SPCCI Engine Control System for In-Cylinder Temperature Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing engine technologies face challenges in accurately determining the in-cylinder temperature during SPCCI combustion, which affects fuel efficiency and combustion noise, as conventional methods only estimate average temperatures and do not account for variations in in-cylinder conditions.

Innovation Solution

A control system that uses the CI combustion start timing as a parameter to estimate the in-cylinder temperature, employing Bayes estimation and band-pass filtering of in-cylinder pressure signals to accurately determine the actual CI timing, allowing for precise adjustment of ignition timing and exhaust gas recirculation to optimize combustion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If CI combustion takes place near compression top dead center to improve fuel efficiency, then fuel efficiency is maximized, but in-cylinder pressure rises excessively causing excessive combustion noise

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

Solution Approach 1:

The control system uses feedback from in-cylinder pressure sensors and temperature sensors to continuously monitor combustion conditions. Based on this feedback, the controller adjusts ignition timing and fuel injection timing in real-time to maintain optimal combustion phasing, preventing excessive pressure rise while maximizing fuel efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts ignition timing and fuel injection timing based on real-time sensor data and predetermined maps. The control parameters are not fixed but vary continuously with operating conditions, allowing the engine to adapt to changing conditions and maintain optimal performance across different loads and speeds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If ignition timing is retarded to reduce combustion noise, then combustion noise is reduced, but fuel efficiency drops

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

Solution Approach 1:

The control system continuously monitors in-cylinder pressure and temperature to detect combustion noise levels. When combustion noise exceeds acceptable thresholds, the feedback control adjusts ignition timing to reduce noise while minimizing the impact on fuel efficiency by making only necessary timing adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes multiple parameters simultaneously - not just ignition timing but also fuel injection timing, injection quantity, and EGR rate. This multi-parameter adjustment allows the system to reduce combustion noise through coordinated changes that maintain combustion efficiency better than ignition timing adjustment alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If conventional temperature estimation methods are used, then the system is simple to operate, but only average in-cylinder temperature can be estimated without sufficient accuracy for controlling SPCCI combustion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidin-cylinder temperature accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces temperature sensors and pressure sensors as intermediary measurement devices that directly measure in-cylinder conditions. These sensors act as mediators between the combustion process and the control system, providing accurate real-time data without requiring complex calculation models or assumptions about average temperatures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical temperature estimation methods (based on coolant temperature or intake air temperature) with direct electronic sensing using thermocouples or other temperature sensors placed inside the combustion chamber. This substitution of measurement methodology provides significantly higher temperature measurement accuracy while maintaining electronic control simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 accurately determines in-cylinder temperature, enabling improved fuel efficiency and reduced combustion noise by adjusting ignition timing and exhaust gas recirculation, thus effectively controlling SPCCI combustion.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor device configured to measure a parameter indicative of an in-cylinder pressure during a mixture gas combusting

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure sensing:

Implementation Method 2

an ignition plug configured to forcibly ignite the mixture gas; the mixture gas carries out SI combustion by flame propagation due to the ignition of the ignition plug

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical discharge ignition: Electric Spark

Implementation Method 3

the remaining unburnt mixture gas inside the combustion chamber combusts by self-ignition due to a pressure buildup caused by the heat generation and the flame propagation of the SI combustion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression heating: Adiabatic Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3599360B1Control system for compression-ignition engine, internal combustion engine, method of determining in-cylinder temperature and computer program product
Publication Date: 2022.12.14 MAZDA MOTOR CORP
  • EP3599360B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3599360B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3599360B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A control system for a compression-ignition engine includes a combustion chamber, an injector, an ignition plug, a sensor device, and a controller having a circuity. The ignition plug forcibly ignites mixture gas to start combustion accompanied by flame propagation of a part of the mixture gas, and again ignites remaining unburnt mixture gas at a timing at which the unburnt mixture gas combusts by self-ignition. The controller is configured to execute an ignition controlling module to output an ignition signal to the ignition plug before a target timing so that the unburnt mixture gas self-ignites at the target timing, an ignition timing estimating module to estimate an actual CI timing indicative of a timing at which the unburnt mixture gas actually self-ignited based on an in-cylinder pressure parameter, and an in-cylinder temperature determining module to determine the in-cylinder temperature at a given crank angle based on the estimated result.