Model-based ethanol blend estimation in flexible-fuel vehicles

R. Zope, M. Franchek, K. Grigoriadis, G. Surnilla, S. Smith

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    2 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    This paper presents a model-based strategy estimating the ethanol content of an ethanol-gasoline blended fuel in flexible fuel vehicles. A steady-state parametric model relating engine speed, throttle angle, and air-fuel ratio to the fuel injector pulse-width is developed from physics. The parameters of this model are adapted and linked to percentage of ethanol content via a suitably defined metric. The proposed steady-state model structure is experimentally validated on a 2005 5.4L V8 Ford engine. The developed ethanol content estimation methodology is justified based on the combustion chemistry and physics involved. The methodology developed has a distinct advantage over previously proposed methods as it uses only the existing sensor set on a production vehicle.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)3-13
    Number of pages11
    JournalInternational Journal of Engine Research
    Volume13
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Feb 2012

    Keywords

    • Automotive control
    • Flexible-fuel vehicles
    • Parameter estimation
    • Spark ignition engines

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Mechanical Engineering
    • Aerospace Engineering
    • Automotive Engineering
    • Ocean Engineering

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