A multi-mode engine system comprising a first mode in which the engine is fuelled substantially entirely by a first fuel, and a second mode in which the engine is fuelled substantially entirely by a second fuel, or by a mixture of the first and second fuels, the engine comprising: a first engine con
A multi-mode engine system comprising a first mode in which the engine is fuelled substantially entirely by a first fuel, and a second mode in which the engine is fuelled substantially entirely by a second fuel, or by a mixture of the first and second fuels, the engine comprising: a first engine control unit (ECU) for controlling the flow of the first fuel into the engine when the engine is operating in the first mode; and a second ECU operatively connected to the first ECU; wherein the first ECU comprises: a signal receiver for receiving the first input signals, and an output for emitting a first output signal; and the second ECU being adapted to modify the first output signal when the engine is running in the second mode to produce a first modified signal and a second calculated signal.
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1. A multi-mode engine system comprising an engine adapted to operate in a plurality of different modes including a first mode in which the engine is fuelled substantially entirely by a first fuel, and a second mode in which the engine is fuelled substantially entirely by a second fuel, or by a mixt
1. A multi-mode engine system comprising an engine adapted to operate in a plurality of different modes including a first mode in which the engine is fuelled substantially entirely by a first fuel, and a second mode in which the engine is fuelled substantially entirely by a second fuel, or by a mixture of the first and second fuels, the engine comprising: a first engine control unit (ECU) for controlling the flow of the first fuel into the engine when the engine is operating in the first mode;a plurality of first sensors operatively connected to the first ECU, each of which first sensors is adapted to sense a first variable, and to emit a first input signal dependent on a value of the sensed first variable; anda second ECU operatively connected to the first ECU;wherein the first ECU comprises:a signal receiver for receiving the first input signals, and an output for emitting a first output signal dependent on the first input signals, which first output signal determines the amount of first fuel supplied to the engine,the second ECU being adapted to modify the first output signal when the engine is running in the second mode to produce a first modified signal and a second calculated signal; the first modified signal determining the amount of first fuel supplied to the engine when the engine is operating in the second mode, and the second calculated signal determining the amount of second fuel supplied to the engine when the engine is operating in the second mode, wherein the second ECU is operatively connected to the first ECU in both the first mode and the second mode. 2. A multi-mode engine system according to claim 1 wherein the first engine control unit is a master unit and the second ECU is a slave unit controlled by the first ECU. 3. A multi-mode engine system according to claim 1 wherein the first ECU control is adapted to control the timing of flow of first fuel into the engine when the engine is operating in the first mode, and the second ECU is adapted to control the timing of flow of both the first fuel and the second fuel into the engine when the engine is operating in the second mode. 4. A multi-mode engine according to claim 1 wherein the first fuel comprises diesel, the second fuel comprises natural gas (methane), and the first ECU comprises a diesel ECU. 5. A multi-mode engine system according to claim 4 wherein the engine comprises a plurality of first injectors for injecting the first fuel into the engine and a plurality of second injectors for injecting the second fuel into the engine, the output of the first ECU being adapted to emit a plurality of first output signals, each of which output signals is adapted to control a different one of the first injectors, the second ECU being adapted to modify each of the plurality of first output signals to produce a plurality of first modified signals and a plurality of second calculated signals when the engine is operating in the second mode, each of the plurality of first modified signals being adapted to control a different one of the first injectors when the engine is operating in the second mode. 6. A multi-mode engine system according to claim 1 further comprising: a calculator for calculating the calorific content of a first amount of first fuel that would be supplied to the engine if the engine were running in the first mode, and for calculating the calorific content of a second amount of first fuel supplied to the engine when the engine is running in the second mode, a comparator for comparing the difference between the calorific content of the first amount of first fuel and the calorific content of the second amount of first fuel, the calculator being further adapted to calculate a required amount of second fuel to be supplied to the engine when the engine is running in the second mode in order to ensure that the overall calorific content of the second amount of first fuel and the amount of second fuel is substantially the same as the calorific content of the first amount of first fuel. 7. A multi-mode engine system according to claim 6 wherein the engine system comprises a plurality of first injectors and a plurality of second injectors, the calculator being adapted to calculate the calorific content of a first amount of first fuel that would be injected into the engine by a first injector if the engine were running in the first mode, and the calorific content of a second amount of first fuel to be injected into the engine when the engine is running in the second mode and to calculate a required amount of second fuel to be injected into the engine when the engine is running in the second mode. 8. A multi-mode engine system according to claim 7 wherein the second ECU comprises a signal returner for returning the first output signals to the first ECU in an unmodified form when the engine is running in either the first mode or the second mode. 9. A multi-mode engine system according to claim 7 further comprising a plurality of second sensors operatively connected to the second ECU. 10. A multi-mode engine system according to claim 7 further comprising a λ sensor adapted to measure the amount of oxygen present in exhaust gases emitted from the engine, the λ sensor being operatively connected to the second ECU in a closed loop. 11. A multi-mode engine system according to claim 1 further comprising a first trigger for triggering the engine system to switch from the first mode to the second mode. 12. A multi-mode engine system according to claim 11 further comprising a second trigger for triggering the engine system to switch from the second mode to the first mode. 13. A method for operating an engine in either a first mode in which the engine is fuelled by a first fuel, or in a second mode in which the engine is fuelled by a second fuel, or by a mixture of the first fuel and the second fuel, the method comprising the steps of: programming the engine to operate initially in the first mode;repeatedly sensing a plurality of first variables and obtaining a measured value for each sensed first variable, and emitting a first input signal dependent on the measured value of each sensed first variable;causing a first output signal to be emitted in dependence on the first input signals for controlling the amount of the first fuel supplied to the engine,switching the mode of operation to the second mode;modifying the first output signal to produce a first modified signal and a second calculated signal, the first modified signal determining the amount of first fuel supplied to the engine and the second calculated signal determining the amount of second fuel supplied the engine when the engine is running in the second mode, wherein the engine comprises a first ECU and a second ECU, the second ECU being operatively connected to the first ECU in both the first and the second mode. 14. A method according to claim 13 comprising the additional steps of controlling the timing of flow of the first fuel into the engine when the engine is the first mode, in dependence on the first input signals, and controlling the timing of flow of both the first fuel and the second fuel into the engine when the engine is running in the second mode in dependence on the first modified signal and the second calculated signal, respectively. 15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the first fuel comprises diesel, the second fuel comprising natural gas (methane), and the first ECU comprises a diesel ECU. 16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the engine comprises a plurality of first injectors for injecting the first fuel into the engine and a plurality of second injectors for injecting the second fuel into the engine, and the step of causing a first output signal to be emitted in dependence of the first input signals comprises the step of causing a plurality of first output signals to be emitted in dependence on the first input signals, the method comprising the further step of controlling each of the first injectors in dependence on a first output signal, and the step of modifying the first output signal to produce a first modified signal and a second calculated signal comprises the step of modifying the first output signals to produce a plurality of first modified signals and a plurality of second calculated signals, each of which first modified signals controls one of the first injectors, and each of which second calculated signals controls one of the second injectors, when the engine is operating in the second mode. 17. A method according to claim 13 comprising the further step of calculating the calorific content of a first amount of first fuel that would be supplied to the engine if the engine were running in the first mode, calculating the calorific content of a second amount of first fuel supplied to the engine when the engine is running in the second mode;comparing the calorific content of the first amount of first fuel and the calorific content of the second amount of first fuel to calculate an energy deficit;calculating a required amount of second fuel to be supplied to the engine when the engine is running a second mode in order to compensate for the energy deficit. 18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the engine system comprises a first engine control unit (ECU), and a second ECU comprising a slave unit operatively connected to the first ECU, the first output signal or signals being emitted by the first ECU, and the method comprises the further step of returning a signal to the first ECU in an unmodified form corresponding to each of the first input signals. 19. A method according to claim 17 comprising the further step of measuring the oxygen content in exhaust gases exhausted from the engine, and further modifying either the first modified signals or the second calculated signals or both the first modified signals and the second calculated signals depending on the measured oxygen content. 20. A method according to claim 14 comprising the further step of repeatedly sensing a plurality of second variables and obtaining a measured value for each sensed second variable, and emitting a second input signal dependent on the measured value of each sensed second variable.
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