Multi-Mode Advanced Combustion Engine with Supervisory Control

• US 20160186681A1
• Filed: 12/30/2015
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Robert Bosch LLC (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Robert Bosch LLC (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Oudart, Joel, Jade, Shyam, Ravi, Nikhil, Schwanke, Jason, Jiang, Li
• Granted Patent: US 10,550,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1012 Engine speed gradient
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/022 in relation with the clutch status
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0225 in relation with the gear ratio or shift lever position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/064 at cold start F02D41/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3035 a mode being the premixed charge compression-ignition mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3041 with means for triggering compression ignition, e.g. spark plug
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3064 with special control during transition between modes
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3076 with special conditions for selecting a mode of combustion, e.g. for starting, for diagnosing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

An engine system uses data associated with at least one operating condition of an engine to set the engine system to an AI mode when the engine is in an SI mode 1) within first operating condition limits, and 2) when a rate of change of a first operating condition is within rate of change limits, maintain the engine system in the SI mode when the engine is outside of first operating condition limits or when the rate of change of the first operating condition is not within rate of change limits, set the engine system to the SI mode when the engine is in the AI mode outside second operating condition limits, and maintain the engine system in the AI mode when the engine is within second operating condition limits, wherein the second operating condition limits are different from the first operating condition limits.

Claims

1. An engine system, comprising:

at least one sensor configured to generate data associated with at least one operating condition of an engine;

a cylinder of the engine including an inlet valve and an outlet valve;

a spark plug operably connected to the cylinder;

a memory including program instructions stored therein; and

a processor operably connected to the at least one sensor, the inlet valve, the outlet valve, the spark plug and the memory, the processor configured to execute the program instructions to

obtain the generated data,

based on the obtained data, set the engine system to an advanced ignition (AI) mode when the engine is operating in a spark ignition (SI) mode

     1) within first operating condition limits, and

     2) when a rate of change of a first operating condition is within first operating condition rate of change limits,

based on the obtained data, maintain the engine system in the SI mode when the engine is operating outside of first operating condition limits or when the rate of change of the first operating condition is not within the first operating condition rate of change limits,

based on the obtained data, set the engine system to the SI mode when the engine is operating in the AI mode outside second operating condition limits, and

based on the obtained data, maintain the engine system in the AI mode when the engine is operating within second operating condition limits, wherein the second operating condition limits are different from the first operating condition limits.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program instructions to maintain the engine system in the AI mode when the engine is operating within second operating condition limits regardless of the rate of change of the first operating condition.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the at least one operating condition of an engine includes engine power;

the first operating condition is engine power;

setting the engine system to the AI mode is based upon the engine power;

maintaining the engine system in the SI mode is based upon the engine power;

setting the engine system to the SI mode is based upon the engine power; and

maintaining the engine system in the AI mode is based upon the engine power.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the at least one operating condition of an engine includes engine speed;

setting the engine system to the AI mode is based upon the engine speed;

setting the engine system to the AI mode is further based upon determining that a rate of change of the engine speed is less than a rate of speed change limit;

maintaining the engine system in the SI mode is based upon the engine speed;

setting the engine system to the SI mode is based upon the engine speed; and

maintaining the engine system in the AI mode is based upon the engine speed.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the first operating condition limits include, for a first engine speed, a first lower engine power limit and a first upper engine power limit;

the second operating condition limits include, for the first engine speed, a second lower engine power limit and a second upper engine power limit;

the second lower engine power limit is less than the first lower engine power limit; and

the second upper engine power limit is greater than the first upper engine power limit.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the AI mode is a spark assisted compression ignition mode.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the AI mode is a homogenous charge compression ignition mode.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the at least one operating condition of the engine includes a clutch status of the engine system;

setting the engine system to the AI mode is based upon the clutch status;

maintaining the engine system in the SI mode is based upon the clutch status;

setting the engine system to the SI mode is based upon the clutch status; and

maintaining the engine system in the AI mode is based upon the clutch status.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the at least one operating condition of the engine includes a gear state of the engine system;

setting the engine system to the AI mode is based upon the gear state;

maintaining the engine system in the SI mode is based upon the gear state;

setting the engine system to the SI mode is based upon the gear state; and

maintaining the engine system in the AI mode is based upon the gear state.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the at least one operating condition of an engine includes mixture thermodynamic conditions;

the first operating condition is mixture thermodynamic conditions;

setting the engine system to the AI mode is based upon the mixture thermodynamic conditions;

maintaining the engine system in the SI mode is based upon the mixture thermodynamic conditions;

setting the engine system to the SI mode is based upon the mixture thermodynamic conditions; and

maintaining the engine system in the AI mode is based upon the mixture thermodynamic conditions.

11. A method of operating an engine system, comprising:

generating data associated with at least one operating condition of an engine with at least one sensor;

obtaining the generated data with a processor operably connected to the at least one sensor, an inlet valve of a cylinder of the engine, an outlet valve of the cylinder, a spark plug operably connected to the cylinder, and a memory including program instructions stored therein; and

executing the program instructions with the processor to

set the engine system to an advanced ignition (AI) mode based on the obtained data when the engine is operating in a spark ignition (SI) mode

     1) within first operating condition limits, and

     2) when a rate of change of a first operating condition is within first operating condition rate of change limits,

maintain the engine system in the SI mode based on the obtained data when the engine is operating outside of first operating condition limits or when the rate of change of the first operating condition is not within the first operating condition rate of change limits,

set the engine system to the SI mode based on the obtained data when the engine is operating in the AI mode outside second operating condition limits, and

maintain the engine system in the AI mode based on the obtained data when the engine is operating within second operating condition limits, wherein the second operating condition limits are different from the first operating condition limits.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program instructions to:

maintain the engine system in the AI mode when the engine is operating within second operating condition limits regardless of the rate of change of the first operating condition.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

generating data comprises generating data associated with engine power;

the first operating condition is engine power;

setting the engine system to the AI mode is based upon the engine power;

maintaining the engine system in the SI mode is based upon the engine power;

setting the engine system to the SI mode is based upon the engine power; and

maintaining the engine system in the AI mode is based upon the engine power.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

generating data comprises generating data associated with engine speed;

setting the engine system to the AI mode is based upon the engine speed;

setting the engine system to the AI mode is further based upon determining that a rate of change of the engine speed is less than a rate of speed change limit;

maintaining the engine system in the SI mode is based upon the engine speed;

setting the engine system to the SI mode is based upon the engine speed; and

maintaining the engine system in the AI mode is based upon the engine speed.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the first operating condition limits include, for a first engine speed, a first lower engine power limit and a first upper engine power limit;

the second operating condition limits include, for the first engine speed, a second lower engine power limit and a second upper engine power limit;

the second lower engine power limit is less than the first lower engine power limit; and

the second upper engine power limit is greater than the first upper engine power limit.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the AI mode is a spark assisted compression ignition mode.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the AI mode is a homogenous charge compression ignition mode.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein:

generating data comprises generating data associated with a clutch status of the engine system;

setting the engine system to the AI mode is based upon the clutch status;

maintaining the engine system in the SI mode is based upon the clutch status;

setting the engine system to the SI mode is based upon the clutch status; and

maintaining the engine system in the AI mode is based upon the clutch status.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

generating data comprises generating data associated with a gear state of the engine system;

setting the engine system to the AI mode is based upon the gear state;

maintaining the engine system in the SI mode is based upon the gear state;

setting the engine system to the SI mode is based upon the gear state; and

maintaining the engine system in the AI mode is based upon the gear state.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein:

generating data comprises generating data associated with mixture thermodynamic conditions;

the first operating condition is mixture thermodynamic conditions;

setting the engine system to the AI mode is based upon the mixture thermodynamic conditions;

maintaining the engine system in the SI mode is based upon the mixture thermodynamic conditions;

setting the engine system to the SI mode is based upon the mixture thermodynamic conditions; and

maintaining the engine system in the AI mode is based upon the mixture thermodynamic conditions.

11-1. A method of operating an engine system, comprising:

generating data associated with at least one operating condition of an engine with at least one sensor;

obtaining the generated data with a processor operably connected to the at least one sensor, an inlet valve of a cylinder of the engine, an outlet valve of the cylinder, a spark plug operably connected to the cylinder, and a memory including program instructions stored therein; and

executing the program instructions with the processor to

set the engine system to an advanced ignition (AI) mode based on the obtained data when the engine is operating in a spark ignition (SI) mode

     1) within first operating condition limits, and

     2) when a rate of change of a first operating condition is within first operating condition rate of change limits,

maintain the engine system in the SI mode based on the obtained data when the engine is operating outside of first operating condition limits or when the rate of change of the first operating condition is not within the first operating condition rate of change limits,

set the engine system to the SI mode based on the obtained data when the engine is operating in the AI mode outside second operating condition limits, and

maintain the engine system in the AI mode based on the obtained data when the engine is operating within second operating condition limits, wherein the second operating condition limits are different from the first operating condition limits.