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Advanced Modeling and Control
Approaches for Engines Principal Investigator Inclusive Dates: 10/01/05 06/01/07 Background - Diesel engine emission regulations are becoming increasingly stringent. Of late, using multiple combustion modes in diesel engines has been considered a means to maintain functionality of the exhaust treatment systems and significantly reduce emissions. More sophisticated alternative combustion modes, such as low-temperature combustion (LTC), homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI), and premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI), are being actively developed and implemented along with conventional diesel combustion to achieve emission regulations and desired performances simultaneously. However, because the in-cylinder condition requirements of these combustion modes are quite different and some of the combustion modes are close to the edge of stability while very sensitive to the in-cylinder condition, it is challenging to achieve smooth, fast, and robust mode switching without sacrificing the performance with good drivability and low levels of emissions. Because the engine system is multiple-variable and highly nonlinear, conventional calibration and mapping based and classical linear control approaches do not produce satisfactory and robust results during transient operations in vehicle applications. Advanced multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) nonlinear control modeling and design methods may offer great potential in meeting the real-world drivability and emission requirements simultaneously. Approach - Control-oriented engine intake and exhaust system dynamical models were to be developed and used for the design of the control system. In this project, model-based MIMO nonlinear robust controllers (e.g., sliding mode control), organized by a finite state machine (FSM) based supervisory controller, were used to achieve seamless transition among different combustion modes. The inherent singularity in turbocharged diesel engines was addressed using special techniques. Observers and estimators were designed to construct the necessary system states for the controllers based on the available measurement from the engine. The gas-handling devices were controlled by two paths. One was the feedforward terms, decided by desired torque and engine speed. Another was the feedback contributions, based on the desired and measured/estimated states through the robust nonlinear control laws. Accomplishments - All project objectives were successfully met. One U.S. patent was awarded, and three patent applications are pending. Four papers have been published.
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