Engine Mechanical System

Camshaft and CVVT Description and Operation

~2min read

Description

The Continuous Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) system advances or retards the intake and exhaust valve timing based on the control signal from the ECM, calculated from engine load and speed. Under CVVT control, valve overlap is generated, resulting in better fuel economy and reduced exhaust emissions (NOx, HC), and improved engine performance through reduced pumping losses, internal exhaust gas recirculation effect, improved combustion stability, volumetric efficiency and increased expansion. This system consists of
  • CVVT oil control valve (OCV) that supplies engine oil to the cam phaser or drains engine oil from the cam phaser according to the PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal from the ECM,
  • CVVT oil temperature sensor (OTS) that measures the engine oil temperature,
  • and a cam phaser that changes the cam phase by hydraulic force of engine oil.
Engine oil discharged by the CVVT oil control valve changes the camshaft phase in the forward direction (intake advance/exhaust retard) or the reverse direction (intake retard/exhaust advance) relative to engine rotation, by rotating the rotor connected to the camshaft inside the CVVT phaser.

Principle of Operation

The CVVT has a mechanism that rotates the rotor vane with hydraulic force generated by engine oil supplied to the advance or retard chamber, according to the control of the CVVT oil control valve.

[CVVT System Mode]

(1) Low Speed/Low Load (2) Partial Load


(3) Low Speed/High Load (4) High Speed / High Load



Operating
Condition
Exhaust Valve Intake Valve
Valve
Timing
Effect Valve
Timing
Effect
(1) Low Speed
/ Low Load
Fully
ADVANCE
* Valve overlap
* Improved combustion stability
Fully
RETARD
* Valve overlap
* Improved combustion stability
(2) Partial Load RETARD * Improved relaxation work
* Reduced pumping loss at load changes
* Reduced HC
RETARD * Reduced pumping loss at load changes
(3) Low Speed
/ High Load
RETARD * Improved relaxation work ADVANCE * Prevention of reverse intake flow (improved volumetric efficiency)
(4) High speed
/ high load
ADVANCE * Reduced pumping loss at load changes RETARD * Improved volumetric efficiency

Test yourself

A quick Hyundai i20 quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.