Intelligent control to stabilize auto-ignition combustion without rapid pressure increase
AssigneeNissan Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsAkihiko Kakuho, Hiroshi Miyakubo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention concerns a method and a system for operating an internal combustion engine capable of performing auto-ignition combustion as well as spark-ignition combustion. In auto-ignition combustion mode, inlet and outlet control devices are adjusted to retain a portion of exhaust gas for subjecting the retained exhaust gas to compression. In one preferred embodiment, a parameter indicative of engine-surrounding environment is monitored. Closing timing of the outlet control device is adjusted in response to the monitored parameter, thereby to vary an exhaust gas retaining duration when there is a change in the monitored parameter.
Claims46
A method of operating an internal combustion engine having an inlet control device for controlling flow of intake air into at least one cylinder, a fuel injection device for supplying fuel into the cylinder and an outlet control device for controlling flow of exhaust gas resulting from combustion within the cylinder, which inlet and outlet control devices are adjusted to retain a portion of the exhaust gas for subjecting the retained exhaust gas to compression, the method comprising:
- monitoring a parameter indicative of engine-surrounding environment;
- and
- adjusting closing timing of the outlet control device in response to the monitored engine-surrounding environment indicative parameter, thereby to vary an exhaust gas retaining duration from the closing timing event of the outlet control device to opening timing event of the inlet control device when there is a change in the monitored engine-surrounding environment indicative parameter.
A method of operating an internal combustion engine having an inlet control device for controlling flow of intake air into at least one cylinder, a fuel injection device for supplying fuel into the cylinder and an outlet control device for controlling flow of exhaust gas from the cylinder, which inlet and outlet control devices are adjusted to retain a portion of the exhaust gas for subjecting the retained exhaust gas to compression, the method comprising:
- monitoring an engine operating temperature;
- and
- adjusting closing timing of the outlet control device in response to the monitored engine operating temperature, thereby to vary an exhaust gas retaining duration from the closing timing event of the outlet control device to opening timing event of the inlet control device when there is a change in the monitored engine operating temperature.
A method of operating an internal combustion engine having an inlet control device for controlling flow of intake air into at least one cylinder, a fuel injection device for supplying fuel into the cylinder, and an outlet control device for controlling flow of exhaust gas resulting from combustion within the cylinder, which inlet and outlet control devices are adjusted to retain a portion of the exhaust gas for subjecting the retained exhaust gas to compression, the method comprising:
- establishing a predetermined window about a desired level of combustion stability within the engine;
- monitoring an actual level of combustion stability within the engine;
- comparing the monitored actual level of combustion stability with the predetermined window;
- and
- adjusting closing timing of the inlet control device in response to the result of the comparing step such that, when the monitored actual level of combustion stability falls outside of the predetermined window, the closing timing of the inlet control device is moved in such a direction as to bring the monitored actual level of combustion stability into the predetermined window.
A method of operating an internal combustion engine having an inlet control device for controlling flow of intake air into at least one cylinder, a fuel injection device for supplying fuel into the cylinder and an outlet control device for controlling flow of exhaust gas resulting from combustion within the cylinder, which inlet and outlet control devices are adjusted to retain a portion of the exhaust gas for subjecting the retained exhaust gas to compression, the method comprising:
- monitoring a parameter indicative of engine-surrounding environment;
- and
- adjusting closing timing of the inlet control device in response to the monitored engine-surrounding environment indicative parameter.
A system for operating an internal combustion engine having cylinders, comprising:
- an inlet control device for controlling flow of intake air into at least one of the cylinders;
- a fuel injection device for supplying fuel into the cylinder;
- an outlet control device for controlling flow of exhaust gas resulting from combustion within the cylinder;
- the inlet and outlet control devices being capable for retaining a portion of the exhaust gas for subjecting the retained exhaust gas to compression;
- a controller for controlling the inlet and outlet control devices;
- and
- a computer readable storage media having data stored therein representing instructions executable by the controller to control closing and opening timings of the inlet and outlet control devices to retain a portion of the exhaust gas for subjecting the retained exhaust gas to compression, the computer readable storage media including instructions for operating the controller to:
- monitor a parameter indicative of engine-surrounding environment;
- and
- adjust closing timing of the outlet control device in response to the monitored engine-surrounding environment indicative parameter, thereby to vary an exhaust gas retaining duration from the closing timing event of the outlet control device to opening timing event of the inlet control device when there is a change in the monitored engine-surrounding environment indicative parameter.
A system for operating an internal combustion engine having cylinders, comprising:
- an inlet control device for controlling flow of intake air into at least one of the cylinders;
- a fuel injection device for supplying fuel into the cylinder;
- an outlet control device for controlling flow of exhaust gas resulting from combustion within the cylinder;
- the inlet and outlet control devices being capable for retaining a portion of the exhaust gas for subjecting the retained exhaust gas to compression;
- a controller for controlling the inlet and outlet control devices;
- and
- a computer readable storage media having data stored therein representing instructions executable by the controller to control closing and opening timings of the inlet and outlet control devices to retain a portion of the exhaust gas for subjecting the retained exhaust gas to compression, the computer readable storage media including instructions for operating the controller to:
- monitor a parameter indicative of engine-surrounding environment;
- and
- adjust closing timing of the inlet control device in response to the monitored engine-surrounding environment indicative parameter.
A system for operating an internal combustion engine having cylinders, comprising:
- an inlet control device for controlling flow of intake air into at least one of the cylinders;
- a fuel injection device for supplying fuel into the cylinder;
- an outlet control device for controlling flow of exhaust gas resulting from combustion within the cylinder;
- the inlet and outlet control devices being capable for retaining a portion of the exhaust gas for subjecting the retained exhaust gas to compression;
- a controller for controlling the inlet and outlet control devices;
- and
- a computer readable storage media having data stored therein representing instructions executable by the controller to control closing and opening timings of the inlet and outlet control devices to retain a portion of the exhaust gas for subjecting the retained exhaust gas to compression, the computer readable storage media including instructions for operating the controller to:
- monitor an engine operating temperature;
- and
- adjust closing timing of the outlet control device in response to the monitored engine operating temperature, thereby to vary an exhaust gas retaining duration from the closing timing event of the outlet control device to opening timing event of the inlet control device when there is a change in the monitored engine operating temperature.
A system for operating an internal combustion engine having cylinders, comprising:
- an inlet control device for controlling flow of intake air into at least one of the cylinders;
- a fuel injection device for supplying fuel into the cylinder;
- an outlet control device for controlling flow of exhaust gas resulting from combustion within the cylinder;
- the inlet and outlet control devices being capable for retaining a portion of the exhaust gas for subjecting the retained exhaust gas to compression;
- a controller for controlling the inlet and outlet control devices;
- and
- a computer readable storage media having data stored therein representing instructions executable by the controller to control closing and opening timings of the inlet and outlet control devices to retain a portion of the exhaust gas for subjecting the retained exhaust gas to compression, the computer readable storage media including instructions for operating the controller to:
- establish a predetermined window about a desired level of combustion stability within the cylinder;
- monitor an actual level of combustion stability within the cylinder;
- compare the monitored actual level of combustion stability with the predetermined window;
- and
- adjust closing timing of the inlet control device in response to the result of the comparing step such that, when the monitored actual level of combustion stability falls outside of the predetermined window, the closing timing of the inlet control device is moved in such a direction as to bring the monitored actual level of combustion stability into the predetermined window.
A method of operating an internal combustion engine having an inlet control device for controlling flow of intake air into at least one cylinder, a fuel injection device for supplying fuel into the cylinder and an outlet control device for controlling flow of exhaust gas resulting from combustion within the cylinder, which inlet and outlet control devices are adjusted to retain a portion of the exhaust gas for subjecting the retained exhaust gas to compression, the method comprising:
- monitoring a parameter indicative of load request on the engine;
- monitoring a parameter indicative of the engine speed;
- determining a base value of an exhaust gas retaining duration from the closing timing event of the outlet control device to opening timing event of the inlet control device and a base value of closing timing of the inlet control device in response to the monitored load request and engine speed indicative parameters;
- monitoring a parameter indicative of engine-surrounding environment;
- correcting the determined base values in response to the monitored engine-surrounding environment indicative parameter to provide a corrected value of the exhaust gas retaining duration and a corrected value of the closing timing of the inlet control device;
- providing valve timing including closing timing of the outlet control device to accomplish the corrected value of the exhaust gas retaining duration;
- and
- regulating the outlet control device to close at the closing timing and the inlet control device to close at the corrected value of the closing timing of the inlet control device, thereby to provide variation in the exhaust gas retaining duration when there is a change in the monitored engine-surrounding environment indicative parameter.
A method of operating an internal combustion engine having an inlet control device for controlling flow of intake air into at least one cylinder, a fuel injection device for supplying fuel into the cylinder and an outlet control device for controlling flow of exhaust gas resulting from combustion within the cylinder, which inlet and outlet control devices are adjusted to retain a portion of the exhaust gas for subjecting the retained exhaust gas to compression, the method comprising:
- monitoring a parameter indicative of load request on the engine;
- monitoring a parameter indicative of the engine speed;
- determining a desired value of in-cylinder temperature around top dead center (TDC) during compression process, a desired value of in-cylinder pressure around the TDC during compression process, and a desired value of mass of air within the cylinder around the TDC during compression process in response to the monitored load request and engine speed indicative parameters;
- determining an estimated value of in-cylinder temperature around top dead center (TDC) during compression process, an estimated value of in-cylinder pressure around the TDC during compression process, and an estimated value of mass of air within the cylinder around the TDC during compression process;
- calculating errors between the estimated and the desired values, respectively;
- determining a base value of an exhaust gas retaining duration from closing timing event of the outlet control device to opening timing event of the inlet control device and a base value of closing timing of the inlet control device in response to the calculated errors, such that the desired values are accomplished;
- monitoring an actual level of combustion stability;
- correcting the determined base values in response to the monitored actual level of combustion stability to provide a corrected value of the exhaust gas retaining duration and a corrected value of the closing timing of the inlet control device;
- providing valve timing including closing timing of the outlet control device to accomplish the corrected value of the exhaust gas retaining duration;
- and
- regulating the outlet control device to close at the closing timing and the inlet control device to close at the corrected value of the closing timing of the inlet control device, thereby to provide variation in the exhaust gas retaining duration when there is a change in the monitored engine-surrounding environment indicative parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.