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 control method is provided for a fluid control device, particularly for an internal combustion engine, equipped with a position sensor having a nominal characteristic curve representative of a predetermined relationship between an admissible range of position values and a corresponding range of return electric signal values. The method includes, but is not limited to determining an offset (offsetopen; offsetclose) between a returned signal related to at least one defined position of the device and an expected signal related to the defined position of the device according to the nominal characteristic curve, estimating an updated characteristic curve of the sensor by applying the offset (offsetopen; offsetclose) to the nominal characteristic curve, and applying a predetermined control strategy of the fluid control device according to the updated characteristic curve.

Abstract: A method is provided for estimating a pressure in an exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber with an associated exhaust valve, the method includes, but is not limited to acquiring pressure values within the combustion chamber during an acquisition period (AP) chosen within the time interval when the exhaust valve is open, and averaging the pressure values to obtain a single pressure value which is representative for the pressure in the exhaust manifold.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing emissions behind a catalytic converter in an exhaust gas stream of the engine. The method includes, but is not limited to controlling a power supply to a glowplug of a compression-ignition engine. The glowplug is activated if a set of at least two input values remains in a first characteristic region of an input parameter space for at least a predetermined activation time. The first characteristic region consists of one ore more contiguous regions of the input parameter space.

Abstract: A method is provided for the control of a switchable water pump for a water cooling circuit in an internal combustion engine. The method includes, but is not limited to monitoring a parameter representative of the cylinder head temperature and, in case the temperature is below a predetermined value, perform at least an on-off cycle for the switchable water pump. The on-off cycle, includes, but is not limited to at least a first phase in which the water pump is switched OFF for a time period T1 and a second phase in which the water pump is switched ON for a time period T2.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining an in-cylinder pressure curve representative of the evolution of the pressure within a cylinder of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine. The method includes, but is not limited to setting a timeframe during the engine functioning, sampling pressure within at least two sensed cylinders of the engine, the samplings being performed during not contemporary sampling periods within the assumed timeframe, in order to acquire a partial in-cylinder pressure curve for each of said sensed cylinders, and using said partial in-cylinder pressure curves for reconstructing a whole in-cylinder pressure curve.

Abstract: A method is provided for regenerating a diesel particulate filter within a diesel engine system that includes, but is not limited to at least a combustion chamber defined by a reciprocating piston inside a cylinder, at least an exhaust valve for cyclically open the combustion chamber towards an exhaust line, and the diesel particulate filter located in the exhaust line, wherein the method comprises injecting an amount of fuel into the combustion chamber by means of least two consecutive after-injection pulses (AIP1-AIP3), each of which starts (SOI) after the piston has passed the top dead center (TDC), and sufficiently near to the latter for the fuel to burn at least partially inside the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A method and a control system are provided for estimating oxygen concentration downstream a diesel oxidation catalyst within a diesel engine system. The method includes, but is not limited to at least an intake manifold, a combustion chamber, an exhaust manifold, and the diesel oxidation catalyst located in the exhaust line upstream a diesel particulate filter, the method comprising: determining unburned fuel mass flow ejected from the combustion chamber, determining air mass fraction in the exhaust manifold, estimating air mass fraction downstream the diesel oxidation catalyst as a function of said unburned fuel mass flow and said air mass fraction in the exhaust manifold, estimating oxygen concentration downstream the diesel oxidation catalyst as a function of the estimated air mass fraction downstream the diesel oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: A control method is provided for a fluid control device, particularly for an internal combustion engine, equipped with a position sensor having a nominal characteristic curve representative of a predetermined relationship between an admissible range of position values and a corresponding range of return electric signal values. The method includes, but is not limited to determining an offset (offsetopen; offsetclose) between a returned signal related to at least one defined position of the device and an expected signal related to the defined position of the device according to the nominal characteristic curve, estimating an updated characteristic curve of the sensor by applying the offset (offsetopen; offsetclose) to the nominal characteristic curve, and applying a predetermined control strategy of the fluid control device according to the updated characteristic curve.