“Sensory Disconnection and its Influence on the Power of the Cat C7 Internal Combustion Engine

Abstract

Today’s heavy machinery has sensors which optimize tasks related to engine efficiency. Sensors are used to transmit a certain value to the control unit. In this way, the fuel supply is regulated so that the engine always operates optimally. If one of the sensors has a failure, it does not emit any value or incorrect values, the control unit misinterprets this data, affecting the engine power. The objective of this research is to determine to what extent sensory disconnection influences the power of the Cat C7 internal combustion engine. In this research project the descriptive method was used. In the tests, the Cat C7 engine was used which worked in stall conditions in the 950H Front Loader of the Tecsup Private Institute No. 1 Trujillo subsidiary. The Electronic Technician Caterpillar diagnostic software was also used whose Data Log Recorder tool allowed us to collect information about each test that was organized and processed to obtain the conclusions of this research. The first test, called «design operation», was carried out with the connection of all the sensors; the other 10 tests, called «sensory disconnection», were carried out by disconnecting a different sensor per test. The results show that the atmospheric pressure sensor reduces the engine power by 10 %, the injector injection pressure sensor reduces the engine power by 100 %, the intake air temperature sensor reduces the engine power by 2 % and the rest of the sensors do not reduce the engine power. In conclusion, the sensor that affects the reduction of engine power the most is the injector injection pressure sensor and it is important to highlight that having it in stock will allow us to reduce production downtime.