Method and device for controlling the exhaust gas recirculation rate for internal combustion engines during lean operation

An engine system, comprising:

• an internal combustion engine;
• and
• a device for setting an exhaust gas recirculation rate in an engine system having an internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas recirculation rate indicating a portion of the exhaust gas recirculated into one cylinder of the internal combustion engine with regard to the total gas quantity present in the cylinder, the device being configured to operate the internal combustion engine according to an input for the exhaust gas recirculation rate, an ignition of an air/fuel mixture being carried out in the cylinder at a certain ignition timing, to adjust the ignition timing in the cylinder of the internal combustion engine, and to correct the input for the exhaust gas recirculation rate as a function of a change in an operating behavior of the internal combustion engine due to the ignition timing adjustment, the input for the exhaust gas recirculation rate being increased, when:
• (i) acted on by a correction value, and
• (ii) a torque provided by the internal combustion engine is:
• a) increased in a case of an ignition timing retardation or b) reduced in a case of an ignition timing advance.

A computer-readable medium storing program code, the program code, when executed by a data processing unit, causing the data processing unit to perform the steps of:

• operating an internal combustion engine according to an input for an exhaust gas recirculation rate, an ignition of an air/fuel mixture being carried out in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine at a certain ignition timing;
• adjusting the ignition timing in the cylinder of the internal combustion engine;
• and
• correcting the input for the exhaust gas recirculation rate as a function of a change in an operating behavior of the internal combustion engine due to the ignition timing adjustment, wherein the input for the exhaust gas recirculation rate is increased, when:
• (i) acted on by a correction value, and
• (ii) a torque provided by the internal combustion engine is:
• a) increased in a case of an ignition timing retardation or b) reduced in a case of an ignition timing advance.