Cylinder Deactivation Control via Fuel Consumption Estimation
Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engines face limitations in reducing engine noise and vibration, which restrict the availability of cylinder operating patterns, thereby affecting engine efficiency and fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
The method involves estimating fuel consumption values for different cylinder patterns and gear shifts, allowing for the selective activation and deactivation of cylinders to optimize engine operation, reducing noise and vibration, and improving fuel economy by adjusting the number of active cylinders and transmission gears.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If cylinder deactivation is used to reduce engine noise and vibration, then engine noise and vibration are reduced, but the number of available cylinder operating patterns is limited at certain engine speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects between different cylinder operating patterns (including patterns with 0, 2, 4 deactivated cylinders) based on real-time engine speed and vehicle power demand conditions, allowing the engine to adaptively transition between noise-reduced modes and performance-oriented modes as operating conditions change
Solution Approach 2:
The control system changes the operational parameters of the engine by adjusting the number of active cylinders and selecting different cylinder firing patterns based on engine speed thresholds and power demand, thereby resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and operational versatility
2Productivity
If more cylinders are kept active to provide more cylinder operating patterns at selected engine speeds, then engine efficiency and fuel consumption improve, but engine noise and vibration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of active cylinders based on real-time operating conditions, transitioning between 2-cylinder, 4-cylinder, and 6-cylinder operating patterns to balance fuel efficiency requirements with noise and vibration constraints at different engine speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The control system modifies engine operational parameters by changing the active cylinder count and firing patterns in response to engine speed and power demand, enabling the engine to operate efficiently while maintaining acceptable noise and vibration levels
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for operating an engine with deactivating and non-deactivating valves are presented. In one example, estimates of engine fuel consumption for operating the engine with a plurality of cylinder modes or patterns while a transmission is engaged in different gears are determined and are used as a basis for deactivating engine cylinders.