METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

摘要

An internal combustion engine includes a plasma ignition system having an in-cylinder dielectric barrier-discharge igniter, and a direct-injection fuel injector having an in-cylinder fuel nozzle. The fuel nozzle protrudes into the combustion chamber proximal to the igniter. A controller operatively connects to the internal combustion engine, the plasma ignition system and the fuel injection system. The controller controls the internal combustion engine at an air/fuel ratio that is lean of stoichiometry. The fuel injector injects a first fuel pulse prior to activation of the igniter, and then the igniter initiates a plasma energy pulse. The fuel injector is controlled to inject a second fuel pulse during the plasma energy pulse.

主权项

1. An internal combustion engine system, comprising:
an internal combustion engine, including:
a plasma ignition system including a barrier-discharge igniter having a tip portion protruding into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, anda fuel injection system including a direct-injection fuel injector including a fuel nozzle protruding into the combustion chamber proximal to the tip port of the igniter; and a controller operatively connected to the internal combustion engine, the plasma ignition system and the fuel injection system, the controller including executable code operative to:
control the internal combustion engine to operate at an air/fuel ratio that is lean of stoichiometry,control the fuel injector to inject a first fuel pulse prior to activation of the igniter during each engine cycle,control the igniter to initiate a plasma energy pulse, andcontrol the fuel injector to inject a second fuel pulse during the plasma energy pulse.