Design, Development, and Evaluation of a Control Framework for an Atkinson Cycle Engine

The efficiency of the spark ignition (SI) engine degrades while working at part loads. It can be optimally dealt with a slightly different thermodynamic cycle termed as an Atkinson cycle. It can be implemented in the conventional SI engines by incorporating advanced mechanisms as variable valve timing (VVT) and variable compression ratio (VCR). In this research, a control framework for the Atkinson cycle engine with flexible intake valve load control strategy is designed and developed. The control framework based on the extended mean value engine model (EMVEM) of the Atkinson cycle engine is evaluated in the view of fuel economy at the medium and higher load operating conditions for the standard new European driving cycle (NEDC), federal urban driving schedule (FUDS), and federal highway driving schedule (FHDS) cycles. In this context, the authors have already proposed a control-oriented EMVEM model of the Atkinson cycle engine with variable intake valve actuation. To demonstrate the potential benefits of the VCR Atkinson cycle VVT engine, for the various driving cycles, in the presence of auxiliary loads and uncertain road loads, its EMVEM model is simulated by using a controller having similar specifications as that of the conventional gasoline engine. The simulation results point toward the significant reduction in engine part load losses and improvement in the thermal efficiency. Consequently, considerable enhancement in the fuel economy of the VCR Atkinson cycle VVT engine is achieved over conventional Otto cycle engine during the NEDC, FUDS, and FHDS cycles.