METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE OPERATING IN HCCI COMBUSTION MODE

• US 20110288742A1
• Filed: 05/02/2011
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Yun, Hanho, Najt, Paul M., Wermuth, Nicole, Guralp, Orgun A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,008,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/102
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/141 using a feed-forward control element
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/021 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0414 Air temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0418 Air humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0606 Fuel temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/703 Atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/02 on interior conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/023 by determining the cylinder pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/028 by determining the combustion timing or phasing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/005 according to engine operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1401 characterised by the control or regulation method F02D41/1473, F02D41/1477 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3035 a mode being the premixed charge compression-ignition mode
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

An internal combustion engine is configured to operate in a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition combustion mode. Operating the internal combustion engine includes determining an integrated thermal state parameter from an aggregation of engine environment factors. A feed-forward engine control scheme is executed to determine states for engine control parameters. The states for the engine control parameters correspond to a preferred combustion phasing responsive to an operator torque request and the integrated thermal state parameter. Operation of the internal combustion engine is controlled to achieve the preferred combustion phasing using the states for the engine control parameters.

Claims

1. A method for operating an internal combustion engine in a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition combustion mode, the method comprising:

determining an integrated thermal state parameter comprising an aggregation of engine environment factors;

executing a feed-forward engine control scheme to determine states for engine control parameters, the states for the engine control parameters corresponding to a preferred combustion phasing responsive to an operator torque request and the single integrated thermal state parameter; and

controlling operation of the internal combustion engine to achieve the preferred combustion phasing using the states for the engine control parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the integrated thermal state parameter comprising the aggregation of engine environment factors comprises determining an integrated thermal state parameter comprising an aggregation of engine environment factors affecting a combustion parameter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the integrated thermal state parameter comprising the aggregation of engine environment factors affecting the combustion parameter comprises determining an integrated thermal state parameter comprising an aggregation of engine environment factors affecting combustion heat release.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the integrated thermal state parameter comprising the aggregation of engine environment factors affecting the combustion heat release comprises determining an integrated thermal state parameter comprising an aggregation of engine environment factors affecting the combustion heat release indicated by a 50% mass-burn fraction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the feed-forward engine control scheme to determine states for engine control parameters, the states for the engine control parameters corresponding to the preferred combustion phasing responsive to the operator torque request and the single integrated thermal state parameter comprises executing the feed-forward engine control scheme to determine states for engine control parameters including one of fuel injection mass and timing, EGR flowrate, variable cam phasing, and magnitude of a variable cam lift.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a present combustion phasing correlated to a state of a combustion parameter; and

executing a feedback control scheme to adjust the states for the engine control parameters in response to the present combustion phasing and the preferred combustion phasing.

7. A method for operating an internal combustion engine, comprising:

determining an integrated thermal state parameter comprising an aggregation of engine environment factors; and

controlling operation of the internal combustion engine in a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition combustion mode to achieve a preferred combustion phasing responsive to an operator torque request and the integrated thermal state parameter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein controlling operation of the internal combustion engine in the homogeneous-charge compression-ignition combustion mode to achieve the preferred combustion phasing responsive to the operator torque request and the integrated thermal state parameter comprises executing a feed-forward engine control scheme to determine states for engine control parameters associated with the preferred combustion phasing responsive to the operator torque request and the integrated thermal state parameter.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a present combustion phasing correlated to a combustion parameter; and

executing a feedback control scheme to adjust the states for the engine control parameters in response to the present combustion phasing and the preferred combustion phasing.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the integrated thermal state parameter comprising the aggregation of engine environment factors comprises determining an integrated thermal state parameter comprising an aggregation of engine environment factors affecting a combustion parameter.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the integrated thermal state parameter comprising the aggregation of engine environment factors affecting the combustion parameter comprises determining an integrated thermal state parameter comprising an aggregation of engine environment factors affecting combustion heat release.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the integrated thermal state parameter comprising the aggregation of engine environment factors affecting the combustion heat release comprises determining an integrated thermal state parameter comprising an aggregation of engine environment factors affecting the combustion heat release indicated by a 50% mass-burn fraction.

13. A method for operating an internal combustion engine in a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition combustion mode, comprising:

determining an integrated thermal state parameter comprising an aggregation of engine environment factors affecting a combustion heat release; and

controlling operation of the internal combustion engine to achieve a preferred combustion phasing responsive to the integrated thermal state parameter.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the integrated thermal state parameter comprising the aggregation of engine environment factors affecting the combustion heat release comprises determining an integrated thermal state parameter comprising an aggregation of engine environment factors affecting the combustion heat release indicated by a 50% mass-burn fraction.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the integrated thermal state parameter comprising the aggregation of engine environment factors affecting the combustion heat release comprising determining an integrated thermal state parameter comprising an aggregation of engine environment factors comprising engine load, intake air temperature, ambient humidity, altitude, fuel quality, and combustion chamber deposits.