• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.122-129
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• 1996

The spark timing is one of major parameters to the engine performance and emissions. The ECU controls the spark timing based on preset values, which are functions of load and speed, in most of today's automotive SI engine. In this system, the preset spark timing can be different from optimum value due to the deviations from mass production, aging effects and so on. In the present study, a control logic is investigated for real time adaptation of spark timing to optimal value. It has been found that crank angle of miximum cylinder pressure is one of the appropriate parameters to estimate the optimum spark timing throught experiment. It has also been observed for spark timing convergence by variation of engineering model factors. The simulation program including engineering model for cycle by cycle variation of combustion is developed for surveying spark timing control logic. It is also shown that simulation results reflect experiment outputs and reasonableness of spark timing control logic for crank angle of maximum cylinder pressure.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.117-123
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• 2003

In a bi-fuel engine using gasoline and LPG fuel, with the current ignition timing for gasoline being used, the effective performance could not be taken in LPG fuel supply mode. The ignition timing in LPG fuel mode must be advanced much more than that of gasoline mode for the compensation of its lower flame speed, due to engine torque drop. This study aims to develop the control system for ignition spark timing conversion which is composed of hardwares and control algorithm for gasoline/LPG engine. We propose the control system which can advance the ignition spark timing in LPG fuel mode more than used in gasoline fuel mode. The advance of ignition timing is achieved by change of the ignition dwell time of coil igniter. The engine torque and F/E(Fuel-Economy) in LPG fuel mode are measured to evaluate the difference of engine performance between before and alter changing ignition spark timings. The engine torque and F/E are increased respectively, which proves the developed control system is effective so much for gasoline and LPG bi-fuel engine.

• Journal of the korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.61-67
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• 1992

The ignition timing feedback control system was studied to enhance the engine power and to reduce the fuel consumption by optimizing the spark timing. The signal of a piezo-electric vibration transducer attached to the engine block was compared with that of a pressure transducer in order to determine the knock intensity. With the result of comparison the ignition timing feedback control system which detect the knock and correct the spark timing was set up. The ignition could be more advaced with this control system than the existing system without the continuous knocking, therefore the engine torque was increased.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.644-654
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• 2001

In this paper, an electronic control unit of the automobile engine for optimal fuel injection an spark timing control has been designed and developed. This system includes hardware and software for a precise control of fuel injection and ignition timing. Especially, the crank angle sensor provides two separate signals: One is the position signal (POS) which indicates 180 degree pulses per revolution, and the other is the reference signal (REF) that represents each cylinder individually. Consequently, the developed engine control system has been able to control fuel injection and ignition timing more quickly and accurately. Through the experiment, it has been found that the fuel injection duration and the position of MBT have been influenced by coolant temperature, air flow rate and engine speed.

• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• v.7 no.7
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• pp.763-768
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• 2006

Emission reduction in the cold start period of SI engines is crucial to meet stringent emission regulations such as SULEV Emissoin reduction is the starting point of the study in the which the variable valve timing (VVT) technology may be one promising method to minimize cold start emissions while maintaining engine performance. This is because it is possible to change valve overlap and residual gas fraction during cold start and idle operations. Our previous study showed that spark timing is another important factor for reducing cold-start emissions since it affects warm-up time of close-coupled catalysts (CCC) by changing exhaust gas temperature. However, even though these factors may be favorable for reduction of emissions, they may deteriorate combustion stability in these operating conditions. This means that the two variables should be optimized for best exhaust emissions and engine stability. This study investigated the effects of valve and spark timings in idle performance such as combustion stability and exhaust emissions. Experiments showed that valve timings significantly affected engine stability and exhaust emissions, especially CO and $NO_x$, due to change in residual gas fraction within the combustion chamber. Spark timing also affects HC emissions and exhaust gas temperature. Yet it has no significant effects on combustion stability. A control strategy of proper valve timing and spark timing is suggested in order to achieve a reduction in exhaust emissions and a stable operation of the engine in a cold start and idle operation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Mechanical Technology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.101-108
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• 2011

On cold start operation of an SI engine, a catalyst shows poor performance before it reaches activation temperature. Therefore, fast warmup of the catalyst is very crucial to reduce harmful emissions. In this study, an appropriate control strategy is investigated to increase exhaust gas temperature through changes of spark timing. Combustion stability is also considered at the same time. Exhaust gas temperature and pressure of combustion chamber are measured to investigate the effects of spark timings on cold start and idle performance. Experiments showed that retarded spark timing promotes the combustion at the end of expansion stroke and increases exhaust gas temperature during cold start.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.186-194
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• 1997

The objective of this study is to develope knock control algorithms which can increase engine power without causing frequent knock occurrence. A four cylinder spark-ignition engine is used for the experiments to develop knock control algorithms which use block vibration signals. Knock occurrence is detected accurately by using knock threshold values which consider the difference of transmission path of each cylinder. Spark timing is controlled both simultaneously and individually. With the simultaneous control, torque gain is achieved by retarding the spark timing on knock occurrence in propotion to the knock intensity. The individual knock control algorithm results in higher torque gain than the simultaneous knock control algorithm. The knock occurrence frequency of the individual knock control algorithm is about twice the value of the simultaneous knock control algorithm results. Both control algorithms give similar torque gain of about 3% when they are optimized.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.106-112
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• 2008

Modern vehicles require a high degree of refinement, including good drive ability to meet customer demands. Vehicle drive ability, which becomes a key decisive factor for marketability, is affected by many parameters such as engine control and the dynamic characteristics in drive lines. This paper focuses on the simulation of FTP-75 mode which is considered with spark timing control on transient condition. The acceleration is the most important factor for vehicle fuel economy. The retard of spark timing increases in proportion to acceleration. Likewise, bsfc(break specific fuel consumption) which is affected by spark timing also increases in proportion to acceleration. The result of simulation considered transient condition shows 0.3% of error comparing with a test on chassis-dynamometer.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2000

Lean combustion in a SI engine is one of the best solution for the improvement of fuel economy and reduction of pollutant emission. In order to access a lean combustion engine, stable combustion at lean AlF ratio is needed. In this paper, the effect of fuel injection timing on lean misfire limit has been investigated in an MPI engine. To investigate the interaction of injection timing and intake flow characteristics, three different swirl generating SCV(swirl control valve) configurations were considered, and investigated their effects on lean misfire limit and torque at full load operation. Also the effects of spark timing on lean combustion has been investigated. Lean combustion has been examined and the results are reported in this paper. SCV B has been developed to satisfy the requirements of sufficient swirl generation to improve lean combustion and stable performance. It is found that injection timing, spark timing and intake air motion govern the stable lean combustion.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.31-39
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• 2000

In this paper, characteristics of a port injection type LPG fuel system were investigated to adopt the system to a spark ignition engine through rig test. Engine combustion characteristics for limited conditions and the precise control method of LPG fuel supply were also studied. As a basic experiment, the effects and the relationships of parameters such as orifice area, fuel delivery pressure, fuel temperature and flow coefficient were established. From this, one dimensional compressible flow equation can be applied to control gaseous fuel flow rate by setting pressure difference between vaporizer and manifold to a certain range, for example about 1.2 bar in a naturally aspirated engine. The combustion analysis results of LPG engine were also compared with those of gasoline engine according to spark timing and load change. At part load and stoichiometric condition, the MBT spark timing of LPG fueled engine is retarded by 2$^{\circ}$ - 4$^{\circ}$CA compared to that of gasoline engine. On the contrary, the spark timing of LPG fueled engine can be advanced by 5$^{\circ}$- 10$^{\circ}$ CA at WOT, which results from higher Octane Number and burned fraction of LPG fuel compared to gasoline.