Nonlinear Model Predictive Controller Design for Air System Control of a Gasoline Engine

In this paper, a control strategy based on nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) for air system of gasoline engine is proposed in order to meet the engine torque demand. At first, according to mean value thought and modular modeling methodology, a control-oriented model is developed. Secondly, the desired engine torque is translated into desired intake manifold pressure by look-up table. And an NMPC controller is designed to achieve the tracking of intake manifold pressure with regulating the throttle opening, so that the output torque can attain the desired values. Ultimately, to verify the effectiveness and reliability of the designed control strategy, not only the mean value model but also the commercial high-precision engine model is applied and the performance of NMPC controller is shown by the simulation results.