Method of Operating an Electrically Assisted Turbocharger and a Boosting Device

• US 20090000298A1
• Filed: 05/07/2004
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Barthelet, Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 8,205,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/608
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/04 Engines with exhaust drive and other drive of pumps, e.g. with exhaust-driven pump and mechanically-driven second pump
• 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 37/24 by using pumps or turbines with adjustable guide vanes
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 39/10 electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A method of operating a turbocharger is provided, wherein the turbocharger comprises a compressor for compressing inlet air to be supplied to an internal combustion engine and an exhaust gas turbine for driving said compressor. The turbocharger further comprises an electric motor for driving said compressor operable by an electric supply system including an alternator and an electric energy storage device. A connection between said alternator and said electric energy storage device is disconnectable by a switch. According to the present invention, the method comprises the following steps:

detecting a transient condition, wherein said internal combustion engine is required to be accelerated;
supplying electric energy to said electric motor only from said electric energy storage device at the beginning of said transient condition until a predetermined state is reached;
supplying electric energy to said electric motor from the electric supply system after said predetermined state is reached.

Claims

1. Method of operating a boosting device (20;

40) comprising a compressor (11;

37) for compressing inlet air to be supplied to an internal combustion engine (1) and an electric motor (19;

) for driving said compressor (11;

37) operable by an electric supply system (23) including an alternator (27) and an electric energy storage device (31), wherein a connection between said alternator (27) and said electric energy storage device (31) is disconnectable, said method comprising the following steps;

detecting a transient condition wherein said internal combustion engine (1) is required to be accelerated,

supplying electric energy to said electric motor (19;

39) only from said electric energy storage device (31) at the beginning of said transient condition until a predetermined state is reached with said connection being disconnected.

supplying electric energy to said electric motor (10;

39) from the electric supply system (23) after said predetermined state is reached.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined state is reached after the elapse of a predetermined time period from the beginning of the transient condition.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined time period is substantially 1 second.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein a rotational speed of said internal combustion engine (1) is detected and said predetermined state is a predetermined rotational speed of said internal combustion engine (1).

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said alternator (27) is driven by said internal combustion engine (1) and generates electric energy for the electric supply system (23).

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said alternator (27) is capable of charging said electric energy storage device (31) when said connection between said electric energy storage device (31) and said alternator (27) is enabled.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a state of charge of said energy storage device (31) is monitored and said connection between said electric energy storage device (31) and said alternator (27) is reconnected when said state of charge is smaller than a predetermined state of charge.

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a power output value of said alternator (27) is monitored and said connection between said electric energy storage device (31) and said alternator (27) is reconnected when said power output capacity of said alternator (27) is higher than the demand of said electric motor (11;

39) and remaining consumer loads (L1, L2. . . ) derived from the electric supply system (23).

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said connection between said electric energy storage device (31) and said alternator (27) is connectable and disconnectable by a switch (29).

10. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said compressor (11;

37) comprises a variable nozzle, wherein said nozzle is adjusted based on the state of said connection between said electric energy storage device (31) and said alternator (27).

11. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said boosting device (20;

40) further comprises and exhaust gas turbine (15) for driving said compressor (11) forming a turbocharger.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein said exhaust gas turbine (15) comprises a variable nozzle, wherein said nozzle is adjusted based on the state of said connection between said electric energy storage device (31) and said alternator (27).

13-23. -23. (canceled)