Simultaneous Air Fraction and Low-Pressure EGR Mass Flow Rate Estimation for Diesel Engines

This paper describes a low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (LP-EGR) mass flow rate estimation method and a robust air mass fraction observer for a Diesel engine with dual-loop EGR system. Both observers operate simultaneously eliminating the need for pressure measurement upstream the LP-EGR valve. A sliding mode observer is designed to estimate the LP-EGR mass flow rate using the standard sensors available in commercial Diesel engines. A robust linear parameter varying Kalman filter is designed for the air mass fraction estimation. The convergence and robustness of the observers are ensured by means of Lyapunov stability and a linear matrix inequality (LMI) framework for the sliding mode observer and robust Kalman filter, respectively. The observers are evaluated with a Motor Vehicle Emission Group (NMVEG) cycle using an engine model validated on an experimental benchmark as a reference.