Engine EGR Control for Exhaust Temperature Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for controlling exhaust temperature in internal combustion engines using external EGR systems struggle to accurately maintain catalyst temperature below damaging levels, especially when ignition timing is retarded, leading to potential catalyst damage and failure to meet emissions standards.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves calculating a protection EGR rate that takes into account the ignition timing retardation amount, allowing for dynamic adjustment of the EGR rate to prevent excessive exhaust temperature increases, thereby ensuring the catalyst temperature remains below damaging levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the ignition timing is retarded to suppress knocking, then the reliability of the internal combustion engine is improved, but the exhaust temperature increases causing the catalyst temperature to exceed the damaging temperature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine reliabilityVSAvoidexhaust temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The control device calculates the ignition timing retardation amount in advance and determines the protection EGR rate before the exhaust temperature exceeds the damaging threshold. By preemptively adjusting the EGR rate based on the calculated retardation amount, the system prevents catalyst temperature damage before it occurs, rather than reacting after the problem arises.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device continuously monitors the actual ignition timing, calculates the retardation amount from the difference between actual and predetermined ignition timing, and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the protection EGR rate. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the EGR rate is always appropriate for the current engine operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Temperature

If the EGR rate is increased to lower the exhaust temperature, then the catalyst temperature is maintained below damaging levels, but the combustion efficiency deteriorates and knocking may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexhaust temperatureVSAvoidcombustion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device dynamically changes the EGR rate parameter based on the ignition timing retardation amount. Instead of using a fixed EGR rate, the system adjusts this parameter in real-time according to engine operating conditions, particularly the degree of ignition timing retardation, thereby optimizing the balance between exhaust temperature control and combustion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The protection EGR rate is made dynamic rather than static. The control device continuously calculates the appropriate EGR rate based on current ignition timing conditions, allowing the system to adapt to changing engine loads and operating conditions. This dynamic adjustment prevents both overheating and combustion efficiency loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 effectively reduces exhaust temperature and maintains catalyst safety, enhancing the reliability and safety of the internal combustion engine by compensating for ignition timing retardation effects on exhaust temperature.

Implementation Method 1

a measure of using an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system can be taken

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExhaust gas recirculation:

Implementation Method 2

A catalyst used in such an exhaust gas purifier is relatively vulnerable to a high temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentEP3447270B1Internal combustion engine drive control apparatus and internal combustion engine drive control method
Publication Date: 2020.12.16 BOSCH CORP
  • EP3447270B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3447270B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3447270B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A catalyst temperature is reliably maintained to be equal to or lower than a damaging temperature in accordance with an operation state of an internal combustion engine. A reference EGR rate is calculated on the basis of a speed and a load of an engine when ignition timing is not retarded (S100) . Next, a protection EGR rate that is required to maintain temperatures of exhaust system components within an allowable limit temperature range is calculated in accordance with an ignition timing retardation amount (S110) . When the protection EGR rate is higher than the reference EGR rate, within a range that an EGR rate does not exceed a stable combustion maximum allowable EGR rate calculated in consideration of a torque fluctuation allowable limit (S120), EGR control is executed by using the protection EGR rate (S130 to S170) . In this way, even when the ignition timing is retarded, an increase in an exhaust temperature is suppressed and prevented, and the temperatures of the exhaust system components are reliably maintained to be equal to or lower than the damaging temperature.