Methods for intentional turbo surging for enhanced system control and protections

• US 9,194,319 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Mischler, James Robert, Henry, Luke, Polkus, Greg Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K
• Assistant Examiner(s): JIN, GEORGE C.
• Application Number:
  US13/749,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20140214304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 123/559.2, 123/564, 415/27, 415/1, 731/180.1, 731/180.2, 731/181, 731/120.5, 731/147.7, 603/15, 605/98, 605/99, 606/11, 606/00, 606/02, 606/052, 606/051, 606/08, 606/24, 602/73, 701/100, 701/101, 701/102, 701/108, 701/29.2, 701/29.4, 701/29.9, 701/31.8, 701/31.9, 701/32.8, 701/33.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2037/125 Control for avoiding pump stall or surge
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0406 Layout of the intake air cooling or coolant circuit
• 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: F02D 2200/0406 Intake manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/101 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0007 for control of turbo-charged or super-charged engines control of the pumps per se F02B37/12
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/18 by measuring intake air flow
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2441 characterised by the learning conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2464 Characteristics of actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/05 High pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is taken out from the exhaust system upstream of the turbine and reintroduced into the intake system downstream of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/22 with coolers in the recirculation passage
• 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: F02M 26/49 Detecting, diagnosing or indicating an abnormal function of the EGR system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

Various methods and systems are provided for determining a surge level of a compressor. In one embodiment, a method for an engine comprises updating a stored estimate of a surge level of a compressor responsive to detection of a surge event.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

updating a stored estimate of a surge level of a compressor in an engine system of a vehicle responsive to detection of a surge event; and

inducing the surge event by adjusting a first operating parameter during a first condition, and inducing the surge event by adjusting a second operating parameter during a second condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the stored estimate of the surge level includes determining a measured surge level by measuring two or more of a pressure difference across the compressor, an engine speed, a turbine speed, and a mass air flow rate during the surge event.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising updating a modeled surge level based on the measured surge level if a difference between the measured surge level and the modeled surge level is greater than a threshold difference.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the first operating parameter during the first condition includes decreasing engine speed responsive to a determination that an exhaust gas recirculation valve is not degraded, and wherein adjusting the second operating parameter during the second condition includes decreasing engine cooling responsive to a determination that the exhaust gas recirculation valve is degraded.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein decreasing the engine speed includes decreasing the engine speed while maintaining tractive power of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising in response to compressor operation approaching the surge level, maintaining engine operating conditions and enabling operation with compressor surge.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the engine system of the vehicle, for at least vehicle propulsion, based on the stored estimate of the surge level that is updated.

7. A method, comprising:

updating a stored estimate of a surge level of a compressor in an engine system of a vehicle responsive to detection of a surge event; and

inducing the surge event in response to degradation of an exhaust gas recirculation valve.

9. A method, comprising:

determining a surge level of a compressor in an engine system of a vehicle in response to a compressor surge event;

updating a stored surge level with the determined surge level; and

inducing the compressor surge event after a designated duration of service of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the surge level includes measuring two or more of a pressure difference across the compressor, an engine speed, a turbine speed, and a mass air flow rate during the compressor surge event.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising adjusting an engine operating parameter based on the determined surge level.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising indicating degradation of the engine system when a difference between the determined surge level and the stored surge level is greater than a threshold difference.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein inducing the compressor surge event includes at least one of decreasing engine speed while maintaining a constant engine load or decreasing engine cooling when an exhaust gas recirculation valve in the engine system is determined as not degraded.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein inducing the compressor surge event includes decreasing engine cooling while maintaining engine speed when an exhaust gas recirculation valve in the engine system is determined as being degraded.

15. A method, comprising:

determining a surge level of a compressor in an engine system of a vehicle in response to a compressor surge event;

updating a stored surge level with the determined surge level; and

inducing the compressor surge event by decreasing engine cooling and maintaining engine speed in response to degradation of an exhaust gas recirculation valve.

16. A method, comprising:

determining a measured surge level based on one or more compressor surge events of an engine system over time;

when a difference between a measured surge level and a modeled surge level is greater than a threshold difference, indicating an external event and updating the modeled surge level with the measured surge level; and

inducing the one or more compressor surge events by decreasing engine speed when an exhaust gas recirculation valve is determined as not degraded and inducing the one or more compressor surge events by decreasing engine cooling when the exhaust gas recirculation valve is determined as degraded.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising adjusting an engine operating parameter based on the measured surge level.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the external event includes degradation of a vehicle in which the engine system is positioned.

19. A method, comprising:

inducing a compressor surge event by decreasing engine cooling while maintaining engine speed in response to determining degradation of an exhaust gas recirculation valve in an engine system.