Beru Ag

Borgwarner Beru Systems Gmbh

Marc Rottner

Olaf Toedter

Hans Houben

Bernd Last

Markus Kernwein

Jörg Stöckle

Martin Sackmann

Ganghua Rüan

The invention relates to a method for controlling a glow plug to a target value of the surface temperature while the engine is running. An effective voltage is generated by pulse width modulation of a vehicle electrical system voltage. This effective voltage is applied to the glow plug. The electric resistance of the glow plug is measured and compared to a resistance value expected for the target value of the surface temperature. The effective voltage is varied as a function of the deviation of the measured value of the electric resistance from the expected value of the electric resistance. A pressure sensor of the glow plug is used to measure the combustion chamber pressure. The resistance value expected for the target value of the surface temperature is determined as a function of the combustion chamber pressure.

Method for controlling a glow plug

Herein is described a method for the heating-up of a ceramic glow plug by applying a variable electric voltage to the glow plug. In accordance with the invention it is provided that, starting from a base value, the electric voltage increases in a time-averaged manner superproportional to the elapsed heating-up time. The invention relates also to a glow plug control unit for carrying out of such a method.

Method for the heating up of a ceramic glow plug

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Illingen, Germany

Marc Rottner