Internal Combustion Engine Electric Compressor Control for Load Transients
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal combustion engines face issues with maintaining intake pressure and engine power during and after engine load transients, leading to adverse losses and oscillations due to unfavourable control of electric machines and control valves.
Innovation Solution
An internal combustion engine system with a compressor driven by an electric machine and a control valve, controlled by a controller, to directly or indirectly influence mass flow and intake pressure, using command values based on control valve positions and gradients to stabilize intake pressure and engine power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the electric machine is operated temporarily during engine load transients to increase mass flow and intake pressure, then the mass of air available for combustion is improved, but rapid drop or loss of intake pressure and engine power occurs after the electric machine is switched off
Solution Approach 1:
The controller activates the electric machine before the transient load condition is fully established, allowing the compressor to build up intake pressure and mass flow in advance. This preliminary action ensures that when the transient occurs, the system is already prepared with sufficient air mass and pressure, avoiding the rapid drop that would otherwise occur after switching off the electric machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors intake pressure and mass flow conditions, and adjusts the electric machine operation accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect when intake pressure is dropping and react by maintaining or re-activating the electric machine, thereby stabilizing intake pressure and preventing adverse oscillations of engine power.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the electric machine is switched off after desired engine load is reached to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but adverse loss and oscillations of engine power occur
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors engine power and intake pressure conditions continuously. When the electric machine is switched off after desired load is reached, the feedback mechanism detects any power drop or intake pressure loss and triggers re-activation of the electric machine or adjustment of control valves to maintain stable engine power, preventing adverse oscillations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation state of the electric machine based on real-time engine conditions rather than using a fixed on/off schedule. This dynamic control allows the electric machine to be switched off during stable operating conditions to save energy, but quickly re-activated when power stability is threatened, optimizing both energy efficiency and power stability.
3Reliability
If control valves are used to influence mass flow and intake pressure, then intake pressure control is improved, but complex control algorithms and coordination between multiple components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The controller integrates the control of the electric machine and control valves into a single unified control unit. This merging of control functions allows the system to coordinate mass flow and pressure control across multiple components through one centralized controller, simplifying the overall control architecture while maintaining reliable intake pressure control during transients and after shutdown.
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
The system ensures smooth operation by maintaining reference pressure and power, avoiding losses and oscillations, with efficient resource use and extended component lifespan, utilizing simple control mechanisms without complex algorithms.
Implementation Method 1
at least one compressor (4) for compressing a gas flow
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a~6c
AI summary
Internal combustion engine (1) with an intake (2) for intaking air and/or an air-fuel-mixture, at least one compressor (4) for compressing a gas flow, an electric machine (6) for driving the at least one compressor (4), at least one control valve (7), and a controller (10) for controlling the electric machine (6) and the at least one control valve (7), wherein the at least one compressor (4) and the at least one control valve (7) are configured to directly or indirectly influence a mass flow (8) and/or an intake pressure (9) in the intake (2), wherein the controller (10) is configured to control the electric machine (6) in dependence on at least one command value for the at least one control valve (7).