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This paper addresses the control of diesel engine nitrogen oxides (NOx) and Soot emissions through the application of Model Predictive Control (MPC). The developments described in the paper are based on a high-fidelity model of the engine airpath and torque response in GT-Power, which is extended with a feedforward neural network (FNN)-based model of engine out (feedgas) emissions identified from experimental engine data to enable the controller co-simulation and performance verification. A Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) is then identified for use as a prediction model in the implementation of a nonlinear economic MPC that adjusts intake manifold pressure and EGR rate set-points to the inner loop airpath controller as well as the engine fueling rate. Based on GT-Power engine model and FNN emissions model, the closed-loop simulations of the control system and the plant model, over different driving cycles, demonstrate the capability to shape engine out emissions response by adjusting weights and constraints in economic MPC formulation.

This paper presents the results of developing a multi-layer Neural Network (NN) to represent diesel engine emissions and integrating this NN into control design. Firstly, a NN is trained and validated to simultaneously predict oxides of nitrogen (N Ox) and Soot using both transient and steady-state data. Based on the input-output correlation analysis, inputs to NN with the highest influence on the emissions are selected while keeping the NN structure simple. Secondly, a co-simulation framework is implemented to integrate the NN emissions model with a model of a diesel engine airpath system built in GT-Power and used to identify a low-order linear parameter-varying (LPV) model for emissions prediction. Finally, an economic supervisory model predictive controller (MPC) is developed using the LPV emissions model to adjust setpoints to an inner-loop airpath tracking MPC. Simulation results are reported illustrating the capability of the resulting controller to reduce N Ox, meet the target Soot limit, and track the adjusted intake manifold pressure and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rate targets.

This paper investigates options to complement a diesel engine airpath feedback controller with a feedforward. The control objective is to track the intake manifold pressure and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rate targets by manipulating the EGR valve and variable geometry turbine (VGT) while satisfying state and input constraints. The feedback controller is based on rate-based Model Predictive Control (MPC) that provides integral action for tracking. Two options for the feedforward are considered one based on a look-up table that specifies the feedforward as a function of engine speed and fuel injection rate, and another one based on a (non-rate-based) MPC that generates dynamic feedforward trajectories. The controllers are designed and verified using a high-fidelity engine model in GT-Power and exploit a low-order rate-based linear parameter-varying (LPV) model for prediction which is identified from transient response data generated by the GT-Power model. It is shown that the combination of feedforward and feedback MPC has the potential to improve the performance and robustness of the control design. In particular, the feedback MPC without feedforward can lose stability at low engine speeds, while MPC-based feedforward results in the best transient response. Mechanisms by which feedforward is able to assist in stabilization and improve performance are discussed., Comment: 10th IFAC Symposium on Robust Control Design (ROCOND), August 30-September 2, 2022, Kyoto, Japan

This paper presents the results of a model predictive controller (MPC) development for diesel engine air-path regulation. The control objective is to track the intake manifold pressure and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rate targets by manipulating the EGR valve and variable geometry turbine (VGT) while satisfying state and control constraints. The MPC controller is designed and verified using a high-fidelity engine model in GT-Power. The controller exploits a low-order rate-based linear parameter-varying (LPV) model for prediction which is identified from transient response data generated by the GT-Power model. It is shown that transient engine thermal dynamics influence the airpath dynamics, specifically the intake manifold pressure response, however, MPC demonstrates robustness against inaccuracies in modeling these thermal dynamics. In particular, we show that MPC can be successfully implemented using a rate-based prediction model with two inputs (EGR and VGT positions) identified from data with steady-state wall temperature dynamics, however, closed-loop performance can be improved if a prediction model (i) is identified from data with transient thermal dynamics, and (ii) has the fuel injection rate as extra model input. Further, the MPC calibration process across the engine operating range to achieve improved performance is addressed. As the MPC calibration is shown to be sensitive to the operating conditions, a fast calibration process is proposed., Comment: 2022 American Control Conference (ACC), June 8-10, 2022, Atlanta, GA, USA