Abstract: An artificial ventilation system and relative control method, the ventilation system is suitable for application to CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) breathing helmets to provide artificial ventilation to a patient with respiratory difficulties destined for so-called “sub-intensive” therapies. The artificial ventilation system provides a fully automated ventilation and does not require frequent checks by specialized medical personnel. The relative control method allows automatic control of the entire artificial ventilation system and implements innovative control strategies and techniques.

Abstract: A method of controlling a rate of warm-up of an internal combustion engine fluidly connected to an exhaust system is disclosed. The method includes identifying a cold-start of the engine. The method also includes regulating, in response to the identified cold-start of the engine, an exhaust pressure modulation (EPM) valve arranged in a main exhaust passage of the exhaust system. The main exhaust passage channels engine exhaust gas to the ambient. Such regulation of the EPM valve will restrict a flow of the engine exhaust gas to the ambient and increase exhaust gas backpressure in the exhaust system up to a predetermined pressure value. Furthermore, the subject regulation of the EPM valve will increase a load on and the rate of warm-up of the engine. A vehicle having an engine and a controller programmed to control a rate of the engine's warm-up of according to the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system includes a target generating module, a model predictive control (MPC) module, and an actuator module. The target generating module generates a target value for an actuator of an engine. The MPC module generates a set of possible adjustments to the target value and predicts an operating parameter for the set of possible adjustments. The predicted operating parameter includes an emission level and/or an operating parameter of an exhaust system. The MPC module determines a cost for the set of possible adjustments and selects the set of possible adjustments from multiple sets of possible adjustments based on the cost. The MPC module determines whether the predicted operating parameter for the selected set satisfies a constraint and adjusts the target value using the possible adjustments of the selected set when the predicted operating parameter satisfies the constraint. The actuator module controls the actuator based on the target value as adjusted.

Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a model predictive control (MPC) module and an actuator module. The MPC module generates a set of possible target values for an actuator of an engine and predicts an operating parameter for the set of possible target values. The predicted operating parameter includes an emission level and/or an operating parameter of an exhaust system. The MPC module determines a cost for the set of possible target values and selects the set of possible target values from multiple sets of possible target values based on the cost. The MPC module determines whether the predicted operating parameter for the selected set satisfies a constraint and sets target values to the possible target values of the selected set when the predicted operating parameter satisfies the constraint. The actuator module controls an actuator of an engine based on at least one of the target values.

Abstract: A method of controlling a rate of warm-up of an internal combustion engine fluidly connected to an exhaust system is disclosed. The method includes identifying a cold-start of the engine. The method also includes regulating, in response to the identified cold-start of the engine, an exhaust pressure modulation (EPM) valve arranged in a main exhaust passage of the exhaust system. The main exhaust passage channels engine exhaust gas to the ambient. Such regulation of the EPM valve will restrict a flow of the engine exhaust gas to the ambient and increase exhaust gas backpressure in the exhaust system up to a predetermined pressure value. Furthermore, the subject regulation of the EPM valve will increase a load on and the rate of warm-up of the engine. A vehicle having an engine and a controller programmed to control a rate of the engine's warm-up of according to the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a model predictive control (MPC) module and an actuator module. The MPC module generates a set of possible target values for an actuator of an engine and predicts an operating parameter for the set of possible target values. The predicted operating parameter includes an emission level and/or an operating parameter of an exhaust system. The MPC module determines a cost for the set of possible target values and selects the set of possible target values from multiple sets of possible target values based on the cost. The MPC module determines whether the predicted operating parameter for the selected set satisfies a constraint and sets target values to the possible target values of the selected set when the predicted operating parameter satisfies the constraint. The actuator module controls an actuator of an engine based on at least one of the target values.

Abstract: A system includes a target generating module, a model predictive control (MPC) module, and an actuator module. The target generating module generates a target value for an actuator of an engine. The MPC module generates a set of possible adjustments to the target value and predicts an operating parameter for the set of possible adjustments. The predicted operating parameter includes an emission level and/or an operating parameter of an exhaust system. The MPC module determines a cost for the set of possible adjustments and selects the set of possible adjustments from multiple sets of possible adjustments based on the cost. The MPC module determines whether the predicted operating parameter for the selected set satisfies a constraint and adjusts the target value using the possible adjustments of the selected set when the predicted operating parameter satisfies the constraint. The actuator module controls the actuator based on the target value as adjusted.

Abstract: A method of controlling exhaust braking in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine includes an exhaust system, an exhaust pressure modulation valve, and a variable geometry turbocharger having adjustable vanes. The method includes restricting a flow of the exhaust gas through the exhaust system via a first partially-closed position of the valve. The valve's first partially-closed position increases the exhaust backpressure in the engine up to a first pressure value and generates a first stage of exhaust braking by the engine. The method also includes, following the increase of exhaust backpressure in the engine up to the first pressure value, restricting a flow of the exhaust gas through the turbocharger via closing the turbocharger's adjustable vanes. The closing of the turbocharger's adjustable vanes increases the exhaust backpressure up to a second pressure value in the exhaust system and generates a second stage of exhaust braking by the engine.

Abstract: A method of controlling exhaust braking in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine includes an exhaust system, an exhaust pressure modulation valve, and a variable geometry turbocharger having adjustable vanes. The method includes restricting a flow of the exhaust gas through the exhaust system via a first partially-closed position of the valve. The valve's first partially-closed position increases the exhaust backpressure in the engine up to a first pressure value and generates a first stage of exhaust braking by the engine. The method also includes, following the increase of exhaust backpressure in the engine up to the first pressure value, restricting a flow of the exhaust gas through the turbocharger via closing the turbocharger's adjustable vanes. The closing of the turbocharger's adjustable vanes increases the exhaust backpressure up to a second pressure value in the exhaust system and generates a second stage of exhaust braking by the engine.

Abstract: A system and method can control exhaust braking in a vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine system. The engine system includes internal combustion engine, an intake manifold, a control module, an exhaust system, and a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) having a turbine. The turbine includes turbine blades and vanes movable with respect to the turbine blades. The method includes the following: (a) receiving an exhaust brake torque request; (b) determining target pumping losses in the internal combustion engine based on the exhaust brake torque request; (c) determining a target exhaust gas pressure within the exhaust system based on the target pumping losses; and (d) determining a target vane position of the vanes based on the target exhaust gas pressure, wherein the target vane position yields an exhaust brake torque in accordance with the exhaust brake torque request.

Abstract: A unit for estimating a rotational speed of a turbocharger is provided. The unit includes a microprocessor comprising input ports configured for receiving measurement signals from an exhaust gas flow control system of an internal combustion engine and an output port for outputting a signal indicative of the rotational speed of the turbocharger. The input ports are adapted to receive a first set of measurement signals and a second set of measurement signals. A microprocessor is configured to calculate an estimated rotational speed of the turbocharger using a turbocharger model, based on the first set of measurement signals and the second set of measurement signals. Rhe second set of measurement signals include signals indicative of a pressure difference across a turbine of the turbocharger.

Abstract: A system and method can control exhaust braking in a vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine system. The engine system includes internal combustion engine, an intake manifold, a control module, an exhaust system, and a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) having a turbine. The turbine includes turbine blades and vanes movable with respect to the turbine blades. The method includes the following: (a) receiving an exhaust brake torque request; (b) determining target pumping losses in the internal combustion engine based on the exhaust brake torque request; (c) determining a target exhaust gas pressure within the exhaust system based on the target pumping losses; and (d) determining a target vane position of the vanes based on the target exhaust gas pressure, wherein the target vane position yields an exhaust brake torque in accordance with the exhaust brake torque request.

Abstract: A method and a control system are provided for diagnosing a diesel combustion catalyst that is located in an exhaust line within a diesel engine system. The method comprising providing an unburned fuel mass flow through the diesel oxidation catalyst, determining the oxidation heat release rate which is related to the exothermic oxidation reactions of the unburned fuel into the diesel oxidation catalyst, integrating the determined oxidation heat release rate on a time interval, integrating the unburned fuel mass flow on the same time interval, dividing the integrated value of oxidation heat release rate and the integrated value of unburned fuel mass flow for determining an efficiency index (DOI) of the diesel oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: A method is provided for the diagnosis of the EGR cooler efficiency in a Diesel engine that includes but is not limited to construction of a model for determining the temperature drop y=?T in the EGR cooler, the model having a parameter vector ? and an input vector x; performing a model calibration phase in order to estimate the bias h0 of the system; calculation of a set of primary residuals ?(?0, x, ?T), staffing from the model equation and using the results of the calibration phase; calculation of a set of improved residuals ?N(?0): ? N ? ( ? 0 ) = 1 N ? ? k = 1 N ? ( ? ? ( ? 0 , x k , y k ) - h 0 ) where N is the number of samples on which the diagnostic test is performed; calculation of a diagnostic index S: S=?TNR0?1?N and, use of the diagnostic index S in order to diagnose the efficiency of the EGR cooler.

Abstract: A unit for estimating a rotational speed of a turbocharger is provided. The unit includes a microprocessor comprising input ports configured for receiving measurement signals from an exhaust gas flow control system of an internal combustion engine and an output port for outputting a signal indicative of the rotational speed of the turbocharger. The input ports are adapted to receive a first set of measurement signals and a second set of measurement signals. A microprocessor is configured to calculate an estimated rotational speed of the turbocharger using a turbocharger model, based on the first set of measurement signals and the second set of measurement signals. The second set of measurement signals include signals indicative of a pressure difference across a turbine of the turbocharger.

Abstract: A method for operating an EGR system in an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) is provided. The EGR system includes an EGR valve for regulating an exhaust gas flow into an EGR cooler and a by-pass line for by-passing the EGR cooler. The method includes monitoring an index value indicative of a clogging condition of the EGR cooler, closing the exhaust gas flow in the EGR cooler if the index value exceeds a predefined threshold, and opening the exhaust gas flow in the EGR cooler if the index value is decreasing.

Abstract: A method for determining a value of an exhaust gas temperature in a predetermined position along an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes measuring a value of an exhaust gas temperature in the exhaust pipe with a temperature sensor and measuring a value of a pressure within a cylinder of the internal combustion engine with a pressure sensor. A value of an exhaust gas temperature in the exhaust pipe is estimated based on the measured pressure value. Whether the internal combustion engine is operating under a transient condition or not is detected. The value of the exhaust gas temperature in the predetermined position is determined based on the measured exhaust gas temperature value, if the transient condition is not detected. Otherwise, the value of the exhaust gas temperature in the predetermined position is determined based on the estimated exhaust gas temperature value.

Abstract: A combustion engine evaluation unit is provided that includes, but is not limited to a microcontroller receiving measurement signals from a gas flow control system and outputting a state signal of the gas flow control system. The microcontroller includes, but is not limited to input ports for receiving as first set of measurement signals. Furthermore, the microcontroller includes, but not limited to input ports for receiving as a second set of measurement signals. The microcontroller is configured to calculate a first set of predicted values with a gas flow model based on the first set of measurement signals and calculate a second set of predicted values with a nominal model based on the second set of measurement signals. The microcontroller is also configured to generate the state signal based on a comparison of the first set of predicted values with the second set of predicted values.

Abstract: An evaluation unit is provided that includes, but is not limited to a microprocessor for receiving measurement signals from a gas flow control system of a combustion engine and for outputting a state signal indicating a state of the gas flow control system. A first set of measurement signals includes, but is not limited to a signal of a pressure upstream of a turbocharger and a signal of a pressure downstream of a turbocharger. A second set of measurement signal includes, but is not limited to a motor revolution speed. The microprocessor calculates first predicted values using a turbocharger model based on the first set of measurement signals and calculate a second predicted values using a nominal model based on the second set of measurement signals. The microprocessor further generates the state signal with a comparison of the first predicted values with the second predicted values.

Abstract: A method and a control system are provided for diagnosing a diesel combustion catalyst that is located in an exhaust line within a diesel engine system. The method comprising providing an unburned fuel mass flow through the diesel oxidation catalyst, determining the oxidation heat release rate which is related to the exothermic oxidation reactions of the unburned fuel into the diesel oxidation catalyst, integrating the determined oxidation heat release rate on a time interval, integrating the unburned fuel mass flow on the same time interval, dividing the integrated value of oxidation heat release rate and the integrated value of unburned fuel mass flow for determining an efficiency index (DOI) of the diesel oxidation catalyst.