Cascade control of HCCI phasing

摘要

The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine that can be operated in a homogenous charge combustion mode as well as a method and a computer readable storage device for controlling such an engine. The engine comprises at least one fuel injector through which fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber for the first cylinder, a fuel injection controller 4 that at least controls the fuel amount injected into the first cylinder and a piston in the first cylinder whose compression causes an air and fuel mixture to be ignited. The engine further comprises at least one inlet valve admitting air into the first cylinder, at least one exhaust valve for exhausting combusted gases from the first cylinder and at least one sensor for measuring an engine operation parameter in the first cylinder. A valve operation controller 12 is adapted to close the exhaust valve or valves before top dead centre during the exhaust stroke of the piston in the first cylinder and open the intake valve or valves between the top dead centre of the exhaust stroke and the top dead centre of the compression stroke in the first cylinder. The fuel injection controller 4 is adapted to control at least the fuel injection amount so as to perform at least one first fuel injection in the first cylinder before top dead centre of the piston exhaust stroke in the first cylinder and at least one second fuel injection in the first cylinder between the top dead centre of the exhaust stroke and the top dead centre of the compression stroke in the first cylinder. In order to solve the above mentioned problems, the engine is particularly characterized in that the valve operation controller 12 is adapted to determine the opening IVO/EVO and closing IVC/EVC of the valves of the first cylinder on the basis of the first injection or injections PFO.