Category EN P18 Humidity and Impact on EGR Scheduling

Abstract The purpose of the project was to study the effect of humidity on the

usage of EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) in boosted engine applications.

The study concentrated on non-trivial behavior of humidity and the physics

behind the behavior with respect to temperature, pressure, engine

operating conditions, etc. Based on the empirical relationships of humidity

and its interaction with other changing engine variables, a mathematical

model was developed to calculate the limitation of EGR that can be used

under different operating conditions without condensation. The results

show that the condensation that limits the EGR% is directly related to

humidity, temperature, and pressure. EGR decreases whenever relative

humidity, ambient temperature and pressure increase. To avoid

condensation, the increase in charge temperature (Air + EGR) over

ambient temperature is a strong function of the ambient temperature. The

hypothesis was verified in the dynamometer laboratory using a barometer

under various conditions. The EGR limit calculations were tested by

changing the ambient air temperature, humidity, EGR, and pressure at the

CAC outlet and comparing them to the expected results. A user-friendly

tool was developed with all the mathematical relationships and the models

implemented for ease of use by the engine dyno and vehicle calibration

teams. This study provides critical conclusions on the EGR operating

conditions and limitations to avoid condensation and other failure modes.

Bibliography Van Basshuysen, Richard, and Schäfer, Fred, "Internal Combustion Engine

Handbook," SAE International, 2004.
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