The rising prices of fuels give more and more causes to increase the efficiency of engines for all purposes. At the same time tightening environmental rules concerning the emissions of harmful burning products set new goals to improve the burning processes in engines, for example in ships.

Energy efficiency and the type of emissions can be improved by better control of the engines. This requires that the engine ignition process, fuel and air intake are controlled in real time based on sensory input and the power production target.

Various sensors can be attached to an engine to derive information about its operation condition and the combustion process. These include sensors for vibration, pressure, valve opening, crankshaft position, ignition current etc. Each sensor has its signal-to-noise ratio and its signal processing has to be adapted to it.

Links
Engine control, Wikipedia
Diesel engine, Wikipedia
Hercules-B project

Designed by Alpo Värri 23.6.2009