Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling fueling and mitigating knock in internal combustion engines, such as multi-fuel engines. In one example, a method may include monitoring a frequency of knock events corresponding to one or more engine cylinders, and dynamically increasing a substitution ratio while the frequency of knock events is less than a maximum action threshold. In some examples, the method may further include actively adjusting one or more engine operating conditions to decrease the substitution ratio responsive to a severity of knocking in the one or more engine cylinders being greater than or equal to a threshold severity.

Abstract: In a variable valve control device, a variable valve control system and a method for controlling a variable valve mechanism according to the present invention, An ECM (201) transmits a phase detection value (RA1) computed based on a crank angle signal (CRANK) and a cam angle signal (CAM) to a VTC control unit (202) via a communication network (211), and VTC control unit (202) computes a phase detection value (RA2) based on a motor angle signal (MAS), controls a variable valve timing mechanism (114) based on phase detection value (RA2) in the transient state of an internal combustion engine, and controls variable valve timing mechanism (114) based on phase detection value (RA1) in the steady state of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining emissions of a motor vehicle driven with the aid of an internal combustion engine in a practical driving operation. A machine learning system is trained to generate time curves of the operating variables with the aid of measured time curves of operating variables of the motor vehicle and/or of the internal combustion engine, and to then ascertain the emissions as a function of these generated time curves.

Abstract: Because an in-cylinder temperature becomes low immediately after cold starting, it is impossible to take large ignition timing retard to avoid combustion instability and it takes time to activate a catalyst existing downstream of an internal combustion engine. The present invention provides an internal combustion engine control apparatus including an ignition timing control unit to control an ignition timing of an ignition device attached to an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine control apparatus includes an in-cylinder temperature raising unit that raises an in-cylinder temperature, the in-cylinder temperature is raised by the in-cylinder temperature raising unit, and a retard amount of the ignition timing of the ignition device is increased by the ignition timing control unit.

Abstract: A method of calculating a residual gas mass in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, wherein the cylinder has at least one intake valve and one exhaust valve, comprising: obtaining a cylinder residual gas mass base value that is based on a predefined model; determining a first cylinder residual gas mass value that indicates a cylinder residual gas mass remaining in the cylinder clearance volume after an expulsion of exhaust gas; determining a second cylinder residual gas mass value that indicates a cylinder residual gas mass flowing into the cylinder due to a valve overlap of the intake valve and the exhaust valve, wherein the second cylinder residual gas mass value is determined based on the cylinder residual gas mass base value and the first cylinder residual gas mass value; and calculating the residual gas mass in the cylinder, based on the first and second cylinder residual gas mass values.

Abstract: An object is to prevent hydrogen from burning before the time of ignition. An internal combustion engine is provided with a first intake port and a second intake port connected to a cylinder, a first fuel injection valve that injects fuel into the first intake port, and an ignition plug provided at a location at which the gas flowing into the cylinder from the second intake port impinges on the ignition plug in a larger quantity than the gas flowing into the cylinder from the second intake port during the intake stroke.

Abstract: A method is presented, comprising, during a first condition, including an active refueling event, receiving an indication of hydrocarbon breakthrough from the fuel vapor canister; and flowing refueling vapors into an intake manifold responsive to the indication of hydrocarbon breakthrough. Flowing refueling vapors into an intake manifold traps the vapors there until engine start-up, when the vapor can be combusted by the engine. In this way, refueling emissions may be reduced, even if the fuel vapor canister is saturated prior to, or during the refueling event.

Abstract: A variable compression ratio internal combustion engine is provided with a variable compression ratio mechanism in which a mechanical compression ratio of the internal combustion engine changes in accordance with a rotational position of a control shaft, a low compression ratio side stopper, a high compression ratio side stopper, a sensor for detecting a rotational position of a drive shaft of an actuator, and an arm press-fitted onto the drive shaft. Relative rotation between the arm and the drive shaft occurs when a torque exceeding an upper-limit torque has been applied. The drive shaft or the control shaft is caused to move to restriction positions restricted by the respective stoppers, and then a diagnosis on the presence or absence of the relative rotation is executed, based on the detected values at the respective restriction positions.

Abstract: When an accelerator opening degree becomes zero, a fuel cut-permission vehicle speed is set on the bases of a cooling water temperature. During a delay time, torque reduction has the characteristic of being dependent on cooling water temperature, and in an unwarmed state, a relatively large amount of air is supplied. The fuel cut-permission vehicle speed has the characteristic of taking a high value when an engine is not warmed up and cooling water temperature is low, in accordance with delay time air amount reduction control, which is performed in accordance with cooling water temperature. This reduces any shocks or odd feelings experienced by an occupant.

Abstract: System includes a sensor operably coupled to a device body. The sensor includes a sensing region and at least one resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) circuit. The sensing region is configured to be placed in operational contact with an industrial fluid. The at least one resonant LCR circuit is configured to generate an electrical stimulus that is applied to the industrial fluid via electrodes at the sensing region. The device body includes one or more processors configured to receive an electrical signal from the sensor that is representative of a resonant impedance spectral response of the sensing region in operational contact with the industrial fluid responsive to the electrical stimulus. The one or more processors are further configured to analyze the resonant impedance spectral response and determine both a water concentration in the industrial fluid and an aging level of the industrial fluid based on the resonant impedance spectral response.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling spark plug fouling and pre-ignition in a newly manufactured vehicle. One method comprises, during a pre-delivery phase of the newly manufactured vehicle including an engine, operating the engine with a first setting for air/fuel ratio to reduce spark plug fouling, and adjusting the first setting of the air/fuel ratio responsive to pre-ignition.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for on-line, real-time estimation of a residual mass in an engine cylinder during HCCI combustion. The residual mass is estimated based on an estimated residual mass for a previous combustion cycle. A value of a first performance variable for the first combustion cycle is determined based only on engine data measured by one or more sensors. A value of a second performance is estimated based at least in part on the estimated residual mass for the first combustion cycle. An adaptive scaling factor is determining for the first combustion cycle based on the determined value of the first performance variable and the estimated value of the second performance variable. An adjusted residual mass for the first combustion cycle is then determined based on the estimated residual mass for the first combustion cycle and the adaptive scaling factor for the first combustion cycle.

Abstract: A method and a system for improving operation of an automatically started engine are described. In one example, engine speed is adjusted to a sole run-up speed and, held at the desired engine run-up speed for a desired period, before being ramped to an idle speed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for addressing cylinder pre-ignition. Each cylinder of an engine may be operated in either a split injection mode or a single injection mode based on the pre-ignition history of the cylinder. The timing and number of injections in the split injection mode is adjusted based on the pre-ignition count of the cylinder.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided with an engine, an H2 and CO tank, a CO2 reclaimer, an electrolytic solution tank, an electrolyzer, a water tank and the like. During operation of the engine, an exhaust gas is introduced into an absorbing liquid in the CO2 reclaimer so as to recover CO2 in the exhaust gas and to store the same in the electrolytic solution tank. While supplying the absorbing liquid having absorbed CO2 and water to the electrolyzer from the electrolytic solution tank and the water tank, respectively, electric power is supplied to the electrolyzer. As a result, a mixed gas composed of CO and H2 from CO2 and water. The generated mixed gas is temporarily stored in the H2 and CO tank and is supplied to the engine.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a control device for an internal combustion engine that regularly and forcefully removes deposit that is accumulated in cylinders and restrains consecutive occurrences of pre-ignition beforehand. The internal combustion engine has a low-speed pre-ignition region in which a possibility of occurrence of pre-ignition increases, in a low-rotation and high-load region. Ignition means (16) for igniting an air-fuel mixture taken into the cylinders is included.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve disposed in an intake passage of the engine is provided. A wide-open intake air amount, which is an intake air amount corresponding to a state where the throttle valve is fully opened, is calculated, and a theoretical intake air amount, which is an intake air amount corresponding to a state where no exhaust gas of the engine is recirculated to a combustion chamber of the engine, is calculated according to the wide-open intake air amount and the intake pressure. An air-fuel ratio correction amount and a learning value thereof are calculated according to the detected air-fuel ratio, and a reference intake air amount is calculated using the intake pressure, the engine rotational speed, the air-fuel ratio correction amount, and the learning value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling the combustion phase of a fuel mixture of a spark-ignition supercharged internal-combustion engine comprising at least one cylinder (12) with a combustion chamber (14), at least one fuel supply means (48, 52) and spark ignition means (38).

Abstract: An ignition control device for an internal combustion engine, which controls the number of times of ignition operation such that it becomes neither too large nor too small, according to a flowing state of a mixture in a cylinder. In the ignition control device, a target ignition timing is used as an in-cylinder flow parameter indicative of the strength of a tumble flow generated in a cylinder. When the target ignition timing is more advanced than a predetermined reference position, it is determined that the tumble flow is strong, and multiple ignition control is executed by setting the number of times of ignition to a plurality of times, whereas when the former is more retarded than the latter, it is determined that the tumble flow is not strong, and normal ignition control is executed by setting the number of times of ignition to only once.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to enable a torque as required to be realized without being influenced by an operation state of an IN-VVT, which is a variable valve timing mechanism which changes a valve timing of an intake valve. For this purpose, a control device for an internal combustion engine provided by the present invention stores data that defines a relationship between an air quantity and a torque in an MBT in association with the operation state of the IN-VVT, and calculates a target air quantity for realizing a required torque based on the data. The control device calculates an actual air quantity which is actually realized by an operation of a throttle when operating the throttle to realize the target air quantity.

Abstract: When cranking starts by turning on a starter switch 14, the ignition timing is first corrected to a fixed value on a retard side. When an IACV 6 reaches a fully opened position, the ignition timing is corrected to the retard side once, and thereafter corrected to an advance side. The correction to the advance side is performed in accordance with a difference between the number of idling target steps and the current number of steps, and the amount of advance correction is reduced as the difference is reduced. Upon completion of the initialization of the IACV 6, the ignition timing correction amount is then restored to the initial value by increasing the amount of advance by a predetermined amount in a stepwise manner.

Abstract: As one example, a fuel rail assembly for supplying pressurized fuel to a plurality of cylinders of an engine is provided. The fuel rail assembly includes a fuel rail housing defining an internal fuel rail volume having at least a first region and a second region; a fuel separation membrane element disposed within the fuel rail housing that segregates the first region from the second region. The membrane element can be configured to pass a first component of a fuel mixture such as an alcohol through the membrane element from the first region to the second region at a higher rate than a second component of the fuel mixture such as a hydrocarbon. The separated alcohol and hydrocarbon components can be provided to the engine in varying relative amounts based on operating conditions.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for fabricating and running an engine in two modes. The first mode is an efficiency mode having a high compression ratio and efficiency for low to medium loads. The second mode is a power mode having high power density for higher loads. The system may use a lean mixture in the efficiency mode, which mixture is made richer for more power in the power mode. The system may also use ignition timing to allow the efficiency mode and the high power mode to be at the same mixture.

Abstract: Because opening of a flow enhancement valve affects not only a flow but also a flow rate, when the opening of the flow enhancement valve is transiently changed, if an ignition correction control is conducted on the basis of a relationship obtained in a steady operation state of the flow enhancement valve opening and the ignition timing, there occurs such a drawback that the ignition timing is set to a retard side or an advance side of the optimal point.

Abstract: Methods for improving the efficiency of internal combustion engines are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of improving the efficiency of an internal combustion engine comprises controlling the motion of an exhaust valve associated with a cylinder of the internal combustion engine. Camshafts and internal combustion engines configured for performing methods of the instant invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to address engine pre-ignition. One or more cylinders are alternately rich and lean operated for a duration to reduce engine thermal loading while maintaining an exhaust air-to-fuel ratio around stoichiometry.

Abstract: A method for reducing a temperature of an engine component is disclosed. In one example, an air-fuel ratio provided to an engine is adjusted to reduce a temperature of an engine component. The approach may be useful for controlling temperature and emissions from a turbocharged engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine (8) has an ignition device, a device for supplying fuel and a device for detecting the rpm of the engine (8). The engine (8) includes a permissible limit rpm (ng) and a control range (A) of the rpm (n) above the limit rpm (ng). A method for operating the engine (8) provides that the rpm of the engine (8) is limited in the control range (A) because of suppression of the ignition in individual engine cycles wherein the rpm (n) lies above a control rpm (na) lying in the control range (A). In the control range, and to improve the exhaust-gas values, the noncombustion engine cycle ratio (NECR) is adjusted. The NECR indicates the ratio of the number of engine cycles wherein the ignition is suppressed to the total number of ignitions.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine apparatus provided with an internal combustion engine in which ignition timing can be adjusted and which has attached thereto an exhaust gas recirculation device that recirculates exhaust gas to an intake side, a control method for the internal combustion engine apparatus, and a hybrid vehicle are provided.

Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine in which controls can be simplified, and being capable of performing high-performance control by appropriately mediating a plurality of requirements. The device includes an emission control unit, a fuel consumption control unit and an idle stability control unit. Those units output requirements for the internal combustion engine on the basis of their respective aims. An efficiency mediation unit that mediates requirements from those units is provided. Furthermore, an actuator instruction value calculation unit, which determines instruction values for the plurality of actuators installed in the internal combustion engine on the basis of a result of mediation performed by the efficiency mediation unit, is also provided. The requirement is a requirement concerning torque efficiency, which indicates a ratio of a required torque to a reference torque that is obtained when operating points of the plurality of actuators are optimized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling the combustion of a spark-ignition internal-combustion engine, in particular a supercharged engine, wherein the engine comprises at least one cylinder (12) with a combustion chamber (14), intake means (16), exhaust means (22) and fuel supply means (44) allowing a fuel mixture to be achieved in said combustion chamber. According to the invention, the method consists in: establishing, between a slow engine speed (Rf) and a low engine speed (Rb), a curve (C2) of the limit values (P2) of the load of cylinder (12) above which pre-ignition of the fuel mixture is favored, evaluating the effective cylinder load, heterogenizing, between the slow engine speed (Rf) and the low engine speed (Rb), the fuel mixture when the evaluated load value is close to the limit value (P2) established.

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for operating an internal combustion engine which allow for an improved diagnosis of the valve mechanism of cylinders of the internal combustion engine. For this purpose, a variable characteristic of a suction performance of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine is ascertained. The variable characteristic of the suction performance is ascertained as a function of the mass flow flowing into an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine and of a change of the intake manifold pressure during an intake phase of the cylinder.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to address engine pre-ignition. One or more cylinders are alternately rich and lean operated for a duration to reduce engine thermal loading while maintaining an exhaust air-to-fuel ratio around stoichiometry.

Abstract: An ECU controls an adjusting mechanism adjusting an output of an engine, such as a throttle valve, a swirl control valve, an ignition plug, an intake valve, and an ACIS (Acoustic Control Induction System) changing the length of an intake manifold, in accordance with a ratio between a maximum value KL(MAX) of load factor and the load factor required of the engine by the driver and by the system mounted on the vehicle at current engine speed NE.

Abstract: A misfire detecting device is provided for a water jet propulsion watercraft in which a propulsion unit operates through an operation of an engine to propel the water jet propulsion watercraft. The misfire detecting device includes injectors arranged to inject fuel into the engine under a fuel injection amount adjusting control implemented by an electric control device, ignition plugs arranged to ignite the fuel injected into the engine from the injectors to operate the engine, an oxygen sensor arranged to detect that a misfire occurs in the engine, a warning lamp and buzzer arranged to inform that the misfire occurs, etc. The misfire detecting device prevents the warning lamp and the buzzer from informing the warning if the misfire is caused through the control by the electric control device.

Abstract: A method for reducing a temperature of an engine component is disclosed. In one example, an air-fuel ratio provided to an engine is adjusted to reduce a temperature of an engine component. The approach may be useful for controlling temperature and emissions from a turbocharged engine.

Abstract: In a V-type six-cylinder engine, turbo-superchargers are provided for compressing intake air and feeding the compressed air into combustion chambers, and an ECU is operable to switch the combustion mode from a non-supercharged stoichiometric combustion mode to a supercharged lean combustion mode, depending on the engine operating conditions. When switching from the non-supercharged stoichiometric combustion mode to the supercharged lean combustion mode, the ECU retards the ignition timing, and keeps the retard amount of the ignition timing at a constant value if the increasing actual boost pressure becomes equal to or higher than a pre-set target boost pressure.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to address engine pre-ignition. One or more cylinders are alternately rich and lean operated for a duration to reduce engine thermal loading while maintaining an exhaust air-to-fuel ratio around stoichiometry.

Abstract: In this apparatus, maintaining control (time t1 to t2) which instructs fixing of the open timing VVT of an intake valve is executed in a predetermined low load state. Subsequently, there are executed changing control which instructs changing of the open timing VVT by a predetermined amount (time t2), and maintaining control which again instructs fixing of the open timing VVT of the intake valve (time t2 to t3). An intake-valve control apparatus is determined to be “anomalous” when an change amount ?ave (=ave2?ave1) between the average ave1 of a large number of sample values of ?MFB? (combustion percentage increase amount within a predetermined crank angle range in an expansion stroke) during the maintaining control before execution of the changing control and the average ave2 of a large number of sample values of ?MFB? during the maintaining control after execution of the changing control is less than a predetermined value C.

Abstract: A module that calculates power loss for an internal combustion engine includes an air intake calculation module that determines a final air per cylinder (APC) value. A fuel mass rate calculation module that determines a fuel mass rate value based on the final APC value. A power loss calculation module that determines a power loss value for the internal combustion engine based on the fuel mass rate value.

Abstract: A method for reducing a temperature of an engine component is disclosed. In one example, an air-fuel ratio provided to an engine is adjusted to reduce a temperature of an engine component. The approach may be useful for controlling temperature and emissions from a turbocharged engine.

Abstract: An ECU controls waste heat quantity of an engine according to a required heat quantity in response to a heat-utilize requirement. The ECU controls a valve opening period of an intake valve based on an engine driving condition and an ignition timing based on a most efficient timing at which fuel economy is highest. The ECU determines whether there is an ignition advance margin relative to the most efficient timing. When there is no margin, an actual compression ration of the engine is decreased by advancing or retarding a valve close timing of the intake valve and the ignition timing is advanced relative to the most efficient timing in order to increase the waste heat quantity.

Abstract: A control system for an engine comprises an air per cylinder (APC) generating module that generates measured and desired APC values. A combustion transition module selectively transitions the engine from spark ignition (SI) combustion to homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion and from HCCI combustion to SI combustion. A spark control module selectively retards spark during the transitions based on a ratio of the measured APC value and the desired APC value. Alternately, spark retard can be based on measured and desired engine torque representing values (ETRVs).

Abstract: A method for operating an engine with a fuel reformer is presented. In one embodiment a first fuel is reformed into a gaseous fuel comprising H, CO, and CH4 or the fuel may change state to vaporized alcohol. The present method provides for ramping injection of the gaseous fuel so that stoichiometric combustion may be maintained while gaseous fuel is injected to the engine.

Abstract: Engine surge includes oscillations in engine torque resulting in bucking or jerking motion of a vehicle that may degrade driver experience. The present application relates to increasing reformate entering an example engine cylinder in response to engine surge.

Abstract: A method adjusts a torque differential between firing cylinders based on engine speed such that greater torque differentials are provided at higher engine speeds. Further, the torque differential may be adjusted based on the firing pattern of the cylinders.

Abstract: Methods for improving the efficiency of internal combustion engines are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of improving the efficiency of an internal combustion engine comprises controlling the motion of an exhaust valve associated with a cylinder of the internal combustion engine. Camshafts and internal combustion engines configured for performing methods of the instant invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A control system includes: a detecting device that detects the transition in the cumulative amount of heat generated in a combustion chamber based on the pressure in the combustion chamber in an expansion stroke; and a controller that controls the amount of exhaust gas contained in an air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber such that the amount of change in the cumulative amount of heat generated in the combustion chamber through a predetermined crank angle range will become a predetermined value.

Abstract: For operating an internal combustion engine with a combustion chamber delimited by a piston driving a crankshaft in a crankcase, with a device for supplying fuel, an ignition device, and an electronic control unit, wherein a correlation between a power output of the internal combustion engine and a lambda value in the combustion chamber is defined by a power output curve that has a first ascending branch, a maximum, and a second descending branch where the lambda value is smaller than 1, the position of an operating point of the internal combustion engine is determined by adjusting the ignition timing to an adjusted ignition timing and evaluating the engine speed reaction caused by the adjusted ignition timing. The supplied fuel quantity is changed as a function of the determined position of the operating point when the determined position of the operating point is not a desired operating point.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor generating an accurate output concerning low-concentration exhaust gas positioned downstream of a three-way catalyst. The oxygen sensor includes an exhaust gas side electrode exposed to an exhaust gas; a reference gas side electrode exposed to a reference gas serving as a reference for oxygen concentration; and an electrolyte positioned between the exhaust gas side electrode and the reference gas side electrode. Further, a reduction mechanism positioned toward a front surface of the exhaust gas side electrode ensures the ratio of the amount of exhaust gas introduced to the exhaust gas side electrode to the amount of an exhaust gas flow to the outside of the oxygen sensor is smaller than the ratio of the amount of exhaust gas introduced to an electrode for the air-fuel ratio sensor to the amount of an exhaust gas flow to the outside of the air-fuel ratio sensor.