Method and apparatus to determine instantaneous engine power loss for a powertrain system

• US 7,493,206 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2007
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Heap, Anthony H., Lahti, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Jr.; Willis R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang; Johnny H.
• Application Number:
  US11/737,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20080262698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 701/54, 701101-105, 701/114, 701/115, 123/350, 123/352, 702/182, 702/183
• US Class Current: 701/103
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/023 Temperature of lubricating oil or working fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0802 Temperature of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/703 Atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/068 for warming-up
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1497 With detection of the mechanical response of the engine

Abstract

There is provided a method and an article of manufacture comprising a storage medium having machine-executable code stored therein for estimating a power loss for an internal combustion engine at a point in time. The code includes code to determine engine operating conditions. A nominal power loss is determined based upon an engine operating point. A power loss correction to the nominal power loss is determined based upon barometric pressure, engine temperature, air/fuel ratio, and catalyst temperature. The power loss correction is determinable for: an engine air/fuel ratio mode, an engine cylinder activation mode, and, an engine operating temperature mode.

Claims

1. Article of manufacture, comprising a storage medium having a machine-executable program encoded therein to control operation of an internal combustion engine, the program comprising:

code to monitor engine operating conditions;

code to determine a nominal power loss based upon an engine operating point;

code to determine a power loss correction to the nominal power loss based upon the engine operating conditions and the engine operating point, the power loss correction determinable for combinations of an engine air/fuel ratio mode, an engine cylinder activation state, and, an engine operating temperature mode; and

,

code to estimate a power loss for the internal combustion engine based upon the nominal power loss and the power loss correction.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the power loss correction determinable for combinations of the engine air/fuel ratio mode further comprises one of a stoichiometric and a rich operation.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein the power loss correction determinable for combinations of the engine cylinder activation state further comprises one of a normal state and a deactivation state.

4. The article of claim 1, wherein the power loss correction determinable for combinations of the engine operating temperature mode further comprises one of a warm-up and a warmed-up mode.

5. The article of claim 1, wherein the monitored engine operating conditions comprise barometric pressure, engine temperature, air/fuel ratio, and catalyst temperature.

6. The article of claim 1, wherein the engine operating point comprises engine speed and torque output.

7. The article of claim 6, wherein the code to determine the nominal power loss based upon the engine operating point comprises a precalibrated array retrievable based upon the engine speed and torque output.

8. The article of claim 1, wherein the code to determine the power loss correction further comprises code comprising a single executable polynomial equation operative to calculate the power loss correction based upon engine speed and torque output and a plurality of coefficients.

9. The article of claim 8, wherein the plurality of coefficients are determined for combinations of an engine air/fuel ratio mode, an engine cylinder activation state, and, an engine operating temperature mode.

10. The article of claim 8, wherein the coefficients for the polynomial equation are determined based upon:

supplemental fueling to operate the engine.

11. The article of claim 8, wherein the coefficients for the polynomial equation are determined based upon fueling to optimize hydrocarbon and NO_x emissions.

12. The article of claim 8, wherein the coefficients for the polynomial equation are determined based upon:

supplemental fueling to effect coolant and engine oil warm-up.

13. The article of claim 8, wherein the coefficients for the polynomial equation are determined based upon fueling to effect catalyst warm-up to meet HC emissions and NO_x emissions targets.

14. The article of claim 8, wherein the coefficients for the polynomial equation are determined based upon fueling to prevent catalyst over-temperature operation.

15. Article of manufacture, comprising a storage medium having machine-executable program stored therein to estimate a correction from a nominal power loss for an internal combustion engine to control engine operation, the program comprising:

code to monitor engine operating conditions;

code to monitor engine operation, comprising;

engine operating modes of an engine air/fuel ratio mode and an engine operating temperature mode, and an engine cylinder activation state;

code to determine a power loss correction at an engine operating point based upon the engine operating conditions and the engine operation; and

,

code to control engine operation based upon the nominal power loss and the power loss correction.

16. The article of claim 15, wherein the engine operating conditions comprise at least one of barometric pressure, engine temperature, air/fuel ratio, and catalyst temperature.

17. The article of claim 15, wherein the nominal power loss is determined based upon the operating point, and, comprises a predetermined calibration array retrievable based upon engine speed and torque output.

18. The article of claim 15, wherein the code to determine the power loss correction at the engine operating point further comprises code comprising a single executable polynomial equation operative to calculate the power loss correction based upon engine speed and torque output and a plurality of coefficients.

19. Method for operating an engine, comprising:

estimating an instantaneous power loss for an internal combustion engine, comprising;

monitoring engine operating conditions;

determining a nominal power loss at an engine operating point based upon the engine operating conditions;

determining a power loss correction to the nominal power loss based upon the engine operating conditions and the engine operating point, the power loss correction determinable for combinations of an engine air/fuel ratio mode, an engine cylinder activation state, and, an engine operating temperature mode; and

,

controlling the engine based upon the estimated instantaneous power loss.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the combinations for the power loss correction comprise:

the engine air/fuel ratio mode comprising one of a stoichiometric and a rich operation;

the engine cylinder activation state comprising one of a normal state and a deactivation state; and

, the engine operating temperature mode comprising one of a warm-up and a warmed-up mode.