EGR Control Apparatus Inert Gas Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional EGR control apparatuses for internal combustion engines fail to properly control the amount of inert gas supplied to cylinders, leading to unstable combustion and increased exhaust emissions, especially in lean burn operations.
Innovation Solution
An EGR control apparatus with engine speed and load parameter detection, controlling the amounts of first and second EGR gases via different paths, ensuring the first EGR gas has a higher inert gas content than the second, and using feedback control algorithms to converge the inert gas differences to target values, with the second EGR device having higher responsiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional EGR control apparatuses control EGR gas amounts without accounting for inert gas content, then the control system is simple, but combustion stability deteriorates and exhaust emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the control parameter from total EGR gas amount to inert gas amount. By detecting inert gas concentration and controlling EGR gas supply based on inert gas amount rather than total gas amount, the system achieves precise control of combustion stability while managing system complexity through targeted parameter modification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by detecting inert gas amounts in EGR gas and adjusting EGR gas supply accordingly. The control apparatus continuously monitors inert gas concentration and modifies EGR gas flow to maintain optimal combustion conditions, resolving the contradiction between simple control and reliable combustion stability
2Device complexity
If EGR gas is supplied without considering inert gas content, then the control apparatus is simple, but exhaust emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/empirical EGR control with sensor-based detection and electronic control. By using sensors to detect inert gas amounts and electronically controlling EGR gas supply, the system reduces harmful exhaust emissions through precise control while the increase in apparatus complexity is offset by the benefits of reduced emissions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts control focus from total EGR gas flow to inert gas content. By monitoring and controlling inert gas amount specifically, the system optimizes exhaust emissions while managing complexity through targeted parameter control rather than comprehensive system monitoring
3Reliability
If first EGR gas amount is increased to provide sufficient inert gas, then combustion stability improves, but the difference in inert gas amounts between first and second EGR gases becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control where the control apparatus continuously adjusts first and second EGR gas amounts based on real-time inert gas detection. The system dynamically balances inert gas supply from both paths to maintain combustion stability while preventing excessive differences, adapting to changing engine conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments EGR gas supply into two independent paths with separate control. By controlling first and second EGR gas amounts independently while monitoring their combined inert gas content, the system achieves precise balance between combustion stability and inert gas amount differentiation
Data Source
AI summary
An EGR control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of properly controlling an inert gas amount of two types of EGR gas supplied to cylinders of the engine via two paths different from each other, thereby making it possible to ensure a stable combustion state, reduced exhaust emissions, and improve operability. The EGR control apparatus includes low-pressure and high-pressure EGR devices, and an ECU. The ECU controls the low-pressure and high-pressure EGR gas amounts according to engine speed and demanded torque, and when a combination of engine speed and demanded torque is in a predetermined region, the low-pressure and high-pressure EGR gas amounts are controlled such that inert gas in low-pressure EGR gas exceeds in amount inert gas in high-pressure EGR gas, and the former more exceeds the latter as engine speed is higher or demanded torque is larger.