Method for controlling fuel injection in a compression ignition engine

• US 20070246004A1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Matekunas, Frederic Anton, Battiston, Paul Anthony, Gangopadhyay, Anupam, Szymkowicz, Patrick G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,594,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/299
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/12 with compression ignition with fuel-air charge ignited by compression ignition of an additional fuel F02B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0211 the change of valve timing is caused by the change in valve lift, i.e. both valve lift and timing are functionally related
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/04 rendering engines inoperative or idling, e.g. caused by abnormal conditions dependent on lubricating conditions F01M1/22; dependent on cooling F01P5/14
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/023 by determining the cylinder pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/009 using means for generating position or synchronisation signals
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3035 a mode being the premixed charge compression-ignition mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/402 Multiple injections
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/403 with pilot injections
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/21 with EGR valves located at or near the connection to the intake system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/23 Layout, e.g. schematics
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 45/02 with each cyclic delivery being separated into two or more parts
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 45/04 with a small initial part , e.g. initial part for partial load and initial and main part for full load
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A method for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine operating lean of stoichiometry is described. The engine comprises a multi-cylinder direct-injection engine, the engine operative in repetitive cycles each cycle comprising intake, compression, expansion, and exhaust strokes. The method comprises adapting a plurality of fuel injectors to directly inject a first and a second mass of fuel into the cylinders during each cycle. Pressure sensing devices monitor in-cylinder pressure in the cylinders during ongoing operation. The first mass of fuel is injected into one of the cylinders. A cylinder pressure ratio is determined in the cylinder subsequent to injecting the first mass of fuel based upon the monitored pressure. The first mass of fuel injected is adjusted during a subsequent cycle based upon the cylinder pressure ratio.

Claims

1. Method for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine operating lean of stoichiometry, said engine comprising a multi-cylinder direct-injection engine, the engine operative in repetitive cycles each cycle comprising intake, compression, expansion, and exhaust strokes, the method comprising:

adapting a plurality of fuel injectors to directly inject a first and a second mass of fuel into each cylinder during each cycle;

adapting a plurality of pressure sensing devices to monitor in-cylinder pressure during ongoing operation;

injecting the first mass of fuel into one of the cylinders;

determining the in-cylinder pressure immediately subsequent to injecting the first mass of fuel; and

adjusting the first mass of fuel based upon the determined in-cylinder pressure.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the first mass of fuel injected into the cylinder based upon the in-cylinder pressure determined immediately subsequent to injecting the first mass of fuel into the cylinder.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein adjusting the first mass of fuel injected into the one cylinder comprises increasing the first mass of fuel when the in-cylinder pressure determined immediately subsequent to injecting the first mass of fuel is below a predetermined threshold.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising adjusting the first mass of fuel injected into the cylinder during a subsequent cycle.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein adjusting the first mass of fuel injected into the cylinder comprises decreasing the first mass of fuel when the determined in-cylinder pressure is greater a predetermined threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the in-cylinder pressure immediately subsequent to injecting the first mass of fuel comprises:

determining the in-cylinder pressure an elapsed period of time after injecting the first mass of fuel to accommodate an ignition delay of the first mass of fuel.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining the in-cylinder pressure prior to ignition of the second mass of fuel injected into the cylinder.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a pressure ratio for each cylinder based upon the in-cylinder pressure determined immediately subsequent to injecting the first mass of fuel, and,

adjusting the first mass of fuel injected into the cylinder based upon the cylinder pressure ratio for the cylinder.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the cylinder pressure ratio for each cylinder subsequent to injecting the first mass of fuel comprises determining a ratio between the monitored pressure and a motoring pressure at the engine position determined by a crankshaft position.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein adapting a plurality of pressure sensing devices to monitor in-cylinder pressure in the cylinders during ongoing operation comprises inserting pressure sensing devices onto glow plug bosses on a cylinder head.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising an engine and control module operative to execute the method.

12. Method for controlling acoustic noise in an internal combustion engine operating lean of stoichiometry, said engine comprising a multi-cylinder direct-injection engine, the engine operative in repetitive cycles each cycle comprising intake, compression, expansion, and exhaust strokes, the method comprising:

monitoring in-cylinder pressure and engine crank position;

adapting a plurality of fuel injectors to directly inject a first and a second mass of fuel into each of the cylinders during each cycle;

adapting a plurality of pressure sensing devices to monitor in-cylinder pressures during ongoing operation;

injecting the first mass of fuel into one of the cylinders;

monitoring the in-cylinder pressure subsequent to injecting the first mass of fuel; and

,

adjusting the first mass of fuel based upon the monitored in-cylinder pressure.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining a cylinder pressure ratio immediately subsequent to injecting the first mass of fuel based upon the monitored in-cylinder pressure.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

increasing the first mass of fuel injected into the cylinder during a subsequent cycle when the cylinder pressure ratio is less than a predetermined threshold.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising decreasing the first mass of fuel injected into the cylinder during a subsequent cycle when the cylinder pressure ratio is greater a predetermined threshold.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein monitoring the in-cylinder pressure subsequent to injecting the first mass of fuel comprises:

monitoring the cylinder pressure an elapsed period of time after the first injection based upon an ignition delay of the first mass of fuel.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising monitoring the in-cylinder pressure prior to ignition of the second mass of fuel injected into the cylinder.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein monitoring the in-cylinder pressure subsequent to injecting the first mass of fuel further comprises:

injecting the second mass of fuel into the one of the cylinders;

monitoring the cylinder pressure; and

,

determining a rate of change in the cylinder pressure ratio subsequent to injecting the second mass of fuel.

19. Method for operating a multi-cylinder direct-injection engine, the engine operative in repetitive cycles each cycle comprising intake, compression, expansion, and exhaust strokes and adapted to execute multiple fuel injection events each cycle, the method comprising:

operating the engine lean of stoichiometry;

adapting a plurality of fuel injectors to execute a pilot fuel injection event and a main fuel injection event to inject fuel into each cylinder during each cycle;

adapting a plurality of non-calibrated pressure sensing devices to monitor in-cylinder pressure in each of the cylinders during ongoing operation;

injecting the pilot fuel and the main fuel into one of the cylinders;

monitoring in-cylinder pressure immediately subsequent to injecting the main fuel;

determining a rate of change in the cylinder pressure subsequent to injecting the main fuel; and

adjusting the pilot fuel injected into the cylinder during a subsequent cycle based upon the rate of change in the cylinder pressure.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining cylinder pressure ratio based upon the monitored in-cylinder pressure; and

determining a rate of change in the cylinder pressure ratio subsequent to injecting the main fuel.