1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for detecting an angular rate change of a supercharger and controlling an engine so as to prevent the supercharger from enter into a surging area in an electronically-controlled injected engine equipped with the supercharger.
2. Related Art
In an engine, as a mass of an air inhaled therein is increased, a burning fuel can be enhanced so as to upgrading a power. A supercharger is a device that compresses an ambient air so as to increment a density of the air and conducts it into a cylinder. For example, a turbocharger is well-known as a supercharger that rotates a turbine by energy of discharge air and supercharges it with a compressor.
In an engine equipped with a supercharger, a charging pressure is restricted by a surging area, regardless of whether the supercharger is a normal one or a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT). Surging is a phenomenon that generates a vibration as well as fluctuates an air volume, a wind pressure and a rotation speed, and what is worse, causes an impossibility of traveling, when the supercharger is driven in a state of connecting a centrifugal/axial flow blower or a compressor and the like to a conduit line so as to compressively squeeze the air volume.
The surging area is present in a high-speed rotation/low air capacity area, when it is represented by a pressure curve with a pressure and an air volume as characteristics of the supercharger. This surging area boundary is referred to as a surging limitation. The surging limitation depends on a pressure level, a design of an impeller or models of the superchargers and the like.
When the supercharger is driven beyond the surging limitation, an abnormal sound is generated due to the fluctuation of a boost pressure or a pressure wave vibration, thereby eventually leads to damages due to the vibration of the compressor. In general, since engines have dispersions of performance as products, an engine injection quantity is controlled so that the supercharger is driven in the area from the surging limitation to a slippage (allowance). Due to the necessity of the slippage for the engine, an advancement in a low speed torque was significantly limited.
Conventionally, there is well-known method for limiting the injection quantity using a charging pressure sensor and the like, when the supercharger is trapped in the surging state. However, this method can limit the injection quantity only when the surging is actually generated. In other words, the fact remains that the surging is actually generated and an abrasive inspiratory sound and a supercharger vibration are generated. There is a problem in terms of the credibility in this method.
For example, in JP 2003-240788, a means for measuring the pressure fluctuation of the supercharger and a turbo rotation number by a turbo rotation number sensor so as to control the supercharger is disclosed. However, the means according to JP 2003-240788, which detects only the turbo rotation number, can reduce the slippage based on the rotation number generated by the surging, but cannot completely eliminate it. Also, when an overspin characteristic of the turbo is generated, during the transition duration such as during the EGR blocking or the acceleration and deceleration, the turbo rotation number is mistakenly decided or the injection quantity is rapidly increased and decreased. Thus, there still remains a problem on practical side.
Further, the turbo rotation number sensor as described in JP 2003-240788, which the sensor receives a signal from a shaft, can measure only one signal per one rotation. In this regard, the sensor cannot detect the turbo surging involving a rotation fluctuation. Moreover, in the turbo rotation number sensor as described in JP 2003-240788, a high peaking capacity is defined as the rotation number by performing a frequency analysis, in consideration of the case that the signal includes a noise. Accordingly, the sensor results in performing a filtering and cannot detect an instantaneous rotation fluctuation.
In other words, because the prior art and the turbo rotation number sensor as described in JP 2003-240788 cannot detect the limiting point of the turbo surging, the engine and the supercharger cannot be efficiently driven due to the need for the slippage.
The problem so as to be solved is to identify the surging limitation so as to efficiently drive the engine.
The problem so as to be solved by the present invention is as mentioned above. Next, the means of solving the problem will be described.
The present invention comprises at least one index means provided on the turbine shaft or the blade, a detection means, which detects a rotation of the index means and a rotation of the plurality of blade respectively and is connected to a control means, and a turbo angular velocity computing means, which calculates the angular velocity by receiving a plurality of pulses per one rotation of the turbine shaft in an engine equipped with a supercharger consisting of a compressor having a plurality of blades on a turbine shaft and a turbine.
In the present invention, the size of the pulse obtained by the detection means is calculated as a turbo angular velocity by the turbo angular velocity detection means and a turbo rotation number (a turbo average angular velocity) is calculated when the turbo angular velocity is constant.
The present invention comprises a control means, wherein the turbo angular velocity is defined as an absolute value of the turbo angular velocity or an relative value to the turbo average angular velocity.
The present invention comprises a supercharger surging detecting means, wherein it evaluates that the supercharger comes close to a surging area when a turbo angular velocity amplitude value is beyond a predetermined threshold.
The present invention comprises an engine load detecting means for detecting an engine load, an engine rotation number detecting means for detecting an engine rotation number, an adequate angular velocity amplitude value map, which memorizes a predetermined threshold of the turbo angular velocity on the basis of the engine load and the engine rotation number, and a control means, wherein it evaluates that the driving of the supercharger comes close to the surging area when the turbo angular velocity is beyond the adequate angular velocity amplitude value.
The present invention comprises a surging avoidance means, wherein it controls so that at least one outlet flow of a fuel injection quantity, a fuel injection pressure or a fuel injection timing is reduced when the driving of the supercharger comes close to the surging area.
The present invention comprises an engine load detecting means for detecting the engine load, an engine rotation number detecting means for detecting the engine rotation number, an adequate turbo rotation number threshold preliminary set up using the engine load and the engine rotation number, and an supercharger fault detection means, wherein it evaluates that the supercharger is abnormal when the turbo rotation number by the turbo angular velocity detecting means is beyond the adequate turbo rotation number threshold on the condition of the engine based on the engine load by the engine load detecting means and the engine rotation number by the engine rotation number detecting means.
The present invention comprises an exhaust gas reflux system, an exhaust gas reflux volume control means, which controls the reflux volume of the exhaust gas reflux system on the basis of the turbo rotation number by the turbo angular velocity detecting means.
The present invention comprises the engine rotation number detecting means, a derating means, which reduces the engine load and the engine rotation number in an arbitrary time when an abnormality is detected on the basis of the engine rotation number by the engine rotation number detecting means and the turbo rotation number by the turbo angular velocity detecting means.
The present invention comprises at least two or more cylinders, a traveling means with reduced cylinders for stopping the driving of a cylinder when an abnormality of the cylinder is generated and continuing driving with the remaining cylinders except the reduced cylinder, a fuel injection control means while traveling with reduced cylinders, which controls at least one out of the fuel injection quantity, the fuel injection pressure or the fuel injection timing of the remaining cylinders on the basis of the turbo rotation number by the turbo angular velocity detecting means while the traveling with reduced cylinders.
The present invention shows the following effects.
In the present invention, an angular rate change in one rotation of the supercharger can be easily detected. The turbo angular velocity can be adequately detected using a detecting means by providing the blades with the index means, thereby reducing the cost.
In the present invention, the turbo angular velocity detecting means and the conventional turbo angular velocity detecting means can be doubled as. In other words, the versatility of the angular velocity detecting means can be improved, thereby reducing the cost.
In the present invention, the calculated turbo angular velocity value can be easily applied to another control, thereby advancing the versatility.
In the present invention, it can be evaluated that the supercharger comes close to the surging limitation due to the fluctuation of the turbo angular velocity. In other words, the slippage for the surging area is not needed, or a boundary allowable range to the surging area can be minimized, thereby efficiently driving the engine.
In the present invention, it can be dramatically evaluated whether the supercharger comes close to the surging area than ever before, thereby performing the surging avoidance in accordance with the condition of the engine, i.e., improving the operability of the engine.
In the present invention, when the turbo driving comes close to the surging boundary, the driving in the surging area can be avoided by immediately performing the fuel injection control. In other words, the driving can be avoided entering into the surging area, thereby improving the credibility of the engine.
In the present invention, the abnormality of the turbo can be easily evaluated, thereby advancing the reliability of the turbo driving.
In the present invention, the turbo rotation number is in proportion to (is in inverse proportion to, depending on the system) the EGR quantity, thereby enhancing the operability of the engine. A response to the EGR quantity is more favorable by detecting the rotation number proportional to the EGR quantity, compared to the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor, thereby improving the controllability of the engine.
In the present invention, a driving based on the rotation number and load during the derating driving is possible, by substituting the turbo rotation number for the load. Accordingly, the derating driving can be performed considering the load, thereby improving the security of the engine.
In the present invention, the fuel injection control based on the load, while traveling with reduced cylinders can be performed by substituting the turbo rotation number for the load. Accordingly, the safety of the engine can be improved.
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
A four-cylinder diesel engine 1 equipped with a supercharger 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown in
An induction system of the engine 1 will be described. An induction manifold (intake manifold) 10 is provided on one side of the engine 1. The intake manifold 10 is connected to the downstream side of an intake passage 11. The intake passage 11 is connected to the intake manifold 10 via an air filter 13, a compressor 41 provided in the supercharger 40 and an intercooler 12. Accordingly, an ambient air is introduced to the intake passage 11 and is supplied to the respective cylinders 91 to 94 by the intake manifold 10. A throttle valve 5 is provided on the downstream side of the intercooler 12 in the intake passage 11.
Further, an exhaust system of the engine 1 will be described. A discharge air manifold (exhaust manifold) 20 is placed on the opposite side of the intake manifold 10 of the engine 1. The exhaust manifold 20 is connected to the upstream side of an exhaust passage 21. The exhaust passage 21 is connected to the exhaust manifold 20 via an exhaust cleanup filter 22 and a turbine 42 provide in the supercharger 40. A catalyst 23 is supported on the exhaust cleanup filter 22. Accordingly, an exhaust gas is introduced from the respective cylinders 91 to 94 to the exhaust passage 21 via the exhaust manifold 20 and is outflowed to the outside of the engine 1.
An exhaust gas recirculation system (hereinafter, referred to as simply EGR system) 50 provided in the engine 1 will be described. The EGR system 50 is a device that flows back a part of the exhaust gas to the induction system so as to reduce nitrogen oxides (Nox). The EGR system 50 is connected to the intake passage 11 and the exhaust passage 21. An EGR passage 51 connects the exhaust manifold 20 to the intake passage 11 downstream from the throttle valve 5. The EGR passage 51 includes a cooler 5252 for the EGR that cools the EGR gas (the exhaust gas) from the exhaust manifold 20 and a EGR valve 53 which adjusts reflux volumes of the EGR gas.
An Engine Control Unit (ECU) 60 as a control means that totally controls the engine 1 will be described. The ECU 60 includes a CPU, a RAM and a ROM or the like, and programs and maps are preliminarily stored therein. The ECU 60 is a control device that performs various arithmetic processing based on signals from sensors or the like and that commands a control signal to the respective actuators. The ECU 60 doubles as a correction means for the preliminarily stored program.
As shown in
A configuration of the turbo angular velocity sensor 62 according to the present invention will be described in detail. As shown in
As shown in
Next, a detection of the turbo angular velocity sensor 62 will be described in detail. As shown in
A calculation of the turbo angular velocity and turbo rotation number will be described. The ECU 70 converts the pulse interval, which is detected by the turbo angular velocity sensor 62 and converted by the TTL conversion, into the angular velocity or the average rotation number. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Accordingly, calculating the turbo angular velocity ω in a nondimensional manner results in the following advantages, in comparison with means for calculating the turbo angular velocity to the normal time. In other words, conventionally, for example, the turbo average rotation number needed to be calculated using the formula “rotation number N=pulse frequency F/the number Z of blades”. Thus, every time the number of blades of the compressor is changed, a setting of calculating was needed. Because the turbo angular velocity sensor 62 of the present invention calculates the turbo angular velocity in a nondimensional manner, the angular velocity can be calculated regardless of the number of blades. The angular velocity ω can be calculated only by the pulse interval to the pulse number, thereby improving a calculating speed compared to the conventional means.
The surging generating during the driving of the supercharger 40 will be described. The surging is a phenomenon that generates a vibration as well as fluctuates an air volume, a wind pressure and a rotation speed, and what is worse, causes an impossibility of traveling, when the supercharger is driven in a state of connecting a air blower and the like to a conduit line so as to compressively squeeze the air volume.
As shown in
When the supercharger 40 is driven beyond the surging limitation into the surging area, an abnormal sound is generated due to the fluctuation of a boost pressure or a pressure wave vibration, thereby eventually leads to damages due to the vibration of the compressor. In general, since the engine 1 has a dispersion of performance as a product, an engine injection quantity is controlled so that the supercharger is driven in the area from the surging limitation to an allowance (slippage) (for example, a broken line B in
A surging detecting means using the turbo angular velocity detecting means will be described. The surging detecting means is a detecting one for detecting that the driving of the supercharger comes close to the surging area, using the turbo angular velocity sensor 62. As shown in
Due to the above construction, the ECU 60 can compare the present angular velocity amplitude value ωL detected by the turbo angular velocity sensor 62 of the supercharger 40 with the adequate angular velocity amplitude value ωa obtained by the adequate angular velocity amplitude value map 71 preliminarily memorized, on the basis of the present engine load by the accelerator opening degree sensor 63 and the present engine rotation number by the engine rotation number sensor 64.
In the surging area, the supercharger 40 receives the rotation fluctuation, with a severe pressure fluctuation and a large vibration of the compressor itself. This rotation fluctuation is generated when the supercharger 40 comes close to the surging boundary. In other words, when the angular velocity amplitude value ωc of the present supercharger 40 is the adequate angular velocity amplitude value ωa or more, the ECU 60 can detect that the supercharger 40 comes close to the surging boundary.
Accordingly, the ECU 60 can detect at the last minute that the supercharger 40 comes close to the surging area by constantly detecting the angular velocity amplitude value of the supercharger 40 and comparing it with the adequate angular velocity amplitude value map 71. The characteristic of the surging detecting means is that it needs not to allow for the conventional slippage. Thus, the supercharger 40 can be driven until it comes close to the surging boundary, thereby improving the driving performance of the supercharger 40. Accordingly, the engine 1 can be efficiently driven.
A surging avoidance means that avoids the driving of the supercharger 40 from the surging area, when the supercharger 40 is detected that it comes close to the surging boundary by the surging detecting means will be described. When the supercharger 40 comes close to the surging area, an exhaust energy needs to be reduced by decreasing the fuel injection quantity or by advancing an injection timing.
With reference to
In the surging avoidance control of the present embodiment, the surging avoidance means is defined as a means for reducing the fuel injection quantity, but the surging avoidance means is not limited to the present embodiment. For example, the surging avoidance means may be a means for reducing the exhaust energy such as reducing a fuel injection pressure of the common rail 3 or advancing the fuel injection timing. When the surging avoidance means detects that the supercharger 40 comes close to the surging boundary by the turbo angular velocity sensor 62 and a means reducing the exhaust energy is performed, the similar effect as the present embodiment can be achieved. Accordingly, the reliability of the engine 1 can be improved by using the surging avoidance means.
A fuel injection control correcting means after the surging avoidance by the surging avoidance means will be described. The fuel injection control correcting means is a means for correcting the changed one out of the fuel injection quantity, the fuel injection pressure or the fuel injection timing. In general, as shown in
When the fuel injection quantity Q is reduced using the surging avoidance means, the ECU 60 corrects the adequate fuel injection quantity map 72. The correcting means may be a correcting one for directly rewriting the reduced fuel injection quantity Q or a correcting one for adding the ratio delay to the reduced fuel injection quantity Q so as to further rewrite the reduced quantity. The correcting range may be a correction of the whole adequate fuel injection quantity map 72 or only the condition of the engine consisting of the engine load Ac and the engine rotation number Ne to which the surging avoidance means has been performed.
Accordingly, since the avoidance means performed by the surging avoidance means is memorized, the credibility of the engine 1 can be improved. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the adequate fuel injection quantity map 72 is corrected, but as long as the surging avoidance means is a means for reducing the fuel injection pressure or for advancing the fuel injection timing, maps can be corrected in accordance with their avoidance means.
A supercharger fault detection means using the turbo angular velocity detecting means will be described. The supercharger fault detection means is a fault detection one for detecting the fault of the supercharger 40 by the turbo angular velocity sensor 62. As shown in
As shown in
The ECU 60 can evaluate abnormalities except the turbo surging, e.g., the fuel incorporations into the cylinders, the abnormality of the injection quantity and the turbo seizing by the turbo angular velocity sensor 62. When these abnormalities are generated, for example, when the abnormality of the fuel incorporations into the cylinders is generated, the turbo rotation number is increased, the turbo rotation number increases and decreases due to the abnormality of the injection quantity, and the turbo rotation number is decreased due to the turbo seizing, thereby detecting the abnormalities using the same flow chart as previously described by memorizing the respective abnormal ranges of the rotation number. Accordingly, the reliability of the engine 1 can be improved.
An EGR quantity control means using the turbo angular velocity detection means will be described. As shown in
As shown in
Due to the above construction, the following advantages can be achieved, compared to the detection means for the EGR quantity using the conventional λ sensor or the airflow sensor. In this regard, because the λ sensor or the airflow sensor is exposed to the sea atmosphere in engines equipped with ships and the like, it possessed lower reliability due to the brine damage. The pressure sensor and the like directly measuring the exhaust gas possessed lower control accuracy. Since the EGR quantity control means of the present invention can detect the EGR quantity only by the turbo angular velocity sensor 62 provided in the supercharger, additional sensors are not needed. Substitution for the EGR quantity by the turbo angular velocity sensor 62 can detect the EGR quantity more accurately than detections of the temperature and the pressure. Accordingly, the controllability of the engine 1 can be advanced.
An EGR system different from the EGR system illustrated in
As shown in
A derating means with the turbo angular velocity detection means will be described. In general, the derating is a means for offering a safety allowance so as to reduce the possibility of the faults by incidental excessive stresses. Herein, the derating is considered as a stop means till the engine 1 is stopped in the event of the failure of the engine 1. Hereinafter, the derating means in the case that the engine 1 has some sort of errors and must be stopped will be described. As shown in
A derating means using another turbo angular velocity detection means will be described. As shown in
In other words, the ECU 60 slows down the engine load and the engine rotation number at the prescribed deceleration on the basis of the turbo angular velocity sensor 62 and the engine rotation number sensor 64, and stops the engine 1.
Due to the above construction, the engine can be stooped by slowing down both of the engine load and the engine rotation number. The derating means is effective, for example, when the ECU 60 evaluates that the engine 1 is abnormal by the above-mentioned supercharger fault detection means and stops the engine 1. Accordingly, the chance of the engine damage can be minimized, thereby improving the security of the engine. Especially in the engine provided in large size ships or large size automobiles, the derating means is highly effective as it can gradually slow down and stop the engine as described above, because a sudden stop (a rapid deceleration) of the engine causes rapid loads to the passengers.
A fuel injection control means while traveling with reduced cylinders using the turbo angular velocity detection means will be described. In the multicylinder engine, the traveling with reduced cylinders is a driving means for provisionally continuing driving the engine with the remaining cylinders even if one of the cylinders has some sort of abnormality. The traveling with reduced cylinders is performed, for example, when the failure that one of the injectors stops injecting is generated.
As shown in
Due to the above construction, the fuel injection control while traveling with reduced cylinders can be performed using a simple means, so as to achieving the following advantages. Conventionally, the fuel injection control while traveling with reduced cylinders has been performed based on the charging pressure sensor or the exhaust gas temperature sensor. The charging pressure sensor or the exhaust gas temperature sensor had low response accuracy in feedback. The charging pressure sensor had low reliability as the atmospheric pressure is different especially in the altitude. The fuel injection control while traveling with reduced cylinders of the present embodiment can assuredly perform the fuel injection control while traveling with reduced cylinders as a simpler means than these sensors.
The present invention can be available in the common-rail diesel engine.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2006-162393 | Jun 2006 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/JP2007/058542 | 4/19/2007 | WO | 00 | 4/9/2009 |