INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WITH TURBOCHARGER SURGE DETECTION AND CONTROL

• US 20090223218A1
• Filed: 03/04/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: McMullen, Robert J., Winsor, Richard E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,161,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/600
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2039/168 the rotational speed of pump or exhaust drive being limited
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 39/16 Other safety measures for, or other control of, pumps

Abstract

An internal combustion engine includes a block defining a plurality of combustion cylinders, an intake manifold fluidly coupled with at least one combustion cylinder, and an exhaust manifold fluidly coupled with at least one combustion cylinder. An EGR valve may be fluidly coupled between the exhaust manifold and the intake manifold. A turbocharger includes a turbine fluidly coupled with the exhaust manifold, and a compressor fluidly coupled with the intake manifold. A microphone is positioned at the compressor inlet or the compressor outlet provides an output signal. An ECU is coupled with the microphone, and controls operation of an actuatable element of a VGT, an EGR valve, and/or an injected fuel quantity, to prevent surge of the compressor, dependent upon the output signal from the microphone.

Claims

1. An internal combustion engine, comprising:

a block defining a plurality of combustion cylinders;

an intake manifold fluidly coupled with at least one said combustion cylinder;

an exhaust manifold fluidly coupled with at least one said combustion cylinder;

a turbocharger including a turbine fluidly coupled with said exhaust manifold, and a compressor fluidly coupled with said intake manifold, said compressor including an inlet and an outlet;

a microphone positioned in association with one of said compressor inlet and said compressor outlet, said microphone providing an output signal; and

an engine control unit (ECU) coupled with said microphone, said ECU controlling operation of said turbocharger to prevent surge of said compressor, dependent upon said output signal from said microphone.

2. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, including an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve fluidly coupled between said exhaust manifold and said intake manifold, said ECU controlling operation of said EGR valve to prevent surge of said compressor.

3. The internal combustion engine of claim 2, wherein said ECU closes said EGR valve if a value of said output signal from said microphone is greater than a threshold value.

4. The internal combustion engine of claim 3, wherein said value of said output signal corresponds to at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of said output signal.

5. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, including a plurality of fuel injectors, each said fuel injector associated with a respective said combustion cylinder, said ECU controlling operation of said plurality of fuel injectors to prevent surge of said compressor.

6. The internal combustion engine of claim 5, wherein said ECU reduces fuel flow from at least one of said fuel injectors to prevent surge of said compressor, if a value of said output signal from said microphone is greater than a threshold value.

7. The internal combustion engine of claim 6, wherein said value of said output signal corresponds to at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of said output signal.

8. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein said turbine is a variable geometry turbine (VGT), and said ECU controls operation of said VGT to prevent surge of said compressor.

9. The internal combustion engine of claim 8, wherein said VGT includes at least one actuatable element, and said ECU controls each said actuatable to prevent surge of said compressor.

10. The internal combustion engine of claim 9, wherein said at least one actuatable element is a plurality of adjustable vanes, and said ECU controls a position of said vanes to prevent surge of said compressor.

11. The internal combustion engine of claim 10, wherein said ECU moves said vanes to an open position to prevent surge of said compressor.

12. An internal combustion engine, comprising:

a block defining a plurality of combustion cylinders;

an intake manifold fluidly coupled with at least one said combustion cylinder;

an exhaust manifold fluidly coupled with at least one said combustion cylinder;

a turbocharger including a variable geometry turbine (VGT) fluidly coupled with said exhaust manifold, and a compressor fluidly coupled with said intake manifold, said compressor including an inlet and an outlet;

a microphone positioned in association with one of said compressor inlet and said compressor outlet, said microphone providing an output signal; and

an engine control unit (ECU) coupled with said microphone, said ECU controlling operation of said VGT to prevent surge of said compressor, dependent upon said output signal from said microphone.

13. The internal combustion engine of claim 12, wherein said VGT includes at least one actuatable element, and said ECU controls each said actuatable to prevent surge of said compressor.

14. The internal combustion engine of claim 13, wherein said at least one actuatable element is a plurality of adjustable vanes, and said ECU controls a position of said vanes to prevent surge of said compressor.

15. The internal combustion engine of claim 14, wherein said ECU moves said vanes to an open position to prevent surge of said compressor.

16. The internal combustion engine of claim 12, including an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve fluidly coupled between said exhaust manifold and said intake manifold.

17. The internal combustion engine of claim 16, wherein said ECU closes said EGR valve if a value of said output signal from said microphone is greater than a threshold value.

18. The internal combustion engine of claim 17, wherein said value of said output signal corresponds to at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of said output signal.

19. The internal combustion engine of claim 12, including a plurality of fuel injectors, each said fuel injector associated with a respective said combustion cylinder, said ECU controlling operation of said plurality of fuel injectors to prevent surge of said compressor.

20. The internal combustion engine of claim 12, wherein said ECU reduces fuel flow from at least one of said fuel injectors to prevent surge of said compressor, if a value of said output signal from said microphone is greater than a threshold value.

21. The internal combustion engine of claim 20, wherein said value of said output signal corresponds to at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of said output signal.