Model-Based Combustion Duration and Ignition Timing Prediction for Combustion Phasing Control of a Spark-Ignition Engine Using In-Cylinder Pressure Sensors

Combustion phasing, which can be defined as the crank angle of fifty percent mass fraction burned (CA50), is one of the most important parameters affecting engine efficiency, torque output, and emissions. In homogeneous spark-ignition (SI) engines, ignition timing control algorithms are typically map-based with several multipliers, which requires significant calibration efforts. This work presents a framework of model-based ignition timing prediction using a computationally efficient control-oriented combustion model for the purpose of real-time combustion phasing control. Burn duration from ignition timing to CA50 (ΔθIGN-CA50) on an individual cylinder cycle-by-cycle basis is predicted by the combustion model developed in this work. The model is based on the physics of turbulent flame propagation in SI engines and contains the most important control parameters, including ignition timing, variable valve timing, air-fuel ratio, and engine load mostly affected by combination of the throttle opening position and the previous three parameters. With 64 test points used for model calibration, the developed combustion model is shown to cover wide engine operating conditions, thereby significantly reducing the calibration effort. A Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 1.7 Crank Angle Degrees (CAD) and correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.95 illustrates the accuracy of the calibrated model. On-road vehicle testing data is used to evaluate the performance of the developed model-based burn duration and ignition timing algorithm. When comparing the model predicted burn duration and ignition timing with experimental data, 83% of the prediction error falls within ±3 CAD.

Combustion phasing modeling and control for compression ignition engines with high dilution and boost levels

Because fuel efficiency is significantly affected by the timing of combustion in internal combustion engines, accurate control of combustion phasing is critical. In this paper, a nonlinear combustion phasing model is introduced and calibrated, and both a feedforward model–based control strategy and an adaptive model–based control strategy are investigated for combustion phasing control. The combustion phasing model combines a knock integral model, burn duration model, and a Wiebe function to predict the combustion phasing of a diesel engine. This model is simplified to be more suitable for combustion phasing control and is calibrated and validated using simulations and experimental data that include conditions with high exhaust gas recirculation fractions and high boost levels. Based on this model, an adaptive nonlinear model–based controller is designed for closed-loop control, and a feedforward model–based controller is designed for open-loop control. These two control approaches were tested in simulations. The simulation results show that during transient changes, the CA50 (the crank angle at which 50% of the mass of fuel has burned) can reach steady state in no more than five cycles and the steady-state errors are less than ±0.1 crank angle degree for adaptive control and less than ±0.5 crank angle degree for feedforward model–based control.

Effect of hydrogen peroxide addition to methane fueled homogeneous charge compression ignition engines through numerical simulations

The effect of the direct injection of hydrogen peroxide into a port-injected methane fueled homogeneous charge compression ignition engine was investigated numerically. The injection of aqueous hydrogen peroxide was implemented as a means of combustion phasing control. A single cylinder homogeneous charge compression ignition engine (2.43 L Caterpillar) was modeled using the Cantera 2.0 flame code toolkit, the GRI-Mech 3.0 chemical reaction mechanism, and a single-zone slider-crank engine model. Start of injection timing and the amount of injected hydrogen peroxide were manipulated to achieve desired combustion phasing under a wide range of intake temperatures. As the concentration of hydrogen peroxide is increased, the combustion phasing is advanced up to 22 degrees for the conditions investigated in this study. This advancing effect is most pronounced at small concentrations (< 10 g H2O2 / kg CH4) and early injection timings (SOI < 25 degrees BTDC). The model suggests hydrogen peroxide can be introduced as a means of combustion phasing control while maintaining the low emissions and peak in-cylinder pressures inherent in homogeneous charge compression ignition engines.