Internal combustion engine arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021054792-A1
Application number	US-201816964658-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 16, 2018
Priority date	Feb 16, 2018
Publication date	Feb 25, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine arrangement (100, 00′) comprising: a combustion cylinder provided with a reciprocating piston movable between a top dead center (TDC) and a bottom dead center (BDC) within the combustion cylinder; a first outlet valve (102) connected to the combustion cylinder for controllably directing exhaust gas from the combustion cylinder to a first exhaust gas manifold of the internal combustion engine arrangement; a second outlet valve (104, 104′) connected to the combustion cylinder for controllably directing exhaust gas from the combustion cylinder to a second exhaust gas manifold of the internal combustion engine arrangement; a turbocharger arrangement (106) comprising a turbine (108) and a compressor (110), wherein the turbine (108) is arranged in fluid communication with the first exhaust gas manifold; and an exhaust emission control device (112,112′) arranged in fluid communication with the second exhaust gas manifold, wherein the exhaust emission control device and the turbine are arranged in parallel with each other.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . An internal combustion engine arrangement comprising:
a combustion cylinder provided with a reciprocating piston movable between a top dead center and a bottom dead center within the combustion cylinder; a first outlet valve connected to the combustion cylinder for controllably directing exhaust gas from the combustion cylinder to a first exhaust gas manifold of the internal combustion engine arrangement; a second outlet valve connected to the combustion cylinder for controllably directing exhaust gas from the combustion cylinder to a second exhaust gas manifold of the internal combustion engine arrangement, the second exhaust gas manifold comprising a heat insulating layer, wherein the first and second outlet valves each comprises a respective first and second flow controllable actuator, the flow controllable actuators being arranged to controllably operate the respective outlet valve between an open position and a closed position; a turbocharger arrangement comprising a turbine and a compressor, wherein the turbine is arranged in fluid communication with the first exhaust gas manifold, wherein a first exhaust conduit is connected in downstream fluid communication with the turbine; a three-way catalytic converter arrangement arranged in fluid communication with the second exhaust gas manifold, wherein a second exhaust conduit is connected in downstream fluid communication with the three-way catalytic converter arrangement, wherein the first and second exhaust conduits are connected to each other at a position downstream the turbine and the three-way catalytic converter arrangement, respectively, such that the three-way catalytic converter arrangement and the turbine are arranged in parallel with each other, and a control unit connected to the first and second flow controllable actuators for operation thereof, wherein the control unit is configured to position the first outlet valve in the open position during a first portion of the exhaust stroke, and to position the second outlet valve in the open position during a second portion of the exhaust stroke, wherein the second portion ends after the first portion, the control unit being further configured to:
receive a signal indicative of a temperature level of the internal combustion engine arrangement;
compare the temperature level with a predetermined threshold limit; and when the temperature level is below the predetermined threshold limit:
control the first outlet valve to be arranged in a closed position and the second outlet valve to be arranged in an open position during an exhaust stroke of the internal combustion engine such that exhaust gas generated during combustion is directed solely to the three-way catalytic converter arrangement during the entire exhaust stroke, and operate the internal combustion engine arrangement in a stoichiometric mode.

22 . The internal combustion engine arrangement according to claim 21 , wherein the control unit is configured to position the first outlet valve in the closed position at a first predetermined distance before the piston reaches the top dead center during the exhaust stroke.

23 . The internal combustion engine arrangement according to claim 21 , wherein the second portion of the exhaust stroke is initiated at a second predetermined distance after the piston has left the bottom dead center during the exhaust stroke.

24 . The internal combustion engine arrangement according to claim 21 , wherein the internal combustion engine arrangement comprises a plurality of combustion cylinders, the plurality of combustion cylinders constitutes a first and a second set of combustion cylinders, wherein the first set of combustion cylinders is arranged in fluid communication with the turbine and the three-way catalytic converter arrangement, and the second set of combustion cylinders is arranged in fluid communication with the turbine and an additional three-way catalytic converter arrangement.

25 . The internal combustion engine arrangement according to claim 24 , wherein the three-way catalytic converter arrangement and the additional three-way catalytic converter arrangement are arranged in parallel with each other.

26 . The internal combustion engine arrangement according to claim 21 , where the internal combustion engine arrangement is a diesel fuel internal combustion engine arrangement operated in a four-stroke fashion.

27 . A method for operating an internal combustion engine arrangement, the internal combustion engine arrangement comprising:
a combustion cylinder provided with a reciprocating piston movable between a top dead center and a bottom dead center within the combustion cylinder; a first outlet valve connected to the combustion cylinder for controllably directing exhaust gas from the combustion cylinder to a turbine of a turbocharger arrangement via a first exhaust gas manifold; a second outlet valve connected to the combustion cylinder for controllably directing exhaust gas from the combustion cylinder to a three-way catalytic converter arrangement via a second exhaust gas manifold comprising a heat insulating layer, wherein the first and second outlet valves each comprises a respective first and second flow controllable actuator, the flow controllable actuators being arranged to controllably operate the respective outlet valve between an open position and a closed position; a first exhaust conduit is connected in downstream fluid communication with the turbine and a second exhaust conduit is connected in downstream fluid communication with the three-way catalytic converter arrangement, wherein the first and second exhaust conduits are connected to each other at a position downstream the turbine and the three-way catalytic converter arrangement, respectively, the method comprising the steps of: positioning the first outlet valve in the open position during a first portion of the exhaust stroke; positioning the second outlet valve in the open position during a second portion of the exhaust stroke, wherein the second portion ends after the first portion; the method further comprising the steps of: determining a temperature level of the internal combustion engine arrangement; comparing the temperature level with a predetermined threshold limit; receiving a signal from an oxygen sensor indicative of oxygen levels in the exhaust gases; controlling the first outlet valve to be arranged in a closed position and the second outlet valve to be arranged in an open position during an exhaust stroke of the internal combustion engine such that exhaust gas generated during combustion is directed solely to the three-way catalytic converter when the temperature level is below the predetermined threshold limit; and controlling an inlet valve of the internal combustion engine arrangement such that the oxygen level in the combustion gases is substantially zero.

28 . The method according to claim 27 , wherein the internal combustion engine arrangement comprises a plurality of combustion cylinders, the plurality of combustion cylinders constitutes a first and a second set of combustion cylinders, wherein the step of controlling the inlet valve such that the oxygen level in the combustion gases is substantially zero is performed solely for inlet valves of one of the first and second sets of combustion cylinders.

29 . A vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine arrangement according to claim 21 .

30 . A computer program comprising program code means for performing the steps of claim 27 when the program is run on a computer.

31 . A computer readable medium carrying a computer program comprising program means for performing the steps of claim 27 wh

Assignees

• Volvo Truck Corp

Inventors

• Andersson Arne

Classifications

• F01N2340/06

  Arrangement of the exhaust apparatus relative to the turbine of a turbocharger · CPC title

• F02D2041/001

  for engines with variable valve actuation · CPC title

• F02D41/1454

  the characteristics being an oxygen content or concentration or the air-fuel ratio · CPC title

• F02D41/26

  using computer, e.g. microprocessor · CPC title

• Y02T10/12

  Improving ICE efficiencies · CPC title