Two-stage engine charge air system with branch conduits

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10100786-B2
Application number	US-201615176794-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2016
Priority date	Jun 8, 2016
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A system is provided comprising an engine having a first cylinder bank and a second cylinder bank disposed in a VEE configuration, a first compressor configured to compress fluid to a first pressure, a first cooler coupled to the first compressor, the first cooler receiving the compressed fluid from the first compressor and cooling the compressed fluid, a second compressor coupled to the first cooler, the second compressor being configured to receive cooled, compressed fluid from the first cooler and compress the cooled, compressed fluid to a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure, and a second cooler coupled to the second compressor, the second cooler receiving the compressed fluid from the second compressor and cooling the compressed fluid for introduction into the pair of cylinder banks. The first compressor, the first cooler, the second compressor and the second cooler are disposed within the VEE.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system, comprising:
an engine having a first cylinder bank and a second cylinder bank disposed in a VEE configuration, each of the first and second cylinder banks having a centerline that lies in a plane that passes through a crankshaft centerline, the planes defining a VEE above the crankshaft centerline;
a first compressor configured to compress a fluid to a first pressure;
a first cooler coupled to the first compressor, the first cooler receiving the compressed fluid from the first compressor and cooling the compressed fluid;
a second compressor coupled to the first cooler, the second compressor being configured to receive cooled, compressed fluid from the first cooler and compress the cooled, compressed fluid to a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure; and
a second cooler coupled to the second compressor, the second cooler receiving the compressed fluid from the second compressor and cooling the compressed fluid for introduction into the pair of cylinder banks; and
a first and second throttle;
wherein the first compressor, the first cooler, the second compressor and the second cooler are disposed within the VEE; and
wherein the first throttle is upstream of the first cylinder bank and in fluid communication with the first cylinder bank via a first flow path, and the second throttle is upstream of the second cylinder bank and in fluid communication with the second cylinder bank via a second flow path.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first compressor is part of a low pressure turbocharger and the second compressor is part of a high pressure turbocharger.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the low pressure turbocharger is at least partially disposed beyond one end of the engine.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first flow path and the second flow path are formed within a thermal housing coupled to the first and second throttle, the first flow path being separate from the second flow path.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second throttles are coupled to the second cooler.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first throttle and the second throttle are independently controlled to provide a desired amount of fluid to the first cylinder bank and the second cylinder bank.

7. A two-stage turbo system for a spark-ignited engine having a first cylinder bank and a second cylinder bank disposed in a VEE configuration, a first plane passing through the first cylinder bank and a crankshaft centerline and a second plane passing through the second cylinder bank and the crankshaft centerline defining a VEE above the crankshaft centerline, the system comprising:
a low pressure turbocharger comprising a first compressor configured to compress a fluid to a first pressure;
a high pressure turbocharger comprising a second compressor coupled to the first compressor and configured to compress the fluid to a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure;
a first cooler coupled to the second compressor, the first cooler receiving the compressed fluid from the second compressor and cooling the compressed fluid for introduction into the first and second cylinder banks; and
a first and second throttle configured to receive cooled fluid from the first cooler;
wherein the low pressure turbocharger and the high pressure turbocharger are disposed within the VEE; and
wherein the first throttle is upstream of the first cylinder bank and in fluid communication with the first cylinder bank via a first flow path, and the second throttle is upstream of the second cylinder bank and in fluid communication with the second cylinder bank via a second flow path.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a second cooler coupled between the first compressor and the second compressor, the second cooler receiving the compressed fluid from the first compressor and cooling the compressed air.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the low pressure turbocharger is at least partially disposed beyond one end of the engine.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first throttle and the second throttle are independently controlled to provide a desired amount of fluid to the first cylinder bank and the second cylinder bank.

11. A vehicle, comprising:
an engine comprising a first end, a second end, a crankshaft, a first cylinder bank and a second cylinder bank, wherein a first plane passing through the first cylinder bank and a centerline of a crankshaft and a second plane passing through the second cylinder bank and the centerline of the crankshaft define a VEE above the centerline of the crankshaft;
a first turbocharger configured to receive intake fluid and compress the intake fluid to a first pressure, the first turbocharger being disposed within the VEE adjacent the first end of the engine and beyond the first and second cylinder banks along the centerline of the crankshaft; and
a second turbocharger coupled to the first turbocharger and configured to further compress the fluid from the first turbocharger to a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure, the second turbocharger being disposed within the VEE between a first cylinder and a last cylinder of the first cylinder bank.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising an exhaust manifold having a collector disposed within the VEE adjacent the second turbocharger, the collector being configured to deliver exhaust gas from the first and second cylinder banks to a turbine of the second turbocharger.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a first cooler coupled between the first turbocharger and the second turbocharger, the first cooler receiving the compressed intake fluid from the first turbocharger and cooling the compressed fluid.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the first cooler comprises an inlet diffuser configured to distribute fluid across an inlet of the first cooler.

15. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a second cooler coupled to the second turbocharger, the second cooler receiving the compressed fluid from the second turbocharger and cooling the compressed fluid for introduction into the first and second cylinder banks.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the second cooler comprises an inlet diffuser having a plurality of fins that distribute fluid across an inlet of the second cooler.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first turbocharger is at least partially disposed beyond the first end of the engine.

18. A two-stage turbo system for a spark-ignited engine having a first cylinder bank and a second cylinder bank disposed in a VEE configuration, a first plane passing through the first cylinder bank and a crankshaft centerline and a second plane passing through the second cylinder bank and the crankshaft centerline defining a VEE above the crankshaft centerline, the system comprising:
a low pressure turbocharger comprising a first compressor configured to compress a fluid to a first pressure;
a high pressure turbocharger comprising a second compressor coupled to the first compressor and configured to compress the fluid to a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure;
a first throttle upstream of the first cylinder bank and in fluid communication with the first cylinder bank via a first flow path, the first throttle being downstream of the high pressure turbocharger; and
a second throttle upstream of the second cylinder bank and in fluid communication with the second cylinder bank via a second flow path, the second throttle being downstream of the high pressure turbocharger;
wherein the low pressure

Assignees

• Cummins Inc

Inventors

• Bremmer Robin J
• Saad Philipe F

Classifications

• F02B75/22

  with cylinders in V, fan, or star arrangement · CPC title

• F02B5/02

  Methods of operating · CPC title

• F02M26/22 Primary

  with coolers in the recirculation passage · CPC title

• Y02T10/12

  Improving ICE efficiencies · CPC title

• F02B37/004

  with exhaust drives arranged in series · CPC title