IIT Mandi researchers develop algorithms to predict functioning of vehicular Internal Combustion Engines

Indian Institute of Technology Mandi researchers, along with Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions, have developed algorithms to predict the functioning of vehicular Internal Combustion (IC) engines so that their operation can be optimised for maximum fuel efficiency and minimum emissions.

A research team lead by Dr Tushar Jain, Assistant Professor, School of Computing and Electrical Engineering, IIT Mandi, has published this research in the International Journal of Systems Science, Taylor & Francis. The paper is co-authored by Jain and his research scholar, Vyoma Singh, along with Dr Birupaksha Pal from Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions.

Also read: IIT Mandi researcher shows the opioid addiction treatment can reverse some of the type 2 diabetes

The IC engine that is fuelled by petrol and diesel powers about 99.8 per cent of global transport, and in doing so, generates about 10 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While alternatives including battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and other fuels like biofuels and hydrogen are slowly gaining ground, as of now, they are often used in conjunction with conventional IC engines. It is therefore, imperative that IC engines’ designs are optimised in order to ensure the best fuel economy and minimal emissions over the entire lifespan of the engine.

“At any point in time, the working condition of the engine and other devices/systems inside the vehicle should be precisely known, for which, we need the information on several important engine parameters,” said Jain. If the information of all the relevant parameters were known, then by continuous monitoring and computation of these parameters, the driver can use the usual driving manoeuvres such as changing the gear appropriately to improve the vehicle’s performance.

“We have developed a new algorithm for their online estimation, which will be used to develop advanced, sophisticated controllers for better engine performance,” he explains.

The researchers have estimated the spark-ignition engine dynamics, namely the intake manifold pressure, engine speed, and the airflow rate past the throttle, along with the estimation of the engine parameters that determine the said dynamics accurately. The developed algorithm can be programmed and be a part of the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) installed in the vehicles.

The algorithm developed by the IIT Mandi team will help on-board monitoring and control for IC engines. The application of the developed algorithm can be extended to determine other variables such as the State-of-Charge (SoC) in battery-operated vehicles in real-time as well.