Internal combustion engine

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a control device;
• and
• at least on injector for liquid fuel comprising a discharge opening for the liquid fuel;
• wherein the at least one injector is connected to a collection volume via a line for liquid fuel through which the liquid fuel can flow from the at least one injector to the collection volume;
• wherein a control element adjustable by the control device via a control signal, adjusts a back pressure in the line for liquid fuel to adjust an amount of liquid fuel discharged via the discharge opening of the at least one injector;
• wherein the control device controls or regulates the at least one injector using an actuator control signal, wherein a sensor is operable to measure a measurement variable of the at least one injector, wherein the sensor has a signal connection to the control device, and an algorithm is stored in the control device, which:
• receives as input variables at least the control signal for the control element, the actuator control signal, and/or measurement values corresponding to the measurement variable measured by the sensor;
• and
• using an injector model, calculates the amount of liquid fuel discharged via the discharge opening of the at least one injector, compares the amount of liquid fuel calculated via the injector model with a desired target value of the amount of liquid fuel, and causes the control device to adjust the back pressure in accordance with the result of the comparison;
• and
• wherein the injector model comprises at least:
• pressure progressions in volumes of the at least one injector at least partially filled with the liquid fuel;
• mass flow rates between the collection volume and at least one additional volume of the at least one injector at least partially filled with the liquid fuel;
• a position of a needle of the at least one injector relative to a needle seat corresponding to the needle;
• and
• solenoid valve dynamics of an actuator of the needle.

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a control device;
• and
• at least on injector for liquid fuel comprising a discharge opening for the liquid fuel;
• wherein the at least one injector is connected to a collection volume via a line for liquid fuel through which the liquid fuel can flow from the at least one injector to the collection volume;
• wherein a control element adjustable by the control device via a control signal, adjusts a back pressure in the line for liquid fuel to adjust an amount of liquid fuel discharged via the discharge opening of the at least one injector;
• wherein the control device controls or regulates the at least one injector using an actuator control signal, wherein a sensor is operable to measure a measurement variable of the at least one injector, wherein the sensor has a signal connection to the control device, and an algorithm is stored in the control device, which:
• receives as input variables at least the control signal for the control element, the actuator control signal, and/or measurement values corresponding to the measurement variable measured by the sensor;
• and
• using an injector model, calculates the amount of liquid fuel discharged via the discharge opening of the at least one injector, compares the amount of liquid fuel calculated via the injector model with a desired target value of the amount of liquid fuel, and causes the control device to adjust the back pressure in accordance with the result of the comparison;
• and
• wherein the control device is designed to execute the algorithm during each combustion cycle or selected combustion cycles of the internal combustion engine, and in case of deviations, to correct the actuator control signal and/or a pilot control signal during this combustion cycle.