Optimal Sensor Placement for High Pressure and Low Pressure EGR Estimation

Low pressure exhaust gases recirculation (LP-EGR) is becoming a state-of-the-art technique for Nitrogen oxides (NOx) reduction in compression ignited (CI) engines. However, despite the pollutant reduction benefits, LP-EGR suffers from strong non-linearities and delays which are difficult to handle, resulting in reduced engine performance under certain conditions. Measurement and observation of oxygen concentration at the intake have been a research topic over the past few years, and it may be critical for transition phases (from low pressure to high pressure EGR). Here, an adequate selection of models and sensors is essential to obtain a precise and fast measurement for control purposes. The present paper analyses different sensor configurations, with oxygen concentration measurements at the intake and exhaust manifold and combines observation techniques with sensor models to determine the potential of each configuration. Experimental results from a 2.2 l. diesel engine are used to validate the presented techniques.