Real-time empirical NOx model based on In-cylinder pressure measurements for light-duty diesel engines

This paper proposes a real-time empirical model of NOx emissions for diesel engines. The proposed model predicts the level of NOx emissions using an empirical model developed based on the thermal NO formation mechanism, the extended Zeldovich mechanism. Since it is difficult to consider the exact physical NO formation phenomena in real-time applications, the proposed algorithm adapts the key factors of the NO formation mechanism from the extended Zeldovich mechanism: temperature of the burned gas, concentration of the gas species, and combustion duration where NO is generated. These factors are considered in a prediction model as four parameters: exhaust gas recirculation rate (EGR rate), crank angle location of 50 % of mass fraction burned (MFB50), exhaust lambda value, and combustion acceleration. The proposed prediction model is validated with various steady engine experiments that showed a high linear correlation with the NOx emission measured by a NOx sensor. Furthermore, it is also validated for transient experiments.