Method and system for improving turbocharger efficiency

• US 10,107,182 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2017
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: VanDerWege, Brad Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Ngoc T
• Application Number:
  US15/702,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20180003102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 60612, 123562
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/025 Multiple scrolls or multiple gas passages guiding the gas to the pump drive
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/12 Control of the pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/06 Cutting-out cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/0012 with selective deactivation of cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0007 for control of turbo-charged or super-charged engines control of the pumps per se F02B37/12
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for enhancing turbocharger performance for a boosted engine system configured to operate with a pattern of deactivated cylinders. In one example, a method may include, in response to a demand for boost, operating with a cylinder pattern based on boost demand and turbocharger configuration. The specific pattern may depend on the pattern constraints imposed by engine load and NVH metrics.

Claims

1. A method for a boosted engine system, comprising:

in response to boost demand,

selectively deactivating cylinders by deactivating individual cylinder valve mechanisms to provide a cylinder pattern for selective cylinder deactivation, the cylinder pattern selected to direct exhaust from active cylinders into one of a plurality of engine turbines of turbochargers, the cylinder pattern selected to include a total number of deactivated/active cylinders, the deactivated engine cylinders selected based on their firing order, and selecting the one of the plurality of engine turbines based on turbine temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one of the plurality of engine turbines is a first turbine coupled to a first compressor, the engine system further including a second turbine coupled to a second compressor, the first and second compressors having distinct compressor outlets.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the boost demand includes a boost demand lower than a threshold boost pressure.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising, in response to a boost demand higher than the threshold boost pressure, operating the engine system with all engine cylinders active.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting the one of the plurality of engine turbines includes selecting a turbine having a lower turbine temperature than the other turbines.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the one of the plurality of engine turbines based on turbine speed, where a turbine with a higher speed is selected.

7. A method, comprising:

in response to a boost demand,

selectively deactivating cylinders by deactivating individual cylinder valve mechanisms to provide a cylinder pattern for selective cylinder deactivation, the cylinder pattern selected to direct exhaust from active cylinders into each of a first turbine and a second turbine, wherein the cylinder pattern does not include consecutive deactivated cylinders feeding the same turbine, the cylinder pattern selected to include a total number of deactivated/active cylinders, the deactivated engine cylinders selected based on their firing order.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first turbine is coupled to a first compressor and the second turbine is coupled to a second compressor, and wherein the first and second compressors direct boosted air charge to a common intake manifold of the cylinders.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the cylinder pattern for an engine with a firing order of 15426378 is 15x2xx7x15x2xx7x.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the cylinder pattern for an engine with a firing order of 134213421342 is 1x42x34x13x2.