The Start of Combustion Prediction for Methane-Fueled HCCI Engines: Traditional vs. Machine Learning Methods

Abstract

In this work, 11 regression models based on machine learning techniques were employed to provide a fast-response and accurate model for the prediction of the start of combustion in homogeneous charge compression ignition engines fueled with methane. These regression models are categorized into linear and nonlinear types. Although the robust random sample consensus (RANSAC) model is a nonlinear type as well as SAM (simple algebraic model), the prediction accuracy is enhanced from 89.3% to 98.4%. Such accuracy is also achieved for the linear models, namely, ordinary least squares, ridge, and Bayesian ridge models. Indeed, due to the linear hypothesis (the correlation for the start of combustion prediction), the presented models have an acceptable response time to be used in real-time control applications like the electronic control units of the engines.