Integrated Modeling, Control and Diagnostics of Engine and Catalyst for Optimized Fuel Economy and Emissions Reduction Grant uri icon

abstract

  • Efforts on automotive engine regulation and diagnostics have been initiated over two decades ago. However, developing a systematic model-based analysis and control design of the coupled engine and catalyst processes still remains an ambitious challenge and goal in academia and industry. The proposed NPRP continuation grant will develop a systematic control strategy that integrates and unifies the control of the engine and the three-way-catalyst (TWC). The proposed approach is based on three TWC sensors - two Universal Exhaust Gas Oxygen (UEGO) and one Heated Exhaust Gas Oxygen (HEGO) - for robust air/fuel control with integrated accurate TWC diagnostics. This novel formulation reduces precious metal loading and size of the catalyst that offsets the additional cost of the second UEGO sensor. The control strategy will build upon the results of the previous NPRP grant and will develop/integrate a low dimensional TWC model for estimating TWC state and health. A low-dimensional combustion model predicting engine power and feed gas emissions will also be included. The development and integration of physics-based low-dimensional models for the TWC and in-cylinder combustion will enable real-time execution on the Electronic Engine Control (EEC) unit. The model outputs create new opportunities in the robust fueling control for flex-fuel systems and for TWC diagnostics while reducing the need for extensive dynamometer testing. The previous NPRP successfully created a nonlinear engine fueling controller design methodology.........

date/time interval

  • 2015 - 2018