Controlling combustion processes in an internal combustion engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10132253-B2
Application number	US-201515507388-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2015
Priority date	Sep 3, 2014
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to internal combustion engines. The teachings thereof may be embodied in methods and devices for controlling the combustion processes taking place in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine. A method for controlling a combustion process in an internal combustion engine may include: measuring an actual camshaft position; measuring the actual rail pressure; calculating a phase correction value based on the measured actual rail pressure and a mass of fuel to be injected; calculating corrected actual camshaft positions based on the measured actual camshaft position and the respective phase correction value; calculating a mass of air depending on the determined corrected actual camshaft position; and calculating a fuel injection mass based on the mass of air determined for each cylinder.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a combustion process in an internal combustion engine having a camshaft, a high-pressure pump driven by the camshaft, a rail, and a control unit, having the following steps:
measuring the actual camshaft position using a camshaft sensor;
measuring the actual rail pressure using a rail pressure sensor;
calculating, for each cylinder, a phase correction value based on the measured actual rail pressure and a mass of fuel to be injected;
calculating, for each cylinder, corrected actual camshaft positions based on the measured actual camshaft position and the respective phase correction value;
calculating, for each cylinder, a mass of air based on the determined corrected actual camshaft position; and
calculating, for each cylinder, a fuel injection mass based on the mass of air determined for each cylinder.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
measuring the actual intake pipe pressure using a pressure sensor arranged in the intake pipe of the internal combustion engine;
calculating, for each cylinder, opening times or closing times of the inlet valves of the cylinders based on the measured actual intake pipe pressure, and
adapting actual camshaft positions corrected on a cylinder-specific basis and the air masses determined for each cylinder, using the opening times and/or closing times of the inlet valves determined for each cylinder.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
measuring an actual pressure in each cylinder using a pressure sensor arranged in the respective cylinder;
calculating, for each cylinder, opening times and/or closing times of the inlet valves of the cylinders based on the measured actual pressure in the cylinders; and
adapting actual camshaft positions corrected on a cylinder-specific basis and the air masses determined for each cylinder, using the opening times and/or closing times of the inlet valves determined for each cylinder.

4. A system for controlling combustion processes in an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
a camshaft;
a high-pressure pump driven by the camshaft;
a rail; and
a control unit
to carry out the following steps:
receive output signals from a camshaft sensor representing an actual camshaft position;
receive output signals from a rail pressure sensor representing the actual rail pressure;
determining, for each cylinder, a phase correction value based on the measured actual rail pressure and a mass of fuel to be injected;
determining, for each cylinder, corrected actual camshaft positions based on the measured actual camshaft position and the respective phase correction value;
determining, for each cylinder, a mass of air based on the determined corrected actual camshaft position; and
determining, for each cylinder, a fuel injection mass based on the mass of air determined for each cylinder.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the control unit carries out the following further steps:
receive the output signals representing the actual intake pipe pressure from a pressure sensor arranged in the intake pipe of the internal combustion engine;
determine, for each cylinder, opening times and/or closing times of the inlet valves of the cylinders by evaluating the measured actual intake pipe pressure; and
adapt the actual camshaft positions corrected on a cylinder-specific basis and the air masses determined for each cylinder using the opening times and/or closing times of the inlet valves determined for each cylinder.

6. The system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the control unit carries out the following further steps:
receive output signals representing an actual pressure in the cylinders from pressure sensors arranged in the cylinders; determine, for each cylinder, opening times and/or closing times of the inlet valves of the cylinders by evaluating the measured actual pressure in the cylinders; and
adapt the actual camshaft positions corrected on a cylinder-specific basis and thus the air masses determined for each cylinder, using the opening times and/or closing times of the inlet valves determined for each cylinder.

Assignees

• Continental Automotive Gmbh

Inventors

• Zhang Hong

Classifications

• F02D2200/0402

  the parameter being determined by using a model of the engine intake or its components · CPC title

• F02D41/40

  with means for controlling injection timing or duration · CPC title

• F02D41/009 Primary

  using means for generating position or synchronisation signals · CPC title

• F02D2200/0616

  determined by estimation · CPC title

• F02D2200/0602

  Fuel pressure · CPC title