Turbocharger system

• US 20060218923A1
• Filed: 04/04/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Kuras, Brian D., Sopko, Thomas Michael Jr., Casey, Kent Allen, Vanderham, Michael Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/396,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20060218923A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/607
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/103 of fluid type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/10 at least one pump being alternatively or simultaneously driven by exhaust and other drive, e.g. by pressurised fluid from a reservoir or an engine-driven pump
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/14 Control of the alternation between or the operation of exhaust drive and other drive of a pump, e.g. dependent on speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 39/10 electric
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0406 Intake manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1002 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 23/00 Controlling engines characterised by their being supercharged
• 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: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A system for controlling intake pressure of a combustion engine operably coupled to a power generation system includes a sensor configured to output a signal indicative of a pressure in an intake system of the combustion engine and a sensor configured to output a signal indicative of a load on the power generation system. The system further includes a turbocharger operably coupled to the intake system. The system also includes an electric machine operably coupled to the turbocharger. The electric machine is configured to supply torque to the turbocharger. The system further includes a turbocharger controller operably coupled to the electric machine. The turbocharger controller is configured to control operation of the electric machine such that the turbocharger supplies a desired intake pressure to the combustion engine based at least partially on the signal indicative of a pressure in the intake system and the signal indicative of a load on the power generation system.

Claims

1. A system for controlling intake pressure of a combustion engine operably coupled to a power generation system, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to output a signal indicative of a pressure in an intake system of the combustion engine;

a sensor configured to output a signal indicative of a load on the power generation system;

a turbocharger operably coupled to the intake system, the turbocharger being configured to increase the intake pressure in the intake system of the combustion engine; and

a turbocharger controller operably coupled to the turbocharger,

wherein the turbocharger controller is configured to control operation of the turbocharger such that the turbocharger supplies a desired intake pressure to the combustion engine based at least partially on the signal indicative of a pressure in the intake system and the signal indicative of a load on the power generation system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the turbocharger controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a desired output and to control operation of the turbocharger such that the turbocharger supplies a desired intake pressure to the combustion engine based partially on the signal indicative of a desired output.

3. The system of claim 1, further including an electric motor operably coupled to the turbocharger, the electric motor being configured to supply torque to the turbocharger, thereby increasing the responsiveness of the turbocharger to changes in the signal indicative of a load on the power generation system.

4. The system of claim 1, further including a generator operably coupled to the turbocharger, the generator being configured to convert mechanical energy of the turbocharger into electric energy, thereby reducing the speed of the turbocharger in response to a desired decrease in intake pressure.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the turbocharger controller is configured to determine a desired intake pressure based on a signal indicative of a desired output and the signal indicative of a load on the power generation system.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the turbocharger controller includes a comparator configured to output an intake pressure error based on a difference between the desired intake pressure and the signal indicative of a pressure in the intake system.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the turbocharger controller includes a controller configured to receive the intake pressure error and output a command such that the intake pressure error is reduced.

8. A power generation system comprising:

a combustion engine configured to produce mechanical energy, the combustion engine including an intake system;

a generator operably coupled to the combustion engine, the generator being configured to convert at least a portion of the mechanical energy into electric energy;

a turbocharger operably coupled to the intake system of the combustion engine, the turbocharger being configured to increase intake pressure in the intake system; and

a turbocharger controller operably coupled to the turbocharger, the turbocharger controller being configured to selectively vary operation of the turbocharger based on a difference between an actual intake pressure and a desired intake pressure, the desired intake pressure being based at least partially on a load placed on the power generation system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the turbocharger controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a desired output and to control operation of the turbocharger such that the turbocharger supplies the desired intake pressure for the combustion engine based partially on the signal indicative of a desired output.

10. The system of claim 8, further including an electric motor operably coupled to the turbocharger, the electric motor of the electric machine being configured to supply torque to the turbocharger, thereby increasing the intake pressure.

11. The system of claim 8, further including a generator operably coupled to the turbocharger, the generator being configured to convert mechanical energy of the turbocharger into electric energy and to supply a braking torque to the turbocharger, thereby reducing speed of the turbocharger in response to a desired decrease in intake pressure.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the turbocharger controller is configured to determine a desired intake pressure based on a signal indicative of a desired output and a signal indicative of a load on the power generation system.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the turbocharger controller includes a comparator configured to output an intake pressure error based on a difference between the actual intake pressure and the desired intake pressure.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the turbocharger controller includes a controller configured to receive the intake pressure error and output a command such that the intake pressure error is reduced.

15. The system of claim 8, further including a fluid pump operably coupled to the combustion engine, and a fluid-driven motor operably coupled to the fluid pump, the fluid-driven motor being configured to supply torque to at least one driving member.

16. The system of claim 15, further including a sensor operably coupled to at least one of the fluid pump and the fluid-driven motor, the sensor being configured to output a signal indicative of a load on the fluid-driven motor.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the turbocharger controller is configured to selectively vary operation of the turbocharger based on a difference between the actual intake pressure and the desired intake pressure, the desired intake pressure being based at least partially on the signal indicative of a load on the fluid-driven motor.

18. A method of maintaining a desired air-to-fuel ratio supplied to a combustion engine operably coupled to a power generation system, the method comprising:

sensing a load on the power generation system;

outputting the sensed load on the power generation system to a turbocharger controller; and

controlling operation of the turbocharger via the turbocharger controller based at least partially on the sensed load on the power generation system such that the desired air-to-fuel ratio supplied to the combustion engine is substantially maintained.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the turbocharger controller is operably coupled to an electric machine, the electric machine being operably coupled to the turbocharger, and wherein controlling operation of the turbocharger includes supplying torque to the turbocharger via the electric machine.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the electric machine includes an electric motor, and controlling operation of the turbocharger includes increasing the speed of rotation of the turbocharger via torque supplied by the electric motor such that more air is supplied to the combustion engine.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the electric machine includes a generator, and controlling operation of the turbocharger includes decreasing the speed of rotation of the turbocharger via a braking torque supplied by the generator such that less air is supplied to the combustion engine.

22. A vehicle comprising:

a power generation system including;

a combustion engine configured to produce mechanical energy, the combustion engine including an intake system;

a generator operably coupled to the combustion engine, the generator being configured to convert at least a portion of the mechanical energy into electric energy;

an electric motor operably coupled to the generator, the electric motor being configured to supply torque to at least one driving member;

a turbocharger operably coupled to the intake system of the combustion engine, the turbocharger being configured to increase intake pressure in the intake system; and

a turbocharger controller operably coupled to the turbocharger, the turbocharger controller being configured to selectively vary operation of the turbocharger based on a difference between an actual intake pressure and a desired intake pressure, the desired intake pressure being based at least partially on a load placed on the electric motor; and

at least one driving member operably coupled to the electric motor.