IP Library Granted Patent US 7,882,702
Granted Patent B2
US 7,882,702 · App. 11/026,345 · Granted Feb 8, 2011

Control system to minimize white smoke using variable nozzle turbo

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,882,702
App. No.
11/026,345
Granted
Feb 8, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An engine system and method for operating an internal combustion engine includes a turbocharger that generates a boost to the engine. A coolant temperature of the engine is determined along with other based engine inputs and calculated values. A normal boost based on operating conditions of the engine is determined. A supplemental boost is determined based on the coolant temperature. An offset boost based on the normal boost and the supplemental boost is determined. An air output of the turbocharger is modified based on the offset boost. The supplemental boost increases combustion efficiency, which reduces white smoke exhaust.

Claims (38)

1. A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger that generates a boost to said engine, said method comprising:

determining a coolant temperature of said engine;

determining a normal boost based on operating conditions of said engine;

determining a supplemental boost based on said coolant temperature, said supplemental boost defined by a net increase in boost;

determining an offset boost based on said normal boost and said supplemental boost; and

modifying an output of said turbocharger based on said offset boost.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said supplemental boost is further based on an RPM of said engine.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said supplemental boost is further based on an intake air temperature and a manifold air flow through an intake manifold on said engine.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said supplemental boost is further based on an injector timing of a fuel injection system associated with said engine.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying said output comprises:

determining a position of a plurality of vanes arranged on said turbocharger;

determining an actual boost supplied to said engine; and

modifying said supplemental boost based on said actual boost and said offset boost.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein determining a position of a plurality of vanes include receiving a signal from a position sensor arranged on said turbocharger and wherein determining an actual boost includes receiving a signal from a boost sensor arranged on said turbocharger.

7. A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger that generates a boost to said engine, said method comprising:

measuring engine parameters including determining a coolant temperature of said engine;

determining if a supplemental boost control is necessary based on said engine parameters;

determining a normal boost based on operating conditions of said engine;

determining a supplemental boost based on said coolant temperature, said supplemental boost defined by a net increase in boost;

determining an offset boost based on said normal boost and said supplemental boost; and

modifying an output of said turbocharger based on said offset boost.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein measuring said engine parameters includes measuring an intake air temperature through an intake manifold of said engine and measuring a throttle request.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein determining if said supplemental boost control is necessary includes determining if said intake air temperature and said throttle request are outside a calibration.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said supplemental boost is further based on an RPM of said engine.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said supplemental boost is further based on an intake air temperature and a manifold air flow through an intake manifold on said engine and an injector timing of a fuel injection system associated with said engine.

12. A control system for controlling a variable nozzle turbo (VNT) for an engine, comprising:

a normal boost module that calculates a normal boost;

a supplemental boost module that calculates a supplemental boost defined by a net increase in boost;

an offset boost module that generates an offset boost signal for said VNT based on said normal boost and said supplemental boost; and

a control module that adjusts VNT boost based on said offset boost signal.

13. The control system of claim 12 wherein said supplemental boost is based on a coolant temperature signal.

14. The control system of claim 13 wherein said supplemental boost is further based on an intake air temperature signal and a manifold air flow signal.

15. The control system of claim 14 wherein said supplemental boost is further based on an injector timing signal.

16. The control system of claim 15 wherein said supplemental boost is further based on a fuel quantity delivered to said engine and an RPM of said engine.

17. The control system of claim 16 wherein said control module determines if said supplemental boost output is correct based on a position sensor signal and a boost sensor signal from said turbocharger and wherein said controller modifies said supplemental boost based on said determination.

18. An engine system comprising the control system of claim 17 and further comprising a plurality of variable position vanes associated with said variable nozzle turbo that regulate an amount of air delivered to said engine.

19. The engine system of claim 18 , further comprising a vane position sensor that generates said position sensor signal based on a physical position of said vanes.

20. The engine system of claim 19 , further comprising a boost sensor that generates said boost sensor signal based on an amount of air delivered to said engine from said variable nozzle turbo.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034371/0676 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025780/0936 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025327/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0442 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025311/0770 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0052 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023127/0468 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0429 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022553/0446 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0610 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2009
From: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022117/0022 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2005
From: SCHROEDER, JAMISON C; JOHNSON, JEFFREY; KELLEY, PAUL W.; BAUMGARTNER, JAMES S.; BAHENSKY, THOMAS L.; FLETCHER, SCOTT JOHN; DEJONG, MARK L; DELEON, JOSE L; CHAMBERLAIN, BRENT M.
To: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 015815/0030 →