Turbine regulating valve system

• US 20110094222A1
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Inventors: Grissom, Thomas A., Delavan, Matthew B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,490,395 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: F02B 37/183 Arrangements of bypass valves or actuators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/22 by varying cross-section of exhaust passages or air passages , e.g. by throttling turbine inlets or outlets or by varying effective number of guide conduits F02B37/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A regulated two-stage turbocharger system is described. The turbocharger system includes high-pressure and low-pressure turbocharger units in communication with one another. The turbocharger system includes a valve system having valve members that are independently controllable so as to selectively control the gas flow into the turbine portions of the high-pressure turbocharger and the low-pressure turbocharger units. The valve members are asymmetric, e.g., they possess differing areas (e.g., perimeters, diameters and/or the like) with respect to one another.

Claims

1. A turbocharger system, comprising:

a high-pressure turbocharger unit;

a low-pressure turbocharger unit operably associated with the high-pressure turbocharger unit; and

a valve system operably associated with either of the high-pressure and low-pressure turbocharger units;

wherein the valve system includes at least two valve members operable to selectively meter a gas flow to either of the high-pressure or low-pressure turbocharger units.

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

3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the low-pressure turbocharger unit includes a turbine portion and 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 unit is in fluid communication with the compressor portion of the low-pressure turbocharger unit.

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

5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the valve system includes at least two valve members selectively operable to meter an exhaust gas flow to the low-pressure turbine portion.

6. The invention according to claim 5, wherein the at least two valve members are operable to independently meter an exhaust flow to the low-pressure turbine portion.

7. The invention according to claim 5, wherein the at least two valve members are operable to sequentially meter an exhaust flow to the low-pressure turbine portion.

8. 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.

9. The invention according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the two valve members is in fluid communication with the turbine by-pass system.

10. A turbocharger system, comprising:

a high-pressure turbocharger unit having a turbine portion;

a low-pressure turbocharger unit having a turbine portion, wherein the low-pressure turbocharger unit is operably associated with the high-pressure turbocharger unit; and

a valve system operably associated with either of the turbine portions of the high-pressure and low-pressure turbocharger units;

wherein the valve system includes at least two valve members operable to selectively meter a gas flow to either of the turbine portions of the high-pressure or low-pressure turbocharger units.

11. The invention according to claim 10, wherein the high-pressure turbocharger unit includes a compressor portion, wherein the turbine portion and the compressor portion of the high-pressure turbocharger unit are operably associated therebetween.

12. The invention according to claim 11, wherein the low-pressure turbocharger unit 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 unit is in fluid communication with the compressor portion of the low-pressure turbocharger unit.

13. The invention according to claim 12, further comprising a compressor by-pass system operably associated with the high-pressure compressor unit, wherein the compressor by-pass system is selectively operable to cause at least a portion of an air flow to by-pass the high-pressure compressor portion.

14. The invention according to claim 10, wherein the valve system includes at least two valve members selectively operable to meter an exhaust gas flow to the low-pressure turbine portion.

15. The invention according to claim 14, wherein the at least two valve members are operable to independently meter an exhaust flow to the low-pressure turbine portion.

16. The invention according to claim 14, wherein the at least two valve members are operable to sequentially meter an exhaust flow to the low-pressure turbine portion.

17. The invention according to claim 10, 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.

18. The invention according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the two valve members is in fluid communication with the turbine by-pass system.

19. A turbocharger system, comprising:

a high-pressure turbocharger unit having a turbine portion;

a low-pressure turbocharger unit having a turbine portion, wherein the low-pressure turbocharger unit is operably associated with the high-pressure turbocharger unit; and

a valve system operably associated with either of the turbine portions of the high-pressure and low-pressure turbocharger units;

wherein the valve system includes at least two valve members operable to selectively meter a gas flow to either of the turbine portions of the high-pressure or low-pressure turbocharger units;

wherein the valve members are operable to be independently or sequentially actuated by the valve system.

20. The invention according to claim 19, wherein the valve system includes at least two valve members selectively operable to meter an exhaust gas flow to the low-pressure turbine portion.