Abstract: A method for controlling the combustion behavior of an engine is provided. The engine is equipped with a plurality of actuators that influence combustion in the engine. The method includes receiving a target value for each of a plurality of charge air properties. The method further includes communicating signals operative to control the plurality of actuators so as to urge the actual values of the charge air properties to their target values.

Abstract: An engine system and a method of controlling a combustion process in an internal combustion engine are disclosed. The combustion process is based on compression ignition of a stratified air-fuel mixture using a high octane fuel such as gasoline. Multiple fuel injections may be used in a given combustion cycle. Fuel injection timing, EGR, exhaust rebreathing, late intake valve closing, and intake boost are controlled to enable autoignition over essentially the entire speed and load operating range of the engine, while providing reduced emissions, low noise, and low fuel consumption.

Abstract: A burner module for burning injected reformate mixed with engine exhaust in an exhaust pipe ahead of aftertreatment devices, comprising an exhaust flow divider that creates a localized region of exhaust flow for mixture of the reformate. The amount of reformate required to produce a burnable composition in the localized area is less than what is required in the prior art to provide the same composition over the entire cross-sectional region of the exhaust pipe. An igniter is provided within the localized region. Upon ignition of the reformate, the flow of reformate may be increased to the point of a stoichiometric mixture for the entire exhaust, to produce the maximum heat for warm up. The exhaust flow divider may comprise a divider tube mounted in the exhaust pipe or may be simply a protrusion from a wall of the exhaust pipe.

Abstract: A heated fuel injector includes a heated body, liquid fuel flowing through a fuel passage within the body, and a member that increases heat transfer from the heated body to the fuel within the fuel passage. The thermal efficiency of the fuel injector is increased separately or in combination by diverting the fuel flow along an inner circumferential contour of the heated body, by limiting the volume of fuel bypassing the heated inner surface of the body, by redirecting heat from the body to unheated portions of the fuel flow field within the fuel passage, and by increasing the available contact surface area for heat transfer. Improved heat transfer from the heated body to the fuel is achieved by integrating features that increase the contact surface area into the inside surface of the body or by positioning an insulating or a thermally conductive spacer within the fuel passage.

Abstract: A heated fuel injector includes a heated body, liquid fuel flowing through a fuel passage within the body, and a member that increases heat transfer from the heated body to the fuel within the fuel passage. The thermal efficiency of the fuel injector is increased separately or in combination by diverting the fuel flow along an inner circumferential contour of the heated body, by limiting the volume of fuel bypassing the heated inner surface of the body, by redirecting heat from the body to unheated portions of the fuel flow field within the fuel passage, and by increasing the available contact surface area for heat transfer. Improved heat transfer from the heated body to the fuel is achieved by integrating features that increase the contact surface area into the inside surface of the body or by positioning an insulating or a thermally conductive spacer within the fuel passage.

Abstract: A burner module for burning injected reformate mixed with engine exhaust in an exhaust pipe ahead of aftertreatment devices, comprising an exhaust flow divider that creates a localized region of exhaust flow for mixture of the reformate. The amount of reformate required to produce a burnable composition in the localized area is less than what is required in the prior art to provide the same composition over the entire cross-sectional region of the exhaust pipe. An igniter is provided within the localized region. Upon ignition of the reformate, the flow of reformate may be increased to the point of a stoichiometric mixture for the entire exhaust, to produce the maximum heat for warm up. The exhaust flow divider may comprise a divider tube mounted in the exhaust pipe or may be simply a protrusion from a wall of the exhaust pipe.