System and method for monitoring boost leak

• US 20070266706A1
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Gehrke, Christopher Ronald, Withrow, Michael Paul, Mutti, James Harris
• Granted Patent: US 7,802,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/605.100
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/009 having two or more separate purifying devices arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/107 More than one exhaust manifold or exhaust collector
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2270/04 for afterburning
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/16 by bypassing charging air
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/164 the bypassed air being used in an auxiliary apparatus, e.g. in an air turbine
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/166 the auxiliary apparatus being a combustion chamber, e.g. upstream of turbine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 23/00 Controlling engines characterised by their being supercharged
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/06 Low pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is taken out from the exhaust downstream of the turbocharger turbine and reintroduced into the intake system upstream of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/15 in relation to engine exhaust purifying apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/28 with liquid-cooled heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

An engine system is disclosed that monitors for boost leak. The system has an engine, a compressor located upstream of the engine, at least one auxiliary flow device located downstream of the engine, and a computing system operable to determine an estimated value corresponding to a flow of fluid through the compressor. The estimated value takes into account a flow of fluid from the compressor toward the at least one auxiliary flow device distinct from a flow from the compressor toward the engine.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring boost leak in an internal combustion engine system, comprising:

providing a first flow of fluid from a compressor toward at least one auxiliary flow device;

providing a second flow of fluid from the compressor toward an engine of the internal combustion engine system, the second flow of fluid distinct from the first flow of fluid; and

determining an estimated value corresponding to a flow of fluid through the compressor, the estimated value being determined as a function of the first flow of fluid from the compressor toward the at least one auxiliary flow device.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the estimated value is a first estimated value and the method further includes:

determining a second estimated value corresponding to the flow of fluid through the compressor of the internal combustion engine system.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein the compressor is a compressor of a turbocharger, and the second estimated value is a function of a compressor pressure ratio and a turbo speed of the turbocharger.

4. The method as in claim 2, further including:

determining an error value based on the first estimated value and the second estimated value.

5. The method as in claim 4, further including:

evaluating the error value against a threshold.

6. The method as in claim 5, further including:

generating a response based on the evaluation of the error value against the threshold.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein the at least one auxiliary flow device is located downstream of the engine.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein the at least one auxiliary flow device includes a burner of an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine system.

9. An internal combustion engine system, comprising:

an engine;

a compressor located upstream of the engine;

at least one auxiliary flow device located downstream of the engine; and

a computing system operable to determine an estimated value corresponding to a flow of fluid through the compressor, the estimated value being determined as a function of a flow of fluid from the compressor toward the at least one auxiliary flow device distinct from a flow of fluid from the compressor toward the engine.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the estimated value is a first estimated value, and the computing system is further operable to determine a second estimated value corresponding to the flow of fluid through the compressor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the computing system is operable to determine an error value based on the first estimated value and the second estimated value.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the computing system generates a response based on the evaluation of the error value against a threshold.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the compressor is a compressor of a turbocharger and the second estimated value is a function of a compressor pressure ratio and a turbo speed of the turbocharger.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one auxiliary flow device includes a burner of an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine system.

15. A method for monitoring boost leak in an internal combustion engine system, comprising:

providing compressed fluid from a compressor to at least one first device;

providing compressed fluid from the compressor to at least one second device, the at least one second device being different from the at least one first device;

generating a response indicating a boost leak, wherein whether or not a response is generated is a function of an amount of compressed fluid provided to the at least one second device.

16. The method as in claim 15, wherein the at least one first device includes an engine.

17. The method as in claim 16, wherein the at least one second device includes a burner located downstream of the at least one first device.

18. The method as in claim 16, wherein the amount of compressed fluid provided from the compressor to the at least one second device is based on data provided by a flow sensor located between the compressor and the at least one second device.

19. A system for monitoring boost leak in a compressor system, comprising:

a first device;

a compressor located upstream of the first device;

at least one second device located downstream of the first device; and

a computing system operable to determine an estimated value corresponding to a flow of fluid through the compressor, the estimated value being determined as a function of a flow of fluid from the compressor toward the at least one second device distinct from a flow of fluid from the compressor toward the first device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the estimated value is a first estimated value, and the computing system is further operable to determine a second estimated value corresponding to a flow of fluid through the compressor.

21. The system of claim 20, further including:

determining an error value based on the first estimated value and the second estimated value;

evaluating the error value against a threshold; and

generating a response based on the evaluation of the error value against the threshold.