Linear parameter-varying lean burn air-fuel ratio control for a spark ignition engine

Maximization of the fuel economy of the lean burn spark ignition (SI) engine strongly depends on precise air-fuel ratio control. A great challenge associated with the air-fuel ratio feedback control is the large variable time delay in the exhaust system. In this paper, a systematic development of an air-fuel ratio controller based on post lean NOx trap (LNT) oxygen sensor feedback using linear parameter-varying (LPV) control is presented. Satisfactory stability and disturbance rejection performance is obtained in the face of the variable time delay. The LPV controller is simplified to an explicit parameterized gain scheduled lead-lag controller form for the ease of implementation. A Ford F-150 truck with a V8 4.6 l lean burn engine was used to demonstrate the LPV air-fuel ratio control design. Both simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the designed controller regulates the tailpipe air-fuel ratio to the preset reference for the full engine operating range.