Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a waste-heat utilization system (20) for an internal combustion engine (10) of a vehicle, wherein the waste-heat utilization system (20) has at least one expander (22), which can transmit torque to the internal combustion engine (10) and which can be bypassed by means of a bypass flow path (25), at least one evaporator (21), and at least one pump (24) for an operating medium, and wherein at least the evaporator (21) is arranged in the region of the exhaust gas system (11) of the internal combustion engine (10). The expander (22), which can be operated in several operating modes, has a driving connection to a secondary drive shaft (19) of the internal combustion engine in at least one operating mode. An operating mode of the waste-heat utilization system (20) is selected by a control device (30) on the basis of at least one input variable and the waste-heat utilization system (20) is operated in said operating mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting an unsealed location in a heat recovery system of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The heat recovery system has at least one working medium, in particular a combustible working medium, and a working medium circuit with at least one evaporator, a pump, and at least one expansion machine to allow an early and reliable detection of leakages in the evaporator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a waste-heat utilization system (20) for an internal combustion engine (10) of a vehicle, wherein the waste-heat utilization system (20) has at least one expander (22), which can transmit torque to the internal combustion engine (10) and which can be bypassed by means of a bypass flow path (25), at least one evaporator (21), and at least one pump (24) for an operating medium, and wherein at least the evaporator (21) is arranged in the region of the exhaust gas system (11) of the internal combustion engine (10). The expander (22), which can be operated in several operating modes, has a driving connection to a secondary drive shaft (19) of the internal combustion engine in at least one operating mode. An operating mode of the waste-heat utilization system (20) is selected by a control device (30) on the basis of at least one input variable and the waste-heat utilization system (20) is operated in said operating mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting an unsealed location in a heat recovery system of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The heat recovery system has at least one working medium, in particular a combustible working medium, and a working medium circuit with at least one evaporator, a pump, and at least one expansion machine to allow an early and reliable detection of leakages in the evaporator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a waste-heat utilization system (20) for a motor vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine (10) by means of a drive train (13), wherein the waste-heat utilization system (20) has at least one expander (22), at least one evaporator (21), and at least one pump (24) for an operating medium, in particular ethanol. At least the evaporator (21) is arranged in the region of the exhaust gas system (11) of the internal combustion engine (10). The expander (22), which can be operated in several operating modes, performs work in at least one operating mode.

Abstract: A method for detecting a leaking point in a heat recovery system of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, wherein the heat recovery system includes a combustible working medium and a working medium circuit with an evaporator, a pump and an expansion machine. The recirculated exhaust gas of the engine flows through or around the evaporator which is arranged in an exhaust-gas return line. At least one oxidation catalytic converter is arranged in an exhaust gas line of the engine. A first temperature sensor is arranged in the exhaust gas line upstream and a second exhaust gas temperature sensor is arranged downstream of the oxidation catalytic converter. Temperatures of the exhaust gas are measured with these temperature sensors during operation of the engine in the exhaust gas line upstream and downstream of the oxidation catalytic converter.

Abstract: Temperatures of exhaust gas upstream and downstream of an oxidation catalytic converter in an exhaust gas line of an internal combustion engine are measured and the differences analyzed to detect a leakage in the EGR evaporator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a direct-injection internal combustion engine that is operated in a first operating range associated with the low part load, with largely homogeneous combustion of the mixture and subsequent injection. Said internal combustion engine is operated in a second operating range associated with the middle part load, with low-temperature combustion of the mixture. In this way, minimum nitrogen oxide and soot emissions and a high degree of efficiency can be achieved both in the lower part load region and up to the full load region.

Abstract: A method for operating a direct injection diesel engine which is operated in a first operating region corresponding to low to medium partial load in such a way that fuel combustion takes place at a local temperature below the temperature of NOx formation and with a local air ratio above the limit value for soot formation, and where fuel injection starts in a range of between 50° to 5° crank angle before top dead center of the compression phase and where exhaust gas is recirculated at an exhaust gas recirculation rate of 50% to 70%. In order to achieve high efficiency in each operating region while keeping NOx and particulate emissions low, in a second operating region corresponding to medium partial load, fuel injection is started in a range from approximately 2° crank angle before top dead center to approximately 20° crank angle after top dead center.

Abstract: A method for operating a direct injection diesel engine which is operated in a first operating region corresponding to low to medium partial load in such a way that fuel combustion takes place at a local temperature below the temperature of NOx formation and with a local air ratio above the limit value for soot formation, and where fuel injection starts in a range of between 50° to 5° crank angle before top dead center of the compression phase and where exhaust gas is recirculated at an exhaust gas recirculation rate of 50% to 70%. In order to achieve high efficiency in each operating region while keeping NOx and particulate emissions low, in a second operating region corresponding to medium partial load, fuel injection is started in a range from approximately 2° crank angle before top dead center to approximately 20° crank angle after top dead center.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine operating on spark-ignitable fuel, which features at least one operating mode with homogeneous charge and self-ignition, and which includes at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve per cylinder, which can be coupled via a transmission device in at least one operating mode of the engine, has its combustion process be controlled in a simple manner by providing that at least one exhaust valve can be actuated during the intake stroke by means of the transmission device, the transmission device having at least one first mechanical transmission member, and the transmission device being activated by a mechanical actuating device featuring an eccentric element acting on a transmission member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating an internal combustion engine operated on gasoline type fuels, more specifically on gasoline, wherein ignition of the fuel-air mixture is initiated spontaneously in at least one operational range of the engine, preferably in the part load range, and wherein a stratified charge is produced in the combustion chamber, preferably in the higher load range. In order to achieve in the simplest possible manner high exhaust quality for an internal combustion engine operated on fuel with poor ignition characteristics in the range of higher mean pressures as well there is provided that combustion is initiated by spontaneous ignition of the fuel in the full load range as well and that preferably the in-cylinder charge temperature is controlled throughout the load range by way of internal exhaust gas recirculation and that, in the full load range, the start of fuel injection occurs after top dead center.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine operated with a self-ignitable fuel, with an approximately homogeneous fuel-air mixture being produced in the combustion chamber in the self-ignition ranges (CI), a high compression ratio suitable for a self-ignition of the fuel being provided and the combustion occurring in the self-ignition ranges (CI) predominantly by self-ignition. In order to control the start of combustion in the self-ignition range (CI) in the easiest possible way it is provided that in the self-ignition range (CI) the pressure and/or temperature of the homogeneous fuel-air mixture are set in such a way, preferably depending on the charge composition and/or charge temperature, that the self-ignition would be achieved only after the actually desired start of combustion in the zone of the upper dead center and the combustion of the homogeneous fuel-air mixture is initiated locally in the self-ignition range (CI) by an external energy impulse.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine operating on spark-ignitible fuel, featuring at least one operating mode with homogeneous charge and self-ignition, and comprising at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve per cylinder, which intake and exhaust valves may be coupled via a transmission device in at least one operating mode of the engine. The combustion process may be controlled in a simple manner by providing that at least one exhaust valve can be actuated during the intake stroke by means of the transmission device, said transmission device having at least one first mechanical transmission member, and that the transmission device can be activated by a mechanical actuating device, said actuating device featuring an eccentric element acting on a transmission member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating an internal combustion engine operated on gasoline type fuels, more specifically on gasoline, wherein ignition of the fuel-air mixture is initiated spontaneously in at least one operational range of the engine, preferably in the part load range, and wherein a stratified charge is produced in the combustion chamber, preferably in the higher load range. In order to achieve in the simplest possible manner high exhaust quality for an internal combustion engine operated on fuel with poor ignition characteristics in the range of higher mean pressures as well there is provided that combustion is initiated by spontaneous ignition of the fuel in the full load range as well and that preferably the in-cylinder charge temperature is controlled throughout the load range by way of internal exhaust gas recirculation and that, in the full load range, the start of fuel injection occurs after top dead center.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine that is provided with at least one operation mode in which combustion substantially occurs by spontaneous ignition of a spontaneous ignitable, homogeneous fuel-air mixture, the share of inert gas in the combustion chamber being adjusted. In order to be able of controlling the start of the combustion and the maximum rate of combustion irrespective of one another, there is provided that nominal values for the actual intake-air temperature and for the actual share of inert gas are determined in function of actual motor parameters, that actual values are detected for the actual intake-air temperature and for the actual share of inert gas and that the curve of temperature of the charge and the share of inert gas are adjusted by controlling both the amount of residual exhaust gas contained in the combustion chamber and the amount of externally recycled exhaust gas on account of the deviation of the actual values from the nominal values.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine operated with a self-ignitable fuel, with an approximately homogeneous fuel-air mixture being produced in the combustion chamber in the self-ignition ranges (CI), a high compression ratio suitable for a self-ignition of the fuel being provided and the combustion occurring in the self-ignition ranges (CI) predominantly by self-ignition. In order to control the start of combustion in the self-ignition range (CI) in the easiest possible way it is provided that in the self-ignition range (CI) the pressure and/or temperature of the homogeneous fuel-air mixture are set in such a way, preferably depending on the charge composition and/or charge temperature, that the self-ignition would be achieved only after the actually desired start of combustion in the zone of the upper dead center and the combustion of the homogeneous fuel-air mixture is initiated locally in the self-ignition range (CI) by an external energy impulse.