TURBINE HOUSING

• US 20140212278A1
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Cowgill, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 9,068,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/170.1
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/105 by passing part of the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/162 Bearing supports
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/002 the exhaust supply to one of the exhaust drives can be interrupted
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/007 with exhaust-driven pumps arranged in parallel , e.g. at least one pump supplying alternatively
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/18 by bypassing exhaust from the inlet to the outlet of turbine or to the atmosphere
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/12 Turbochargers, i.e. plants for augmenting mechanical power output of internal-combustion piston engines by increase of charge pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/40 in turbochargers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A turbine housing comprises an exhaust port flange, a turbine discharge flange, a crossover flange, and a bearing support ring. The exhaust port flange is configured for mechanically coupling the turbine housing to a mating structure providing a source of working fluid. The turbine discharge flange is configured for mechanically coupling the turbine housing to an exhaust system. The crossover flange is configured for mechanically coupling the turbine housing to a crossover duct. The bearing support ring is configured for mechanically supporting a bearing, on which a turbine output shaft is supported. The turbine housing defines an inlet plenum, a turbine shroud, and a discharge vent. The exhaust port flange defines an inlet port configured to provide fluid communication between the inlet plenum and the source of working fluid. The turbine shroud defines a fluid expansion flow path for expansion of the stream of working fluid.

Claims

1. A primary turbine housing comprising:

an exhaust port flange configured for mechanically coupling the primary turbine housing to a primary mating structure for providing a primary source of working fluid;

a turbine discharge flange configured for mechanically coupling the primary turbine housing to an exhaust system;

a crossover flange configured for mechanically coupling the primary turbine housing to a crossover duct; and

a bearing support ring configured for mechanically supporting a bearing, on which a turbine output shaft is supported for rotation about its longitudinal axis;

wherein the primary turbine housing defines an inlet plenum, a turbine shroud, and a discharge vent;

wherein the exhaust port flange defines a primary inlet port that is configured to provide fluid communication between the inlet plenum and the primary source of working fluid;

wherein the primary inlet port is configured to convey a primary stream of working fluid from the primary source of working fluid to the inlet plenum; and

wherein the turbine shroud defines a fluid expansion flow path for expansion of a turbine inlet stream between a turbine inlet and a turbine exit, the turbine inlet stream comprising at least a portion of the primary stream of working fluid.

2. A primary turbine housing as in claim 1, wherein the primary stream of working fluid comprises engine exhaust gas.

3. A primary turbine housing as in claim 1, wherein the exhaust system is configured to convey a turbine exit stream from the primary turbine housing to a discharge location for discharge from the exhaust system, the turbine exit stream comprising at least a portion of the primary stream of working fluid.

4. A primary turbine housing as in claim 1, wherein the crossover duct is mechanically coupled to a secondary mating structure, the secondary mating structure being configured to provide a secondary source of working fluid, the crossover duct being configured to provide fluid coupling between the primary turbine housing and the secondary source of working fluid.

5. A primary turbine housing as in claim 4, wherein the crossover duct is mechanically coupled to a secondary turbine housing.

6. A primary turbine housing as in claim 1, further comprising a turbine output shaft that is mechanically coupled to a turbine wheel disposed within the primary turbine housing, the turbine wheel comprising a plurality of blades configured for interacting with a turbine inlet stream such that the turbine inlet stream performs work upon the turbine wheel, the turbine inlet stream comprising at least a portion of the primary stream of working fluid.

7. A primary turbine housing as in claim 6, wherein the turbine output shaft is mechanically coupled to a compressor shaft for driving a compressor, which interacts with, and compresses, an inlet steam of air for combustion within a host engine.

8. A primary turbine housing as in claim 1, wherein an inlet area of the fluid expansion flow path at the turbine exit is greater than an exit area of the fluid expansion flow path at the turbine inlet.

9. A primary turbine housing as in claim 1, wherein the inlet plenum includes a mixer configured for receiving the primary stream of working fluid from the primary inlet port, for receiving a secondary stream of working fluid from a secondary port and for combining the primary stream of working fluid with the secondary stream of working fluid to form a turbine inlet stream.

10. A primary turbine housing as in claim 1:

wherein the inlet plenum includes a crossover splitter configured for receiving the primary stream of working fluid from the primary inlet port, for forming a secondary stream of working fluid comprising at least a portion of the primary stream of working fluid, and for forming a turbine inlet stream comprising at least a portion of the primary stream of working fluid;

wherein the crossover splitter is configured for delivering the secondary stream of working fluid to the crossover duct via a secondary port.

11. A primary turbine housing as in claim 1, wherein the inlet plenum further comprises a turbine bypass splitter configured for scavenging some or all of a turbine inlet stream to form a waste stream and for delivering the waste stream to the discharge vent for combination with a turbine exit stream to form a discharge stream.

12. A primary turbine housing as in claim 11, further comprising waste gate disposed in the turbine bypass splitter, the waste gate being configured for regulating a rate of flow of the waste stream.

13. An internal combustion engine comprising:

a first cylinder bank;

a primary exhaust manifold for conveying exhaust gas produced in the first cylinder bank; and

a primary turbine housing, the primary turbine housing comprising;

an exhaust port flange configured for mechanically coupling the primary turbine housing to the primary exhaust manifold, the primary exhaust manifold being configured to provide exhaust gas produced in the first cylinder bank as a primary source of working fluid;

a turbine discharge flange configured for mechanically coupling the primary turbine housing to an exhaust system;

a crossover flange configured for mechanically coupling the primary turbine housing to a crossover duct; and

a bearing support ring configured for mechanically supporting a bearing, on which a turbine output shaft is supported for rotation about its longitudinal axis;

wherein the primary turbine housing defines an inlet plenum, a turbine shroud, and a discharge vent;

wherein the exhaust port flange defines a primary inlet port that is configured to provide fluid communication between the inlet plenum and the primary source of working fluid;

wherein the primary inlet port is configured to convey a primary stream of working fluid from the primary source of working fluid to the inlet plenum; and

wherein the turbine shroud defines a fluid expansion flow path for expansion of the primary stream of working fluid between a turbine inlet and a turbine exit.

14. An internal combustion engine as in claim 13, wherein the primary exhaust manifold is integrated into a cylinder head associated with the first cylinder bank.

15. An internal combustion engine as in claim 13:

further comprising a second cylinder bank;

wherein the crossover duct is configured to provide fluid communication between the primary turbine housing and a secondary source of working fluid provided within a second exhaust manifold, the second exhaust manifold being configured for conveying exhaust gas produced in the second cylinder bank.

16. An internal combustion engine as in claim 15, wherein the crossover duct is configured to provide a communication path between the primary turbine housing and the second exhaust manifold.

17. An internal combustion engine as in claim 13, wherein the inlet plenum includes a mixer configured for receiving the primary stream of working fluid from the primary inlet port, for receiving a secondary stream of working fluid from a secondary port and for combining the primary stream of working fluid with the secondary stream of working fluid to form a turbine inlet stream.

18. An internal combustion engine as in claim 13:

wherein the inlet plenum includes a crossover splitter configured for receiving the primary stream of working fluid from the primary inlet port, for forming a secondary stream of working fluid comprising at least a portion of the primary stream of working fluid, and for forming a turbine inlet stream comprising at least a portion of the primary stream of working fluid; and

wherein the crossover splitter is configured for delivering the secondary stream of working fluid to the crossover duct via a secondary port.

19. An internal combustion engine as in claim 13, wherein the inlet plenum further comprises a turbine bypass splitter configured for scavenging some or all of a turbine inlet stream to form a waste stream and for delivering the waste stream to the discharge vent for combination with a turbine exit stream to form a discharge stream.

20. An internal combustion engine as in claim 19, further comprising waste gate disposed in the turbine bypass splitter, the waste gate being configured for regulating a rate of flow of the waste stream.