The design and simulation of a high force low power actuation system for camless engines

Camless engines require independent actuators which can provide accurate control, sufficient force, and yet only require a small percentage of engine output power. A valve actuation system that meets these requirements is designed, modeled, and simulated at engine speeds up to 6000 rpm. Based on consideration of valve actuation cycles and hydraulic power efficiency, an open-center system employing control valves in series is simulated under various operating conditions and using a range of design parameter values. The results demonstrate that the proposed system is capable of meeting the 6000 rpm engine speed requirement while using as little as 1-2% of available engine power. In addition, the system lends itself well to either open-loop or closed-loop control without requiring a separate position sensor on each engine valve [1]. This potentially reduces the cost and increases the reliability of an actuation system designed for camless engines.