A Modular Approach for Diesel Engine Air Path Control Based on Nonlinear MPC

This article presents a systematic approach to realize highly dynamic control strategies for the air path of diesel engines. It is based on grey-box models of individual air path components, designed to be applied in nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC). Specifically, they are suited for algorithmic differentiation and gradient-based optimization. This modular approach allows to derive models for a variety of complex air path systems and can be identified with a low amount of measurement data. An NMPC structure, which is based on these models, enables the tracking of arbitrary air path reference signals and allows the introduction of further control objectives for overactuated systems. We demonstrate our approach’s general applicability and effectiveness on two different laboratory engines using rapid control prototyping hardware. For a turbocharged light-duty diesel engine with dual-loop exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), we apply the proposed control structure to track intake manifold gas conditions while simultaneously minimizing engine pumping losses. Experimental results show an excellent tracking performance and reduced pumping losses compared to other control strategies. For a turbocharged heavy-duty engine with high-pressure EGR, we experimentally demonstrate a superior tracking performance to that obtained with a reference controller. Due to the modular and systematic approach, the algorithm design is straightforward, and the experimental calibration effort is low.