Method of controlling a valve of a dual volute turbocharger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11047294-B2
Application number	US-202016788891-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2020
Priority date	Feb 15, 2019
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

A dual volute turbocharger for use with an internal combustion engine includes a valve for controlling exhaust gas flow to a turbine housing interior of the dual volute turbocharger. The dual volute turbocharger also includes a first volute and a second volute each adapted for fluid communication with the internal combustion engine. The dual volute turbocharger further includes a wall separating the first and second volutes and a valve seat. The valve seat and the wall collectively define a valve cavity. The valve is movable between a closed position and an open position. The valve and the wall of the turbine housing collectively define a first cross-sectional flow area. The valve and the valve seat collectively define a second cross-sectional flow area. A method of controlling the valve of the dual volute turbocharger is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling a valve of a dual volute turbocharger for use with an internal combustion engine, with the dual volute turbocharger configured to receive exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine and deliver compressed air to the internal combustion engine, the dual volute turbocharger comprising,
a turbine housing comprising,
a turbine housing interior adapted to receive a turbine wheel,
a first volute adapted for fluid communication with the internal combustion engine and the turbine housing interior for delivering exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine to the turbine housing interior,
a second volute adapted for fluid communication with the internal combustion engine and the turbine housing interior for delivering exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine to the turbine housing interior independently of the first volute, and
a turbine housing outlet in fluid communication with the turbine housing interior for discharging exhaust gas from the turbine housing interior,
a wall separating the first volute from the second volute,
a valve seat,
the turbine wheel disposed in the turbine housing interior, and
a valve engageable with at least one of the valve seat and the wall of the turbine housing for controlling exhaust gas flow from the first and second volutes to the turbine housing interior, with the valve and the wall of the turbine housing collectively defining a first cross-sectional flow area and the valve and the valve seat of the turbine housing collectively defining a second cross-sectional flow area, and with the valve movable between a closed position where the valve restricts exhaust gas from flowing between the first and second volutes and from bypassing the turbine housing interior, and an open position where the valve allows exhaust gas from the first and second volutes to bypass the turbine housing interior, and

a controller operable to
receive at least one signal from at least one sensor, with the at least one signal corresponding to an operating value related to the internal combustion engine and/or the dual volute turbocharger, and with the at least one signal corresponding to a turbine energy of the dual volute turbocharger, and
direct the valve based on the operating value and the turbine energy of the dual volute turbocharger,

said method comprising the steps of:
determining a current position of the valve;
determining the operating value;
determining the turbine energy of the dual volute turbocharger;
determining a desired position for the valve between the closed and open positions based on the operating value and the turbine energy of the dual volute turbocharger for providing a desired flow of exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine to the turbine housing interior;
comparing the current position of the valve and the desired position for the valve; and
directing the valve based on the comparison of the current position and the desired position to provide the desired flow of exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine to the turbine housing interior,
wherein when the valve is in the desired position, the valve has an area ratio constant (C AR ) of from 0.0001 L/kW to 0.150 L/kW, with the C AR defined by the equation: C AR =first cross-sectional flow area/(ρ power *second cross-sectional flow area).

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the operating value is one of:
an exhaust gas pressure from the internal combustion engine to the first volute,
an exhaust gas flow rate from the internal combustion engine to the first volute,
an exhaust gas temperature from the internal combustion to the first volute,
an exhaust gas pressure from the internal combustion engine to the second volute,
an exhaust gas flow rate from the internal combustion engine to the second volute,
an exhaust gas temperature from the internal combustion to the second volute,
an exhaust gas pressure from the internal combustion engine to both of the first and second volutes,
an exhaust gas flow rate from the internal combustion engine to both of the first and second volutes, and
an exhaust gas temperature from the internal combustion engine to both of the first and second volutes.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the desired position for the valve further comprises,
comparing the operating value and a first threshold value, and
comparing the turbine energy of the dual volute turbocharger and a second threshold value.

4. The method set forth in claim 3 , wherein the operating value is one of the exhaust gas pressure, flow rate, or temperature from the internal combustion engine to the first volute and the exhaust gas pressure, flow rate, or temperature from the internal combustion engine to the second volute.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 , wherein when the operating value is less than the first threshold value and the turbine energy of the dual volute turbocharger is greater than the second threshold value, the first cross-sectional flow area is non-zero in the desired position for the valve and the second cross-sectional flow area is less than the first cross-sectional flow area in the desired position for the valve.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the second cross-sectional flow area is zero in the desired position for the valve.

7. The method as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the operating value is the exhaust gas pressure from the internal combustion engine to both of the first and second volutes.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7 , wherein when the operating value exceeds the first threshold value and the first cross-sectional flow area is non-zero in the current position of the valve, the second cross-sectional flow area in the desired position for the valve is greater than second cross-sectional flow area in the current position of the valve.

9. The method as set forth in claim 3 , wherein when the turbine energy of the dual volute turbocharger exceeds the second threshold value and the first cross-sectional flow area is non-zero in the current position of the valve, the second cross-sectional flow area in the desired position for the valve is greater than the second cross-sectional flow area in the current position of the valve.

10. A method of controlling a valve of a dual volute turbocharger for use with an internal combustion engine, with the dual volute turbocharger configured to receive exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine and deliver compressed air to the internal combustion engine, the dual volute turbocharger comprising,
a turbine housing comprising,
a turbine housing interior adapted to receive a turbine wheel,
a first volute adapted for fluid communication with the internal combustion engine and the turbine housing interior for delivering exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine to the turbine housing interior,
a second volute adapted for fluid communication with the internal combustion engine and the turbine housing interior for delivering exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine to the turbine housing interior independently of the first volute, and
a turbine housing outlet in fluid communication with the turbine housing interior for discharging exhaust gas from the turbine housing interior,
a wall separating the first volute from the second volute,
a valve seat,
the turbine wheel disposed in the turbine housing interior, and

a valve engageable with at least one of the valve seat and the wall of the turbine housing for controlling exhaust gas flow from the first and second volutes to the turbine housing interior, with the valve and the wall of the turbine housing collectively defining a first cross-

Assignees

• Borgwarner Inc

Inventors

• Cola Michael Daniel
• Weiske Sascha
• Sonigra Mehul

Classifications

• F02D41/1446

  the characteristics being exhaust temperatures · CPC title

• F16K37/0041

  for measuring valve parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F01D17/08

  responsive to condition of working-fluid, e.g. pressure · CPC title

• F16K37/005

  for measuring fluid parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02D23/00

  Controlling engines characterised by their being supercharged · CPC title