Model-Based Design and Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation of Engine Lean Operation

Abstract

This paper presents model-based design and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation of engine lean operation. The functionalities of the homogeneous combustion subsystem in engine Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in dSPACE Automotive Simulation Models (ASM) are first analyzed. To control the gasoline engine in lean operation without the drop of output torque, the combustion subsystem in engine ECU is modified by introducing two control loops, torque modifier and fuel multiplier. The performance of these two controllers is evaluated by HIL simulation using a dSPACE HIL simulator. The HIL simulation models, including vehicle plant model and softECUs in HIL simulator and engine lean control model in hardware engine ECU are modeled using model-based design. With HIL simulation, the designed engine control strategies can be immediately tested to evaluate the overall vehicle performance. The HIL simulation results show that the designed lean combustion control strategy can reduce fuel consumption and is able to meet the torque requirement at lean engine operating conditions.