Abstract: A method for controlling the surface temperature of any glow plug in an internal combustion engine. A glow plug control device carries out an initialization at the installed and connected glow plug to adapt the temperature model to the behavior of the connected glow plug before the engine is started. Upon initialization, the glow plug is acted on by at least two different voltages and the resistances of the glow plug with these voltages are measured. A resistance gradient is calculated therefrom and the temperature model is adapted to the behavior of the connected glow plug. During the control process during operation of the engine, the momentary surface temperature of the glow plug is estimated by a model temperature, which is established using the temperature model. The effective voltage acting on the glow plug is changed in accordance with the deviation of the model temperature from a target temperature.

Abstract: A method for controlling the surface temperature of any glow plug in an internal combustion engine. A glow plug control device carries out an initialization at the installed and connected glow plug to adapt the temperature model to the behaviour of the connected glow plug before the engine is started. Upon initialization, the glow plug is acted on by at least two different voltages and the resistances of the glow plug with these voltages are measured. A resistance gradient is calculated therefrom and the temperature model is adapted to the behaviour of the connected glow plug. During the control process during operation of the engine, the momentary surface temperature of the glow plug is estimated by a model temperature, which is established using the temperature model. The effective voltage acting on the glow plug is changed in accordance with the deviation of the model temperature from a target temperature.