Transient Spark Advance Calibration Approach

Combustion control is assuming a crucial role in reducing engine tailpipe emissions while maximizing performance. The effort in the calibration of control parameters affecting the combustion development can be very demanding. One of the most effective factors influencing performance and efficiency is the combustion phasing: in Spark Ignition (SI) engines it is affected by factors such as Spark Advance (SA), Air-Fuel Ratio (AFR), Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR), Variable Valve Timing (VVT). SA optimal values are usually determined by means of calibration procedures carried out in steady state conditions on the test bench by changing SA values while monitoring performance indicators, such as Brake and Indicated Mean Effective Pressure (BMEP, IMEP), Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) and pollutant emissions. The effect of SA on combustion is stochastic, due to the cycle-to-cycle variation: the analysis of mean values requires many engine cycles to be significant of the performance obtained with the given control setting. Moreover, often the effect of SA on engine performance must be investigated for different settings of other control parameters (EGR, VVT, AFR). The calibration process is time consuming involving exhaustive tests followed by off-line data analysis. This paper presents the application of a dynamic calibration methodology, with the objective of reducing the calibration duration. The proposed approach is based on transient tests, coupled with a statistical investigation, allowing reliable performance analysis even with a low number of engine cycles. The methodology has been developed and tested off-line, then it has been implemented in Real-Time. The combustion analysis system has been integrated with the ECU management software and the test bench controller, in order to perform a fully automatic calibration. © 2013 The Authors.