Abstract
Combustion failures diagnosis techniques for reciprocating internal combustion engines have been developed over the last few years. Through the development of electronic control systems, these techniques have allowed not only the detection of combustion failures but also the possibility of correcting them in real time. This has made a substantial improvement in engine performance possible.
Nowadays the most usual techniques are based on the crankshaft instantaneous speed or on the engine vibrations. These methods, although successfully in use, may be applied only to maintenance tasks or to low and moderate engine speeds and loads.
In this paper, a combustion failure detection and identification technique for turbocharger reciprocating internal combustion engines will be presented. This technique is based on the measurement of the turbocharger instantaneous speed.
The study of the turbocharger instantaneous speed signal allows not only the detection of combustion failures, but also the ability to locate the faulty cylinder. Additionally, it will be shown that this technique is applicable to the whole operating range.