Fresh Air Mass Estimation in Engine Combustion Chambers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for estimating the mass of fresh air admitted into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine are imprecise, failing to accurately determine the quantity of fresh air, which is crucial for proper engine control and fuel injection adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A method that estimates the mass of fresh air by calculating the total filling of supercharged fresh air in the combustion chamber using a system of equations, incorporating admission pressure, volume, temperature, and correction coefficients, while accounting for swept gases during valve overlap, allowing for precise estimation without direct pressure or temperature measurement inside the chamber.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If existing estimation methods are used for fresh air mass, then the estimation process is simple, but the measurement precision is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefresh air mass estimation accuracyVSAvoidestimation method complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The estimation method is segmented into distinct calculation stages: determining valve overlap duration, calculating swept gas mass, estimating fresh air mass, and computing total filling. Each stage processes specific parameters independently, improving precision while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic decomposition of the estimation problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The method performs preliminary calculations of valve overlap characteristics and swept gas mass before determining the final fresh air mass estimation. By pre-calculating these intermediate parameters based on valve timing and engine operating conditions, the system establishes accurate baseline values that enhance the precision of the final measurement without requiring complex real-time computation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If valve overlap is used for supercharging, then the quantity of fresh air increases, but the complexity of gas flow control increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefresh air quantityVSAvoidvalve control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve timing is made dynamic by adjusting the valve overlap duration and timing based on engine operating conditions such as engine speed and load. The control system dynamically modifies intake and exhaust valve opening/closing times to optimize fresh air quantity during supercharging while managing the complexity through condition-based adjustment rather than fixed timing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The method changes key parameters including valve timing angles, overlap duration, and pressure ratios to optimize fresh air intake during supercharging. By systematically varying these parameters based on operating conditions and using correction coefficients, the system increases fresh air quantity while controlling complexity through parameter optimization rather than mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If swept gases are considered in the estimation, then the measurement precision improves, but the calculation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefresh air mass estimation accuracyVSAvoidcalculation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The calculation system is segmented into distinct modules: one for determining valve overlap parameters, another for calculating swept gas mass, and a third for computing fresh air mass. By separating the calculation of swept gases from the final fresh air estimation, the system improves precision through comprehensive modeling while managing complexity through modular calculation structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The swept gas mass calculation serves as an intermediary step between valve timing parameters and final fresh air mass estimation. By introducing this intermediate calculation that accounts for gas displacement during valve overlap, the system achieves higher measurement precision while managing complexity through a structured intermediate computation layer rather than direct complex modeling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 method provides a more accurate estimation of fresh air mass, enabling better engine control and fuel management by considering the mass of gases swept during valve crossing, leading to improved engine performance and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the estimate of the total mass Mtot is obtained from an admission pressure P WMD air, a volume of the combustion chamber at the end of the intake, a temperature T mixed the mixture of fresh air and burnt gases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIdeal gas law: Boyle's Law

Data Source

PatentEP2399015B1Method for estimating total filling of a combustion chamber of an engine
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP2399015B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2399015B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2399015B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for estimating the mass Ma of fresh air taken into the combustion chamber of an engine cylinder during an engine cycle, characterised in that said method includes estimating (128) a total mass Mtot of gases contained in the combustion chamber at the end of the fresh air intake, estimating (120, 124) a mass Mb of burnt gases contained in the combustion chamber at the end of the exhaust of the burnt gases, and estimating (128) the mass Ma of fresh air from the difference between the estimated total mass Mtot and the estimated mass Mb of burnt gases.