Method of estimating duration of auto-ignition phase in a spark-assisted compression ignition operation

• US 9,528,426 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Doran, Eric M., Cook, David J., Oudart, Joel, Ravi, Nikhil
• Primary Examiner(s): Low, Lindsay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hasan, Syed O
• Application Number:
  US14/272,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20140331959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 123/27.R, 123/305, 123/406.55, 123/406.41, 123/90.18
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 11/00 Engines characterised by both fuel-air mixture compression and air compression, or characterised by both positive ignition and compression ignition, e.g. in different cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0219 by shifting the phase, i.e. the opening periods of the valves are constant
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/0015 for engines with means for controlling swirl or tumble flow, e.g. by using swirl valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1412 using a predictive controller
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/025 by determining temperatures inside the cylinder, e.g. combustion temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/026 using an estimation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/028 by determining the combustion timing or phasing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3041 with means for triggering compression ignition, e.g. spark plug
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A combustion engine system in one embodiment includes a combustion engine, at least one controllable component operably connected to the combustion engine, at least one sensor configured to sense a parameter associated with the combustion engine, and an electronic control unit (ECU) operably connected to the at least one controllable component and the at least one sensor, wherein the ECU is configured to determine a temperature of an unburned mixture based upon the sensed parameter, and control the at least one controllable component based upon the determined temperature.

Claims

1. A combustion engine system, comprising:

a combustion engine;

at least one controllable component operably connected to the combustion engine;

at least one sensor configured to sense a parameter associated with the combustion engine; and

an electronic control unit (ECU) operably connected to the at least one controllable component and the at least one sensor, wherein the ECU is configured to

determine a temperature of an unburned mixture based upon the sensed Parameter, and

control the at least one controllable component based upon the determined temperature, wherein the ECU is configured to control the at least one controllable component based upon the following equation;

ln(Δ

θ

_AI)=α

(T_u|θ

_AI)+β

,

wherein “

Δ

θ

_AI”

is the auto-ignition combustion duration in time or crank angle,

“

T_u”

is the determined temperature of the unburned mixture that will ultimately undergo auto-ignition,

“

θ

_AI”

is the time or engine position at combustion initiation, and

“

α

” and

“

β

”

are parameters associated with an operating condition of the engine system.

2. The combustion engine system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one controllable component comprises a spark plug; and

the ECU is configured to control the spark plug based upon the determined temperature.

3. The combustion engine system of claim 2, wherein:

the at least one controllable component comprises a camshaft phaser; and

the ECU is configured to control the camshaft phaser based upon the determined temperature.

4. The combustion engine system of claim 3, wherein:

the at least one controllable component comprises a fuel pump; and

the ECU is configured to control the fuel pump based upon the determined temperature.

5. The combustion engine system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises one or more sensors of a group of sensors, the group of sensors including an accelerator pedal module, an ambient pressure sensor, an intake manifold sensor, a knock sensor, a speed sensor, an exhaust temperature sensor, an oxygen sensor, a boost pressure sensor, a fuel pressure sensor, a cylinder pressure sensor, and an air mass meter.

6. The combustion engine system of claim 5, wherein the at least one sensor comprises each of the sensors in the group of sensors.

7. The combustion engine system of claim 5, wherein the at least one controllable component includes one or more controllable components of a group of controllable components, the group of controllable components including a canister purge valve, a waste gate actuator, a cam phaser, a spark plug, a fuel pump, a turbo charger, a super charger, a dump valve, a vacuum pump, and an air supply control valve.

8. The combustion engine system of claim 7, wherein the at least one controllable component comprises each of the group of controllable components.

9. A method of controlling a combustion engine system, comprising:

generating temperature data corresponding to a temperature of an unburned mixture within a combustion engine with an electronic control unit (ECU); and

controlling at least one controllable component with the ECU based upon the generated temperature data, wherein controlling at least one controllable component comprises;

controlling the at least one controllable component based upon the following equation;

ln(Δ

θ

_AI)=α

(T_u|θ

_AI)+β

,

wherein “

Δ

θ

_AI”

is the auto-ignition combustion duration in time or crank angle,

“

T_u”

is the generated temperature of the unburned mixture that will ultimately undergo auto-ignition,

“

θ

_AI”

is the time or engine position at combustion initiation, and

“

α

” and

“

β

”

are parameters associated with an operating condition of the engine system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling at least one controllable component comprises:

controlling a spark plug based upon the obtained temperature data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein controlling at least one controllable component comprises:

controlling a camshaft phaser based upon the obtained temperature data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein controlling at least one controllable component comprises:

controlling a fuel pump based upon the obtained temperature data.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein generating temperature data comprises:

generating temperature data based upon data obtained from one or more sensors of a group of sensors, the group of sensors including an accelerator pedal module, an ambient pressure sensor, an intake manifold sensor, a knock sensor, a speed sensor, an exhaust temperature sensor, an oxygen sensor, a boost pressure sensor, a fuel pressure sensor, a cylinder pressure sensor, and an air mass meter.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein controlling at least one controllable component comprises:

controlling the at least one controllable component based upon data obtained from each sensor of the group of sensors.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein controlling at least one controllable component comprises:

controlling one or more controllable components of a group of controllable components, the group of controllable components including a canister purge valve, a waste gate actuator, a cam phaser, a spark plug, a fuel pump, a turbo charger, a super charger, a dump valve, and an air supply control valve.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein controlling at least one controllable component comprises:

controlling each of the group of controllable components.