Twin turbo engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016108799-A1
Application number	US-201514919396-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 21, 2015
Priority date	Oct 21, 2014
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

There is provided an arrangement of an internal combustion engine with a sequentially parallel twin turbocharger, in which at least one turbocharger has an electrical energy converter which can be used optionally as a motor for driving a compressor in the lower rotational speed range of the internal combustion engine or as a generator for charging a connected battery.

First claim

1 . A system, comprising:
a turbocharged engine with a first turbocharger comprising at least a first turbine and a first compressor, and a second turbocharger comprising at least a second turbine and a second compressor, where the first and second turbochargers are arranged in parallel; an exhaust line comprising a valve device located between the engine and the second turbine; and a first electrical energy converter located on a second shaft between the second turbine and the second compressor.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first turbocharger further comprises a second electrical energy converter located on a first shaft between the first turbine and the first compressor.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrical energy converters are electrically coupled to a battery.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the first and second electrical energy converters are powered by the battery in order to electrically assist respective second and first compressors of the engine.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the first and second electrical energy converters convert a kinetic motion of the turbines to electrical energy in order to recharge the batter.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first turbine further comprises a wastegate and a wastegate passage fluidly coupled to the second turbine.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first electrical energy converter is in a generator mode when the wastegate is at least partially open.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first turbine is continuously driven and the second turbine is driven only when the valve device is at least partially open.

9 . A method, comprising:
operating at least a first electrical energy converter coupled to a second turbocharger shaft in a generator mode while operating and a second electrical energy converter coupled to a first turbocharger shaft in a motor mode, responsive to an exhaust flow amount and a battery state of charge.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising operating both the first and second electrical energy converters in the motor mode and providing electrical assistance to respective second and first compressors in response to the exhaust flow amount being less than a lower threshold flow.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising operating both the first and second electrical converters in a generator mode in response to an immediate charging request and the exhaust gas flow amount being greater than an upper threshold flow.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the second turbocharger further comprises a second turbine and where opening a valve device located in a passage between the engine and the second turbine flows a portion of exhaust gas to the second turbine.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first electrical energy converter is in the generator mode and the second electrical energy converter is in the motor mode in response to the exhaust flow amount being greater than the lower threshold flow and less than the upper threshold flow.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein operating the first electrical energy converter in the generator mode further includes actuating a wastegate of the first turbine to at least a partially open position.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein exhaust gas is conducted into first and second turbines of the first and second turbochargers, while the second and the first electrical energy converters are operated as generators, respectively.

16 . A system, comprising:
a twin turbocharged engine; a first turbocharger parallel and sequential to a second turbocharger, where the first turbocharger comprises a first turbine and a first compressor on a first shaft, and where the second turbocharger comprises a second turbine and a second compressor on a second shaft; an exhaust gas transverse line located between the engine and the second turbine, wherein exhaust gas flows directly to the second turbine via the exhaust gas transverse line when a valve device is in an open position; a first electrical energy converter located on the second shaft between the second turbine and the second compressor; a second electrical energy converter located on the first shaft between the first turbine and the first compressor; and a battery electrically coupled to the first electrical energy converter and the second electrical energy converter.

17 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising a controller with computer-readable instructions for:
changing a mode of operation of the first electrical energy converter or the second electrical energy converter based on one or more of an exhaust flow and a battery state of charge.

18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the first turbine further comprises a wastegate with a wastegate passage leading to the second turbine.

19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the first turbocharger continuously receives exhaust gas during engine operation.

20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the first electrical energy converter electrically assists the second compressor and the second electrical energy converter electrically assists the first compressor.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Stoffels Harald
• Stump Ludwig
• Weber Carsten

Classifications

• F02B37/004

  with exhaust drives arranged in series · CPC title

• F01N5/04

  the devices using kinetic energy · CPC title

• F02B37/007

  with exhaust-driven pumps arranged in parallel {, e.g. at least one pump supplying alternatively} · CPC title

• F02B37/18

  by bypassing exhaust {from the inlet to the outlet of turbine or to the atmosphere} · CPC title

• F02B37/002

  the exhaust supply to one of the exhaust drives can be interrupted · CPC title