A Method to Determine Fuel Transport Dynamics Model Parameters in Port Fuel Injected Gasoline Engines During Cold Start and Warm-Up Conditions

Abstract

In order to meet stringent emission standards, it is essential to have a precise control of air-fuel ratio (AFR) under cold start and warm-up conditions. This requires an understanding of the fuel transport dynamics in the intake system during these conditions. This study centers on estimating the parameters of a fuel transport dynamics model during engine operation at different thermal conditions ranging from cold start to fully warmed-up conditions. A method of system identification based on perturbing fuel injection rate is used to find fuel dynamics parameters in a port fuel injected (PFI) spark ignition engine. Since there was no cold chamber available to prepare cold start conditions, a new method was utilized to simulate cold start conditions. The new method can be applied on PFI engines, which use closed valve injection timing. A four-cylinder PFI engine is tested for different thermal conditions from −15°C to 82°C at a range of engine speeds and intake manifold pressures. A good agreement is observed between simulated and experimental AFR for 52 different transient operating conditions presented in this study. Results indicate that both fuel film deposit factor (X) and fuel film evaporation time constant (τf) decrease with increasing coolant temperature or engine speed. In addition, an increase in the intake manifold pressure results in an increase in X while causes a decrease in τf.