Statistical Analysis of the Results Obtained by Thermodynamic Methods for the Determination of TDC Offset in an Internal Combustion Engine

Presented is a comprehensive evaluation of thermodynamic techniques used for the determination of top dead centre (TDC) in an internal combustion engine (ICE). This work thoroughly explores the assumptions made in thermodynamic calibration and assesses the impact these have through a rigorous sensitivity analysis, not previously attempted in any other study. The results of this work are presented as kernel density estimates (KDEs), an estimate of the probability density function (pdf), in order to offer both qualitative and quantitative assessments of the loss angle and the influence of the assumptions underpinning the loss angles determination. Thermodynamic loss angles ranging between -0.5°CA and -0.6°CA have been found for the engine under investigation.