Application of a Model-Based Controller for Improving Internal Combustion Engines Fuel Economy

Teresa Castiglione, Pietropaolo Morrone, Luigi Falbo, Diego Perrone and Sergio Bova
Additional contact information
Teresa Castiglione: Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, Cubo 46C, 87036 Rende, Italy
Pietropaolo Morrone: Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, Cubo 46C, 87036 Rende, Italy
Luigi Falbo: Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, Cubo 46C, 87036 Rende, Italy
Diego Perrone: Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, Cubo 46C, 87036 Rende, Italy
Sergio Bova: Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, Ponte Bucci, Cubo 46C, 87036 Rende, Italy

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-22

Abstract: Improvements in internal combustion engine efficiency can be achieved with proper thermal management. In this work, a simulation tool for the preliminary analysis of the engine cooling control is developed and a model-based controller, which enforces the coolant flow rate by means of an electrically driven pump is presented. The controller optimizes the coolant flow rate under each engine operating condition to guarantee that the engine temperatures and the coolant boiling levels are kept inside prescribed constraints, which guarantees efficient and safe engine operation. The methodology is validated at the experimental test rig. Several control strategies are analyzed during a standard homologation cycle and a comparison of the proposed methodology and the adoption of the standard belt-driven pump is provided. The results show that, according to the control strategy requirements, a fuel consumption reduction of up to about 8% with respect to the traditional cooling system can be achieved over a whole driving cycle. This proves that the proposed methodology is a useful tool for appropriately cooling the engine under the whole range of possible operating conditions.

Keywords: spark-ignition engine; fuel economy; model predictive control; electric pump; engine thermal management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/5/1148/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/5/1148/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:5:p:1148-:d:328031

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().