Patent Description:
Engine systems including internal combustion engines are often required to meet performance in several areas. While delivering requested amounts of power, engines are also often required to operate efficiently in terms of resource consumption and meet low emission requirements, such as EPA Tier <NUM> Final requirements for smoke and NOx emissions. These goals are often governed by trade-offs, such as targeting greater power delivery while also targeting less fuel consumption. The design of the engine system often includes one or more subsystems to balance, or optimize, these performance requirements. For example, a subsystem may be a fuel system, an air handling system, and an aftertreatment system. Engine systems are often calibrated to meet performance requirements under varying conditions, such as during steady state versus transient state, or at various altitudes. The document <CIT> shows such a calibration process. With increasing performance requirements, there remains a continuing need to robustly calibrate and operate engine systems to provide power with minimal resource consumption while meeting emissions requirements.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a method comprising receiving a basis variable set as set out in claim <NUM> appended hereto. In a second aspect, the invention provides an apparatus comprising a combustion parameter definer as set out in claim <NUM> appended hereto. Aspects of various embodiments relate to a method comprising: interpreting a basis variable set, the basis variable set including an engine speed, a commanded fueling value, an in-cylinder oxygen concentration value, and oxygen-to-fuel ratio value; determining a reference value set in response to the basis variable set and a fuel controller specification set, wherein the reference value set includes a start-of-injection command; and providing the reference value set to a fuel control commander. The reference value set optionally includes a rail pressure command.

Some embodiments relate to an apparatus comprising: a combustion parameter definer structured to interpret a basis variable set, the basis variable set including an engine speed, a commanded fueling value, and an in-cylinder oxygen concentration value; a fueling target determiner structured to determine a reference value set in response to the basis variable set and a fuel controller specification set, wherein the reference value set includes a start-of-injection command; and a fuel control circuit structured to provide at least one fueling command value in response to the reference value set.

Further embodiments relate to an engine system, comprising an internal combustion engine; a controller; and a fuel system in operative communication with the engine and the controller, the fuel system structured to provide fuel to the engine in response to the at least one fueling command value. The controller is configured to interpret a basis variable set, the basis variable set including an engine speed, a commanded fueling value, and an in-cylinder oxygen concentration value; determine a reference value set in response to the basis variable set and a fuel controller specification set, wherein the reference value set includes a start-of-injection command; and provide at least one fueling command value in response to the reference value set.

Aspects of various embodiments relate to a method, comprising: interpreting a basis variable set, the basis variable set including a predicted engine speed trajectory, a predicted fueling trajectory, and an ambient value; determining a reference value set in response to the basis variable set and an air handling controller specification set, wherein the reference value set includes a mass charge flow (MCF) value; and providing the reference value set to an air handling control commander.

The method optionally further comprises determining a steady state reference value set in response to the basis variable set and the air handling controller specification set; and providing the steady state reference value set as an initial design reference value set. Yet further, the method optionally comprises interpreting a threshold criteria set, wherein the threshold criteria set includes at least one of an objective value subset and a constraint value subset; checking for a threshold criteria violation in response to the predictive model output set and the threshold criteria set; and determining the reference value set further in response to the checking for the threshold criteria violation. Yet further still, the method optionally comprises constraining the design reference value set in response to a target BTE trajectory; and determining the reference value set further in response to the constrained design reference value set.

Some embodiments relate to an apparatus, comprising: an air handling parameter definer structured to interpret a basis variable set, the basis variable set including a predicted engine speed trajectory, a predicted fueling trajectory, and an ambient value; an air handling target determiner structured to determine a reference value set in response to the basis variable set and an air handling controller specification set, wherein the reference value set includes at least one of a mass charge flow value; and an air handling control circuit structured to provide at least one air handling command value in response to the reference value set.

Further embodiments relate to an engine system, comprising: an internal combustion engine; a controller; and an air handling system in operative communication with the engine and the controller, the air handling system structured to provide air to the engine in response to the at least one air handling command value. The controller is configured to interpret a basis variable set, the basis variable set including a predicted engine speed trajectory, a predicted fueling trajectory, and an ambient value; determine a reference value set in response to the basis variable set and an air handling controller specification set, wherein the reference value set includes at least one of a mass charge flow value and a pumping work target; and provide at least one air handling command value in response to the reference value set.

Aspects of various embodiments relate to a method, comprising: interpreting a basis variable set, the basis variable set including a space-velocity value, an exhaust related temperature, and an ambient value; determining a reference value set in response to the basis variable set and an aftertreatment controller specification set, wherein the reference value set includes at least one of a NOχ conversion efficiency value and a system out NOχ value; and providing the reference value set to an aftertreatment control commander.

The method optionally further comprises determining a steady state reference value set in response to the basis variable set and the aftertreatment controller specification set; providing the steady state reference value set as an initial design reference value set. Yet further, the method optionally comprises interpreting an aggregate emissions trajectory; constraining the design reference value set in response to the aggregate emissions trajectory and the predictive model output; and determining the reference value set further in response to the constrained design reference value set.

Some embodiments relate to an apparatus comprising: an aftertreatment parameter definer structured to interpret a basis variable set, the basis variable set including a space-velocity value, an exhaust related temperature, and an ambient value; an aftertreatment target determiner structured to determine a reference value set in response to the basis variable set and an aftertreatment controller specification set, wherein the reference value set includes at least one of a NOχ conversion efficiency value and a system out NOχ value; and an aftertreatment control circuit structured to provide at least one aftertreatment command value in response to the reference value set.

Further embodiments relate to an engine system comprising: an internal combustion engine; a controller; and an aftertreatment system in operative communication with the engine and the controller, the aftertreatment system structured to treat exhaust from the internal combustion engine in response to at least one aftertreatment command value. The controller is configured to interpret a basis variable set, the basis variable set including a space-velocity value, an exhaust related temperature, and an ambient value; determine a reference value set in response to the basis variable set and an aftertreatment controller specification set, wherein the reference value set includes at least one of a NOx conversion efficiency value and a system out NOχ value; and provide at least one aftertreatment command value in response to the reference value set.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of an engine system <NUM> utilizing reference values to control system performance, according to some embodiments of the disclosure. The system <NUM> cooperatively controls system components, such as subsystems, to provide engine performance within a specification or a requirement set of the system <NUM>. As shown, the system <NUM> includes an engine <NUM> and various subsystems, such as a fuel system <NUM>, an air handling system <NUM>, and an aftertreatment system <NUM>. An example system <NUM> includes a controller <NUM> (e.g., ECM) in operative communication with the engine <NUM>, which provides and receives signals related to various engine components, such as receiving measurement signals from sensors disposed in the engine <NUM> and providing control signals or commands to the subsystems. The controller <NUM> may also be in operative communication with other components of the system <NUM>, such as the subsystems <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, in a similar manner. As used herein throughout, operative communication means an operative coupling by wire, wirelessly, mechanically, electronically, optically, magnetically, by network, et cetera, or any suitable combinations thereof.

The system <NUM> decouples the generation of target values from the generation of command values. For example, the system <NUM> generates one or more reference values in response to one or more basis variables. The one or more reference values are target values for a particular component's performance. Though many variables can affect a particular component's performance, one or more key basis variables are selected to characterize a majority of effects of the particular component. The key basis variables may be used for calibrating the reference values to respond to a variety of engine conditions, including steady state and transient state, while only calibrating for the engine <NUM> at steady state conditions and optionally a limited number of transient states.

In response to the one or more generated reference values, one or more commands are generated. The command values are calibrated to the particular component for which they are being generated. The commands can be provided to the particular component, which may reside, for example, in a subsystem. Utilizing key basis variables and decoupling target values from calibrated command values facilitates the time-efficient calibration of the system <NUM> and the potential for less-intensive processing-power to operate the system <NUM> while balancing and meeting performance in several areas. More detail of basis variables, reference values, and commands to facilitate these advantages are provided herein.

Turning now to provide more detail of the components of the system <NUM>, the fuel system <NUM><NUM> is in operative communication with the engine <NUM> and provides fuel for combustion. The fuel system <NUM> delivers a fueling amount at one or more specific times to one or more cylinders during each combustion cycle. In some embodiments, the fuel is fed through an injector directly into an engine cylinder, for example, when the engine <NUM> uses diesel fuel. In other embodiments, the fuel is mixed with air charge before entering an engine cylinder, for example, when the engine <NUM> uses gasoline or natural gas fuel. At least one physical component of the fuel system <NUM> is controlled by physical fuel controller <NUM>. The fuel controller <NUM> provides control signals to the physical components of the fuel system <NUM>, such as a fuel pressure pump and fuel injectors, in response to one or more fueling command values.

The air handling system <NUM> provides air to the engine <NUM> for combustion with fuel. An example air handling system <NUM> includes an air handling controller <NUM> in operative communication with one or more components of the air handling system to provide control signals to the physical air handling system components in response to one or more command values. As illustrated, the air handling system <NUM> includes an optional turbocharging system including at least one turbocharger, each including a compressor <NUM> and a turbine <NUM>. The turbocharging system receives exhaust and provides compressed air. In some embodiments, the compressor <NUM> is driven by the turbine <NUM> in a turbocharging configuration, wherein the compressor <NUM> is the air intake side of a turbocharger and the turbine <NUM> is the exhaust side of the turbocharger. In various embodiments, the turbocharging system of the air handling system <NUM> includes a waste gate <NUM> for bypassing the turbine <NUM> to control the speed of the turbine <NUM> and compressor <NUM>, for example, to avoid excessive speed. In other embodiments, the turbocharging system includes a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT), which facilitates controlling the speed of the turbine <NUM> and compressor <NUM>.

The example system includes a wastegate turbocharger. However, the airhandling system <NUM> may include any type of air handling system, including without limitation a naturally aspirated system, a fixed geometry turbocharger, a variable geometry turbocharger, a compressor bypass turbocharger, a dual turbocharger (series or parallel), and combinations thereof.

The system <NUM> includes a system air intake <NUM> into which air enters from the ambient environment. The air flows into and out of the compressor <NUM> to engine air intake <NUM>. The engine <NUM> may include an intake manifold operatively coupled to the engine air intake <NUM> to deliver the air to the intake ports of the cylinders. The system may include an intercooler, charger air cooler (not shown), and/or bypass systems therefore. After combustion, exhaust flows from the engine <NUM> to engine exhaust <NUM>. The engine <NUM> may include an exhaust manifold operatively coupled to the exhaust ports of the cylinders to collect the exhaust and direct the exhaust to the engine exhaust <NUM>.

Some of the exhaust is directed into an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system that is also part of the air handling system <NUM>. The EGR system directs a portion of the exhaust to EGR pathway <NUM> to engine air intake <NUM>. The EGR system may include an EGR valve <NUM> to control the flow (e.g., external EGR fraction) of exhaust gases back to the engine air intake <NUM>. The example EGR system is a high pressure EGR system having the EGR pathway <NUM> being coupled upstream of the turbine <NUM> and downstream of the compressor <NUM>. Some embodiments, alternatively or in addition, include a low pressure EGR system having the EGR pathway <NUM> being coupled downstream of the turbine <NUM> and upstream of the compressor <NUM>. The exhaust flows into and out of the turbine <NUM> to aftertreatment inlet <NUM>.

The example EGR system may additionally or alternatively include an EGR cooler (not shown) structured to cool the exhaust in the EGR pathway <NUM>. The EGR valve <NUM> may be positioned upstream (hotside) or downstream (coolside) of the EGR cooler. Where present, the EGR cooler may additionally be provided with a bypass valve.

The aftertreatment system <NUM> receives the exhaust from aftertreatment inlet <NUM> and at least a portion of the exhaust is expelled at the aftertreatment outlet <NUM>, which may also be referred to as the system outlet or tailpipe. The aftertreatment system <NUM> includes devices to treat emissions before exiting the tailpipe, such as one or more of a particulate filter or diesel particulate filter (DPF) <NUM>, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system <NUM> to chemically reduce components of the exhaust, a NOχ reductant fluid system <NUM> (e.g., a diesel exhaust fluid system) to provide NOχ reductant fluid to the exhaust, and an oxidation catalyst <NUM> to chemically oxidize components of the exhaust. The aftertreatment controller <NUM> is in operative communication with one or more of the aftertreatment components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to provide control signals to at least one physical component of the aftertreatment system in response to one or more command values. The EGR system may also be considered part of the aftertreatment system <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> performs certain operations to control one or more subsystems of an internal combustion engine, such as one or more of a fuel system <NUM>, an air handling system <NUM>, and an aftertreatment system <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the controller <NUM> forms a portion of a processing subsystem including one or more computing devices having memory, processing, and communication hardware. The controller <NUM> may be a single device or a distributed device, and the functions of the controller may be performed by hardware and/or as computer instructions on a non-transient computer readable storage medium.

The logical relationship among the controllers and their functionality may be implemented in any known manner. Physical controllers <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are shown as separate from controller <NUM> in <FIG>. However, any number of these controllers may alternatively be implemented as part of controller <NUM>. For example, the controllers may be implemented in a single physical device, or in another example, as a distributed device.

In certain embodiments, the controller <NUM> includes one or more defmers, determiners, commanders, and circuits that functionally execute the operations of the controller. The description herein including defmers, determiners, commanders, and/or circuits emphasizes the structural independence of certain aspects of the controller <NUM>, and illustrates one grouping of operations and responsibilities of the controller. Other groupings that execute similar overall operations are understood within the scope of the present application. Defmers, determiners, commanders, and/or circuits may be implemented in hardware and/or as computer instructions on a non-transient computer readable storage medium and may be distributed across various hardware or computer based components.

Example and non-limiting implementation elements include sensors providing any value determined herein, sensors providing any value that is a precursor to a value determined herein, datalink and/or network hardware including communication chips, oscillating crystals, communication links, cables, twisted pair wiring, coaxial wiring, shielded wiring, transmitters, receivers, and/or transceivers, logic circuits, hard-wired logic circuits, reconfigurable logic circuits in a particular non-transient state configured according to a specification, any actuator including at least an electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic actuator, a solenoid, an op-amp, analog control elements (springs, filters, integrators, adders, dividers, gain elements), and/or digital control elements.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of an example processing subsystem <NUM> including a controller <NUM> to perform certain operations to control the fuel subsystem <NUM>, according to some embodiments. The controller <NUM> includes one or more defmers, determiners, commanders, and/or circuits such as a combustion parameter definer <NUM>, a fueling target determiner <NUM>, and a fueling commander <NUM>. The combustion parameter definer <NUM> interprets one or more basis variables for fueling. An example basis variable set <NUM> characterizes closed cycle efficiency (CCE), which considers the efficiency of combustion within the cylinder. The fueling target determiner <NUM> determines a fueling reference value set <NUM> in response to a key basis variable set <NUM> for fueling. An example reference value set <NUM> corresponds to target values for the fuel system <NUM>. Some target values are conformed to the specification set <NUM> of one or more physical controllers of the fuel system <NUM>. The fuel control commander <NUM> (e.g., a fuel control circuit) provides a fueling command set <NUM> including one or more fueling command values in response to a reference value set <NUM> for fueling. An example command value set <NUM> is optionally a modified version of the reference value set <NUM> due to limits or constraints (e.g., constraint value(s) <NUM>) identified by the fuel control commander <NUM>. Further, the fuel system <NUM> may fuel the internal combustion engine <NUM> in response to the reference value set <NUM> upon receiving the one or more values of the fueling command set <NUM>.

Further embodiments of the controller <NUM> include an in-cylinder oxygen concentration ([(¾]) determiner <NUM> to provide an in-cylinder [<NUM> ] value <NUM>, which may be included as a key basis variable. The in-cylinder oxygen determiner <NUM> interprets or determines an in-cylinder [<NUM> ] value <NUM>. An example in-cylinder oxygen determiner <NUM> determines the in-cylinder [<NUM> ] value <NUM> in response to one or more of a mass charge flow value <NUM> and an engine speed <NUM>. In additional embodiments, the in-cylinder [<NUM> ] value <NUM> is determined further in response to one or more of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) fraction value <NUM> (e.g., internal or external EGR fraction), an exhaust manifold pressure (EMP) value <NUM>, an exhaust manifold temperature (EMT) value <NUM>. In yet further embodiments, the in-cylinder [<NUM> ] value <NUM> is determined in response to one or more of an in-cylinder residual gas value <NUM> and an intake manifold oxygen fraction value <NUM>.

The example in-cylinder residual gas value <NUM> characterizes the amount of one or more gases already in the cylinder during intake (e.g., residual gases from the previous cycle). The example in-cylinder residual gas value <NUM> includes one or more of an oxygen value, a charge value, an exhaust value, or an air value. Such values may be, for example, an amount, a concentration, or a ratio. Exhaust may be a residual gas due to external EGR or internal EGR, for example. Internal EGR is the amount of exhaust gas left over in the cylinder from the previous combustion.

The present disclosure recognizes that an in-cylinder [<NUM> ] value <NUM> may be measured directly or determined by a virtual sensor. The virtual sensor (e.g., implemented in the in-cylinder oxygen determiner <NUM>) determines the in-cylinder oxygen concentration in response to one or more values related to air handling, which allows for an estimation of the oxygen concentration in the cylinder at the time of combustion. The selected values characterize the amount of oxygen entering the cylinder before intake valve closing and optionally the amount of gases already in the cylinder. Those having skill in the art, having the benefit of the disclosure herein and having a typical understanding of the particular system in view, would be able to select the appropriate values to determine the in-cylinder oxygen concentration.

In addition to the defmers, determiners, commanders, and circuits, the controller <NUM> typically includes one or more parameters or data structures, such as values, variables, commands, and sets thereof. These parameters or data structures may be provided to, provided by, and used by any operational structures in the controller <NUM> (e.g., defmers, determiners, commanders, or circuits). Further, some parameters or data structures are received by the controller <NUM> from a component external to the controller <NUM> or other source, which may be provided to and used by any of the operational structures. Some parameters or data structures may also be provided by the controller <NUM> to a component external to the controller <NUM> or other destination. Data structures may be provided to the controller <NUM> as sensor measurements, which may be physical measurements or virtual measurements. Virtual sensor measurements are determined or interpreted from sensor measurements and/or other data structures in the controller <NUM>. In some cases, virtual sensor measurements are the output of a definer, determiner, commander, or circuit of the controller <NUM>.

Certain operations described herein include operations to interpret and/or to determine one or more parameters or data structures. Interpreting or determining, as utilized herein, includes receiving values by any method known in the art, including at least receiving values from a datalink or network communication, receiving an electronic signal (e.g. a voltage, frequency, current, or PWM signal) indicative of the value, receiving a computer generated parameter indicative of the value, reading the value from a memory location on a non-transient computer readable storage medium, receiving the value as a run-time parameter by any means known in the art, and/or by receiving a value by which the interpreted parameter can be calculated, and/or by referencing a default value that is interpreted to be the parameter value.

Turning now to more detail of the defmers, determiners, commanders, and circuits, as well as the parameters, the combustion parameter definer <NUM> interprets parameters and provides them to the controller <NUM>. Parameters of interest for combustion may include but are not limited to engine speed, engine torque, commanded fueling value (e.g., corresponding to requested torque), total fueling, in-cylinder gases, intake gases, cylinder temperature, rail pressure, and rail temperature. One or more sensors, actual or virtual, are utilized to interpret the parameters of interest, which may include but are not limited to an actual torque sensor, a revolutions per minute sensor, and a rail pressure sensor. The parameters provided may be used by another definer, determiner, commander, or circuit, or the parameters may be used by the combustion parameter definer <NUM> to provide a derived or calculated parameter. An example combustion parameter definer <NUM> interprets the engine speed <NUM> and the commanded fueling value <NUM> as inputs to the controller <NUM>.

As shown, the example controller <NUM> also includes a basis variable set <NUM>. An example basis variable set <NUM> includes engine speed <NUM>, commanded fueling value <NUM>, and an in-cylinder [<NUM> ] value <NUM> (e.g., an in-cylinder oxygen concentration value at intake valve closing). The example basis variable set <NUM> is selected to characterize closed cycle efficiency (CCE) within the engine. As utilized herein, CCE represents the efficiency of the engine system after intake valve closing and before exhaust valve opening. Further embodiments of the basis variable set <NUM> include a trapped charge mass value <NUM>, an oxygen-to-fuel related value <NUM> (e.g., one or more of air-to-fuel ratio, charge-to-fuel ratio, and oxygen-to-fuel ratio), an in-cylinder temperature value <NUM> (e.g., temperature at intake valve closing), and a related cylinder temperature value <NUM> (e.g., one or more of intake charge temperature, cylinder wall temperature, coolant temperature, and oil temperature). These further basis variables may be selected to further characterize closed cycle efficiency (CCE) under certain engine conditions.

The present disclosure recognizes that when the intake valve of a cylinder closes, the combustion event is fixed. As such, the basis variable set for the fuel system is selected to include variables that affect the combustion event after intake valve closing. In general, the basis variable set is a minimum set of variables that is capable of predicting the majority of the combustion event characteristics in the cylinder in at least steady state and transient state operating conditions. The basis variables may also selected based on computational efficiency. For example, in-cylinder oxygen concentration may be selected instead of EGR fraction value, which may be difficult to compute under heavy transient operation. In certain cases, it may be advantageous to include other variables in the basis variable set to account for their effect on combustion in those certain cases, for example, when the engine must warm up from a cold start, including the in-cylinder temperature value <NUM> would be advantageous. Those having skill in the art, having the benefit of the disclosure herein and having a typical understanding of the particular system in view, would be able to select the appropriate values of a basis variable set.

In some cases, the commanded fueling value <NUM> is interpreted in response to input from an operator of the engine system. For example, the commanded fueling value <NUM> may correspond to the requested torque from the operator. In various embodiments, the commanded fueling value <NUM> corresponds to a combustion-relevant fueling value, which is the amount of fuel relevant to the combustion event within the cylinder after intake valve closing.

The combustion parameter definer <NUM> interprets a basis variable set <NUM> and an optional fuel controller specification set <NUM>. The fuel controller specification set <NUM> corresponds to the specifications of one or more controllers in the fuel subsystem, such as fuel controller <NUM>. The specifications may define an acceptable range of input values for the controller of the fuel system, which can be used to define one or more acceptable ranges for the reference value set <NUM>. In response to the basis variable set <NUM> and optionally the fuel controller specification set <NUM>, the fueling target determiner <NUM> determines a reference value set <NUM>.

In various embodiments, to perform the functions described herein throughout, the combustion parameter definer <NUM> may include a rotations per minute (RPM) sensor, an accelerator, an oxygen sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, a humidity sensor, an analog to digital (ADC) converter, a processor, a non-transient computer readable storage medium, computer-readable instruction(s) stored on a non-transient computer readable storage medium, a bus, and/or wired/wireless connection hardware. In other embodiments, one or more of these may also be excluded from the combustion parameter definer <NUM>.

Certain embodiments of the fueling target determiner <NUM> determine the reference value set <NUM> in response to a basis variable set <NUM> including an engine speed <NUM>, a commanded fueling value <NUM>, and an in-cylinder oxygen concentration value <NUM> as a core basis variable set. Various embodiments of the reference value set <NUM> include a start-of-injection (SOI) command <NUM> and a rail pressure value. The rail pressure value may be a rail pressure command <NUM> or a default rail pressure value. The reference value set <NUM> may also include a main command <NUM>, which is a fueling value that corresponds to the commanded fueling value <NUM>. An example main command <NUM> is the same value as the commanded fueling value <NUM>. However, the main command <NUM> may be determined in response to the fuel controller specification set <NUM>. In some cases, the main command <NUM> is the combustion- relevant fueling value. In other cases, main command <NUM> is only a portion of the combustion- relevant fueling value, and the combustion-relevant fueling value also includes one or more of the pilot command(s) <NUM> and post command(s) <NUM>.

In various embodiments, to perform the functions described herein throughout, the fueling target determiner <NUM> may include, but is not limited to, a processor, a non- transient computer readable storage medium, computer-readable instruction(s) stored on a non-transient computer readable storage medium, a bus, and/or a wired/wireless connection hardware. In other embodiments, one or more of these may also be excluded from the fueling target determiner <NUM>.

As used herein, a parameter's trajectory is defined as a value or a set of values representing the parameter over a selected time horizon or time trajectory. A parameter's trajectory as a value, for example, represents the accumulation over time of the parameter, and may be interpreted in response to consolidating a set of parameter values by a process, such as integration, averaging, or other known processes.

Further embodiments of the reference value set <NUM> include a rail pressure command <NUM>, a pilot command(s) <NUM>, a post command(s) <NUM>, a fuel injection time trajectory <NUM> (e.g., a fuel injection amount versus time trajectory command value), and a fuel rail pressure trajectory <NUM> (e.g., a fuel injection pressure versus time trajectory command value). With respect to the pilot command(s) and post command(s) <NUM>, <NUM>, some embodiments are combustion relevant, while in other embodiments, they are not combustion relevant and may form part of an additional fueling amount. An example of a post command <NUM> that is an additional fueling amount is a very late post command intended to deliver fuel to an exhaust aftertreatment system instead of contributing to torque development. An example time trajectory for these parameters is on the order of milliseconds.

In some embodiments, the fueling target determiner <NUM> stores relationships between the basis variable set <NUM> and the reference value set <NUM> as a series of reference surfaces, each reference surface corresponding to a reference value and having one or more basis variables as inputs. The relationships are determined during calibration. An example calibration may determine the reference surfaces in response to key basis variable
measurements at various operating points of the engine system. In some cases, a target may be used to calibrate the reference surfaces, such as a closed cycle efficiency (CCE) target. The target value may be a predefined target, an improved value, a minimum value, a maximum value, or an optimum value. The reference surfaces are optionally calibrated to meet the target(s) and also to meet other objectives or constraints (e.g., constraint value <NUM>). An example reference surface is generated that provides reference value sets as outputs, or targets, to achieve CCE targets within physical and/or emissions constraints (described in detail herein elsewhere), in response to basis variable sets and optionally a particular CCE target as inputs.

With respect to the reference value set, the present disclosure recognizes that a processing subsystem <NUM> is often paired with a fuel system, such as fuel system <NUM>, which accepts a particular type of inputs and range of inputs. Those having skill in the art, having the benefit of the disclosure herein and having a typical understanding of the particular system in view, would be able to select the appropriate values for the reference value set <NUM>.

Various embodiments of the fuel control commander <NUM> determine a fueling command set <NUM> in response to the reference value set <NUM>. The reference value set <NUM> provides targets for the fuel control commander <NUM>. In some cases, the fueling command set <NUM> provides the same values as the reference value set <NUM>. In other cases, the fuel control commander <NUM> modifies the reference value set <NUM> before providing the fueling command set <NUM>. The example fuel control commander <NUM> optionally modifies the reference value set <NUM> in response to one or more constraint values <NUM>, including but not limited to one or more of a physical limit (e.g., maximum torque, maximum rail pressure, etc), a fuel system response time, an actuator saturation, a present fault value, and/or other known constraints.

In various embodiments, to perform the functions described herein throughout, the fuel control commander <NUM> may include, but is not limited to, a fuel injector, a fuel rail pressure pump, a processor, a non-transient computer readable storage medium, computer-readable instruction(s) stored on a non-transient computer readable storage medium, a bus, and/or wired/wireless connection hardware. In other embodiments, one or more of these may also be excluded from the fuel control commander <NUM>.

In additional or alternative embodiments, the fuel control commander <NUM> comprises a fuel control circuit. To perform the functions described herein throughout, an example fuel control circuit may include, but is not limited to, an analog circuit, a digital circuit, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or vice versa, a processor, a non-transient computer readable storage medium, computer-readable instruction(s) stored on a non- transient computer readable storage medium, a bus, and/or wired/wireless connection hardware. In other embodiments, one or more of these may also be excluded from the fuel control circuit.

The present disclosure recognizes that a particular fuel system may include a physical fuel controller calibrated to control at least one physical component of the fuel system and that various fuel systems respond uniquely to commands due to design differences and manufacturing tolerances. Thus, an example fuel control commander <NUM> optionally adjusts to the reference value set <NUM> in response to limitations or constraints of the fuel system <NUM>. Those having skill in the art, having the benefit of the disclosure herein and having a typical understanding of the particular system in view, would be able to select the appropriate fueling command set <NUM> for a fuel system <NUM>.

One of skill in the art, having the benefit of the disclosures herein, will recognize that the processing subsystem <NUM> and the controller <NUM> perform operations that improve various technologies and provide improvements in various technological fields. Without limitation, example and non-limiting technology improvements include improvements in combustion performance of internal combustion engines, improvements in emissions performance, aftertreatment system regeneration, engine torque generation and torque control, engine fuel economy performance, improved durability of exhaust system components for internal combustion engines, and engine noise and vibration control. Without limitation, example and non-limiting technological fields that are improved include the technological fields of internal combustion engines, fuel systems therefore, aftertreatment systems therefore, air handling devices therefore, and intake and exhaust devices therefore.

The schematic flow diagram and related description which follows provides an illustrative embodiment of performing procedures for controlling the condition of an exhaust gas stream. Operations illustrated are understood to be exemplary only, and operations may be combined or divided, and added or removed, as well as re -ordered in whole or part, unless stated explicitly to the contrary herein. Certain operations illustrated may be implemented by a computer executing a computer program product on a non-transient computer readable storage medium, where the computer program product comprises instructions causing the computer to execute one or more of the operations, or to issue commands to other devices to execute one or more of the operations.

<FIG> is a schematic flow chart diagram of an example procedure <NUM> for controlling the fuel system <NUM> of the engine system <NUM>, according to some embodiments. The procedure includes an operation <NUM> to interpret a fueling basis variable set. The fueling basis variable set is selected to characterize the majority of effects of the fuel subsystem. In operation <NUM>, a fuel controller specification set is interpreted. An example fuel controller specification set defines the acceptable types of inputs and their range for a controller of the fuel subsystem.

In operation <NUM>, a fueling reference value set is determined in response to the fueling basis variable set and the fuel controller specification set. The fueling reference value set is a set of target values for performance of the fuel subsystem. By including the fuel controller specification set, the target values may be determined within acceptable ranges of the specification of one or more controllers of the fuel subsystem to facilitate more accurate control of the fuel subsystem. In some embodiments, the fuel controller specification set is included in the calibration of the fueling reference value set in response to the fueling basis variable set.

In operation <NUM>, a fueling command set is determined in response to the fueling reference value set. The fueling command set may be the same as fueling reference value set. Alternatively or in combination, the fueling reference value set may be modified to provide a fueling command set. For example, the fueling command set is optionally determined further in response to constraints (or limitations) of the fuel subsystem. In some embodiments, one or more constraints (e.g. , physical, emissions, or otherwise) of the fuel subsystem are included in calibration of the fueling reference value set in response to the fueling basis variable set. In such embodiments, the fueling reference value set is optionally not modified in response to those constraints at run-time.

Finally, in operation <NUM> an internal combustion engine is fueled in response to the fueling command set. The fueling step may include providing the fueling command set to a controller of the fuel subsystem. The controller of the fuel system may operate components of the fuel system, such as one or more injectors or fuel rails, to provide fuel to the internal combustion engine.

Other components of the system <NUM> may be controlled in a similar manner, using basis variables, reference values, and commands.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of a processing subsystem <NUM> of the engine system <NUM> including a controller <NUM> to perform certain operations to control the air handling system <NUM>, according to some embodiments. As shown, the controller <NUM> includes an air handling parameter definer <NUM>, an air handling target determiner <NUM>, and an air handling control commander <NUM> (e.g., air handling control circuit). The air handling parameter definer <NUM> interprets one or more basis variables for air handling. An example basis variable set characterizes open cycle efficiency (OCE), which considers the work of the air handling system to provide air, which may be compressed, or recirculated exhaust to the cylinder. The air handling target determiner <NUM> determines an air handling reference value set in response to a key basis variable set for air handling. An example air handling reference value set corresponds to target values for the air handling system. Some target values are conformed to the specification set of one or more physical controllers of the air handling system, such as air handling controller <NUM>. The air handling control commander <NUM> provides one or more air handling command values in response to a reference value set for air handling. An example command value set modifies the reference value set due to being calibrated to match the air handling system or due to other limits. Further, the air handling system may deliver air to the internal combustion engine in response to the reference value set upon receiving the one or more air handling command values.

Similar to the combustion parameter definer <NUM>, the air handling parameter definer <NUM> interprets parameters to characterize the air handling system and provides these parameters to the controller <NUM>. Parameters of interest may include but are not limited to charge flow, exhaust oxygen, humidity (e.g., water vapor displacement), intake oxygen, exhaust manifold temperature/presssure, and intake manifold temperature/pressure. An example air handling parameter definer <NUM> interprets a predicted engine speed trajectory <NUM> and a predicted fueling trajectory <NUM>. An example response time for these parameters is on the order of seconds. A trajectory may be an expected or actual value over a few time steps or a few seconds. Time steps reference execution time steps, such as controller execution time steps, for example, <NUM>, <NUM>, or other values known to one having skill in the art having the benefit of the disclosure herein. Example engine speed trajectories <NUM> may extend from <NUM> to <NUM>, or in some cases beyond <NUM> depending on the transient operations at the time and the parameters to be optimized. Example fueling trajectories <NUM> may extend from <NUM> to <NUM>, or in some cases up to <NUM> or beyond depending on the transient operations at the time and the parameters to be optimized.

The example air handling parameter definer <NUM> is in operative communication with one or more sensors. The air handling parameters are handling parameter definer <NUM> are interpreted in response to signals, data, or information received from the one or more sensors. A non-limiting list of example sensors include an intake manifold pressure sensor, an intake manifold temperature sensor, an EGR flow sensor (e.g., orifice with delta-P sensor), an absolute pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a wideband exhaust gas oxygen sensor, a humidity sensor, an intake oxygen sensor, and an exhaust gas temperature sensor. A person having skill in the art and the benefit of the disclosure herein would be able to select the one or more sensors for characterizing a parameter of interest for the air handling system. In some embodiments, the one or more sensors are part of the air handling parameter definer <NUM>.

The example controller <NUM> shown includes a basis variable set <NUM>. The basis variable set may include one or more of a predicted engine speed trajectory <NUM>, a predicted fueling trajectory <NUM>, an aftertreatment state value <NUM>, and an ambient value <NUM>. Aftertreatment state values <NUM> include, without limitation, the temperature of any aftertreatment component, the flow rate through any aftertreatment component, the predicted efficiency of any aftertreatment component, and/or the pressure drop of any aftertreatment component. Ambient values <NUM> include, without limitation, the ambient temperature, the ambient pressure, the ambient humidity, and/or the ambient heat transfer around any aftertreatment component.

An example basis variable set <NUM> includes the predicted engine speed trajectory <NUM>, the predicted fueling trajectory <NUM>, and the ambient value <NUM>. The example basis variable set <NUM> is selected to characterize open cycle efficiency (OCE) within the engine system. As utilized herein, OCE represents the efficiency of the engine system to bring air into a cylinder before intake valve closing. Example aftertreatment state values, which may also affect OCE, include one or more of a space-velocity value <NUM>, a catalyst related temperature <NUM> (e.g., measured directly or indirectly), an ammonia (NH3 ) storage value <NUM> (e.g., ammonia storage in an SCR catalyst), a diesel particulate filter (DPF) loading value <NUM>, and a NOχ conversion efficiency value <NUM> (e.g., SCR catalyst conversion efficiency or DeNOx).

The present disclosure recognizes that the overall efficiency of the engine system is affected by the efficiency of the air handling system in bringing air into a cylinder before intake valve closing. The key basis variables for air handling is the minimum set of variables that is capable of predicting the majority of the air handling characteristics in at least steady state and transient state operation conditions. The key basis variables for air handling may further be selected based on computational efficiency. Those having skill in the art, having the benefit of the disclosure herein and having a typical understanding of the particular system in view, would be able to select the appropriate values of a basis variable set.

In various embodiments, to perform the functions described herein throughout, the air handling parameter definer <NUM> may include, but is not limited to, a rotations per minute (RPM) sensor, a fuel injector, an accelerator, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor (e.g., absolute or differential), a humidity sensor, a NOx sensor, an ammonia sensor, a flow sensor, an analog to digital (ADC) converter, a processor, a non-transient computer readable storage medium, computer-readable instruction(s) stored on a non-transient computer readable storage medium, a bus, and/or wired/wireless connection hardware. In other embodiments, one or more of these may be excluded from the air handling parameter definer <NUM>.

The air handling target determiner <NUM> interprets the basis variable set <NUM> and an optional air handling controller specification set <NUM>. The air handling controller specification set <NUM> corresponds to the specifications of one or more controllers in the air handling system <NUM>, such as air handling controller <NUM>. The specifications may define an acceptable range of input values for the controller of the air handling system, which can be used to define one or more acceptable ranges for the reference value set <NUM>. In response to the basis variable set <NUM> and optionally the air handling controller specification set <NUM>, the air handling target determiner <NUM> determines the reference value set <NUM>. Further embodiments of the air handling target determiner <NUM> determine the reference value set <NUM> further in response a threshold criteria set <NUM>, which may include objectives or constraints for the reference value set. In some embodiments, the threshold criteria set <NUM> is included during calibration to establish relationships between the reference value set <NUM> and the basis variable set <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the air handling target determiner <NUM> may include a processor, a non-transient computer readable storage medium, computer-readable instruction(s) stored on a non-transient computer readable storage medium, a bus, and/or wired/wireless connection hardware. In other embodiments, one or more of these may be excluded from the air handling target determiner <NUM>.

Various embodiments of the reference value set <NUM> include a mass charge flow (MCF) value <NUM>. Further embodiments include an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) fraction value <NUM>. Alternatively or in addition, some embodiments include pumping work target(s) <NUM>. The MCF value <NUM>, EGR fraction value <NUM>, and pumping work target(s) <NUM> may be considered part of an air handling reference subset <NUM> of the reference value set <NUM>. In yet further embodiments, the reference value set <NUM> includes at least one of a start-of- injection (SOI) command <NUM> and a rail pressure command <NUM> as a fueling reference subset <NUM> of the reference value set <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, a fueling command may include a pilot command(s) <NUM> and/or a post command(s) <NUM> in addition to a main command <NUM>.

The present disclosure recognizes that a processing subsystem <NUM> is often paired with an air handling system, such as air handling system <NUM>, which accepts a particular type of input and range of inputs. The processing subsystem <NUM> may further be in operative communication with a fuel system <NUM>, in order to coordinate and optimize, for example, brake thermal efficiency (BTE) of the engine system <NUM>. Those having skill in the art, having the benefit of the disclosure herein and having a typical understanding of the particular system in view, would be able to select the appropriate values for the reference value set <NUM>, the air handling reference subset <NUM>, and the fueling reference subset <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the air handling target determiner <NUM> stores relationships between the basis variable set <NUM> and the reference value set <NUM> as a series of reference surfaces, each reference surface corresponding to a reference value and having one or more basis variables as inputs. The relationships may be determined during calibration. An example calibration determines the reference surfaces in response to key basis variable measurements at various operating points of the engine system. In some cases, a target may be used to calibrate the reference surfaces, such as an open cycle efficiency (OCE) target. The target value may be a predefined target, an improved value, a minimum value, a maximum value, or an optimum value. The reference surfaces are optionally calibrated to meet the target(s) and also to meet other objectives or constraints (e.g., selected from the threshold criteria set <NUM>). An example reference surface is generated that provides reference value sets as outputs, or targets, to achieve OCE targets within physical and/or emissions constraints, in response to basis variable sets and optionally a particular OCE target as inputs.

Certain embodiments of the air handling control commander <NUM> determine an air handling command set <NUM> in response to the reference value set <NUM>. The reference value set <NUM> provides targets for the air handling control commander <NUM>. In some cases, the air handling control commander <NUM> provides the reference value set <NUM> as the air handling command set <NUM>. In other cases, the air handling control commander <NUM> modifies the reference value set <NUM> before providing the air handling command set <NUM>. In further cases, the air handling control commander <NUM> modifies the reference value set <NUM> in response to a constraint (described herein elsewhere in more detail).

In various embodiments, to perform the functions described herein throughout, the air handling control commander <NUM> may include, but is not limited to, an EGR valve, a VGT, an engine fan, a fuel injector, a fuel rail pressure pump, a processor, a non-transient computer readable storage medium, computer-readable instruction(s) stored on a non- transient computer readable storage medium, a bus, and/or wired/wireless connection hardware. In other embodiments, one or more of these may be excluded from the air handling control commander <NUM>.

In additional or alternative embodiments, the air handling control commander <NUM> comprises an air handling control circuit. To perform the functions described herein throughout, an example air handling control circuit may include, but is not limited to, an analog circuit, a digital circuit, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or vice versa, a processor, a non-transient computer readable storage medium, computer-readable instruction(s) stored on a non-transient computer readable storage medium, a bus, and/or wired/wireless connection hardware. In other embodiments, one or more of these may also be excluded from the air handling control circuit.

The present disclosure recognizes that a particular air handling system may include one or more physical air handling controllers calibrated to control at least one physical component of the air handling system and that various air handling systems respond uniquely to commands due to design differences and manufacturing tolerances. Thus, an example air handling control commander <NUM> provides adjustments to the reference value set <NUM> in response to limitations or constraints of the air handling system <NUM>. Those having skill in the art, having the benefit of the disclosure herein and having a typical understanding of the particular system in view, would be able to select the appropriate air handling command set <NUM> for an air handling system <NUM>. In this manner, the air handling system <NUM> may be controlled utilizing a key basis variable set <NUM>, a reference value set <NUM>, and a command set <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of the air handling target determiner <NUM> of processing subsystem <NUM>, according to some embodiments. An example air handling target determiner <NUM> includes a predictive model <NUM> and an optimization routine <NUM>, which are optionally utilized to provide the reference value set <NUM> in response to the basis variable set <NUM> and the air handling controller specification set <NUM>.

An example air handling target determiner <NUM> determines a design reference value set <NUM> in response to the basis variable set <NUM> and optionally the air handling controller specification set <NUM>. The design reference value set <NUM> may be determined similarly to, may include similar values to, and may be selected similarly as described with respect to the reference value set <NUM>. Thus, the design reference value set <NUM> includes at least one of an MCF value <NUM>, an EGR fraction value <NUM>, pumping work target(s) <NUM>, an SOI command <NUM>, and a rail pressure command <NUM>. These one or more design reference values serve as initial target values that may be modified in iteratively in a cycle until certain conditions are met prompting the reference value set <NUM> to be provided. In various embodiments, initial design reference value set <NUM> is a steady state reference value set. In some cases, the steady state reference value set is provided as an initial guess or estimate for the design reference value set <NUM>. In other cases, the design reference value set <NUM> as the steady state reference value set is provided as the reference value set <NUM> in response to a steady state operating condition (e.g., the air handling target determiner <NUM> acts as a unity gain filter).

With initial target values available, an output set <NUM> of the predictive model <NUM> is determined as a step in an iteration. An example output set <NUM> includes at least one of a predicted open cycle efficiency (OCE) trajectory, a predicted closed cycle efficiency (CCE) trajectory, a predicted NOx value, a predicted smoke value, a predicted torque value, a predicted mass charge flow (MCF) value, and a predicted exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) fraction value, a predicted cylinder pressure value, a predicted turbocharger surge, a predicted turbocharger speed, and a predicted physical value. The output set <NUM> may be determined in response to the design reference value set <NUM> and one or more basis variables of the basis variable set <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the predictive model is a control-oriented model.

(COM) of the air handling subsystem that is run over a time trajectory. The reference value set <NUM> may be further determined in response to the output set <NUM>.

In response to the output set <NUM>, an example embodiment of the air handling target determiner <NUM> further checks for traversal of a feasible trajectory of the air handling system <NUM>. Alternatively or in addition, in response to the output set <NUM>, an example embodiment of the air handling target determiner <NUM> also checks for a hardware limit violation. Examples of hardware limit violations are turbocharger surge <NUM> or excessive turbocharger speed <NUM>. The reference value set <NUM> may be determined in response to either or both of these checks.

Various embodiments of an optimization routine <NUM> determine when to provide the reference value set <NUM>. An example optimization routine <NUM> operates to provide the reference value set in response to an output condition to end a cycle of iterations, such as achieving a target BTE trajectory <NUM>, reaching a predetermined time limit, or meeting some other condition.

Until the output condition is met, the air handling target determiner <NUM> may constrain the design reference value set <NUM> in response to at least one of the target BTE trajectory <NUM> and the threshold criteria set <NUM>. For example, the cycle of iterations continues with a next iteration. An example optimization routine <NUM> continues to determine a next design variable set <NUM> with which to begin a next iteration in response to the predictive model output set <NUM> and optionally the threshold criteria set <NUM>.

An example target BTE trajectory <NUM> is an optimum or maximum BTE trajectory over a chosen time horizon. Some embodiments of the target BTE trajectory <NUM> are calculated as the product of a target OCE trajectory <NUM> and a target CCE trajectory <NUM>. Often, optimizing the target BTE trajectory <NUM> requires balancing CCE and OCE to achieve a local or global optimum. For example, a greater CCE may be achieved with greater amounts of compressed air in the cylinder, which requires more work from the air handling system and a lesser OCE. Though a global optimum could produce the highest efficiency, a local optimum can be preferred over a global optimum, for example, when time constraints do not allow for the processing time required to find the global optimum. Non-limiting examples of local optimums include local minimums or maximums of a predictive operation (e.g. by derivative), local minimums or maximums of an error-calculating operation, and a result from a tree search (e.g. Monte Carlo). The optimization routine <NUM> may determine the reference value set <NUM> or the design reference value set <NUM> further in response to the target BTE trajectory <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the optimization routine <NUM> constrains the reference value set <NUM> or the design reference value set <NUM> further in response to the threshold criteria set <NUM>, for example, so that the engine system <NUM> operates to achieve one or more objective values <NUM> optionally within the limits of one or more constraint values <NUM>. In some embodiments, the values selected for the output set <NUM> correspond to the values selected for the threshold criteria set <NUM>. The output set <NUM> may be compared to the threshold criteria set <NUM>. The reference value set <NUM> may be further constrained in response to the comparison.

Various embodiments of the threshold criteria set <NUM> include at least one of an objective value subset <NUM> and a constraint value subset <NUM>. The objective value subset <NUM> provides objectives or targets for performance, whereas the constraint value set <NUM> provides constraints that are physical (e.g., hardware based), regulatory (e.g., related to emission limit), feasible in the state space, or otherwise selected. An example objective value subset <NUM> includes at least one of a target open cycle efficiency (OCE) trajectory <NUM>, a target closed cycle efficiency (CCE) trajectory <NUM>, a target NOχ value <NUM>, a target smoke value <NUM>, a target torque value <NUM>, a target mass charge flow (MCF) value <NUM>, and a target exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) fraction value <NUM>. An example constraint value subset <NUM> includes one or more a peak cylinder pressure value <NUM>, a turbocharger surge <NUM>, an excessive turbocharger speed <NUM>, a physical limit value <NUM>, a mass charge flow (MCF) limit value <NUM>, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) limit value <NUM>, and a regulatory limit value <NUM> (e.g., related to an emission limit).

To summarize, an initial design reference value set is determined in response to the basis variable set and optionally the air handling controller specification set. The initial design reference value set may be a best guess, such as a steady state reference value set. This set is provided to a predictive model, which provides an output set. An optimization routine optionally constrains the set in response to a threshold criteria set and the output set of the predictive model. The set may be provided as a design reference value set for another iteration in the cycle or may be provided as a reference value set when an output condition is met. In this way, the air handling target determiner <NUM> is capable of generating an iteratively optimized and/or improved reference value set <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of an example predictive model <NUM> of the processing subsystem <NUM>, according to some embodiments. The predictive model <NUM> includes one or more submodels to provide the output set <NUM> in response to the design reference value set <NUM>. An example predictive model <NUM> includes a closed- loop air handling model <NUM>, an in-cylinder oxygen estimation model <NUM>, and an in-cylinder combustion model <NUM>. The models may work cooperatively to provide the output set <NUM>. In some cases, the output set <NUM> is updated in response to the submodels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, the last in-cylinder combustion information may be used to estimate the amount of air being recirculated for the next combustion. The amount of air being provided at intake and being recirculated may be used to estimate in-cylinder oxygen. The in-cylinder oxygen estimation may be used to estimate the next in-cylinder combustion characteristics. In this way, the predictive model <NUM> provides an output set <NUM> that may be compared to the threshold criteria set <NUM>.

An example closed-loop air handling model <NUM> determines an intake manifold pressure value <NUM> and an intake manifold temperature value <NUM>. An example in-cylinder combustion model <NUM> determines an exhaust manifold pressure value <NUM> and an exhaust manifold temperature value <NUM>. The in-cylinder oxygen estimation model <NUM> determines the amount or concentration of oxygen provided into the cylinder.

<FIG> is a schematic flow chart diagram of an example procedure <NUM> for controlling the air handling system <NUM><NUM> of the engine system <NUM>, according to some embodiments. The procedure includes an operation <NUM> to interpret an air handling variable set. The air handling basis variable set is selected to characterize the majority of effects of the air handling subsystem. In operation <NUM>, an air handling specification set is interpreted. An example air handling specification set defines the acceptable types of inputs and their range for a controller of the air handling subsystem.

In operation <NUM>, an air handling reference value set is determined in response to the air handling basis variable set and the air handling controller specification set. The air handling reference value set is a set of target values for performance of the air handling subsystem. By including the air handling controller specification set, the target values may be determined within acceptable ranges of the specification of one or more controllers of the air handling subsystem to facilitate more accurate control of the air handling subsystem. Operation <NUM> may include updating one or more predictive models and/or constraining an air handling reference value set to meet various threshold criteria. In some embodiments, the air handling controller specification set is included in the calibration of the air handling reference value set in response to the air handling basis variable set.

In operation <NUM>, an air handling command set is determined in response to the air handling reference value set. The air handling command set may be the same as air handling reference value set. Alternatively or in combination, the air handling reference value set may be modified to provide an air handling command set. For example, the air handling command set may be determined to take into account constraints (or limitations) of the air handling subsystem. In some embodiments, one or more constraints (e.g., physical, emissions, or otherwise) of the air handling subsystem are included in calibration of the air handling reference value set in response to the air handling basis variable set. In such embodiments, the fueling reference value set is optionally not modified in response to those constraints at runtime.

Finally, in operation <NUM>, air is delivered to an internal combustion engine in response to the air handling command step. The delivering step may include providing the air handling command set to a controller of the air handling subsystem. The controller of the air handling system may operate components of the air handling system, such as one or more turbochargers and EGR valves, to deliver air to the internal combustion engine.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of a processing subsystem <NUM> of the engine system <NUM> including a controller <NUM> to perform certain operations to control the
aftertreatment system <NUM>, according to some embodiments. As shown, the controller <NUM> includes an aftertreatment parameter definer <NUM>, an aftertreatment target determiner <NUM>, and an aftertreatment control commander <NUM> (e.g., aftertreatment control circuit). The aftertreatment parameter definer <NUM> interprets one or more basis variables for aftertreatment. An example basis variable set characterizes a moving average of emission in a receding time horizon. The aftertreatment target determiner <NUM> determines an aftertreatment reference value set in response to a key basis variable set for aftertreatment. An example aftertreatment reference value set corresponds to target values for the aftertreatment system. Some target values are conformed to the specification set of one or more physical controllers of the aftertreatment system, such as aftertreatment controller <NUM>. The aftertreatment control commander <NUM> provides one or more aftertreatment command values in response to a reference value set for aftertreatment. An example command value set modifies the reference value set due to being calibrated to match the aftertreatment system or due to other limits. Further, the aftertreatment system <NUM> may treat the exhaust from the internal combustion engine in response to the reference value set upon receiving the one or more aftertreatment command values.

The aftertreatment parameter definer <NUM> interprets parameters and provides them to the controller <NUM>. An example aftertreatment parameter definer <NUM> interprets one or more of a space-velocity value <NUM>, an exhaust related temperature <NUM> (e.g., an exhaust temperature, a catalyst temperature, DPF temperature, EGR temperature, etc), an ambient value <NUM>, an ammonia storage value <NUM>, and an NOχ conversion efficiency value <NUM>.

The example controller <NUM> shown includes a basis variable set <NUM>. The basis variable set includes one or more parameters interpreted by the aftertreatment parameter definer <NUM>, such as the space-velocity value <NUM>, the exhaust related temperature <NUM>, the ambient value <NUM>, the ammonia storage value <NUM>, and the NOχ conversion efficiency value <NUM>. An example basis variable set includes the space-velocity value <NUM>, the exhaust related temperature <NUM>, and the ambient value <NUM>. The example basis variable set <NUM> is selected to characterize an emissions trajectory within the engine system, such as a system out NOχ trajectory (e.g., NOχ at the tailpipe over time). An example time trajectory is on the order of hours.

The present disclosure recognizes that the moving average of emissions in a receding time horizon may be used to regulate the cumulative emissions of engine system <NUM>. A cumulative emissions threshold may be selected in response to, for example, a regulatory value, an offset of the regulatory value (e.g., below the regulatory value or above the regulatory value) for emission credit use or provision, an emission credit trading value, or a sociability requirement. An emission credit trading value may be determined in response to, for example, run-time credits (e.g., in response to real-time emission credit trading) or design- time credits (e.g., in response to a predetermined allocation of emission credits for a particular engine). Typical cumulative emissions include, without limitation, accumulated NOχ and/or particulate matter. Example particulate matter includes unburned hydrocarbons and/or soot. The key basis variables for aftertreatment is the minimum set of variables that is capable of predicting the majority of the aftertreatment characteristics in at least steady state and transient state operation conditions. The key basis variables for aftertreatment may further be selected based on computational efficiency. Those having skill in the art, having the benefit of the disclosure herein and having a typical understanding of the particular system in view, would be able to select the appropriate values of a basis variable set.

In various embodiments, to perform the functions described herein throughout, the aftertreatment parameter definer <NUM> may include, but is not limited to, a pressure sensor (e.g., absolute or differential), a temperature sensor, a NOχ sensor, an ammonia sensor, an analog to digital (ADC) converter, a processor, a non-transient computer readable storage medium, computer-readable instruction(s) stored on a non-transient computer readable storage medium, a bus, and/or wired/wireless connection hardware. In other embodiments, one or more of these may be excluded from the aftertreatment parameter definer <NUM>.

The aftertreatment target determiner <NUM> interprets the basis variable set <NUM> and optionally the aftertreatment controller specification set <NUM>. The aftertreatment controller specification set <NUM> corresponds to the specifications of one or more controllers in the aftertreatment system <NUM>, such as aftertreatment controller <NUM>. The specifications may define an acceptable range of input values for the controller of the aftertreatment system, which can be used to define one or more acceptable ranges for the reference value set <NUM>. In response to the basis variable set <NUM> and optionally the aftertreatment controller specification set <NUM>, the aftertreatment target determiner <NUM> determines the reference value set <NUM>. Further embodiments of the aftertreatment target determiner <NUM> determine the reference value set <NUM> further in response a threshold criteria set <NUM>, which may include objectives or constraints (e.g., physical, emissions, or otherwise) for the reference value set. In some embodiments, the threshold criteria set <NUM> is included during calibration to establish relationships between the reference value set <NUM> and the basis variable set <NUM>.

Various embodiments of the reference value set <NUM> include at least one of a target NOx conversion efficiency value <NUM> (e.g., target NOχ conversion efficiency of the SCR catalyst) and a target system out NOχ value <NUM> (e.g., target NOχ at the tailpipe). One of skill in the art would understand that the target NOx conversion efficiency value <NUM> is an emergent value, and contemplating a particular system and having the benefit of the disclosures herein would understand the values of exhaust temperature, catalyst temperature, exhaust flow rate, catalyst loading, ammonia to NOχ ratio, and/or other similar parameters to achieve a particular target NOx conversion efficiency value <NUM>. The present disclosure recognizes that a processing subsystem <NUM> is often paired with an aftertreatment system, such as aftertreatment system <NUM>, which accepts a particular type of input and range of inputs. Further, the present disclosure recognizes that the target NOx conversion efficiency value <NUM> and the target system out NOχ value <NUM> are capable of defining the parameters to control a majority of effects in the aftertreatment system <NUM>. Those having skill in the art, having the benefit of the disclosure herein and having a typical understanding of the particular system in view, would be able to select the appropriate values for the reference value set <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the aftertreatment target determiner <NUM> stores relationships between the basis variable set <NUM> and the reference value set <NUM> as a series of reference surfaces, each reference surface corresponding to a reference value and having one or more basis variables as inputs. The relationships may be determined during calibration. An example calibration determines the reference surfaces in response to key basis variable measurements at various operating points of the engine system. In some cases, a target is optionally used to calibrate the reference surfaces, such as an engine brake specific fuel consumption (EBSFC) trajectory, a number of DPF regenerations, and/or an aggregate emissions trajectory. The target value may be a predefined target, an improved value, a minimum value, a maximum value, or an optimum value. In some embodiments, the target includes a minimum EBSFC trajectory. In additional or alternative embodiments, the target includes a minimum number of DPF regenerations over a time trajectory. An example reference surface is generated that provides reference value sets as outputs, or targets, to achieve EBSFC targets within physical and/or emissions constraints, in response to basis variable sets and optionally a particular OCE target as inputs.

In various embodiments, to perform the functions described herein throughout, the aftertreatment target determiner <NUM> may include, but is not limited to, a processor, a non-transient computer readable storage medium, computer-readable instruction(s) stored on a non-transient computer readable storage medium, a bus, and/or wired/wireless connection hardware. In other embodiments, one or more of these may be excluded from the aftertreatment target determiner <NUM>.

Certain embodiments of the aftertreatment control commander <NUM> determine an aftertreatment command set <NUM> in response to the reference value set <NUM>. The reference value set <NUM> provides targets for the aftertreatment control commander <NUM>. In some cases, the aftertreatment control commander <NUM> provides the reference value set <NUM> as the aftertreatment command set <NUM>. In other cases, the aftertreatment control commander <NUM> modifies the reference value set <NUM> before providing the aftertreatment command set <NUM>. In further cases, the aftertreatment control commander <NUM> modifies the reference value set <NUM> in response to a constraint, such as a physical limit or regulatory limit (e.g., selected from threshold criteria set <NUM>).

In various embodiments, to perform the functions described herein throughout, the aftertreatment control commander <NUM> may include, but is not limited to, a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) valve, an ammonia fluid valve, a fuel injector, an EGR valve, a VGT, a processor, a non-transient computer readable storage medium, computer-readable instruction(s) stored on a non-transient computer readable storage medium, a bus, and/or wired/wireless connection hardware. In other embodiments, one or more of these may be excluded from the aftertreatment control commander <NUM>.

In additional or alternative embodiments, the aftertreatment control commander <NUM> comprises an aftertreatment control circuit. To perform the functions described herein throughout, an example aftertreatment control circuit may include, but is not limited to, an analog circuit, a digital circuit, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or vice versa, a processor, a non-transient computer readable storage medium, computer-readable instruction(s) stored on a non-transient computer readable storage medium, a bus, and/or wired/wireless connection hardware. In other embodiments, one or more of these may also be excluded from the aftertreatment control circuit.

The present disclosure recognizes that a particular aftertreatment system may include one or more physical aftertreatment controllers calibrated to control the particular physical components of the aftertreatment system and that various aftertreatment systems respond uniquely to commands due to design differences and manufacturing tolerances. Thus, an example aftertreatment control commander <NUM> provides adjustments to the reference value set <NUM> in response to limitations or constraints of the aftertreatment system <NUM>. Those having skill in the art, having the benefit of the disclosure herein and having a typical understanding of the particular system in view, would be able to select the appropriate aftertreatment command set <NUM> for an aftertreatment system <NUM>. In this manner, the aftertreatment system <NUM> may be controlled utilizing a key basis variable set <NUM>, a reference value set <NUM>, and/or a command set <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of the aftertreatment target determiner <NUM> of processing subsystem <NUM>, according to some embodiments. An example aftertreatment target determiner <NUM> includes a predictive model <NUM> and an optimization routine <NUM>, which are optionally utilized to provide the reference value set <NUM> in response to the basis variable set <NUM> and the aftertreatment controller specification set <NUM>.

An example aftertreatment target determiner <NUM> determines a design reference value set <NUM> in response to the basis variable set <NUM> and optionally the aftertreatment controller specification set <NUM>. The design reference value set <NUM> may be determined similarly to, may include similar values to, and may be selected similarly as described with respect to the reference value set <NUM>. Thus, the design reference value set <NUM> includes at least one of target NOx conversion efficiency value <NUM> and a target system out NOx value <NUM>. These one or more design reference values serve as initial target values that may be modified in iteratively in a cycle until certain conditions are met, at which time the design reference value set <NUM> is provided as the reference value set <NUM>. In various embodiments, initial design reference value set <NUM> is a steady state reference value set. In some cases, the steady state reference value set is provided as an initial guess or estimate for the design reference value set <NUM>. In other cases, the design reference value set <NUM> as the steady state reference value set is provided as the reference value set <NUM> in response to a steady state operating condition (e.g., the aftertreatment target determiner <NUM> acts as a unity gain filter).

With initial target values available, an example output set <NUM> of the predictive model <NUM> is determined as a step in an iteration. The example output set <NUM> includes at least one of a predicted NOx conversion efficiency value <NUM>, a predicted system out NOχ value <NUM>, and a predicted ammonia slip value <NUM>. The values of the example output set <NUM> optionally represent trajectories of such values over time. The output set <NUM> may be determined in response to the design reference value set <NUM> and one or more basis variables of the basis variable set <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the predictive model includes one or more submodels, such as a closed-loop model of the SCR system <NUM>, a tailpipe metrics model <NUM>, and an aftertreatment state value model <NUM>. An example output set <NUM> is determined and/or updated in response to one or more of these submodels. In particular, the output set <NUM> is optionally determined and/or updated in response to one or more submodel outputs, such as a predicted space-velocity value <NUM>, a predicted catalyst related temperature <NUM>, a predicted ammonia storage value <NUM>, a predicted DPF loading value <NUM>, and a predicted NOx conversion efficiency value <NUM>. The example reference value set <NUM> is optionally determined further in response to the output set <NUM>. Further, the example reference value set <NUM> is optionally determined in response to the comparison of one or more predicted values in the output set <NUM> to a corresponding threshold value in the threshold criteria set <NUM>.

Various embodiments of an optimization routine <NUM> determine when to provide the reference value set <NUM>. An example optimization routine <NUM> operates to provide the reference value set in response to an output condition to end a cycle of iterations. An example output condition is meeting one or more consumption targets <NUM>, meeting a target aggregate emissions trajectory <NUM>, meeting a predetermined time limit, and/or meeting some other condition. The one or more consumption targets <NUM> may include a target (EBSFC) trajectory <NUM> and/or a target number of diesel particulate filter (DPF) regenerations <NUM>. For example, the consumption target may include an improved or minimum fuel or NOχ reductant fluid consumption level.

Until the output condition is met, the aftertreatment target determiner <NUM> may constrain the design reference value set <NUM> in response to at least one of the consumption targets <NUM> and/or the target aggregate emissions trajectory <NUM>. For example, the cycle of iterations continues with a next iteration. An example optimization routine <NUM> continues to determine a next design variable set <NUM> with which to begin a next iteration in response to the predictive model output set <NUM> and optionally the threshold criteria set <NUM>. Though a global optimum could produce the highest efficiency, a local optimum can be preferred over a global optimum, for example, when time constraints do not allow for the processing time required to find the global optimum. The optimization routine <NUM> may determine the reference value set <NUM> or the design reference value set <NUM> further in response to the constrained design reference value set <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the optimization routine <NUM> constrains the reference value set <NUM> or the design reference value set <NUM> further in response to the threshold criteria set <NUM>. In some embodiments, the values selected for the output set <NUM> correspond to the values selected for the threshold criteria set <NUM>. The output set <NUM> may be compared to the threshold criteria set <NUM>. Various embodiments of the threshold criteria set <NUM> include at least one of a target NOx conversion efficiency trajectory <NUM>, a target system out NOχ trajectory <NUM>, and a target ammonia slip trajectory <NUM>. The design reference value set <NUM> may be further constrained in response to the comparison.

To summarize, an initial design reference value set <NUM> is determined in response to the basis variable set <NUM> and the aftertreatment controller specification set <NUM>. The initial design reference value set <NUM> may be a best guess, such as a steady state reference value set. This set is provided to a predictive model <NUM>, which provides an output set <NUM>. An optimization routine <NUM> optionally constrains the design reference value set <NUM> in response to a threshold criteria set <NUM> and the output set <NUM>. The design reference value set <NUM> may be provided as a design reference value set for another iteration in the cycle or may be provided as a reference value set <NUM> when an output condition is met. In this way, the aftertreatment target determiner <NUM> is capable of generating an iteratively optimized reference value set <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic flow chart diagram of an example procedure <NUM> for controlling the aftertreatment system <NUM> of the engine system <NUM>, according to some embodiments. The procedure includes an operation <NUM> to interpret an aftertreatment basis variable set. The aftertreatment basis variable set is selected to characterize the majority of effects of the aftertreatment subsystem. In operation <NUM>, an aftertreatment specification set is interpreted. An example aftertreatment specification set defines the acceptable types of inputs and their range for a controller of the aftertreatment subsystem.

In operation <NUM>, an aftertreatment reference value set is determined in response to the aftertreatment basis variable set and the aftertreatment controller specification set. The aftertreatment reference value set is a set of target values for performance of the air handling subsystem. By including the aftertreatment controller specification set, the target values may be determined within acceptable ranges of the specification of one or more controllers of the aftertreatment subsystem to facilitate more accurate control of the aftertreatment subsystem. Operation <NUM> may include updating one or more predictive models and/or constraining an aftertreatment reference value set to meet various threshold criteria. In some embodiments, the aftertreatment controller specification set is included in the calibration of the aftertreatment reference value set in response to the aftertreatment basis variable set.

In operation <NUM>, an aftertreatment command set is determined in response to the aftertreatment reference value set. The aftertreatment command set may be the same as the aftertreatment reference value set. Alternatively or in combination, the aftertreatment reference value set may be modified to provide an aftertreatment command set. For example, the aftertreatment command set may be determined in response to constraints (or limitations) of the aftertreatment subsystem. In some embodiments, one or more constraints (e.g., physical, emissions, or otherwise) of the aftertreatment subsystem are included in calibration of the aftertreatment reference value set in response to the aftertreatment basis variable set. In such embodiments, the aftertreatment reference value set is optionally not modified in response to those constraints at run-time.

Finally, in operation <NUM>, exhaust is treated from an internal combustion engine in response to the aftertreatment command set. The treating step may include providing the aftertreatment command set to a controller of the aftertreatment subsystem. The controller of the aftertreatment system may operate components of the aftertreatment system, such as NOχ reductant fluid, to treat exhaust from the internal combustion engine.

Claim 1:
A method, comprising:
receiving a basis variable set (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), wherein basis variables are sensor measurements or determined from sensor measurements, and wherein the basis variable set (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) includes an engine speed (<NUM>), a commanded fueling value (<NUM>), and an in-cylinder oxygen concentration value (<NUM>);
determining a reference value set (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) having a plurality of reference values based on the basis variable set (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and a fuel controller specification set (<NUM>), wherein the fuel controller specification set (<NUM>) defines acceptable types and range of inputs for a fuel controller (<NUM>), such that the reference value set (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is a set of target values for meeting a performance requirement of an engine system (<NUM>) and includes a start-of-injection command (<NUM>); and
providing the reference value set (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to a fuel control commander (<NUM>).