Chapter 8
Engine Management System
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Engine Management System
• Engine management systems (EMS) are crucial for optimizing the performance and
efficiency of internal combustion engines.
• They manage various aspects of engine operation, including fuel delivery, ignition timing, and
emission control.
➢ Fuel Management: The EMS controls the amount of fuel injected into the engine based on
various inputs like engine temperature, air flow, and throttle position.
• This helps in achieving optimal fuel efficiency and performance.
➢ Ignition Control: It manages the timing of the spark plugs to ignite the fuel-air mixture in the
combustion chambers.
• Proper timing is essential for smooth engine operation and fuel efficiency. 2
Engine Management System
➢ Air Intake Management: The system regulates the air intake to ensure the correct air-fuel
mixture.
• It often involves components like the mass airflow sensor or manifold absolute pressure sensor.
➢ Emission Control: EMS works to minimize harmful emissions by managing components like
the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors.
• This helps in meeting environmental regulations.
➢ Diagnostics: Modern EMS units can perform diagnostic functions to detect and report issues
with the engine or related systems.
• They often include onboard diagnostics (OBD) systems that can be accessed via a diagnostic
tool.
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Cont.d
• An engine management system can be represented by the standard three-stage model.
Input Stage: Output Stage:
•Collects data from various 1. Executes adjustments based on
sensors placed throughout the Processing Stage: the ECU's calculations to
engine and vehicle systems. ensure optimal engine
•Common sensors include: •Data from the input stage is sent to the Engine Control Unit (ECU).
• Oxygen sensors (O₂)
performance and compliance
•The ECU processes this data using pre-programmed maps and with emissions standards.
• Mass airflow (MAF) sensors
• Manifold absolute pressure algorithms to determine the optimal settings for fuel injection, ignition 2. Controls components like:
(MAP) sensors 1. Fuel injectors
• Throttle position sensors timing, air-fuel ratio, and other parameters. 2. Ignition coils
• Engine temperature sensors 3. Throttle actuators
•These sensors provide real-time
•Includes diagnostics to detect and report faults.
4. Exhaust gas recirculation
information about the engine's
operating conditions.
(EGR) valves
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Cont.d
❖ Open Loop Control
• Senses command to the main system but does not have the ability to check or monitor the
actual output of the main system.
• Considering an engine as the main system, if a signal for an open loop control system is given,
the engine produces its output, but this output may vary if the engine operating conditions alter.
• Still commonly used for fuel supply and ignition systems.
▪ No feedback: The ECU does not check exhaust gases or sensor corrections.
▪ When used:
Input Output
ECU
▪ During cold start (before sensors warm up).
▪ At wide-open throttle (WOT) for maximum power.
▪ When sensor data is unreliable.
Cont.d
• Advantages:
– Fast response, simple logic.
• Limitations:
– Less accurate, can’t correct for variations in fuel quality, air leaks, or sensor drift
❖ Closed Loop Control
• Works in similar way to open loop, one important feature is of measuring the output from the
system and feed back a signal for comparison.
• The feedback signal from output sensor is passed back to the input where it is compared using
an error amplifier, which intensifies and processes the signal.
Closed Loop Control Cont.d
• If output differs from the input, the command signal is altered until the required output is
achieved.
➢ Proportional control: It has a sensor in the output, which generates a signal proportional to
the output.
• So that the magnitude of the feed back signal indicates the output of the system.
➢ Limit cycle control: Uses the feedback to signal when a preset limit is exceeded.
• The output sensor is inoperative during the normal operating range, but when the limit is
exceeded, the feedback circuit passes a signal back to the input, which permits an alteration to
be made to the command input.
Closed Loop Fuel Control System
.
Exhaust gas Exhaust
AIR Engine Exhaust Gas Oxygen gas
Sensor
FUEL
Fuel Metering
Actuator
FEED BACK CIRCUIT ECU
❖Combined ignition and fuel management
• As the requirements for lower and lower emissions continue, together with the need for better
performance, other areas of engine control are constantly being investigated.
• This control is becoming even more important as the possibility of carbon dioxide emissions being
included in future regulations increases.
• Some of the current and potential areas for further control of engine operation are included:
➢ Ignition timing: retard and advance
➢ Dwell angle: number of degrees of distributor cam rotation during which the contact points remain closed
➢ Fuel quantity: optimum fuel delivery
➢ EGR (exhaust gas recirculation): NOx and Temperature reduction
➢ Canister purge: Fuel vapors from the fuel tank are captured in a charcoal canister – intake manifold
➢ Idle speed: Optimum idle speed
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General Block Diagram of an Ignition and Fuel Control System
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Variable Valve Timing
• With the widespread use of twin cam engines, one cam for the inlet valves and one for the
exhaust valves, it is possible to vary the valve overlap while the engine is running.
• Honda has a system that noticeably improves the power and torque range by only opening both
of the valves at higher speed.
• A system of valves using oil pressure to turn the cam with respect to its drive gear controls the
cam positions on the BMW system.
• The position of the cams is determined from a suitable map held in ROM in the control unit.
Variable Valve Timing
Honda’s valve control system. At low revs the VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control
system) engine opens only one inlet valve per cylinder fully, so just 12 valves control the mixture and
combustion of air and fuel. This delivers maximum efficiency with the lowest possible emissions. At
higher engine speeds, hydraulic pins activate the extra valves to give 16 valve performance.
Variable valve timing
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Injectors with Air Shrouding
• If high-speed air is introduced at the tip of an injector, the dispersal of the fuel is considerably
improved.
• Droplet size can be reduced to below 50μm during idle conditions.
• Better fuel preparation through injection with air shrouding.
Left: injection valve without air shrouding.
Right: injection valve with air shrouding
Injection valve with air shrouding
On Board Diagnostic System
• A number of further sensors are required for the functions of the OBD 2 system.
• Another lambda sensor, placed after the catalytic converter, monitors the operation of the OBD
2.
• An intake pressure sensor and a valve are needed to control the activated charcoal filter to
reduce and monitor evaporative emissions from the fuel tank.
• As well as the driver’s fault lamp a considerable increase in the electronics is required in the
control unit in order to operate an OBD system.
Ignition system
• The ignition system can affect exhaust emissions in two ways; first, by the quality of the spark
produced, and secondly, the timing of the spark.
• The quality of a spark will determine its ability to ignite the mixture.
• The duration of the spark in particular is significant when igniting weaker mixtures.
• The stronger the spark the less the likelihood of a misfire, which can cause massive increases in the
production of hydrocarbons.
• The timing of a spark is clearly critical but, as ever, is a compromise with power, drivability,
consumption and emissions.
• The production of carbon monoxide is dependent almost only on fuel mixture and is not significantly
affected by changes in ignition timing.
• Electronic and programmed ignition systems have made significant improvements to the emission
levels of today’s engines.
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Influence of ignition timing on emissions and fuel consumption
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Control of diesel emissions
• Exhaust emissions from diesel engines have been reduced considerably by changes in the
design of combustion chambers and injection techniques.
• More accurate control of start of injection and spill timing has allowed further improvements to
be made.
• Electronic control has also made a significant contribution.
• A number of further techniques can be employed to control emissions.
✓ Exhaust gas recirculation
✓ Intake air temperature
✓ Catalytic converter
✓ Filters
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Complete power plant control systems
• The possibility of a complete vehicle control system has been around since the first use of
digital control.
• The Fig. shows a representation of a full vehicle control system. In principle, it involves one
ECU, which is capable of controlling all aspects of the vehicle.
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Representation of a full vehicle control system
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Advantages of central control
• The advantages of central control come under two main headings, inputs and outputs.
• On the input side, consider all the inputs required to operate each of the following:
✓ Ignition system.
✓ Fuel system.
✓ Transmission system.
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