Method and device for operating an injection system for an internal combustion engine

1. A method for operating an injection system for an internal combustion engine having a prefeed pump for conveying fuel out of a fuel tank and having a high pressure pump which is arranged downstream of the prefeed pump for conveying the fuel into a fuel accumulator,

the method comprising:

determining a prefeed value which is a function of at least one operating variable of the internal combustion engine as a function of a pilot control characteristic diagram,

initializing a correction value for the prefeed pump with a safety value which is predefined in such a way that deviations from a predefined conveying behavior of the prefeed pump which lie within a predefined tolerance range are compensated for in such a way that a sufficient delivery performance of the prefeed pump is ensured,

actuating the prefeed pump as a function of the prefeed value and the correction value, and

adapting the correction value with regard to its effect to the conveying behavior of the prefeed pump as a function of a variable of the injection system, the value or value profile of which variable is representative for whether a desired pressure can be reached in the fuel accumulator, to be precise in the context of a reduction in the delivery performance of the prefeed pump as long as the value is representative for the fact that the desired pressure is reached in the fuel accumulator;

the variable of the injection system, the value or value profile of which variable is representative for whether a desired pressure can be reached in the fuel accumulator, being a determined time-dependent profile of the pressure in the fuel accumulator, and the value being representative in this period for the fact that predefined deviations are not exceeded by a setpoint value of the pressure.

2. The method for operating an injection system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , the injection system having a volumetric flow control valve which is arranged hydraulically between the prefeed pump and the high pressure pump and by way of which the fuel flow from the prefeed pump into the high pressure pump can be set,

the variable of the injection system, the value or value profile of which variable is representative for whether a desired pressure can be reached in the fuel accumulator, being a time-dependent profile of a value of an actuating variable of the volumetric flow control valve, which value is representative for the requirement of fuel for the high pressure pump, and the value being representative in this period for the fact that a predefined value range of the actuating variable of the volumetric flow control valve is not departed from.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the correction value is adapted with regard to its effect to the conveying behavior of the prefeed pump during an idling mode of the internal combustion engine.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the correction value is adapted with regard to its effect to the conveying behavior of the prefeed pump during a full load mode of the internal combustion engine.

5. A device for operating an injection system for an internal combustion engine having a prefeed pump for conveying fuel out of a fuel tank and having a high pressure pump which is arranged downstream of the prefeed pump for conveying the fuel into a fuel accumulator,

the device being configured to:

determine, as a function of a pilot control characteristic diagram, a prefeed value which is a function of at least one operating variable of the internal combustion engine,

initialize a correction value for the prefeed pump with a safety value which is predefined in such a way that deviations from a predefined conveying behavior of the prefeed pump which lie within a predefined tolerance range are compensated for in such a way that a sufficient delivery performance of the prefeed pump is ensured,

actuate the prefeed pump as a function of the prefeed value and the correction value, and

adapt the correction value with regard to its effect to the conveying behavior of the prefeed pump as a function of a variable of the injection system, the value or value profile of which variable is representative for whether a desired pressure can be achieved in the fuel accumulator, to be precise in the context of a reduction in the delivery performance of the prefeed pump as long as the value is representative for the fact that the desired pressure can be reached in the fuel accumulator;

wherein the variable of the injection system, the value or value profile of which variable is representative for whether a desired pressure can be reached in the fuel accumulator, is a determined time-dependent profile of the pressure in the fuel accumulator, and the value is representative in this period for the fact that predefined deviations are not exceeded by a setpoint value of the pressure.

6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the injection system comprises a volumetric flow control valve which is arranged hydraulically between the prefeed pump and the high pressure pump and by way of which the fuel flow from the prefeed pump into the high pressure pump can be set, and wherein

the variable of the injection system, the value or value profile of which variable is representative for whether a desired pressure can be reached in the fuel accumulator, is a time-dependent profile of a value of an actuating variable of the volumetric flow control valve, which value is representative for the requirement of fuel for the high pressure pump, and the value is representative in this period for the fact that a predefined value range of the actuating variable of the volumetric flow control valve is not departed from.

7. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the correction value is adapted with regard to its effect to the conveying behavior of the prefeed pump during an idling mode of the internal combustion engine.

8. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the correction value is adapted with regard to its effect to the conveying behavior of the prefeed pump during a full load mode of the internal combustion engine.

9. An injection system for an internal combustion engine comprising a prefeed pump for conveying fuel out of a fuel tank, a high pressure pump which is arranged downstream of the prefeed pump for conveying the fuel into a fuel accumulator, and a control device being operable

to determine, as a function of a pilot control characteristic diagram, a prefeed value which is a function of at least one operating variable of the internal combustion engine,

to initialize a correction value for the prefeed pump with a safety value which is predefined in such a way that deviations from a predefined conveying behavior of the prefeed pump which lie within a predefined tolerance range are compensated for in such a way that a sufficient delivery performance of the prefeed pump is ensured,

to actuate the prefeed pump as a function of the prefeed value and the correction value, and

adapt the correction value with regard to its effect to the conveying behavior of the prefeed pump as a function of a variable of the injection system, the value or value profile of which variable is representative for whether a desired pressure can be achieved in the fuel accumulator, to be precise in the context of a reduction in the delivery performance of the prefeed pump as long as the value is representative for the fact that the desired pressure can be reached in the fuel accumulator;

wherein the variable of the injection system, the value or value profile of which variable is representative for whether a desired pressure can be reached in the fuel accumulator, is a determined time-dependent profile of the pressure in the fuel accumulator, and the value is representative in this period for the fact that predefined deviations are not exceeded by a setpoint value of the pressure.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the injection system comprises a volumetric flow control valve which is arranged hydraulically between the prefeed pump and the high pressure pump and by way of which the fuel flow from the prefeed pump into the high pressure pump can be set, and wherein

the variable of the injection system, the value or value profile of which variable is representative for whether a desired pressure can be reached in the fuel accumulator, is a time-dependent profile of a value of an actuating variable of the volumetric flow control valve, which value is representative for the requirement of fuel for the high pressure pump, and the value is representative in this period for the fact that a predefined value range of the actuating variable of the volumetric flow control valve is not departed from.

11. The system according to claim 10 , further comprising a temperature sensor arranged between the prefeed pump and the volumetric flow control valve by way of which a fuel pressure p in the fuel accumulator can be determined.

12. The system according to claim 11 , further comprising a filter arranged upstream of the prefeed pump, wherein the temperature sensor is arranged in the filter or in its surroundings.

13. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the correction value is adapted with regard to its effect to the conveying behavior of the prefeed pump during an idling mode of the internal combustion engine.

14. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the correction value is adapted with regard to its effect to the conveying behavior of the prefeed pump during a full load mode of the internal combustion engine.

15. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the prefeed pump is a vane cell pump.

16. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the prefeed pump is arranged inside the fuel tank.

17. The system according to claim 9 , the high pressure pump is configured as a radial piston pump or as an in-line piston pump having a plurality of cylinder units.