Control and optimization applied to internal combustion engines and fluid systems

内燃机、水泥窑燃烧室是流体/燃烧系统的例子，如果实施适当的控制，这些系统的性能可以得到改善。这种改进的性能可能表现为更低的能源使用量和/或在不断变化的条件下可靠运行的能力，从而产生更均匀的产品。通常应用于流体/燃烧系统的控制策略仍然难以捉摸，这就需要为每个系统定制解决方案，这既耗时又耗费成本。为了在寻找改善流体燃烧系统的控制策略方面取得进展，我们选择了内燃机和基本流体流动的具体例子。 控制被用来获得均质充气压缩点火(HCCI)，这是一种创新的内燃机技术，具有更高的效率，能够燃烧多种燃料，并且具有较低的排放污染物。将这种发动机安装到你的汽车中将转化为：更低的燃料使用量，从而减少温室气体排放，燃烧生物燃料的灵活性，以及改善大城市中心空气质量的潜力。完全可变的气门正时，以电磁阀和排气阀的形式，使HCCI燃烧的潜力得以实现。这些阀门的软着陆运动控制是一个机电一体化问题，其非线性自适应控制方法可应用于机器人、过程控制等多个领域。 基本流量控制系统也被研究为控制更复杂和工业相关的流量的基础。开发水泥窑燃烧室模型的控制策略应该允许更有效地使用在实际系统上燃烧的燃料。 工业和政府都需要在控制、流体力学和内燃机领域受过培训的人才。这些训练有素的人有潜力推动新技术，创造就业机会，保持我们经济的竞争力。

Internal combustion engines, cement kiln combustors are examples of fluid/combustion systems that could see improved performance if suitable control were implemented. This improved performance might be manifested in lower use of energy and/or the ability to operate reliably under changing conditions resulting in a more uniform product. Control strategies that generally apply to fluid/combustion systems remain elusive which necessitates custom solutions for each system which is both time and cost intensive. To make progress on finding control strategies to improve fluid combustion systems, specific examples of internal combustion engines and fundamental fluid flows have been chosen. Control is being used to obtain Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI), an innovative internal combustion engine technology that has higher efficiency, is able to burn a variety of fuels, and has lower exhaust pollutants. Putting this engine in your car would translate into: lower fuel usage and thus lower greenhouse gas emissions, the flexibility to burn biofuels, and the potential for improvement of air quality in large urban centers. Completely variable valve timing, in the form of solenoid intake and exhaust valves allow the potential of HCCI combustion to be realized. The motion control for soft landing of these valves is a mechatronics problem, and whose methodology of nonlinear and adaptive control can be applied to many areas including robotics, process control etc. Fundamental flow control systems are also studied as a basis for controlling more complex and industrially relevant flows. Developing control strategies of a model of a cement kiln combustor should allow more efficient use of the fuel burned on the real system. People trained in the areas of control, fluid mechanics, and internal combustion engines, are needed by industry and government. These highly trained people have the potential to drive new technology creating jobs and keeping our economy competitive.