Automatic Tuning of Control Parameters for Single Speed Engines

Abstract: In Scania’s single speed engines for industrial and marine use, the engine speed is controlled by a PI-controller. This controller is tuned independent of engine type and application. This brings certain disadvantages since the engines are used in a wide range of applications where the dynamics may differ. In this thesis, the possibility to tune the controller automatically for a specific engine installation has been investigated. The work shows that automatic tuning is possible. By performing an identification experiment on the engine, the parameters in a first order model describing the dynamics of the engine and the load aggregate are determined. The control parameters are then determined as functions of the model parameters. Measurements on a generator set show that the proposed method provides a controller which is able to follow changes in the reference value, and to compensate for load disturbances.