Method and Device for Controlling an Internal Combustion Engine

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, a final control element for setting an air mass into one of the cylinders of the engine and an injection valve for metering in fuel connected to a fuel supply facility, comprising:

• determining a maximum fuel mass to be metered into one of the plurality of cylinders per working cycle;
• determining a maximum torque producible as a function of the maximum fuel mass to be metered in;
• determining an air mass flow to be set as a function of an air/fuel ratio to be set and the maximum fuel mass to be metered in;
• activating a final control element for setting the determined air mass flow;
• and
• activating the injection valve when a required torque is greater than or equal to the maximum producible torque.

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, a final control element for setting an air mass into one of the cylinders of the engine and an injection valve for metering in fuel connected to a fuel supply facility, comprising:

• determining a maximum fuel mass to be metered into one of the plurality of cylinders per working cycle;
• determining a maximum torque producible as a function of the maximum fuel mass to be metered in;
• determining an air mass flow to be set as a function of an air/fuel ratio to be set and the maximum fuel mass to be metered in;
• activating a final control element for setting the determined air mass flow;
• and
• activating the injection valve when a required torque is greater than or equal to the maximum producible torque,
• wherein the maximum fuel mass to be metered in is determined as a function of a time period required for a working cycle of the engine divided by the number of cylinders of the engine and a fuel pressure supplied to the injection valve, where the fuel pressure is determined in a unit for determining the pressure of the fuel,
• wherein the maximum fuel mass to be metered in is reduced as a function of a fuel pressure gradient,
• wherein the final control element is activated to set the air mass to minimize a residual gas level in one of the plurality of cylinders, when the required torque is greater than or equal to the maximum producible torque, and
• wherein the method is started when the fuel pressure is less than a predetermined threshold value either absolutely or relatively to the fuel pressure to be set.

A device for controlling an internal combustion engine having a final control element for setting an air mass into a cylinder of the engine, an injection valve for metering in fuel to the cylinder, and the injection valve connected to a fuel supply facility that supplies fuel to the injection valve, comprising:

• a maximum fuel mass determining device that a maximum fuel mass to be metered into the cylinder per working cycle;
• a maximum torque determining device that determines a maximum torque producible as a function of the maximum fuel mass to be metered in;
• an air mass flow determining device that determines an air mass flow to be set as a function of an air/fuel ratio to be set and the maximum fuel mass to be metered in, wherein the control device:
• activates the final control element for setting the determined air mass flow, and
• activates the injection valve when a required torque is greater than or equal to the maximum producible torque.