Robust Control Approach on Diesel Engines With Dual-Loop Exhaust Gas Recirculation Systems

This paper presents a robust control approach to achieve an independent control authority over the intake manifold conditions of a medium-duty, V8, Diesel engine with the use of a complex air-path system. The intake manifold conditions in question include gas temperature, pressure, and oxygen mass fraction. The purpose of achieving such a high control authority over these intake manifold conditions is to explore the possibilities of extending the operating ranges of advanced combustion modes like low temperature diffusion combustion (LTDC), homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI), and pre-mixed charge compression ignition (PCCI). Independent control of these air-path variables is made possible by using a dual-loop exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system with a two-stage, variable geometry turbocharging (VGT) system. A multi-input-multi-output robust air-path controller was designed based on a control-oriented model identified using a high-fidelity GT-Power model of a medium-duty Diesel engine. Simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the controller over a limited engine operating range.Copyright © 2010 by ASME