Indirect measurement of turbocharger instantaneous velocity for multi-cylinder combustion diagnosis

Abstract

Combustion monitoring and controlling techniques for reciprocating internal combustion engines have got in the past and continue to get great attention from researchers due to their role in complying with more severe regulations in terms of fuel consumption and emission reduction. The employment of vibration signals is one of the approaches widely used to assess the condition of machines and detect faults. Methods based on vibration analysis in time and frequency domains have been proposed to indirectly sense the combustion and provide a feedback signal to optimize the engine management. Accelerometer signals from engine block have been used for combustion progress evaluation; vibration signals of turbochargers have been employed for turbocharger speed estimation aimed at obtaining an indirect monitoring of the engine operating conditions in terms of speed, load and injection settings. The purpose of this paper is to present a study on the employment of the turbocharger vibration signal to get information on its instantaneous velocity to be used in combustion control algorithms. Data have been acquired during experimental tests on a small displacement turbocharged two-cylinder diesel engine. An accelerometer was mounted on the compressor housing and tests have been performed at different values of engine speed and torque. Results are presented and discussed.Combustion monitoring and controlling techniques for reciprocating internal combustion engines have got in the past and continue to get great attention from researchers due to their role in complying with more severe regulations in terms of fuel consumption and emission reduction. The employment of vibration signals is one of the approaches widely used to assess the condition of machines and detect faults. Methods based on vibration analysis in time and frequency domains have been proposed to indirectly sense the combustion and provide a feedback signal to optimize the engine management. Accelerometer signals from engine block have been used for combustion progress evaluation; vibration signals of turbochargers have been employed for turbocharger speed estimation aimed at obtaining an indirect monitoring of the engine operating conditions in terms of speed, load and injection settings. The purpose of this paper is to present a study on the employment of the turbocharger vibration signal to get information...