Optimizing Diesel Engine Technology Through Data Analysis in MATLAB

Diesel engines are becoming extremely popular across various parts of the world due to their good fuel economy. In Germany, the biggest European market, diesel-powered vehicles enjoy good market share. The ability to maximize power and fuel economy by optimizing spark timing for a given air/fuel ratio is limited by the engine knock that occurs when the temperature or pressure in the unburned air/fuel mixture (end gases) exceeds a critical level, causing auto-ignition of the end gases. Persistent knock can cause severe damage to pistons and exhaust valves. More importantly, many automotive customers prefer vehicles with little diesel knocking. This presentation discusses how to use data analysis techniques in MATLAB^® to optimize diesel engines applying the diesel engine knocking index.