The development of new generations of engines is guided by increasing challenges concerning performance, fuel consumption, emissions and driveability. In order to meet future requirements the engines are equipped with an increasing number of control devices, which have to be mapped according to the operating condition. Because of the large number of control elements and the often contradictory requirements, the determination of the best compromise is a complex and labor intensive task.
In this paper, the combination of modern measurement techniques, automated test procedures and an optimization software package is demonstrated allowing the performance of a multidimensional optimization of such engine control characteristics as spark advance, injection phase, rate of exhaust gas recirculation, boost pressure, controller settings, etc., under steady state operating conditions for the whole engine map. With the integrated mathematical optimization method, it is possible to solve optimization problems with a free definition of objectives and boundaries.
By direct communication of the test cell data acquisition and control system with the electronic engine management, it is possible to perform the optimization procedure directly in the test cell in an automated routine thus reducing time and volume of data required for the optimization process.