Control Oriented Modeling of the Gas Exchange Process in Variable Cam Timing Engines

Variable cam timing engines pose new questions for engine control system designers. The cam timing directly influences cylinder air charge and residual mass fraction. Three models that predict residual mass fraction are investigated for a turbocharged dual independent Variable Cam Timing (VCT) engine. The three models (Fox et. al. 1993, Ponti et. al. 2002, and Mladek et. al. 2000) that all have real time capabilities are evaluated and validated against data from a crank angle based reference model. None of these models have previously been validated to cover this engine type.

It is shown that all three models can be extended to dual independent VCT engines and that they also give a good description of the residual gas fraction. However, it is shown that the two most advanced models, based on a thermodynamic energy balance, are very sensitive to the model inputs and proper care must therefore be taken when these models are used.