Advanced Diesel Engine Management During Transients

Principal Investigators
Dennis Assanis, Zoran Filipi (U. of Michigan)

University Researcher
Hosam Fathy (U. of Michigan)

Industry
William De Ojeda (International Truck & Engine)
Mark Theobald (General Motors)
Haoran Hu (Eaton)

Government
Peter Schihl, Ernie Schwartz, Heather McKee (TARDEC)

Student
Ashwin Salvi (U. of Michigan)

Most engines operate over vehicle transient cycles, which greatly affect the behavior of critical components/sub-systems, and the resulting engine performance, fuel economy and emissions. Advancement in fuel injection, e.g. multiple injections per cycle, allow for additional degrees of freedom and opportunities for emissions reductions. Advanced diesel engine combustion strategies (including partially premixed compression ignition (PPCI)) utilize large amounts of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), which place a significant burden on the engine cooling system requirements. The use of variable geometry turbine (VGT) and advanced injection strategies provides new motivation to revisit optimization of engines with ceramic-insulated combustion chambers. Engine-in-the-loop testing can provide detailed insight into diesel engine dynamic behavior with real actuators and under real-life conditions.

Using the above engine strategies, we can deliver improved performance and fuel economy during transient driving conditions with reduced visual signature. These results can also be used for redesigning and re-calibrating commercial diesel engine systems for military applications. Additionally, reduce cooling system burden while operating with advanced combustion strategies for improved fuel economy.