A Challenging Future for the IC Engine: New Technologies and the Control Role

TLDR

Regulations on pollutants, especially CO₂ emissions, threaten the use of internal combustion engines in cars, yet the authors believe the IC engine will remain dominant for decades, though many emerging technologies require precise control and impose demanding integration requirements. The paper reviews emerging technologies to meet emission regulations and argues that advanced engine control, leveraging new models, methods, and sensors, will be essential for next‑generation engines. The review surveys new combustion concepts, advanced boosting techniques, and after‑treatment systems designed to meet emission regulations.

Abstract

New regulations on pollutants and, specially, on CO<sub>2<sub/> emissions could restrict the use of the internal combustion engine in automotive applications. This paper presents a review of different technologies under development for meeting such regulations, ranging from new combustion concepts to advanced boosting methods and after-treatment systems. Many of them need an accurate control of the operating conditions and, in many cases, they impose demanding requirements at a system integration level. In this framework, engine control disciplines will be key for the implementation and development of the next generation engines, taking profit of recent advancements in models, methods and sensors. According to authors' opinion, the internal combustion engine will still be the dominant technology in automotive applications for the next decades.