Idle speed modeling and optimal control of a spark-ignition engine

A model of engine dynamics is developed. The model is a MISO (Multi Input Single Output) linear model which has two inputs and one output. One input is the spark timing, and the other is the ISCV (Idle Speed Control Valve) position. The output is the angular speed of an engine. The reliability of the developed model is confirmed by comparing the measured response of the engine to step inputs and external disturbance with the simulation results. In order to reduce the steady state error, an integrator state is inserted to the state equation. An engine idle speed controller is designed using optimal control theory based on the model. The performance variation of the controller to the various design parameters is simulated. On the basis of the simulation and the experimental data, the design parameters are determined. The developed controller reduced the idle speed drop caused by an external load change and recovered the desired idle speed in one second.