Engine intake air temperature management system

• US 20070197157A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Bellinger, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,963,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/155
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0418 the intake air cooler having a bypass or multiple flow paths within the heat exchanger to vary the effective heat transfer surface
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0493 Controlling the air charge temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0414 Air temperature
• 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 41/1446 the characteristics being exhaust temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 31/042 Combustion air
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A system for managing engine intake air temperature may comprise a first air flow control device having an inlet coupled to an outlet of a turbocharger compressor and a first outlet coupled to an inlet of a charge air cooler. A second outlet is coupled via a bypass conduit to the air intake manifold. The first air flow control device may selectively control air flow from the compressor outlet to the charge air cooler and/or bypass conduit. The system may alternatively or additionally include a second air flow control device having a first inlet receiving air external to the engine compartment, a second inlet receiving air from within the engine compartment and surrounding the engine and an outlet providing air flow to the engine. The second air flow control device may selectively control air flow from the first and/or second inlets thereof to the engine.

Claims

1. A system for managing engine intake air temperature, comprising:

an internal combustion engine situated in an engine compartment of a vehicle and fluidly coupled to an air intake manifold configured to receive engine intake air,

an air flow control device having a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet fluidly coupled to the air intake manifold,

a first air flow conduit having one end fluidly coupled to the first inlet of the air flow control device and an opposite end arranged to receive therein air from outside of the engine compartment, and

a second air flow conduit having one end fluidly coupled to the second inlet of the air flow control device and an opposite end arranged inside of the engine compartment to receive therein air surrounding the engine, and

wherein the air flow control device is configured to selectively control air flow from either of the first and second air flow conduits to the outlet thereof.

2. The system of claim 1 further including a processor configured to produce a control signal,

and wherein the air flow control device is responsive to the control signal to selectively control air flow from the first and second air flow conduits to the outlet thereof.

3. The system of claim 2 further including a sensor producing a temperature signal indicative of an operating temperature associated with the engine,

and wherein the processor is configured to produce the control signal as a function of the temperature signal.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the processor is configured to modify the control signal to cause the air flow control device to allow air flow only from the second air flow conduit to the outlet thereof when the temperature signal indicates that the operating temperature is below a predefined temperature.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the processor is configured to modify the control signal to cause the air flow control device to allow air flow only from the first air flow conduit to the outlet thereof when the temperature signal indicates that the operating temperature is above a predefined temperature.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the processor is configured to modify the control signal to cause the air flow control device to selectively provide for air flow from both the first and second air flow conduits to the outlet thereof when the temperature signal indicates that the operating temperature is within a specified range of temperatures.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the temperature signal produced by the sensor is indicative of a temperature of air entering the engine via the intake manifold.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein the engine further includes an exhaust manifold fluidly coupled to an exhaust gas conduit,

and wherein the temperature signal produced by the sensor is indicative of a temperature of exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas conduit.

9. The system of claim 3 wherein the temperature signal produced by the sensor is indicative of ambient temperature outside of the engine compartment.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein the processor includes the sensor in the form of at least one software algorithm executable by the processor to estimate the temperature signal as a function of one or more operating conditions different from the operating temperature.

11. The system of claim 3 wherein the engine produces exhaust gas during operation thereof, and the exhaust gas exits the engine via an exhaust manifold fluidly coupled thereto, and wherein the system further comprises:

an exhaust gas conduit fluidly coupled at one end to the exhaust manifold,

an oxidation catalyst having an inlet fluidly coupled to an opposite end of the exhaust gas conduit and an outlet, and

a particulate filter having an inlet fluidly coupled to the outlet of the oxidation catalyst and an outlet fluidly coupled to ambient.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a memory unit having stored therein a minimum temperature value that correlates to a minimum temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the oxidation catalyst that is required to allow dosing the exhaust gas upstream of the oxidation catalyst with hydrocarbons, the oxidation catalyst being configured to be responsive to the dosing of hydrocarbons into the exhaust gas upstream thereof to produce exhaust gas temperatures at the outlet thereof that are sufficient to regenerate the particulate filter,

and wherein the processor is configured to be responsive to the temperature signal to modify the control signal to cause the air flow control device to selectively provide for air flow from either of the first and second air flow conduits to the outlet thereof to maintain the operating temperature above the minimum temperature value.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising a memory unit having stored therein a temperature value that correlates to a predefined intake manifold temperature,

and wherein the processor is configured to be responsive to the temperature signal to modify the control signal to cause the air flow control device to selectively provide for air flow from either of the first and second air flow conduits to the outlet thereof to maintain the operating temperature near the temperature value.

14. The system of claim 1 further including means for heating air passing through the second air flow conduit.

15. The system of claim 14 further including a processor configured to produce a heating signal,

and wherein the means for heating air passing through the second air flow conduit is responsive to the heating signal to heat the air passing through the second air flow conduit.

16. The system of claim 15 further including a sensor producing a temperature signal indicative of an operating temperature associated with the engine,

and wherein the processor is configured to produce the heating signal as a function of the temperature signal.

17. The system of claim 1 further including a turbocharger having a compressor defining an inlet fluidly coupled to the outlet of the air flow control device and an outlet fluidly coupled to the intake manifold.

18. A system for managing engine intake air temperature, comprising:

an internal combustion engine having an air intake manifold,

a turbocharger having a compressor defining an inlet and an outlet,

a charge air cooler having an inlet and an outlet fluidly coupled to the air intake manifold,

an air flow control device having an inlet fluidly coupled to the outlet of the compressor, a first outlet fluidly coupled to the inlet of the charge air cooler and a second outlet, and

a bypass conduit having one end fluidly coupled to the second outlet of the air flow control device and an opposite end fluidly coupled to the air intake manifold,

wherein the air flow control device is configured to selectively control air flow from the compressor outlet into the charge air cooler and the bypass conduit.

19. The system of claim 18 further including a processor configured to produce a control signal,

and wherein the air flow control device is responsive to the control signal to selectively control air flow from the compressor outlet into the charge air cooler and the bypass conduit.

20. The system of claim 19 further including a sensor producing a temperature signal indicative of an operating temperature associated with the engine,

and wherein the processor is configured to produce the control signal as a function of the temperature signal.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the processor is configured to modify the control signal to cause the air flow control device to allow air flow only from the compressor outlet into the bypass conduit when the temperature signal indicates that the operating temperature is below a predefined temperature.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the processor is configured to modify the control signal to cause the air flow control device to allow air flow only from the compressor outlet into the charge air cooler when the temperature signal indicates that the operating temperature is above a predefined temperature.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the processor is configured to modify the control signal to cause the air flow control device to selectively provide for air flow from the compressor outlet into both of the charge air cooler and the bypass conduit when the temperature signal indicates that the operating temperature is within a specified range of temperatures.

24. The system of claim 20 wherein the temperature signal produced by the sensor is indicative of a temperature of air entering the engine via the intake manifold.

25. The system of claim 20 wherein the engine further includes an exhaust manifold fluidly coupled to an exhaust gas conduit,

and wherein the temperature signal produced by the sensor is indicative of a temperature of exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas conduit.

26. The system of claim 20 wherein the temperature signal produced by the sensor is indicative of ambient temperature outside of a vehicle carrying the engine.

27. The system of claim 20 wherein the processor includes the sensor in the form of at least one software algorithm executable by the processor to estimate the temperature signal as a function of one or more operating conditions different from the operating temperature.

28. The system of claim 20 wherein the engine produces exhaust gas during operation thereof, and the exhaust gas exits the engine via an exhaust manifold fluidly coupled thereto, and wherein the system further comprises:

an exhaust gas conduit fluidly coupled at one end to the exhaust manifold,

an oxidation catalyst having an inlet fluidly coupled to an opposite end of the exhaust gas conduit and an outlet, and

a particulate filter having an inlet fluidly coupled to the outlet of the oxidation catalyst and an outlet fluidly coupled to ambient.

29. The system of claim 28 further comprising a memory unit having stored therein a minimum temperature value that correlates to a minimum temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the oxidation catalyst that is required to allow dosing the exhaust gas upstream of the oxidation catalyst with hydrocarbons, the oxidation catalyst being configured to be responsive to the dosing of hydrocarbons into the exhaust gas upstream thereof to produce exhaust gas temperatures at the outlet thereof that are sufficient to regenerate the particulate filter,

and wherein the processor is configured to be responsive to the temperature signal to modify the control signal to cause the air flow control device to selectively provide for air flow from the inlet thereof into either of the charge air cooler and the bypass conduit to maintain the operating temperature above the minimum temperature value.

30. The system of claim 28 further comprising a memory unit having stored therein a temperature value that correlates to a predefined intake manifold temperature,

and wherein the processor is configured to be responsive to the temperature signal to modify the control signal to cause the air flow control device to selectively provide for air flow from the inlet thereof into either of the charge air cooler and the bypass conduit to maintain the operating temperature near the temperature value.

31. The system of claim 18 further including means for heating air passing through the bypass conduit.

32. The system of claim 31 further including a processor configured to produce a heating signal,

and wherein the means for heating air passing through the bypass conduit is responsive to the heating signal to heat the air passing through the bypass conduit.

33. The system of claim 32 further including a sensor producing a temperature signal indicative of an operating temperature associated with the engine,

and wherein the processor is configured to produce the heating signal as a function of the temperature signal.

34. The system of claim 18 further including:

a heater configured to heat air flowing through an air flow conduit fluidly coupling the outlet of the charge air cooler to the air intake manifold, the heater positioned downstream of the charge air cooler, downstream of a junction of the bypass conduit and the first conduit and upstream of the air intake manifold, and

a processor configured to control operation of the heater.

35. The system of claim 34 further including a sensor producing a temperature signal indicative of an operating temperature associated with the engine,

and wherein the processor is configured to control operation of the heater as a function of the temperature signal.

36. A system for managing engine intake air temperature, comprising:

an internal combustion engine situated in an engine compartment of a vehicle and having an air intake manifold,

a turbocharger having a compressor defining an inlet and an outlet,

a charge air cooler having an inlet and an outlet fluidly coupled to the air intake manifold,

a first air flow control device having an inlet fluidly coupled to the outlet of the compressor, a first outlet fluidly coupled to the inlet of the charge air cooler and a second outlet,

a bypass conduit having one end fluidly coupled to the second outlet of the first air flow control device and an opposite end fluidly coupled to the air intake manifold,

a second air flow control device having a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet fluidly coupled to the inlet of the compressor,

a first air flow conduit having one end fluidly coupled to the first inlet of the second air flow control device and an opposite end arranged to receive therein air from outside of the engine compartment, and

a second air flow conduit having one end fluidly coupled to the second inlet of the second air flow control device and an opposite end arranged inside of the engine compartment to receive therein air surrounding the engine,

wherein the first air flow control device is configured to selectively control air flow from the compressor to the charge air cooler and the bypass conduit, and wherein the second air flow control device is configured to selectively control air flow from the first and second air flow conduits into the inlet of the compressor.