Reduction of engine emissions via a real-time engine combustion control with an egr rate estimation model

Vehicle emissions regulations are becoming increasingly severe and remain a principal issue for vehicle manufacturers. Since, WLTP (Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedures) and RDE (real driving emission) regulations have been recently introduced, the engine operating conditions have been rapidly changed during the emission tests. Significantly more emissions are emitted during transient operation conditions compared to those at steady state operation conditions. For a diesel engine, combustion control is one of the most effective approaches to reduce engine exhaust emissions, particularly during the transient operation. The concern of this paper is about reducing emissions using a closed loop combustion control system which includes a EGR rate estimation model. The combustion control system calculates the angular position where 50 % of the injected fuel mass is burned (MFB50) using in-cylinder pressure for every cycle. In addition, the fuel injection timing is changed to make current MFB50 follow the target values. The EGR rate can be estimated by using trapped air mass and in-cylinder pressure when the intake valves are closed. When the EGR rate is different from the normal steady conditions, the target of MFB50 and the fuel injection timing are changed. The accuracy of the model is verified through engine tests, as well as the effect of combustion control. The peaks in NO level was decreased during transient conditions after adoption of the EGR model-based closed loop combustion control system.