Modeling and MPC control of Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition(HCCI) Engine Dynamics

Dr Johan Bengtsson (Lund Institute of Technology)

The Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) combustion engine principle lacks direct ignition timing control, instead the auto-ignition depends on the operating condition. Since auto-ignition of a homogeneous mixture is very sensitive to operating conditions, fast combustion phasing control is necessary for reliable operation. In this talk, a six-cylinder heavy-duty HCCI engine was controlled on a cycle-to-cycle basis in real time. Today there exists several different means to control an HCCI engine, such as dual fuels, variable valve actuation (VVA), inlet temperature and compression ratio. As actuator for controlling the HCCI combustion, a VVA system was used. As for control principle, Model Predictive Control (MPC) have several desirable features and today MPC can be applied to relatively fast systems, such as cycle-to-cycle VVA actuation. For sensor feedback control of the HCCI engine, cylinder pressure was used. To the purpose of control synthesis requiring dynamic models, system identification provided models of the HCCI combustion, the models being validated by stochastic model validation. With such models providing a basis for model-based control, for example MPC control. Multi-Input Multi-Output control using MPC controllers were performed, while satisfying the constraints on cylinder pressure, both control of the combustion phasing and control of load torque with simultaneous minimization of the fuel consumption and emissions.