Master Thesis: Advisory MPC for After Treatment Thermal Regulation

Background of thesis project


Thermal regulation is an important aspect in the Exhaust Aftertreatment System (EATS) control. The catalyst converter must be kept warm for sufficient NOx conversion, which may sometimes come at the price of an increased fuel consumption. Accurate control of the EATS inlet gas temperature seems to play a key role in handling the tradeoff between NOx conversion performance and fuel efficiency. This topic becomes especially vibrant considering the progressive restrictiveness of emission regulations

Description of thesis work


Hard constraints associated with the EATS control application suggest approaching the problem using Model Predictive Control (MPC) methods. This, however, is impeded by complexity of the overall EATS dynamics, and finding an appropriate scope for the MPC application remains an open challenge. The proposed work aims to find an adequate MPC formulation that captures the complex time-varying nature of the thermal regulation problem yet leading to a simple and intuitive framework for controller design. While working on this project, the students will practice applying MPC concept to real-world application and get acquaintance with modern tools for MPC analysis and design.


Goal of the Thesis
Basic acquaintance with EATS and its objectives
Detailed acquaintance with EATS thermal model
Developing MPC formulation for advisory EATS thermal regulation
Implementation and evaluation of the resulting MPC controller in simulation environment (MATLAB/Simulink)

Suitable background
Strong skills in modeling, analysis, and simulation of dynamical systems
Strong skills in control systems and MPC
Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink
Suitable for two students

Thesis Level: Master

Language: English


Starting date: January 2024


Number of students: 2


Tutors:


Maxim Kristalny, Control Engineer, maxim.kristalny@volvo.com
Johan Dahl, Control Systems Engineer, johan.dahl@volvo.com


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