METHOD TO CONTROL THE COMBUSTION OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

A method to control the combustion of an internal combustion engine (1), which comprises determining a combustion model, which provides a spark advance (SAm e ) depending on an objective value (R0bj) of the rate of water to be injected, on the rotation speed (n), on the intake efficiency (n p) and on an open-loop contribution (MFB50OL) of a combustion index (MFB50); calculating a first closed-loop contribution (ASAKNOCK) of the spark advance depending on the combustion index (MFB50); calculating a second closed-loop contribution (ASAKNOCK) of the spark advance depending on a quantity indicating the knocking energy; and calculating the objective value (SA0bj) of the spark advance angle to be operated through the sum of the spark advance value (SAm e ) provided by the combustion model and of the first closed- loop contribution (ASAMFBSO) or, alternatively, of the second closed-loop contribution (ASAKNOCK).