Method for controlling a corona ignition system of a cyclically operating internal combustion engine

US9797365B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Alexander Schenk · Waiblingen, DE
• Torsten Schremmer · Ludwigsburg, DE
• Georg Rixecker · Echterdingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 9, 2015
• Grant date: Oct 24, 2017
• Expiry date: Jan 29, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F02P2017/121
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for controlling a corona ignition system in which a corona discharge is produced at an ignition electrode by exciting a resonating circuit with an AC voltage produced by a high-frequency generator. The AC voltage is adjusted to a target value depending on an operating state of the engine. Combustion onset is determined by evaluating an electrical variable of the resonating circuit and the target value of the AC voltage is reduced by a predefined value following a predefined number of engine cycles or a predefined operating period. The determined combustion onset is evaluated in one or more engine cycles. The target value for the momentary engine operating state is then increased if, by evaluation of the combustion onset, it is found that a predefined requirement is no longer met. Otherwise, the reduced target value is stored as a new target value for the momentary engine operating state.