Engine Control Apparatus for SPCCI Combustion Noise Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In combustion engines, pressure variation during ignition can lead to increased combustion noise, and existing techniques struggle to control compression autoignition timing effectively, resulting in reduced thermal efficiency and potential torque loss.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a SPCCI (Spark Controlled Compression Ignition) combustion mode, which combines SI and CI combustion, where a spark plug ignites the air-fuel mixture by flame propagation, enhancing chamber temperature for autoignition, while controlling the CI combustion period to reduce noise and improve fuel economy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If compression ignition is used to improve fuel economy, then fuel economy is improved, but pressure variation increases and combustion noise increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel economyVSAvoidcombustion noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines spark ignition (SI) and compression ignition (CI) into a hybrid combustion mode called SPCCI. The spark plug initiates combustion to generate heat, which then promotes autoignition of the air-fuel mixture. This merging allows the system to achieve the fuel economy benefits of CI while using the controlled flame propagation of SI to reduce pressure variation and combustion noise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent controls the timing of spark ignition to optimize the temperature rise rate in the combustion chamber. By adjusting the spark timing parameter, the system ensures that autoignition occurs at the desired moment while controlling the rate of pressure increase, thereby reducing combustion noise while maintaining fuel economy improvements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If spark ignition is used to reduce combustion noise, then combustion noise is reduced, but autoignition timing cannot be controlled and thermal efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion noiseVSAvoidthermal efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback control to adjust spark timing based on engine operating conditions. By monitoring parameters such as intake air temperature, engine load, and rotation speed, the control unit optimizes the spark timing to ensure that the heat from spark-induced combustion promotes autoignition at the optimal moment, thereby maintaining thermal efficiency while controlling combustion noise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the spark timing parameter according to engine operating conditions. By changing the spark timing based on intake air temperature, load, and rotation speed, the system ensures that autoignition occurs at the desired timing, thereby maintaining thermal efficiency while using flame propagation to reduce combustion noise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-generated harmful factors

If compression ignition timing is delayed to reduce combustion noise, then combustion noise is reduced, but torque output decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion noiseVSAvoidtorque output
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The spark plug performs preliminary ignition before compression ignition would naturally occur. This preliminary action generates heat that promotes autoignition at the optimal timing, ensuring that the main combustion event occurs at the desired moment to maintain torque output while the controlled flame propagation reduces combustion noise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If intake air temperature is increased to promote autoignition, then autoignition timing is improved, but combustion becomes unstable and knocking increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautoignition timingVSAvoidcombustion stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system controls the spark timing parameter as a function of intake air temperature. By adjusting the spark timing based on intake air temperature, the system ensures that the heat from spark-induced combustion promotes autoignition at the desired timing without causing premature ignition or knocking, thereby maintaining combustion stability while achieving reliable autoignition timing.

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 approach reduces combustion noise and enhances fuel economy by managing the autoignition timing and temperature, ensuring efficient combustion without torque loss.

Implementation Method 1

a spark plug ignites the air-fuel mixture by flame propagation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric spark ignition: Electric Spark

Implementation Method 2

combustion by compression autoignition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression heating: Adiabatic Heating

Implementation Method 3

air-fuel mixture is combusted by autoignition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 4

heat generation by the SI combustion enhances the temperature in the combustion chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3421769B1Control apparatus for engine
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 MAZDA MOTOR CORP
  • EP3421769B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3421769B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3421769B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This control apparatus of an engine includes an engine (1), a state quantity setting device (23, 24, 43, 48, 54), an injector (6), a spark plug (25), and a controller (ECU 10). The controller outputs a control signal to the spark plug (25) at a predetermined ignition timing such that, after air-fuel mixture is ignited and combustion is started, unburned air-fuel mixture is combusted by autoignition, and the controller advances an ignition timing when the temperature before start of compression in a combustion chamber (17) is to be reduced.