Modeling and identification of an electromechanical internal combustion engine throttle body

Efficient control of the electromechanical throttle body of internal combustion engines allows one to properly regulate the additional air flow provided to the engine in idle speed conditions. The behavior of the throttle is highly nonlinear, due to its mechanical characteristics and to significant friction forces. The systematic design of the control strategy calls for the availability of a reliable model, and of a related simulation tool. This paper presents the model and the simulation environment developed for and currently used by Magneti Marelli in order to characterize new throttle bodies, and to design the associated control algorithms. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.