Controller for Rapid Development of Advanced Mode Combustion Algorithms using Cylinder Pressure Feedback

Worldwide regulatory demands to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other airborne pollutants are leading to significant changes in internal combustion engines. Many engine subsystems such as fuel injection, valvetrain, turbochargers and EGR, are being changed to address these demands. Additionally, advanced combustion modes such as HCCI are being pursued to address the key shortcomings of today's gasoline and diesel engines. Cylinder pressure based control is an enabling technology to the development and application of advanced engine subsystems and a key control element for advanced combustion modes.

This paper describes a tool for rapid development of closed-loop cylinder pressure based algorithms. The Cylinder Pressure Development Controller (CPDC) is an affordable, automotive grade package containing a unique architecture enabling real-time, next engine cycle combustion feedback control. The efficient, model-based software architecture enables quick evaluation of cylinder pressure based algorithms used in advanced mode combustion control. An overview of the CPDC hardware and software is described. The model-based algorithm development and autocoding environment are discussed. Finally, an example of how the CPDC can be used in conjunction with an Engine Control Module (ECM) to develop production-intent combustion control algorithms is presented.