ABSTRACT
This work analysed the performance of an automatic control system for the online blending of petrol with corrosion inhibitor in the direct, continuous electronic fuel injection automobile engine. The automatic control system was designed by superimposing a feedforward control system on a feedback control system. The design of the automatic control system was analysed by the method of direct substitution. The governing equations used in analysing the blending process, as well as the applicable equations which modelled the process disturbance were derived from first principles – using transfer functions and block diagram representations. The performance of the automatic control system was simulated with the aid of computer software; and the results obtained from the simulation showed that the response of the automatic control system is oscillatory and stable.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The recent technological revolution in the design of the automobile has begun to draw the attention of engineers to the limitless opportunities that autonomous systems avail the auto-industry, with regard to the growing demand for improved vehicle performance and reliability. Presently, most parts in the automobile are being re- designed with the aim of automating the operations of as many components as possible. Already, some of the breakthroughs which have been recorded by the adaptation of automatic control systems to the propulsion, transmission, braking and safety systems include the Engine Management System (EMS), the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) system, the Antilock Braking System (ABS) and the Supplement Restraint System (SRS), respectively.Therefore, in order to explore other opportunities for adapting control principles to the design of the different systems in the automobile, this work seeks to analyse the prospects for designing an effective automatic control system for the online blending of petrol with corrosion inhibitor in the direct, continuous electronic fuel injection automobile engine.
1.1 BACKGROUND
Over the years, it has been observed that the quality of petroleum products in Nigeria is usually compromised before the products get to the final consumer. This situation is the result of a number of anomalies in the processing (owing to incomplete fractional distillation in the refining process, emergence of local refineries in the Niger-Delta creeks, adulteration of petroleum products by independent marketers, illegal importation of petrol from overseas refineries, etc), pricing and marketing of petroleum products.
Compromising the quality of petrol has far-reaching consequences on our national economy and security. The adulteration of petroleum products is indeed one of the notorious practices which have caused a lot of damage to engines and machines in Nigeria. Osueke and Ofondu (2011), asserted that the adulteration of petrol increases the tail-pipe emission of harmful pollutants from vehicles, and could lead to engine damage.
In trying to mitigate the effect of petrol adulteration in automobile engines, vehicle manufacturers introduced the use of petrol additives as a safeguard against engine
damage due to adulterated petrol. However, it hasbeen observed that though the use of petrol additives couldsafeguard the engine; there is yet to be a way to monitor theoptimal quantity of the additive that will guarantee the safeguard. The reason is because of the vagueness of the manufacturers’ prescription, which is often cast with the rhetoric: “ADD ENTIRE CONTENTS TO A FULL FUEL TANK”; regardless of the volume of the petrol tank, and the fact that motorists often refill their petrol tanksbefore the tanks become empty. Fig. 1.1 shows the two sides of a typical can of a petrol additive.
Hence, in order to monitor the optimal quantity of additive that blends with the petrol in an automobile engine, at any transient time; one mustdesign a control system for the blending process.
Fig. 1.1: Re-sized Picture of a Petrol Additive (showing two sides of the can)
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
There is an increasing rate of panic purchase (and application) of petrol additives in Nigeria; owing to the worrisome rate of petrol adulteration in the marketplace, and the vagueness of the prescription on most petrol additive packaging labels.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE WORK
Following the earlier discussion, the objective of this work is to design an automatic feedback control system which enables the blending of petrol with a specific quantity
2
of corrosion inhibitor, in the direct, continuous electronic fuel injection automobile engine. In order to realise this objective, the control system shall ensure that the composition of the mixture of petrol and corrosion inhibitor remains constant, regardless of any variation in the flow velocity of the petrol which is supplied to the automobile engine.
1.4 SCOPE OF THE WORK
The scope of this workcomprises the design of an automatic control system for theblending process; and the derivation of generic expressions for the functionwhichmodels the process disturbance, the response of the control system to the process disturbance, the steady state gain of the system control loop, and the stability of the system control loop.
1.5 JUSTIFICATION OF THE WORK
The analysis of an automatic control system for online blending of petrol with corrosion inhibitor in the direct continuous electronic fuel injection automobile engine is significant for the following reasons:
The analysis will help to improve the life span of automobile petrol engines in
Nigeria, and elsewhere.
It will contribute to the development of indigenous technology in Nigeria.
It will help to increase cost savings in the maintenance of automobile engines by eliminating the panic purchase and application of petrol additives.
Above all, the result of the analysis (if utilised in the design and construction of the actual automatic control system) will help to reduce consumer complaints about the application of petrol additives, by increasingend-user satisfaction.
This material content is developed to serve as a GUIDE for students to conduct academic research
ANALYSIS OF AN AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ONLINE BLENDING OF PETROL WITH CORROSION INHIBITOR IN THE DIRECT CONTINUOUS ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION AUTOMOBILE ENGINE
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