| abstract |
A premixed-charge compression-ignition engine and control system (10) is provided which effectively initiates combustion by compression-ignition and maintains stable combustion while achieving extremely low oxides of nitrogen emissions, good overall efficiency and acceptable combustion noise and cylinder pressures. The present engine and control system (10) effectively control the combustion history, that is, the time at which combustion occurs, the rate of combustion, the duration of combustion and/or the completeness of combustion, by controlling the operation of certain control variables providing temperature control, pressure control, control of the mixture's autoignition properties and equivalence ratio control. The combustion control system (10) provide active feedback control of the combustion event and includes a sensor, e.g. pressure sensor (16), for detecting an engine operating condition indicative of the combustion history, e.g. the start of combustion, and generating an associated engine operation condition signal (18). |