Method for regulating an internal combustion engine, computer program and control unit

• US 9,217,387 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Loeffler, Axel, Haering, Juergen, Fischer, Wolfgang, Karrelmeyer, Roland, Graf, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castro, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US12/332,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20090182485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,567 Days
• Field of Search: 701101-106
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1412 using a predictive controller
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1433 using a model or simulation of the system
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/023 by determining the cylinder pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/024 using an estimation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/028 by determining the combustion timing or phasing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0002 Controlling intake air
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/006 using internal EGR control of valve overlap for internal EGR F02D13/0261; arrangements for internal EGR F02M26/01
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/008 Controlling each cylinder individually
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1454 the characteristics being an oxygen content or concentration or the air-fuel ratio
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3035 a mode being the premixed charge compression-ignition mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3064 with special control during transition between modes
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/402 Multiple injections

Abstract

A method for regulating an internal combustion engine that is operable, at least in a part-load range, in an operating mode with auto-ignition and a combustion process of which is influenced by a manipulated variable, the method includes the steps of determining a desired value of a combustion position feature of the combustion process; determining the manipulated variable by predictive closed-loop control based on a modeling of the combustion position feature as a function of the manipulated variable in the combustion process; and determining, as the manipulated variable, a value at which the difference between the desired value of the combustion position feature and a model-based predicted combustion position feature is minimized.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an internal combustion engine that is operable, at least in a part-load range, in an operating mode with auto-ignition and a combustion process of which is influenced by a manipulated variable, the method comprising:

determining, by a control unit including a computer processor, a desired value of a combustion position feature of the combustion process of the engine;

determining, by the control unit, a target value of the manipulated variable by predictive closed-loop control based on a modeling of the combustion position feature as a function of the manipulated variable in the combustion process wherein the target value of the manipulated variable is determined as a value at which the difference between the desired value of the combustion position feature and a model-based predicted combustion position feature is minimized; and

controlling, by the control unit, the engine operation by actuating at least one physical control component of the engine based on the target value of the manipulated variable.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the combustion position feature to correspond to a crankshaft angle at which a specific quantity of the combustion energy of a combustion cycle has been converted in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the combustion position feature is the 50% mass fraction burnt, which corresponds to a crankshaft angle at which approximately 50% of the combustion energy of a combustion cycle has been converted in the cylinder of the internal combustion engine.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing program code configured to, when executed on a program-controlled device, cause the program-controlled device to perform the steps of a method for controlling an internal combustion engine that is operable, at least in a part-load range, in an operating mode with auto-ignition and a combustion process of which is influenced by a manipulated variable, the method comprising:

determining a desired value of a combustion position feature of the combustion process of the engine;

determining a target value of the manipulated variable by predictive closed-loop control based on a modeling of the combustion position feature as a function of the manipulated variable in the combustion process, wherein the target value of the manipulated variable is determined as a value at which the difference between the desired value of the combustion position feature and a model-based predicted combustion position feature is minimized; and

controlling, by the control unit, the engine operation by actuating at least one physical control component of the engine based on the target value of the manipulated variable.

5. A control unit for an internal combustion engine, the control unit comprising:

a computer processor configured to perform the steps of a method for controlling an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine being operable, at least in a part-load range, in an operating mode with auto-ignition, and a combustion process of the internal combustion engine being influenced by a manipulated variable, wherein the method includes;

determining a desired value of a combustion position feature of the combustion process of the engine;

determining a target value of the manipulated variable by predictive closed-loop control based on a modeling of the combustion position feature as a function of the manipulated variable in the combustion process, wherein the target value of the manipulated variable is determined as a value at which the difference between the desired value of the combustion position feature and a model-based predicted combustion position feature is minimized; and

controlling, by the control unit, the engine operation by actuating at least one physical control component of the engine based on the target value of the manipulated variable.