IP Library Granted Patent US 9,322,324
Granted Patent B2
US 9,322,324 · App. 13/899,133 · Granted Apr 26, 2016

Method and device for controlling an electrical actuator for a wastegate valve arrangement of an exhaust gas turbocharger

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,322,324
App. No.
13/899,133
Granted
Apr 26, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for controlling an electrical actuator for a wastegate valve arrangement of an exhaust gas turbocharger in an internal combustion engine is provided. A wastegate is situated in a bypass channel of the exhaust gas turbocharger. The method includes closing or opening the wastegate by the actuator for adjusting the exhaust gas flow routed past the exhaust gas turbocharger via the bypass channel. The wastegate is exposed to a predetermined closing force while it is in a closed state so as to regulate the closing force to a desired value for the closing force as a function of an actual value for the closing force. Computer-readable mediums embodying a computer program product having a program to perform the method are also provided.

Claims (32)

1. A method for controlling an electrical actuator for a wastegate valve arrangement of an exhaust gas turbocharger in an internal combustion engine, wherein a wastegate valve is situated in a bypass channel of the exhaust gas turbocharger, the method comprising the steps of:

controlling the wastegate valve closed by the electrical actuator such that the exhaust gas flow routed past the exhaust gas turbocharger via the bypass channel is adjusted;

estimating an actual value for a closing force based on an operating current and an operating temperature of the electric actuator;

estimating a desired value for a closing force based on the actual value; and

control ling the wastegate valve to move to one of closed and open based on the desired value.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a control deviation is determined from the desired value for the closing force and the actual value for the closing force, and relayed to a controller for generating the control signals for regulating the electrical actuator.

3. A system for controlling exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine including an exhaust gas turbocharger and a wastegate valve arrangement, the system comprising:

the internal combustion engine generating the exhaust gas;

a wastegate valve situated in a bypass channel of the exhaust gas turbocharger;

an electrical actuator that closes or opens the wastegate valve to adjust the exhaust gas routed past the exhaust gas turbocharger via the bypass channel; and

a controller that controls the wastegate valve by the electrical actuator;

the controller performing the following functions:

estimates an actual value for a closing force based on an operating current and an operating temperature of the electric actuator;

estimates a desired value for a closing force based on the actual value; and

controls the exhaust gas by moving the wastegate valve to one of closed and open based on the desired value.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the controller calculates the actual value for the closing force from a position of the wastegate valve determined by a position sensor.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the controller calculates a desired value for the operating current from a desired value for the closing force, the temperature of the electrical actuator, and the position of the wastegate valve determined by the position sensor.

6. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the controller calculates the operating temperature from the operating current of the electrical actuator and a voltage supplied to the electrical actuator.

7. A system for controlling a wastegate valve arrangement in an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:

a wastegate valve situated in a bypass channel of an exhaust gas turbocharger;

an electric actuator for moving the wastegate valve;

a computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying a computer program for performing a method of controlling the electrical actuator for the wastegate valve arrangement of the exhaust gas turbocharger in the internal combustion engine, the method comprising the steps of:

controlling the wastegate valve closed by the electrical actuator such that the exhaust gas flow is routed past the exhaust gas turbocharger via the bypass channel is adjusted;

estimating an actual value for a closing force based on an operating current and an operating temperature of the electric actuator;

estimating a desired value for a closing force based on the actual value; and

controlling the wastegate valve to move to one of closed and open based on the desired value.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the actual value for the closing force is estimated further based on a position of the wastegate valve determined with a position sensor.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein a desired value for the operating current is determined based on the position of the wastegate valve determined by the position sensor and the operating temperature of the electrical actuator, and a control deviation is ascertained through comparison with an actual value for the operating current, and relayed to a controller for generating the control signals for regulating the electrical actuator.

10. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the operating temperature of the electrical actuator is estimated from a voltage supplied to the electrical actuator and the operating current based on a calculation model.

11. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the desired value for the closing force is determined as a function of operating parameters of the internal combustion engine.

12. The system according to claim 7 , wherein a control deviation is determined from the desired value for the closing force and the actual value for the closing force, and relayed to a controller for generating the control signals for regulating the electrical actuator.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034287/0601 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2014
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 033135/0336 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2013
From: LANDSMANN, GERHARD
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 030459/0752 →