Development and experimental validation of an ECU calibration strategy for a rotary engine

Details

Supervisors

Contino, Francesco ; Jeanmart, Hervé

Faculty

Ecole polytechnique de Louvain

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur civil mécanicien, à finalité spécialisée
Master [120] : ingénieur civil en génie de l'énergie , à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

enThis work develops and validates an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) calibration strategy for a Mazda 13B twin-rotor Wankel engine on the CREDEM test bench at UCLouvain, covering ignition advance and fuel mixture aim. A zero-dimensional combustion model based on Wiebe, Annand–Danieli and apex-seal leakage formulations is validated against bench measurements at four engine speeds (1500–4000 rpm) and two manifold pressures (80 kPa and 120 kPa). With the trapped air mass measured, the mechanical efficiency is the only free parameter, chosen to fit the experimental data. The optimal gasoline advance varies between −10° and −30° BTDC (Before Top Dead Centre), increasing with speed and decreasing with load. A torque-based MBT (Maximum Brake Torque) campaign at six operating points yields an optimum lambda (λ, excess air coefficient) shifting from λ = 0.96 at light load to λ = 0.84 at high load, with a peak torque gain of +6.25 % at 3000 rpm / 120 kPa. Stoichiometric operation at 4000 rpm / 120 kPa produced unstable combustion, providing direct empirical justification for the load- and speed-dependent enrichment strategy. The calibration deliberately prioritises brake torque and apex-seal protection over fuel economy. Finally, hydrogen operation at λ = 1.3 — selected for apex-seal mechanical protection against the high peak pressure of stoichiometric hydrogen — is predicted to require a 25°–30° CA (Crank Angle) shift toward later timing relative to gasoline, with MBT located past top dead centre.