Lyapunov-Based Nonlinear Feedback Control Design for Exhaust Gas Recirculation Loop of Gasoline Engines

For gasoline engine with an exhaust gas recirculation loop, a challenging issue is how to achieve maximum brake efficiency while providing the desired torque. This paper presents a solution to this challenging issue via dynamical control approach which consists of two phases: optimal equilibrium point generation and feedback regulation of the optimized operating mode. First, a mean-value model is developed to represent the dynamical behavior of the intake manifold and exhaust manifold focused on gas mass flows. Then, the control scheme is constructed based on the control-oriented model. Mainly, the optimal set-points are designed by solving the optimal programming problem of maximizing the brake efficiency under demand torque constraint which is the first control design stage, and the dynamical model to the feedback stabilization regulation control for improving transient performance is at the second stage. Lyapunov-based design is used for the derivation of the state feedback law. Furthermore, the proposed exhaust manifold pressure estimator is also coupled into the controller to replace the cost prohibitive exhaust pressure sensor. Finally, experimental validations on the test bench are provided to evaluate the proposed controller.