Systems and methods for a split exhaust engine system

• US 10,138,822 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ulrey, Joseph Norman, Boyer, Brad Alan, Madison, Daniel Paul, Leiby, James
• Primary Examiner(s): MOULIS, THOMAS N
• Application Number:
  US15/382,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20180171883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/107 More than one exhaust manifold or exhaust collector
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 25/145 with intake and exhaust valves exclusively in the cylinder head
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/00 Engines characterised by provision of pumps driven at least for part of the time by exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0249 changing the valve timing only
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0257 Independent control of two or more intake or exhaust valves respectively, i.e. one of two intake valves remains closed or is opened partially while the other is fully opened
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0261 Controlling the valve overlap
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0072 Estimating, calculating or determining the EGR rate, amount or flow sensors in EGR systems F02M26/45
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0077 Control of the EGR valve or actuator, e.g. duty cycle, closed loop control of position EGR valve position sensor F02M26/48
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/025 by changing the composition of the exhaust gas, e.g. for exothermic reaction on exhaust gas treating apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/123 the fuel injection being cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/26 using computer, e.g. microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/14 in relation to the exhaust system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/20 Feeding recirculated exhaust gases directly into the combustion chambers or into the intake runners
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/53 using electric actuators, e.g. solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, a flow of exhaust (e.g., exhaust gas recirculation) from engine cylinders to the intake passage, upstream of a compressor, via an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage and the first exhaust manifold may be adjusted by adjusting a timing of a first set of cylinder exhaust valves coupled to the first exhaust manifold. Additionally, the first set of cylinder exhaust valves open at a different time than a second set of cylinder exhaust valves coupled to the exhaust passage.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

adjusting a timing of a first set of cylinder exhaust valves to adjust a flow of exhaust from engine cylinders to an intake passage, upstream of a compressor, via an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage, where the first set of cylinder exhaust valves open at a different time than a second set of cylinder exhaust valves coupled to an exhaust passage, wherein the adjusting the timing of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves is responsive to a condition of the compressor including one or more of condensate formation at the compressor, a compressor inlet temperature less than a lower threshold temperature, a compressor outlet temperature greater than an upper threshold temperature, and a compressor speed greater than a threshold speed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the timing of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves includes advancing a timing of exhaust valve opening of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves in response to a request to increase the flow of exhaust from the engine cylinders to the intake passage via the EGR passage.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising advancing a timing of intake valves of the engine cylinders to increase an amount of valve overlap between the intake valves and the first set of cylinder exhaust valves in response to a request for increased blowthrough air through the engine cylinders and to the intake passage.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the timing of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves includes retarding a timing of exhaust valve opening of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves in response to a request to decrease the flow of exhaust from the engine cylinders to the intake passage via the EGR passage.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the timing of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves includes adjusting the timing of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves and a timing of the second set of cylinder exhaust valves together, by a same amount, using a single cam system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each cylinder of the engine cylinders includes one of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves and one of the second set of cylinder exhaust valves.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the exhaust passage includes a turbine and wherein the compressor is driven by the turbine.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow of exhaust from the engine cylinders to the intake passage is independent of intake manifold vacuum.

9. A method, comprising:

during a first mode, adjusting a flow of exhaust gas from a first set of cylinder exhaust valves to an intake passage, upstream of a compressor, via adjusting each of a position of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve disposed in an EGR passage and a timing of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves;

during a second mode, adjusting the flow of exhaust gas via adjusting only the position of the EGR valve and not the timing of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves; and

during a third mode, adjusting the flow of exhaust gas via adjusting only the timing of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves and not the position of the EGR valve.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the flow of exhaust gas via adjusting the timing of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves includes advancing the timing of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves to increase the flow of exhaust gas from the first set of cylinder exhaust valves to the intake passage.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first mode includes when a requested change in the flow of exhaust gas is greater than a threshold level.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the second mode includes one or more of when the timing of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves cannot be adjusted further for a current demanded direction of adjustment of the flow of exhaust gas and when the EGR valve is in a partially open position and there is a request for both increased EGR flow and increased blowthrough air from the first set of cylinder exhaust valves to the intake passage.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the third mode includes when the EGR valve is already in a fully open position and in response to a request to increase the flow of exhaust gas from the first set of cylinder exhaust valves to the intake passage.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein during the third mode, the adjusting the flow of exhaust gas includes maintaining the EGR valve in a fully open position and adjusting the timing of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves to adjust the flow of exhaust gas.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the EGR passage is coupled between a first exhaust manifold, the first set of cylinder exhaust valves coupled exclusively to the first exhaust manifold, and the intake passage, upstream of the compressor.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising, during each of the first, second, and third modes, flowing exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second set of cylinder exhaust valves, the exhaust passage including a turbine.

17. A system, comprising:

a first set of cylinder exhaust valves coupled exclusively to a first exhaust manifold;

a second set of cylinder exhaust valves coupled exclusively to a second exhaust manifold;

an exhaust passage coupled to the second exhaust manifold and including a turbine;

an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage including an EGR valve and coupled between an intake passage, upstream of a compressor, and the first exhaust manifold; and

a controller including memory with instructions stored thereon for;

adjusting a timing of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves in response to a request to adjust a flow of EGR from the first exhaust manifold to the intake passage via the EGR passage, where adjusting timing of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves includes adjusting the first set of cylinder exhaust valves responsive to condensate formation at the compressor.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the instructions further include instructions for maintaining the EGR valve in a fully open position while adjusting the timing of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the instructions further include instructions for advancing the timing of the first set of cylinder exhaust valves in response to a request to increase the flow of EGR.