Engine Reference Value Control for Emissions and Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engines face challenges in balancing power delivery, fuel consumption, and emissions control, particularly in meeting stringent EPA Tier 4 Final requirements for NOx emissions, often requiring complex trade-offs and inefficient calibration under varying conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a controller to interpret basis variables including engine speed, fueling, and oxygen concentration to determine reference values for fuel, air handling, and aftertreatment systems, decoupling target values from command values to facilitate efficient and timely calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If engine systems are calibrated to meet performance requirements under varying conditions, then emissions requirements are met, but calibration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the calibration process into separate subsystems (fuel system, air handling system, aftertreatment system), each with its own target values. This allows independent calibration of each subsystem while meeting overall emissions requirements, reducing the complexity of system-wide calibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces basis variable sets that characterize the majority of effects in each subsystem, allowing calibration to be performed by adjusting key parameters rather than exhaustive system calibration. This reduces calibration complexity while maintaining emissions compliance.
2Productivity
If subsystem target values are used to control engine systems, then calibration efficiency improves, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent controllers (fuel controller, air handling controller, aftertreatment controller), each receiving basis variable sets and generating subsystem target values. This modular structure improves calibration efficiency while keeping individual controller complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
Basis variable sets serve as intermediaries between the controller and subsystem target values. These standardized input sets facilitate efficient calibration by providing a consistent interface, while the intermediary layer manages the complexity of translating control objectives into subsystem-specific commands.
3Power
If trade-offs are made between power delivery and fuel consumption, then one performance requirement is met, but the other deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts subsystem target values based on basis variable sets that reflect real-time operating conditions. This allows the engine to optimize the power-fuel consumption trade-off continuously, delivering requested power while minimizing fuel consumption through coordinated control of fuel, air, and aftertreatment systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for calibration and control of various engine subsystems using a target value approach. Under the target value approach, the control of each engine subsystem is separated or decoupled to include a set of target values, or a reference value set. A subsystem has a corresponding target determiner, which provides a target value set, or reference value set, in response to a basis variable set and optionally an overall subsystem target. The basis variable set includes parameters selected to robustly characterize the variables that affect the operation of the particular subsystem. The target determiner is optionally calibrated to provide a reference value set within specifications of the subsystem. A physical subsystem controller operates in response to the reference value set.