geometry and 2 missing teeth to enable engine synchronization),
crank sensor, accelerator pedal position sensor, ethanol injectors, engine
temperature sensor, ethanol fuel tank, fuel pump and fuel pressure regulator.
Additional, vehicle related components, are also used, like: Diesel-Only Switch,
indication light and a diagnostic connector.
The indication light is on when the engine is working in diesel-ethanol mode; it might
also indicate failures, e.g. continuous blinking or be part of a field programming of
engine characteristics.
In case of failures, a malfunction code can be send using a blink code as used many
years ago for the passenger vehicles.
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