Turbo charging system

• US 20070079612A1
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Inventors: Grissom, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,426,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/602
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/004 with exhaust drives arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/013 with exhaust-driven pumps arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/025 Multiple scrolls or multiple gas passages guiding the gas to the pump drive
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/16 by bypassing charging air
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/18 by bypassing exhaust from the inlet to the outlet of turbine or to the atmosphere
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A regulated two-stage turbocharger system is described, including high-pressure and low-pressure turbocharger units. The low-pressure turbocharger unit includes a twin volute turbine portion. The turbocharger system includes a valve system having valve members that are independently controllable so as to selectively control an exhaust gas flow into the twin volutes of the turbine portion of the low-pressure turbocharger unit. By-pass valve systems are also provided for the twin volute turbine portion of the low-pressure turbocharger unit and the compressor portion of the high-pressure turbocharger unit.

Claims

1. A turbocharger system, comprising:

a high-pressure turbocharger system, wherein the high-pressure turbocharger system includes a turbine portion;

a low-pressure turbocharger system operably associated with the high-pressure turbocharger system, wherein the low-pressure turbocharger system includes a turbine portion having a first volute and a second volute formed therein, wherein the turbine portion of the high-pressure turbocharger system is in fluid communication with the turbine portion of the low-pressure turbocharger system; and

a turbine regulating valve system operably associated with the turbine portion of the low-pressure turbocharger system, wherein the turbine regulating valve system is selectively operable to meter an exhaust gas flow to the first or second volutes.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the high-pressure turbocharger system includes a compressor portion, wherein the turbine portion and the compressor portion of the high-pressure turbocharger system are operably associated therebetween.

3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the low-pressure turbocharger system includes a compressor portion, wherein the turbine portion and the compressor portion of the low-pressure turbocharger system are operably associated therebetween, wherein the compressor portion of the high-pressure turbocharger system is in fluid communication with the compressor portion of the low-pressure turbocharger system.

4. The invention according to claim 3, further comprising a compressor by-pass system operably associated with the high-pressure compressor portion, wherein the compressor by-pass system is selectively operable to cause at least a portion of an air flow to by-pass the low-pressure compressor portion.

5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the turbine regulating valve system includes at least two valve members selectively operable to meter an exhaust gas flow to the first or second volutes.

6. The invention according to claim 5, wherein the at least two valve members are operable to independently meter an exhaust flow to the first or second volutes.

7. The invention according to claim 5, wherein the at least two valve members are operable to sequentially meter an exhaust flow to the first or second volutes.

8. The invention according to claim 5, wherein only one of the at least two valve members is in fluid communication with only one of the first or second volutes.

9. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the turbine portion of the high-pressure turbocharger system is in fluid communication with only one of the first or second volutes.

10. The invention according to claim 1, further comprising a turbine by-pass system operably associated with the low-pressure turbine portion, wherein the turbine by-pass system is selectively operable to cause at least a portion of the exhaust gas flow to by-pass the low-pressure turbine portion.

11. The invention according to claim 10, wherein only one of the at least two valve members is in fluid communication with the turbine by-pass system.

12. A turbocharger system, comprising:

a high-pressure turbocharger system, wherein the high-pressure turbocharger system includes a turbine portion;

a low-pressure turbocharger system operably associated with the high-pressure turbocharger system, wherein the low-pressure turbocharger system includes a turbine portion having a first volute and a second volute formed therein, wherein the turbine portion of the high-pressure turbocharger system is in fluid communication with the turbine portion of the low-pressure turbocharger system;

a turbine regulating valve system operably associated with the turbine portion of the low-pressure turbocharger system, wherein the turbine regulating valve system includes at least two valve members selectively operable to meter an exhaust gas flow to the first or second volutes; and

a turbine by-pass system operably associated with the low-pressure turbine portion, wherein the turbine by-pass system is selectively operable to cause at least a portion of the exhaust gas flow to by-pass the low-pressure turbine portion.

13. The invention according to claim 12, wherein the high-pressure turbocharger system includes a compressor portion, wherein the turbine portion and the compressor portion of the high-pressure turbocharger system are operably associated therebetween.

14. The invention according to claim 13, wherein the low-pressure turbocharger system includes a compressor portion, wherein the turbine portion and the compressor portion of the low-pressure turbocharger system are operably associated therebetween, wherein the compressor portion of the high-pressure turbocharger system is in fluid communication with the compressor portion of the low-pressure turbocharger system.

15. The invention according to claim 14, further comprising a compressor by-pass system operably associated with the high-pressure compressor portion, wherein the compressor by-pass system is selectively operable to cause at least a portion of an air flow to by-pass the low-pressure compressor portion.

16. The invention according to claim 12, wherein the at least two valve members are operable to independently meter an exhaust flow to the first or second volutes.

17. The invention according to claim 12, wherein the at least two valve members are operable to sequentially meter an exhaust flow to the first or second volutes.

18. The invention according to claim 12, wherein only one of the at least two valve members is in fluid communication with only one of the first or second volutes.

19. The invention according to claim 12, wherein the turbine portion of the high-pressure turbocharger system is in fluid communication with only one of the first or second volutes.

20. The invention according to claim 12, wherein only one of the at least two valve members is in fluid communication with the turbine by-pass system.

21. A turbocharger system, comprising:

a high-pressure turbocharger system, wherein the high-pressure turbocharger system includes a turbine portion and a compressor portion, wherein the turbine portion and the compressor portion are operably associated therebetween;

a low-pressure turbocharger system operably associated with the high-pressure turbocharger system, wherein the low-pressure turbocharger system includes a turbine portion having a first volute and a second volute formed therein, and a compressor portion, wherein the turbine portion and the compressor portion are operably associated therebetween, wherein the turbine portion of the high-pressure turbocharger system is in fluid communication with the turbine portion of the low-pressure turbocharger system, wherein the compressor portion of the high-pressure turbocharger system is in fluid communication with the compressor portion of the low-pressure turbocharger system;

a turbine regulating valve system operably associated with the turbine portion of the low-pressure turbocharger system, wherein the turbine regulating valve system includes at least two valve members selectively operable to meter an exhaust gas flow to the first or second volutes;

a turbine by-pass system operably associated with the low-pressure turbine portion, wherein the turbine by-pass system is selectively operable to cause at least a portion of the exhaust gas flow to by-pass the low-pressure turbine portion; and

a compressor by-pass system operably associated with the high-pressure compressor portion, wherein the compressor by-pass system is selectively operable to cause at least a portion of an air flow to by-pass the low-pressure compressor portion.

22. The invention according to claim 21, wherein the at least two valve members are operable to independently meter an exhaust flow to the first or second volutes.

23. The invention according to claim 21, wherein the at least two valve members are operable to sequentially meter an exhaust flow to the first or second volutes.

24. The invention according to claim 21, wherein only one of the at least two valve members is in fluid communication with only one of the first or second volutes.

25. The invention according to claim 21, wherein the turbine portion of the high-pressure turbocharger system is in fluid communication with only one of the first or second volutes.

26. The invention according to claim 21, wherein only one of the at least two valve members is in fluid communication with the turbine by-pass system.