Abstract: Methods and systems for utilizing heated fuel to compensate for a low cetane number, cetane number variance and sub-optimal engine cold-start performance in internal combustion engines are disclosed herein. Systems comprise a heater, a sensor, and an engine control unit (“ECU”). Methods can comprise detecting variables that affect combustion, calculating conditions inside a combustion chamber, determining the difference between current ignition delay and a desired ignition delay, estimating a cetane number of a fuel, and using the data to determine a suitable temperature that will compensate for cetane number and improve the ignition delay. Other methods comprise sending a signal to a heater in communication with a fuel injection system such that said heater warms fuel within the fuel injection system prior to injecting the fuel into a combustion chamber.

Abstract: A fuel injection method in an internal combustion engine and an internal combustion engine for performing the fuel injection method. The method includes heating fuel to a temperature between 300° F. and 840° F. (150 and 450° C.); pressurizing the fuel to a pressure exceeding 40 bar; pre-injecting at least 10% of the fuel charge as a pre-injected fuel during the intake stroke; injecting a fuel charge over at least part of the compression stroke into the cylinder; and injecting an ignition-injection of at least 10% of the fuel in a supercritical condition during the compression stroke at a rotational angle between 90° BTDCF and TDCF into the cylinder. The method and related combustion engine create a good mix of premix combustion and diffusion combustion increasing efficiency and consequently reducing emissions to the environment while also keeping noise and vibrations low.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method to operate an internal combustion engine comprising storing a fueling command map having fueling index values, each of the fueling index values defining values for a plurality of fueling parameters, and a plurality of predetermined non-linear relationships that directly relate fueling index values to in-cylinder oxygen mass values; determining a temporary fueling index value; determining an in-cylinder oxygen mass value; identifying a predetermined relationship that directly relates fueling index values to in-cylinder oxygen mass values from the plurality of predetermined relationships to provide an identified predetermined relationship; determining that a current relationship of the temporary fueling index value to the calculated oxygen mass value differs from the identified predetermined relationship; and adjusting the temporary fueling index value using at least one fueling correction model to provide a revised fueling index value that approaches the identified pred

Abstract: Set forth herein are apparatuses and systems that utilize high temperature fuel injection to eliminate knocking within a combustion systems, and more particularly internal combustion engines. In some embodiments, the combustion system of the present invention can eliminate knocking through the use of high compression ratios and high intake boost pressures. The combustion system can have a high exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) tolerance, as well as an increased range of fuel-air ratio with improved ignitability and increased combustion speed of the system. In some embodiments, combustion in the present invention takes place using a compression ignition process, a spark assisted compression ignition process or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An adaptive method is used for LNT desulfation and regeneration. The desulfation method involves adapting the amount of sulfur loading to trigger a desulfation event in accordance with the current adsorption capacity of the LNT. The method involves monitoring the current sulfur loading and the current LNT adsorption capacity. This data is used to calculate a loading amount “trigger”, whose value varies over the LNT lifetime. Whenever this trigger amount is reached, a desulfation event is performed. The regeneration method is similar, with the baseline data and loading threshold being determined by NOx loading rather than sulfur loading.

Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine, wherein in the control system, an in-cylinder oxygen amount is calculated and a compression end temperature, which is a temperature of the pressurized air-fuel mixture, is calculated according to an intake air temperature. A fuel injection parameter is determined according to the compression end temperature, the in-cylinder oxygen amount, and an engine rotational speed. The fuel injector is controlled based on the determined fuel injection parameter. By determining the fuel injection parameter according to the compression end temperature in addition to the in-cylinder oxygen amount, the combustion state is adjusted when the compression end temperature is low, thereby maintaining a stable combustion state.

Abstract: Methods and systems for utilizing heated fuel to compensate for a low cetane number, cetane number variance and sub-optimal engine cold-start performance in internal combustion engines are disclosed herein. Systems comprise a heater, a sensor, and an engine control unit (“ECU”). Methods can comprise detecting variables that affect combustion, calculating conditions inside a combustion chamber, determining the difference between current ignition delay and a desired ignition delay, estimating a cetane number of a fuel, and using the data to determine a suitable temperature that will compensate for cetane number and improve the ignition delay. Other methods comprise sending a signal to a heater in communication with a fuel injection system such that said heater warms fuel within the fuel injection system prior to injecting the fuel into a combustion chamber.

Abstract: A fuel injection method in an internal combustion engine and an internal combustion engine for performing the fuel injection method. The method includes heating fuel to a temperature between 300° F. and 840° F. (150 and 450° C.); pressurizing the fuel to a pressure exceeding 40 bar; pre-injecting at least 10% of the fuel charge as a pre-injected fuel during the intake stroke; injecting a fuel charge over at least part of the compression stroke into the cylinder; and injecting an ignition-injection of at least 10% of the fuel in a supercritical condition during the compression stroke at a rotational angle between 90° BTDCF and TDCF into the cylinder. The method and related combustion engine create a good mix of premix combustion and diffusion combustion increasing efficiency and consequently reducing emissions to the environment while also keeping noise and vibrations low.

Abstract: An air-flow based control system for an internal combustion engine has various sensors that are used to calculate various control commands. By comparing pairs of values calculated from different sensors, errors in connection with the sensors can be detected.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method to operate an internal combustion engine comprising storing a fueling command map having fueling index values, each of the fueling index values defining values for a plurality of fueling parameters, and a plurality of predetermined non-linear relationships that directly relate fueling index values to in-cylinder oxygen mass values; determining a temporary fueling index value; determining an in-cylinder oxygen mass value; identifying a predetermined relationship that directly relates fueling index values to in-cylinder oxygen mass values from the plurality of predetermined relationships to provide an identified predetermined relationship; determining that a current relationship of the temporary fueling index value to the calculated oxygen mass value differs from the identified predetermined relationship; and adjusting the temporary fueling index value using at least one fueling correction model to provide a revised fueling index value that approaches the identified pred

Abstract: A hybrid system for powering a vehicle and a method of controlling the hybrid system. The hybrid system has both an internal combustion engine and a motor/generator. The vehicle is controlled in response to the combination of states of five control parameters of the vehicle: polarity of the MG (positive or negative), relative rotor/stator speed, fueling of engine (on or off), clutch (on or off), and transmission shift position (drive, reverse, park). A control unit receives data from the vehicle representing these states, and determines an associated control mode. In at least one of the control modes, the engine both drives the vehicles and provides power to the generator.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of providing fuel to an internal combustion engine, fuel systems for an internal combustion engine and a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine. Ammonia may be heated and pressurized to a selected condition and may used as fuel which is supplemented with hydrogen to assist with ignition, flame propagation, and/or combustion speed.

Abstract: An adaptive method is used for LNT desulfation and regeneration. The desulfation method involves adapting the amount of sulfur loading to trigger a desulfation event in accordance with the current adsorption capacity of the LNT. The method involves monitoring the current sulfur loading and the current LNT adsorption capacity. This data is used to calculate a loading amount “trigger”, whose value varies over the LNT lifetime. Whenever this trigger amount is reached, a desulfation event is performed. The regeneration method is similar, with the baseline data and loading threshold being determined by NOx loading rather than sulfur loading.

Abstract: A system and method for using a sliding mode control algorithm to control flow rates from air handling actuators and fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine. The sliding mode control is based on an engine model that represents the engine in terms of pressure and oxygen content states of the intake and exhaust manifolds (as a linear term) and controllable flow rates (as a nonlinear term).

Abstract: A system and method for using a sliding mode control algorithm to control flow rates from air handling actuators and fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine. The sliding mode control is based on an engine model that represents the engine in terms of pressure and oxygen content states of the intake and exhaust manifolds (as a linear term) and controllable flow rates (as a nonlinear term).

Abstract: The invention provides methods of providing fuel to an internal combustion engine, fuel systems for an internal combustion engine and a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine. Ammonia may be heated and pressurized to a selected condition and may used as fuel which is supplemented with hydrogen to assist with ignition, flame propagation, and/or combustion speed.

Abstract: A method of controlling combustion of an internal combustion engine that use fuel injection and that uses lean and rich modes of operation. Combustion control values, such as for fuel injection timing and quantity are determined by a torque representative value. This value is obtained from estimated in-cylinder conditions and from engine speed.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating engine-out NOx from a diesel engine. The estimation is calculated from a mathematical model that expresses engine-out NOx as functions of cylinder pressure, intake oxygen, and effective temperature, respectively. Input data for each of these functions may be obtained from fuel quantity data and from measured data, the latter including intake pressure, cylinder pressure, intake oxygen concentration, coolant temperature, and intake manifold temperature.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to combusting fuel during cold start. A glow-plug may be provided within a combustion chamber having a volume including a piston, wherein the glow plug may provide a localized heated region. Air may then be provided into the chamber and compressed. A mass of fuel may also be provided into the combustion chamber, wherein an amount of the fuel mass may be directed towards the localized heated region of the glow plug, wherein the heated region of the glow plug may have a temperature T1, and the equivalence ratio of the fuel in the heated region achieves a value that the temperature T1 provides auto-ignition. All or a portion of the mass of fuel directed towards the heated region of said glow plug may be ignited, and then the remainder of the fuel may be ignited by auto-ignition and/or flame propagation.

Abstract: A hybrid system for powering a vehicle and a method of controlling the hybrid system. The hybrid system has both an internal combustion engine and a motor/generator. The vehicle is controlled in response to the combination of states of five control parameters of the vehicle: polarity of the MG (positive or negative), relative rotor/stator speed, fueling of engine (on or off), clutch (on or off), and transmission shift position (drive, reverse, park). A control unit receives data from the vehicle representing these states, and determines an associated control mode. In at least one of the control modes, the engine both drives the vehicles and provides power to the generator.