Exhaust gas recirculation system

• US 7,357,125 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2005
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garrett Transportation I Inc. (Garrett Motion, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Kolavennu, Soumitri N.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US11/163,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20070089715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 123/58.8, 12356811-56814, 123/568.17, 123/568.18, 123/568.2, 123/568.21, 602/78, 602/79, 603/20, 603/21, 606/052, 701/108
• US Class Current: 123/568.11
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/00 Engines characterised by provision of pumps driven at least for part of the time by exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/02 Gas passages between engine outlet and pump drive, e.g. reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/023 by determining the cylinder pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0065 Specific aspects of external EGR control constructional details of EGR system F02M26/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/008 Controlling each cylinder individually
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0085 Balancing of cylinder outputs, e.g. speed, torque or air-fuel ratio
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/02 EGR systems specially adapted for supercharged engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/37 with temporary storage of recirculated exhaust gas internal exhaust gas recirculation F02M26/01
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/40 with timing means in the recirculation passage, e.g. cyclically operating valves or regenerators; with arrangements involving pressure pulsations
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/47 the characteristics being temperatures, pressures or flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A flow control mechanism connected to the intake and exhaust systems of an engine. The mechanism may achieve recirculation of exhaust gases despite varying differential pressures or pulses of pressures. The control mechanism may be connected to a storage device. The pulses may be used to store some of the exhaust gas in the storage device. The exhaust gas needed at the intake manifold may be supplied while the exhaust gas is replenished. The storage may eliminate the necessity of dealing with the pressure pulses and dependent coordination of the flow control mechanism with the pulses.

Claims

1. An exhaust gas recirculation system comprising:

a flow control mechanism having an input port and an output port;

a storage device connected to the input port of the flow control mechanism;

a controller; and

a flow control valve connected to the storage device, wherein the flow control valve is connected to the controller.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow control valve is configured to permit some exhaust gas to enter the storage device and to permit some exhaust gas to flow directly from an exhaust system of the engine into the flow control mechanism.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first pressure sensor at the input port of the flow control mechanism; and

a second pressure sensor at the output port of the flow control mechanism; and

wherein the first and second pressure sensors are connected to the controller.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow control valve permits a one way flow of exhaust gas into the storage device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the flow control valve permits exhaust gas to enter into the storage device during pressure pulses of the exhaust gas.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the output port of the flow control mechanism is for connection to an intake system of an engine; and

the storage device has an input port is for connection to an exhaust system of the engine, and an output port for connection to the input port of the flow control mechanism.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is connected to the flow control mechanism.

8. A method for exhaust gas recirculation, comprising:

directing a portion of exhaust gas pressure pulses from an engine to a chamber;

controlling the directing of exhaust gas into the chamber with a controller connected to a flow control valve on the chamber;

storing exhaust gas in the chamber; and

providing a smooth flow of exhaust gas from the chamber to an intake system of the engine.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising combining the exhaust gas with air in the intake system.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising controlling the smooth flow of exhaust gas from the chamber to the intake system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of controlling the smooth flow of exhaust gas is achieved with a controller.

12. An exhaust recirculation system comprising:

a flow control mechanism having an input and an output;

a controller connected to the flow control mechanism; and

a storage device having an output and input connected to the input of the flow control mechanism, the storage device having a flow control valve connected to its output and input, wherein the flow control valve is configured to permit some exhaust gas to enter the storage device and to permit some exhaust gas to bypass the storage device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the input of the flow control mechanism is for connection to an exhaust system of an engine; and

the output of the flow control mechanism is for connection to an intake system of the engine.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a first pressure sensor at the input of the flow control mechanism; and

a second pressure sensor at the output of the flow control mechanism; and

wherein the first and second pressure sensors are connected to the controller.

15. An on-demand EGR control apparatus having storage, comprising:

an exhaust gas recirculation valve having an output for connection to an intake of an engine;

a controller; and

a container having an input for connection to an exhaust of an engine and having an output connected to an input of the exhaust gas recirculation valve, the container having an interface mechanism at the input of the container, wherein the interface mechanism is connected to the controller.

16. The control apparatus of claim 15, wherein the container is for absorbing pressure pulses of an exhaust gas.

17. The control apparatus of claim 15, wherein the interface mechanism permits entry of an exhaust gas above a certain pressure into the container.