Control of combustion distributions in compression-ignition engines using rate-constrained model predictive control with reference preview

To support the transition toward sustainable alternative fuels, advanced combustion control strategies can enable operation of compression-ignition engines with a wide range of fuels under challenging inlet conditions. This work presents a rate-constrained model predictive controller that uses state estimate feedback and integral tracking to control combustion phasing distributions by coordinating fuel injection timing with the power supplied to an electrically heated in-cylinder ignition assist device. The controller was validated in simulation using a statistical virtual engine that replicates both transient and steady-state stochastic combustion behavior. This virtual engine was tuned with data from experiments conducted at a low pressure-temperature inlet condition that induced highly variable combustion behavior akin to operating with a low cetane fuel. The controller achieves rapid tracking of combustion phasing step commands by supplying ignition assist power when needed to support fuel injection timing. All the while, it maintains closed-loop combustion variability at less than 6% higher than the open-loop system variability, and enforces ignition assist power range and rate constraints to reduce thermo-mechanical stress on the actuator. Furthermore, reference tracking is ensured even if combustion sensitivity to the ignition assist actuator deviates by as much as 83% from the controller’s internal model, without the need for retuning control parameters. Finally, the controller can coordinate actuators early and speed up tracking when a reference trajectory is previewed ahead of time, and its horizons can be tuned in a manner that maintains desirable control performance without compromising on computational tractability.