ENGINE SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPERATING AN ENGINE

• US 20150345433A1
• Filed: 05/20/2015
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Dale, Adrian P., Geckler, Samuel C., McEwen, James Alexander, Sharp, Nicholas Kenneth, Perfetto, Anthony Kyle, Dolton, Michael D., Garrett, Stephen Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,752,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 9/026 Scrolls for radial machines or engines
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/107 More than one exhaust manifold or exhaust collector
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/025 Multiple scrolls or multiple gas passages guiding the gas to the pump drive
• 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: F02M 26/43 in which exhaust from only one cylinder or only a group of cylinders is directed to the intake of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/40 in turbochargers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A unique engine system has an engine with a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation cylinder, an EGR system that receives exhaust gas from the dedicated cylinder, and a turbocharger having turbine inlet ports in fluid communication with other engine cylinders via a plurality of exhaust passages. At least two of the exhaust passages are substantially isolated from each other. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for engines and engine systems.

Claims

1. An engine system, comprising:

an internal combustion piston engine having a plurality of combustion cylinders, at least a first cylinder of which is a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cylinder;

an EGR system operative to receive exhaust gas from the engine and direct at least a portion of the exhaust gas to the plurality of combustion cylinders for intake during engine operation;

a turbocharger having a turbine with a plurality of inlet ports to the turbine, wherein the inlet ports are adjacent to the turbine and are spaced apart from each along the turbine;

a plurality of exhaust passages, including;

a first exhaust passage fluidly coupling the dedicated EGR cylinder with the EGR system and operative to supply exhaust gases from the dedicated EGR cylinder to the EGR system;

a second exhaust passage fluidly coupling a second cylinder of the plurality of combustion cylinders to a first inlet port of the plurality of inlet ports of the turbine; and

a third exhaust passage fluidly coupling a third cylinder of the plurality of combustion cylinders to a second inlet port of the plurality of inlet ports of the turbine.

2. The engine system of claim 1, wherein the second and third exhaust passages are structured to separate pressure events originating in the second cylinder from pressure events originating in the third cylinder.

3. The engine system of claim 1, wherein the third exhaust passage also fluidly couples a fourth cylinder of the plurality of combustion cylinders to the second inlet port of the turbine.

4. The engine system of claim 3, wherein the second inlet port has a greater effective flow area than the first inlet port.

5. The engine system of claim 3, wherein the turbine includes a nozzle;

and wherein the nozzle has a greater effective flow area at the second inlet port than the effective flow area of the nozzle at the first inlet port.

6. The engine system of claim 1, further comprising a fourth exhaust passage of the plurality of exhaust passages fluidly coupling a fourth cylinder of the plurality of combustion cylinders to a third inlet port of the plurality of inlet ports of the turbine.

7. The engine system of claim 1, further comprising at least one passage configured and operative to direct exhaust gases:

from the first exhaust passage to another exhaust passage of the plurality of exhaust passages;

from another exhaust passage of the plurality of exhaust passages to the first exhaust passage;

from the first exhaust passage to the turbocharger;

from the EGR system to another exhaust passage of the plurality of exhaust passages; and

/or

from another exhaust passage of the plurality of exhaust passages to the EGR system.

8. The engine system of claim 1, wherein the inlet ports are spaced apart from each other along the turbine in an axial direction.

9. The engine system of claim 1, wherein the inlet ports are spaced apart from each other along the turbine in a circumferential direction.

10. The engine system of claim 1, further comprising a wastegate valve operative to bleed exhaust gases from at least one of the second exhaust passage and the third exhaust passage.

11. An engine system, comprising:

an EGR system;

a turbocharger having a turbine; and

an internal combustion piston engine having a first cylinder in fluid communication with the EGR system;

a second cylinder in direct fluid communication with the turbine; and

a third cylinder in fluid communication with the turbine, wherein the second cylinder and the third cylinder are essentially not in fluid communication with each other.

12. The engine system of claim 11, further comprising a fourth cylinder.

13. The engine system of claim 12, wherein the fourth cylinder is in fluid communication with the turbine.

14. The engine system of claim 12, further comprising an exhaust passage, wherein the fourth cylinder and the third cylinder are in fluid communication with the turbine via the exhaust passage.

15. The engine system of claim 12, further comprising a first exhaust passage;

a second exhaust passage; and

a third exhaust passage, wherein the first, second and third exhaust passages are substantially isolated from each other.

16. The engine system of claim 12, further comprising a first exhaust passage;

a second exhaust passage; and

a third exhaust passage, wherein at least two of the first, second and third exhaust passages are substantially isolated from each other.

17. A method of operating an engine, comprising:

delivering exhaust gases from a first cylinder of an internal combustion engine as dedicated EGR cylinder to an EGR system;

delivering exhaust gases from a second cylinder of the internal combustion engine to a turbocharger;

delivering exhaust gases from a third cylinder of the internal combustion engine to a turbocharger; and

isolating the exhaust gases from the second cylinder from the exhaust gases from the third cylinder prior to entry into the turbine.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

delivering the exhaust gases from the second cylinder of the internal combustion engine to a first inlet port of a turbine of the turbocharger; and

delivering the exhaust gasses from the third cylinder of the internal combustion engine to a second inlet port of a turbine of the turbocharger; and

isolating the first inlet port from the second inlet port.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising delivering exhaust gases from a fourth cylinder of the internal combustion engine to the turbocharger;

and

isolating the exhaust gases from the fourth cylinder from the exhaust gases of the second cylinder and the third cylinder prior to entry into the turbine.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising delivering exhaust gases from a fourth cylinder of the internal combustion engine to the turbocharger;

and

combining the exhaust gases from the fourth cylinder with the exhaust gases of one of the second cylinder and the third cylinder prior to entry into the turbine.