Engine Control Device Oxygen Storage Ratio Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing frequency of idling stop and fuel cut in internal combustion engines leads to inaccurate grasping of oxygen storage state and temperature in three-way catalysts, deteriorating catalyst purification efficiency and emission performance.

Innovation Solution

An internal combustion engine control device that includes a catalyst in the exhaust pipe, upstream and downstream exhaust gas sensors, an oxygen storage ratio calculation unit based on a catalytic reaction model, and a statistical model for predicting downstream exhaust gas concentration to calculate air-fuel ratio corrections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If idling stop and fuel cut operations are increased to reduce fuel consumption, then fuel economy is improved, but the oxygen storage state and temperature in the three-way catalyst cannot be accurately grasped, causing catalyst purification efficiency to deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidcatalyst purification efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary rich correction of the air-fuel ratio before the catalyst oxygen storage state reaches problematic levels. By detecting oxygen release from the catalyst and proactively adjusting the air-fuel ratio to rich, the system maintains optimal catalyst conditions during and after idling stop operations, preventing purification efficiency deterioration while enabling frequent fuel-cut operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from oxygen sensors (both upstream and downstream of the catalyst) to continuously monitor catalyst oxygen storage state and adjust air-fuel ratio control accordingly. This closed-loop control enables accurate grasping of catalyst state during idling stop operations and maintains optimal purification efficiency by dynamically correcting air-fuel ratio based on real-time catalyst conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If feedback correction is performed by detecting oxygen released on the downstream side of the three-way catalyst, then air-fuel ratio control is adjusted, but the oxygen storage state reaches the lower limit or upper limit value at the detection timing, causing catalyst purification efficiency to deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen storage state detectionVSAvoidcatalyst purification efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of waiting for oxygen release detection to trigger correction, the system performs preliminary rich correction based on predicted catalyst state and operational conditions. The control device calculates appropriate rich correction amounts in advance and applies them before the catalyst oxygen storage state reaches extreme values, ensuring purification efficiency is maintained throughout the correction process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the timing and magnitude of air-fuel ratio correction based on real-time catalyst conditions, engine operating parameters, and predicted future states. Rather than using fixed threshold-based correction, the control continuously adapts correction strategies to maintain optimal catalyst oxygen storage state within the target range

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If rich correction is performed based on fuel increase period according to estimated oxygen storage amount, then air-fuel ratio is adjusted, but catalyst temperature state and transient exhaust gas flow rate changes are not considered, causing inappropriate correction and emission performance deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrection response speedVSAvoidemission performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device incorporates multiple dynamic parameters including catalyst temperature estimates, exhaust gas flow rate changes, and engine operating conditions into the rich correction calculation. By considering these varying parameters, the system determines appropriate correction amounts that account for transient conditions, ensuring both rapid response and maintained emission performance during dynamic operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution maintains high catalyst purification efficiency and prevents emission performance deterioration by accurately managing oxygen storage and air-fuel ratios, considering catalyst temperature and transient exhaust gas flow changes.

Implementation Method 1

a catalytic reaction model having at least a detection value of the first exhaust gas sensor as an input... defined by a reaction rate between at least oxygen on the upstream side of the catalyst, carbon monoxide on the upstream side of the catalyst, and a metal carried in the catalyst

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalytic reaction: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentEP3885542B1Internal combustion engine control device
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 ASTEMO LTD
  • EP3885542B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3885542B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3885542B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To keep catalyst purification efficiency high and prevent deterioration of emission performance. Therefore, an internal combustion engine control device according to an aspect of the present invention includes: an oxygen storage ratio calculation unit that calculates an oxygen storage ratio of a catalyst based on a catalytic reaction model having at least a detection value of a first exhaust gas sensor disposed on an upstream side of the catalyst as an input; a statistical model calculation unit that predicts a catalyst downstream exhaust gas concentration using a statistical model having an oxygen storage ratio as an input and a catalyst downstream exhaust gas concentration as an output; and an air-fuel ratio correction amount calculation unit that calculates an air-fuel ratio correction amount of an air-fuel mixture of an internal combustion engine based on a future catalyst downstream exhaust gas concentration calculated by the statistical model calculation unit.