An electronic control unit of an internal combustion engine is configured to control the fuel injection valve and to control a spark plug if necessary such that fuel is combusted by pre-mixture compression ignition combustion or flame propagation combustion. The electronic control unit is configured to perform homogeneous combustion in a flame ignition operation range when switching failure has not occurred, the homogeneous combustion being combustion in which fuel homogeneously diffused into the combustion chamber is ignited using the spark plug and is combusted by flame propagation combustion. The electronic control unit is configured to perform spray-guided stratified combustion in a second operation range when the switching failure has occurred, the spray-guided stratified combustion being combustion in which fuel in the fuel injection path is ignited using the spark plug and is combusted by the flame propagation combustion.

An electronic control unit of an internal combustion engine is configured to control the fuel injection valve and to control a spark plug if necessary such that fuel is combusted by pre-mixture compression ignition combustion or flame propagation combustion. The electronic control unit is configured to perform homogeneous combustion in a flame ignition operation range when switching failure has not occurred, the homogeneous combustion being combustion in which fuel homogeneously diffused into the combustion chamber is ignited using the spark plug and is combusted by flame propagation combustion. The electronic control unit is configured to perform spray-guided stratified combustion in a second operation range when the switching failure has occurred, the spray-guided stratified combustion being combustion in which fuel in the fuel injection path is ignited using the spark plug and is combusted by the flame propagation combustion.

The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine (1) provided with at least one working cylinder (3a-3d) each with an associated auxiliary cylinder (5a-5d), which engine (1) is operable in spark ignition and compression ignition modes. Each working cylinder (3a-3d) comprises a working piston (7a-7a) connected to a first crankshaft (9), and each auxiliary cylinder (5a-5d) comprises an auxiliary piston (10a-10d) connected to a second crankshaft (12). The first crankshaft (9) is connected to the second crankshaft (12) to drive the second crankshaft (12) at half the rotational speed of the first crankshaft (9). A device for controlling the phase angle is arranged between the first and second crankshafts. The method involves controlling the phase shift device in order to retain residual exhaust gas and increase the compression ratio. A current combustion phasing timing is determined, and the combustion phasing timing is corrected by increasing or decreasing the phase angle to achieve a desired combustion phasing timing.

The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine (1) provided with at least one working cylinder (3a-3d) each with an associated auxiliary cylinder (5a-5d), which engine (1) is operable in spark ignition and compression ignition modes. Each working cylinder (3a-3d) comprises a working piston (7a-7a) connected to a first crankshaft (9), and each auxiliary cylinder (5a-5d) comprises an auxiliary piston (10a-10d) connected to a second crankshaft (12). The first crankshaft (9) is connected to the second crankshaft (12) to drive the second crankshaft (12) at half the rotational speed of the first crankshaft (9). A device for controlling the phase angle is arranged between the first and second crankshafts. The method involves controlling the phase shift device in order to retain residual exhaust gas and increase the compression ratio. A current combustion phasing timing is determined, and the combustion phasing timing is corrected by increasing or decreasing the phase angle to achieve a desired combustion phasing timing.

An engine control apparatus includes an ignition control section and an injection control section. When partial compression ignition combustion is carried out, the ignition control section causes an ignition plug to carry out: main ignition in which a spark is generated in a late period of a compression stroke or an initial period of an expansion stroke to initiate the SI combustion; and preceding ignition in which the spark is generated at earlier timing than the main ignition. Also, when the partial compression ignition combustion is carried out, the injection control section causes the injector to inject fuel at such timing that the fuel exists in a cylinder at an earlier time point than the preceding ignition. Energy of the preceding ignition is set to be higher when an engine speed is high than when the engine speed is low.

Provided is an ignition control section and an injection control section. When partial compression ignition combustion is carried out, the ignition control section causes an ignition plug to carry out: main ignition in which a spark is generated in a late period of a compression stroke or an initial period of an expansion stroke to initiate SI combustion; and preceding ignition in which the spark is generated at earlier timing than the main ignition. Also, when the partial compression ignition combustion is carried out, the injection control section causes an injector to inject fuel at such timing that the fuel exists in a cylinder at an earlier time point than the preceding ignition. Ignition timing of the preceding ignition is set to be more retarded when an in-cylinder pressure specified by an in-cylinder pressure specification section is high than when the in-cylinder pressure is low.

A fuel for an internal combustion engine includes a fatty alkyl ether having a formula corresponding to formula (II): ##STR00001##
wherein x is 1-8, and y is 0 to 3; and the alkyl is an alkyl group having a number of carbon atoms that is less than the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain on the opposite side of the oxygen atom. The fatty alky ether can be used as a neat fuel or blend with biodiesel, diesel, ethanol or other fuels. The fatty alkyl ethers are improved in cetane number and cold flow properties over a biodiesel with fatty acid methyl acid methyl ester compounds. This is particularly valuable for compression ignition engines. A method of combustion in several types of engines is also disclosed.

A fuel for an internal combustion engine includes a fatty alkyl ether having a formula corresponding to formula (II): ##STR00001##
wherein x is 1-8, and y is 0 to 3; and the alkyl is an alkyl group having a number of carbon atoms that is less than the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain on the opposite side of the oxygen atom. The fatty alky ether can be used as a neat fuel or blend with biodiesel, diesel, ethanol or other fuels. The fatty alkyl ethers are improved in cetane number and cold flow properties over a biodiesel with fatty acid methyl acid methyl ester compounds. This is particularly valuable for compression ignition engines. A method of combustion in several types of engines is also disclosed.

An engine control apparatus includes an ignition control section and an injection control section. When the partial compression ignition combustion is carried out, the ignition control section causes an ignition plug to carry out: main ignition in which a spark is generated in a late period of a compression stroke or an initial period of a expansion stroke to initiate the SI combustion; and preceding ignition in which the spark is generated at earlier timing than the main ignition. Also, when the partial compression ignition combustion is carried out, the injection control section causes the injector to inject fuel at such timing that the fuel exists in a cylinder at an earlier time point than the preceding ignition. The energy of the preceding ignition is set to be higher when the in-cylinder pressure specified by the in-cylinder pressure specification section is high than when the in-cylinder pressure is low.

An engine control apparatus includes an ignition control section and an injection control section. When the partial compression ignition combustion is carried out, the ignition control section causes an ignition plug to carry out: main ignition in which a spark is generated in a late period of a compression stroke or an initial period of a expansion stroke to initiate the SI combustion; and preceding ignition in which the spark is generated at earlier timing than the main ignition. Also, when the partial compression ignition combustion is carried out, the injection control section causes the injector to inject fuel at such timing that the fuel exists in a cylinder at an earlier time point than the preceding ignition. The energy of the preceding ignition is set to be higher when the in-cylinder pressure specified by the in-cylinder pressure specification section is high than when the in-cylinder pressure is low.