Modeling the Influence of Engine Dynamics on Its Indicator Diagram

Abstract

This article presents a proposal to describe the pressure changes in the combustion chamber of an engine as a function of the angle of rotation of the crankshaft, taking into account changes in rotational speed resulting from acceleration. The aim of the proposed model is to determine variable piston forces in simulation studies of torsional vibrations of a crankshaft with a vibration damper during the acceleration process. Its essence is the use of a Fourier series as a continuous function to describe pressure changes in one cycle of work. Such a solution is required due to the variable integration step during the simulation. It was proposed to determine the series coefficients on the basis of a Fourier transform of the averaged waveform of a discreet open indicator diagram, calculated for the registration of successive cycles. Recording of the indicative pressure waveforms and shaft angle sensor signals was carried out during tests on the chassis dynamometer. An analysis of the influence of the adopted number of series coefficients on the representation of signal energy was carried out. The model can also take into account the phenomenon of work cycle uniqueness by introducing random changes in the coefficients with magnitudes set on the basis of determined standard deviations for each coefficient of the series. An indispensable supplement to the model is a description of changes in the engine rotational speed, used as a control signal for the PID controller in the simulation of the load performed by the dynamometer. The accuracy of determining the instantaneous rotational speed was analyzed on the basis of signals from the crankshaft position angle sensor and the piston top dead center (TDC) sensor. Limitations resulting from the parameters of digital signal recording were defined.