Diagnostic and management system specified for control of engine equipped with the HCCI combustion technology

On the present there is very intensively emphasized the environmental protection, which is also connected with reduction of emissions produced by the vehicles. The actual European emission standard EURO 6 will be replaced very soon with the new and even stricter standard EURO 7. There is a well-known fact that the new regulations are demanding with regard to the NOX emissions. However, there is at disposal a suitable technical solution, namely in the form of an innovative engine technology, which is called the HCCI. A principle of this technology consists in a self-ignition of the homogenous air-fuel mixture using the compression process. Combustion of the mixture is performed in the whole compression volume without a spark ignition, whereby the NOX emission level is almost negligible. However, this technology is also characterised by several serious problems, for example there is occurring a complication concerning control of the self-ignition phenomenon. The presented article introduces an original diagnostic system, which enables to control the whole self-ignition system and in this way to ensure a reliable operation of the HCCI engine. This system is patented now as well as it was tested in an experimental vehicle built for the international competition “shell eco marathon”.