Method for controlling an internal combustion engine

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine (1) a turbocharger (12) provided with a turbine (13) and with a compressor (14) and further comprising an intake manifold (4) and a number (W) of cylinders (3), connected to the intake manifold (4) and where the air mass trapped in each cylinder (3) for each engine cycle is adjusted by a respective throttle intake valve, the control method comprising steps of:

• determining the total target torque (Ci—objt) required to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine (1);
• determining a target number (Waobj) of active cylinders (3) to be controlled, in use, for injection and combustion, wherein the target number (Ws) of active cylinders (3) is any number from 0 to the number (W) of cylinders 3;
• determining a number (Ws) of inactive cylinders (3) which are in use controlled to intake the most air as possible according to the target number (Waobj) of active cylinders (3) to be controlled for injection and combustion;
• determining a target pressure (Pobj) of the intake manifold that is such as to guarantee the total target torque (Ci_objt) required to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine (1);
• and
• controlling the throttle valve to adjust the target intake manifold pressure (Pobj) so as to guarantee the target torque (Ci_objt) required to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine (1) by the target number (Waobj) of active cylinders (3) to be controlled, in use, for injection and combustion;
• the step of determining the target number of cylinders (3) to be controlled in use for injection and combustion, wherein the target number (Waobj) of active cylinders (3) is any number comprised between 0 and the number (W) of cylinders (2) comprises sub-steps of:
• determining a temporary number (Watemp) of active cylinders (3) to be controlled in use for injection and combustion as a function of the engine point;
• determining the spark advance efficiency which should be actuated by the temporary number (Watemp) of active cylinders (3) in order to guarantee the total target torque (Ci_objt) required to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine (1);
• and
• determining, as a function of the spark advance, the target number (Waobj) of active cylinders (3) which should be actuated by the temporary number (Watemp) of active cylinders (3) to guarantee the total target torque (Ci_objt) required to be delivered for the operation of the internal combustion engine (1).