A premixed charge compression ignition engine, and a control system, is provided which effectively initiates combustion by compression ignition and maintains stable combustion while achieving extremely low nitrous oxide emissions, good overall efficiency and acceptable combustion noise and cylinder pressures. The present engine and control system effectively controls the combustion history, that is, the time at which combustion occurs, the rate of combustion, the duration of combustion and/or the completeness of combustion, by controlling the operation of certain control variables providing temperature control, pressure control, control of the mixture's autoignition properties and equivalence ratio control. The combustion control system provides active feedback control of the combustion event and includes a sensor, e.g. pressure sensor, for detecting an engine operating condition indicative of the combustion history, e.g. the start of combustion, and generating an associated engine operating condition signal. A processor receives the signal and generates control signals based on the engine operating condition signal for controlling various engine components to control the temperature, pressure, equivalence ratio and/or autoignition properties so as to variably control the combustion history of future combustion events to achieve stable, low emission combustion in each cylinder and combustion balancing between the cylinders.

Premixed charge compression ignition engine with optimal combustion control

A control system for an internal combustion engine controls a fuel injection amount based on operating conditions of the engine and an evaporative fuel concentration-dependent correction coefficient. The control system includes a purge control valve arranged in a purging passage connecting a canister for temporarily storing evaporative fuel generated from a fuel tank and an intake passage. This coefficient is held to a predetermined value for a predetermined time period after purging is permitted, and to another for a predetermined time period after purging is inhibited. In another aspect, the purge control valve is controlled based on operating conditions of the engine and a purging flow rate correction coefficient. This coefficient is held when purging is inhibited, and is progressively set to a larger value depending on the evaporative fuel-dependent correction coefficient, after purging is permitted. In another aspect, when a vehicle on which the engine is installed is started, the purge control valve is controlled based on a special purging control amount which is progressively increased based on a parameter related to a standing start of the vehicle. In another aspect, the operation of the purge control valve is inhibited for a predetermined time period dependent on a temperature of the engine, after the start of the engine.

Control system for internal combustion engines

A method for providing maximum power point tracking for an energy generating device (202) using a local buck-boost converter (206) coupled to the device (202) is provided. The method includes operating in a tracking mode, which includes initializing a conversion ratio for the buck-boost converter (206) based on a previous optimum conversion ratio. A device power associated with the initialized conversion ratio is calculated. The conversion ratio is repeatedly modified and a device power associated with each of the modified conversion ratios is calculated. A current optimum conversion ratio for the buck-boost converter (206) is identified based on the calculated device powers. The current optimum conversion ratio corresponds to one of a buck mode, a boost mode and a buck-boost mode for the buck-boost converter (206).

Method and system for providing local converters to provide maximum power point tracking in an energy generating system

A system and method for DC to AC conversion in a power generating array (200). The system and method includes a number of inverters (220) coupled to a group of solar panels (205). A group controller (250) coordinates operation of the inverters (220) for interleaved switching of the inverters (220). The group controller communicates (250) via a local area network (245), a wireless network (670), or both, to coordinate operation with additional groups (602, 604, 606) of inverters (220) coupled in parallel with additional solar panels (205).

System and method for an array of intelligent inverters

A method for providing a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) process for an energy generating device (202) is provided. The method includes coupling a local converter (204) to the energy generating device (202). A determination is made regarding whether the local converter (204) is operating at or below a maximum acceptable temperature. A determination is made regarding whether at least one current associated with the local converter (204) is acceptable. When the local converter (204) is determined to be operating at or below the maximum acceptable temperature and when the at least one current associated with the local converter (204) is determined to be acceptable, the MPPT process is enabled within the local converter (204).

Method and system for providing maximum power point tracking in an energy generating system

A versatile rapid pulsing multiple pulse ignition controller (17) used in conjunction with an converter power supply (13) with a voltage sensor/controller (16) and with an ignition coil (3) and energy capacitor (4) comprising an ignition system providing rapid firing multiple ignition sparks at high converter power supply efficiency; which ignition system is suitable for installation on existing automobile engines and other internal combustion engines including diesel engines. The ignition is powered by an converter (13) working as a gated oscillator driving a power amplifier which is turned off by voltage level sensor/controller (16) when the converter output (14a) reaches a preset value or ground potential, as when an ignition pulse is occurring, giving converter (13) the highest possible efficiency and minimum power dissipation. Controlled ignition firing and multiple pulsing is provided by a multiple pulse controller (17) connected to breaker points or other electronic trigger (18). The ignition controller (17) includes a universal input trigger converter (19) for detecting and shaping the input trigger and providing the initial timing trigger for the spark pulse, a gate pulse width control (20) for providing the pulse train width and varying it with RPM, and a gated clock oscillator (21) for providing the pulse rate. When multiple pulse controller (17) is used in conjunction with power converter (13), voltage sensor (16), and an ignition coil (3) and capacitor (4), a practical, easily installed, low cost, ultra-high efficiency "rapid pulsing" ignition system is provided, capable of producing ignition of lean mixtures for substantially reduced exhaust emissions and increased engine efficiency.

Rapid pulsed multiple pulse ignition and high efficiency power inverter with controlled output characteristics

An improved carburetted internal combustion engine (10) which operates with an extremely lean mixture, without a conventional cooling system, and at an elevated temperature characteristic of an adiabatic engine. The engine uses two ignition sources (20, 21) symmetrically disposed about the center of the cylinder head, and/or a third igniting and microwave coupling means (19) at the center, to achieve extreme lean mixture combustion and relatively fast burn necessary for adiabatic engine operation. The engine incorporates other features to improve its efficiency and emissions, including engine air-throttling through controlled intake valve closure and unconventional valve timing.

Michael A. V. Ward

Papers

Rapid pulsed multiple pulse ignition and high efficiency power inverter with controlled output characteristics

Ultra lean burn carburetted adiabatic engine