METHOD OF DETERMINING A PRESSURE UPSTREAM OF A COMPRESSOR FOR AN ENGINE EQUIPPED WITH DOUBLE SUPERCHARGING

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining the pressure Pavcm upstream of a mechanical compressor (3) equipped with a double supercharging circuit of a combustion engine. The pressure is determined by a dynamic model based on a law of conservation of flow rate in the volume upstream of the mechanical compressor. The model links the pressure Pavcm upstream of the mechanical compressor (3) to a temperature Tavcm upstream of the mechanical compressor (3), to a boost pressure Psural and boost temperature Tsural on the intake side of the engine, and to an openness Bypass of the bypass valve (4).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of combustion engines, particularly combustion engines equipped with double supercharging.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The supercharging of an engine increases the quantity of air and fuel mixture within the cylinders of the engine in comparison with normal operation. Supercharging, and especially double supercharging, make it possible to increase the efficiency of a combustion engine without changing the rotational speed. This is because engine torque (and therefore power) is dependent on the angle formed between the connecting rod and the crankshaft, on the pressure of the gases inside the cylinder, referred to as the Mean Effective Pressure (or MEP) and on the pressure of the amount of fuel introduced. For example, for a gasoline engine, if the amount of gasoline introduced into the cylinder is increased, then the mass of air (oxidizer) must also be increased proportionately in order to ensure complete combustion of this fuel (the same air/fuel ratio is maintained).

In order to obtain this supercharging, the mass of gas on the intake side is increased, making it possible to increase the quantity of fuel. In order to do that, the gaseous mixture on the intake side of the engine (essentially comprising air and optionally burnt gases) is compressed. This compression may be performed by the compressor of a turbocharger driven by the exhaust gases by means of a turbine, or compression may be performed by a separate mechanical compressor which may be driven by the engine crankshaft. Double supercharging is referred to when the gaseous mixture on the intake side is compressed twice: for example a first time by a compressor of the turbocharger and a second time by a mechanical compressor situated in the engine intake circuit. Conventionally, the mechanical compressor, which is dynamically controlled, compensates for the start-up inertia of the turbocharger.

In order to control the pressure of the air on the intake side, referred to as the boost pressure, it is possible to alter the way in which the two compressors behave. On the one hand, in order to control the air passing through the mechanical compressor, a valve is controlled, which is referred to as a bypass valve, is positioned in parallel with the compressor and diverts air toward the compressor according to its openness, which is controlled. Furthermore, when the compressor is driven by the engine crankshaft, a controlled clutch is inserted between a reduction gear and the mechanical compressor. The clutch allows the mechanical compressor to be activated or deactivated. Conventionally, the mechanical compressor is deactivated for high engine speeds (the limiting speed is dependent on the drive ratio between the crankshaft and the mechanical compressor). On the other hand, in order to control the compression of air by the turbocharger, the turbocharger is equipped with a variable geometry turbine (VGT), the which when controlled leads to a change in the rotational speed of the turbocharger and therefore a change in the compression.

Thus equipped, the combustion engine and the supercharging system needs instrumentation in order to determine various pressures and temperatures within the supercharging circuit. The measured values are used for controlling the supercharging, the engine, but are also used for diagnosing the operation of the supercharging.

FIG. 1 depicts a prior art combustion engine equipped with double supercharging and instrumentation. An engine (1) is equipped with an intake circuit and with an exhaust circuit. Arranged in the intake circuit in the direction in which the air flows are: an air filter (7), the compressor of the turbocharger (2), a first charge air cooler (6), a mechanical compressor (3) and a second charge air cooler (5). Arranged in parallel with the mechanical compressor is a diverting or bypass circuit comprising a bypass valve (4). In the exhaust circuit is a variable geometry turbine (VGT) identified as (2). The mechanical compressor (3) is driven by the crankshaft of the engine (1) via a transmission, which is a belt, and by means of a clutch (11). The charge air coolers (5 and 6) allow the air which has become heated during the successive compressions to be cooled.

Furthermore, as depicted, the engine may comprise an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) circuit (8) comprising a cooler (10) and a valve (9) referred to as an EGR valve. The circulating burnt gases mix with the fresh air between the air filter (7) and the compressor of the turbocharger (2). The engine (1) as depicted comprises four cylinders. These last two characteristics (the EGR and the number of cylinders) are independent of the invention and are nonlimiting.

According to this prior art, the engine (1) is equipped with four sensors making it possible respectively to measure a pressure P_avcm of a gaseous mixture upstream of a mechanical compressor (3), a temperature T_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor (3), and a boost pressure P_sural and boost temperature T_sural on the intake side of the engine (1). The use of four sensors is a restriction of the design of the engine notably in terms of bulk, mounting, the side of the sensors, etc., and is expensive.

In order to avoid proliferating the number of sensors and to make designing the engine easier, the invention relates to a method of determining the pressure P_avcm upstream of the (mechanical or electric) compressor. The pressure is determined by an estimator based on a law of conservation of flow rate in the volume upstream of the mechanical compressor. This conservation-of-flow rate law makes it possible to take into consideration the physical behavior of the flows and therefore obtain a reliable and robust estimate of the pressure P_avcm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method of determining a pressure P_avcm of a gaseous mixture upstream of a mechanical compressor incorporated into a supercharging system of a combustion engine, the supercharging system further comprising a turbocharger for compressing the gaseous mixture on the intake side of the engine and a bypass circuit arranged in parallel with the mechanical compressor comprising a bypass valve. For this method, the following steps are carried out:

• • a) a dynamic model is made by applying a conservation-of-flow rate law to the volume upstream of the mechanical compressor, the model linking the pressure P_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor to a temperature T_avcm upstream of the said mechanical compressor, to a boost pressure O_sural and a boost temperature T_sural on the intake side of the engine, and to an openness Bypass of the bypass valve;
  • b) the temperature T_avcm upstream of the compressor is determined;

c) the boost pressure P_sural and the boost temperature T_sural on the intake side of the engine and the openness Bypass of the bypass valve are acquired; and

• • d) the pressure P_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor is determined by the dynamic model.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the temperature T_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor is determined by means of a temperature sensor positioned upstream of the compressor.

Alternatively, with the supercharging system further comprising a charge air cooler between the turbocharger and the mechanical compressor, the temperature T_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor is determined by a map of the air cooler and of a flow rate passing through the air cooler.

According to the invention, the dynamic model is written in the form of a formula of the type:

${\stackrel{.}{P}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}=\frac{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{V_{\mathrm{avcm}}}\left(D_{\mathrm{bp}}+D_c-D_{\mathrm{cm}}\right)$

where {dot over (P)}_avcm is the first derivative with respect to time of the pressure P_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor, R is the perfect gas constant, V_avcm is the volume upstream of the mechanical compressor, D_bp is the flow rate passing through the bypass valve, D_c is the flow rate passing through the turbocharger, and D_cm is the flow rate passing through the mechanical compressor. The flows D_bp and D_cm are dependent on the pressure P_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor, on the pressure P_sural and on the boost temperature T_sural on the intake side of the engine and on the said openness Bypass of the said bypass valve.

Advantageously, the flow rate D_bp passing through the bypass valve is determined by a pressure drop relationship across the bypass valve, which can be written in the form of a formula of the type: D_bp=A_bp(Bypass)×f(P_avcm, P_sural, T_avcm) where A_bp(Bypass) is the area of opening of the Bypass valve and f is the flow rate per unit area defined by a formula of the type:

$f\left(P_{\mathrm{avcm}},P_{\mathrm{sural}},T_{\mathrm{avcm}}\right)=\frac{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}{\sqrt{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}}}\{\begin{array}{cc}{\left(\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}\right)}^{\frac{1}{\gamma }}\sqrt{\frac{2}{\gamma -1}\left(1-{\left(\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma -1}{\gamma }}\right)}& \mathrm{if}\left(\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}\right)>{\left(\frac{2}{\gamma +1}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma }{\gamma +1}}\\ {\left(\frac{2}{\gamma +1}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma +1}{\gamma -1}}& \mathrm{if}\left(\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}\right)\le {\left(\frac{2}{\gamma +1}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma }{\gamma +1}}\end{array}$

where γ is the ratio of the mass heat capacities of the gases.

For preference, the mechanical compressor is driven by the crankshaft of the engine, the flow rate D_cm passing through the mechanical compressor can be written in the form of a formula of the type:

$D_{\mathrm{cm}}=\phi \left(r_{\mathrm{cm}}\times N_e,\frac{P_{\mathrm{sural}}+\delta P\left(r_{\mathrm{cm}}\times N_e,\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}}\right)}{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}\right){\rho }_{\mathrm{cm}}$

where r_cm is the reduction ratio between the mechanical compressor and the crankshaft, ρ_cm is the density of the gases passing through the mechanical compressor as given by

${\rho }_{\mathrm{cm}}=\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}},$

R is the perfect gas constant, φ is the volumetric flow rate of the said mechanical compressor, and δP is the pressure drops across an air cooler situated between the said turbocharger and the said mechanical compressor.

Alternatively, the mechanical compressor is driven by an electric motor.

In addition, the determined pressure P_avcm may be saturated by the atmospheric pressure P_atm and the boost pressure P_sural, notably in the form of a formula of the type: P_avcm=min(max(P_atm, P_avcm, P_sural).

According to the invention, the boost pressure P_sural and the boost temperature T_sural on the intake side of the engine are acquired by pressure and temperature sensors positioned upstream of the intake manifold of the engine.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling the supercharging of a combustion engine equipped with a supercharging system, the supercharging system comprising a turbocharger and a mechanical compressor for compressing the gaseous mixture on the intake side of the engine and a bypass circuit arranged in parallel with the mechanical compressor comprising a bypass valve. For this method the following steps are carried out:

• • a) the pressure P_avcm of a gaseous mixture upstream of a mechanical compressor is determined by the method as described hereinabove;
  • b) the supercharging conditions are determined by the pressure P_avcm; and
  • c) the bypass valve and/or the turbocharger is or are controlled as a function of the supercharging conditions.

In addition, the invention relates to a method for diagnosing abnormal operation of a supercharging system of a combustion engine. The supercharging system comprises a turbocharger and a mechanical compressor for compressing the gaseous mixture on the intake side of the engine and a bypass circuit arranged in parallel with the mechanical compressor comprising a bypass valve. For this method, the following steps are carried out:

• • a) the pressure P_avcm of a gaseous mixture upstream of a mechanical compressor is determined by the method as described hereinabove;
  • b) the supercharging conditions are determined by the pressure P_avcm; and
  • c) the abnormal operation of the supercharging system is detected by the supercharging conditions.

Advantageously, the abnormal operation of the supercharging system is a leak in the intake system.

The invention also relates to a method of controlling a combustion engine equipped with a supercharging system. The supercharging system comprises a turbocharger and a mechanical compressor for compressing a gaseous mixture on the intake side of the engine and a bypass circuit arranged in parallel with the mechanical compressor comprising a controlled bypass valve. For this method, the following steps are carried out:

• • a) a temperature T_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor, a boost pressure P_sural P and a boost temperature T_sural on the intake side of the engine, and a pressure P_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor are determined by the method as described hereinabove;
  • b) a boost pressure set point P_sural^sp is acquired;
  • c) a filling model that models the filling of the supercharging volume comprised between the intake valves of the engine on the one hand, and the mechanical compressor and the bypass valve on the other is made, the model linking the boost pressure P_sural to the openness Bypass of the bypass valve by the pressure P_avcm and the temperature T_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor and the boost temperature T_sural;
  • d) an openness setpoint Bypasss^p for the bypass valve is determined by the filling model, of the said boost pressure setpoint P_sural^sp, and of the pressure P_avcm and the temperature T_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor and of the boost pressure P_sural and the boost temperature T_sural; and
  • e) the bypass valve is controlled according to the openness setpoint Bypass^sp of the bypass valve.

Advantageously, the filling model is determined by a filling equation regarding the filling of the supercharging volume and defined by a conservation-of-flow rate formula of the type:

${\stackrel{.}{P}}_{\mathrm{sural}}=\frac{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{sural}}}{V_{\mathrm{sural}}}\left(D_{\mathrm{cm}}-D_{\mathrm{bp}}-D_{\mathrm{asp}}\right)$

where {dot over (P)}_sural is the first derivative of the said boost pressure P_sural with respect to time, R is the perfect gas constant, V_sural is the supercharging volume, D_cm is the flow rate arriving from the compressor, D_bp is the flow rate leaving through the bypass valve which is a function of the openness of the bypass valve, and D_asp is the aspirated flow rate leaving toward the cylinders of the engine.

According to an alternative form of the invention, the filling model is an open-loop filling model which can be written in the form of a relationship of the type:

${\mathrm{Bypass}}^{\mathrm{sp}}=A_{\mathrm{bp}}^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{f\left(P_{\mathrm{avcm}},P_{\mathrm{sural}},T_{\mathrm{avcm}}\right)}\left(-\frac{V_{\mathrm{sural}}}{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{sural}}}{\stackrel{.}{P}}_{\mathrm{sural}}^{\mathrm{sp}}+\phi \left(r_{\mathrm{cm}}\times \mathrm{Ne},\frac{P_{\mathrm{sural}}^{\mathrm{sp}}+\delta P\left(r_{\mathrm{cm}}\times \mathrm{Ne},{\rho }_{\mathrm{cm}}\right)}{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}\right){\rho }_{\mathrm{cm}}-D_{\mathrm{asp}}^{\mathrm{sp}}\right)\right)$

where r_cm is the reduction ratio between the mechanical compressor and the crankshaft, ρ_m, is the density of the gases passing through the mechanical compressor as given by

${\rho }_{\mathrm{cm}}=\frac{P_{\mathrm{acvm}}}{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{acvm}}},\phi$

is the volumetric flow rate of the mechanical compressor, D_asp^sp is the flow rate setpoint for gas aspirated by the cylinders of the engine, A_bp(Bypass) is the area of opening of the bypass valve and f is the flow rate per unit area defined by a formula of the type:

$f\left(P_{\mathrm{avcm}},P_{\mathrm{sural}},T_{\mathrm{avcm}}\right)=\frac{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}{\sqrt{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}}}\{\begin{array}{cc}{\left(\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}\right)}^{\frac{1}{\gamma }}\sqrt{\frac{2}{\gamma -1}\left(1-{\left(\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma -1}{\gamma }}\right)}& \mathrm{if}\left(\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}\right)>{\left(\frac{2}{\gamma +1}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma }{\gamma +1}}\\ {\left(\frac{2}{\gamma +1}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma +1}{\gamma -1}}& \mathrm{if}\left(\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}\right)\le {\left(\frac{2}{\gamma +1}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma }{\gamma +1}}\end{array}$

where γ is the ratio of the mass heat capacities of the gases, and δP is the pressure drops across an air cooler situated between the said turbocharger and the said mechanical compressor.

According to another alternative form of the invention, the filling model is a closed-loop filling model which can be written in the form of a relationship of the type:

${\mathrm{Bypass}}^{\mathrm{sp}}=A_{\mathrm{bp}}^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{f\left(P_{\mathrm{avcm}},P_{\mathrm{sural}}^{\mathrm{sp}},T_{\mathrm{avcm}}\right)}\left(-\frac{V_{\mathrm{sural}}}{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{sural}}}{\stackrel{.}{P}}_{\mathrm{sural}}^{\mathrm{sp}}+{\delta }_{\mathrm{pl}}+\phi \left(r_{\mathrm{cm}}·N_e,\frac{P_{\mathrm{sural}}+\delta P\left(r_{\mathrm{cm}}·N_e·{\rho }_{\mathrm{cm}}\right)}{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}\right){\rho }_{\mathrm{cm}}-D_{\mathrm{asp}}^{\mathrm{sp}}\right)\right)$

where δ_PI=−K_p(P_sural−P_sural^sp)−K_i∫₀^t(P_sural−P_sural^sp)dt, r_cm is the reduction ratio between the mechanical compressor and the crankshaft, ρ_m, is the density of the gases passing through the mechanical compressor and given by

${\rho }_{\mathrm{cm}}=\frac{P_{\mathrm{acvm}}}{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{acvm}}},$

φ is the volumetric flow rate of the mechanical compressor, D_asp^sp is the flow rate setpoint for gas aspirated by the cylinders of the engine, δP is the pressure drops across an air cooler situated between the turbocharger and the mechanical compressor, K_i and K_p are calibration parameters for the feedback loop and A_bp(Bypass) is the area of opening of the bypass valve and f is the flow rate per unit area defined by a formula of the type:

$f\left(P_{\mathrm{avcm}},P_{\mathrm{sural}},T_{\mathrm{avcm}}\right)=\frac{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}{\sqrt{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}}}\{\begin{array}{cc}{\left(\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}\right)}^{\frac{1}{\gamma }}\sqrt{\frac{2}{\gamma -1}\left(1-{\left(\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma -1}{\gamma }}\right)}& \mathrm{if}\left(\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}\right)>{\left(\frac{2}{\gamma +1}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma }{\gamma +1}}\\ {\left(\frac{2}{\gamma +1}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma +1}{\gamma -1}}& \mathrm{if}\left(\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}\right)\le {\left(\frac{2}{\gamma +1}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma }{\gamma +1}}\end{array}$

where γ is the ratio of the mass capacities of the gases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the method according to the invention will become apparent from reading the description hereinafter of some nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, with reference to the attached figures described hereinafter.

FIG. 1, already described, illustrates an engine equipped with a double supercharging system and instrumented with four sensors.

FIGS. 2 a) and 2b) illustrate part of the supercharging circuit instrumented for two embodiments of the method according to the invention.

FIG. 3 a) illustrates the difference between pressures estimated by the method according to the invention and reference pressures and FIG. 3b) represents the absolute errors in pressure in a speed-torque plane.

FIGS. 4 a) and 4b) respectively correspond to FIGS. 3a) and 3b) taking spread on the sensors and on the components of the supercharging system into consideration.

FIG. 5 illustrates the origin of the spread in the estimate of pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor.

FIGS. 6 a) to 6d) represent the boost pressure, the pressure upstream of the compressor, the openness of the bypass valve and of the VGT turbine and the mean effective pressure (MEP) for open-loop control according to an engine control method implementing the determination method according to the invention for various engine speeds: 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 rpm.

FIGS. 7 a) and 7b) represent the boost pressure for an open-loop control according to an engine control method respectively using a measurement of the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor and implementing the determination method according to the invention for various engine speeds: 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 rpm.

FIGS. 8 a) and 8b) represent the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor for an open-loop control according to a method of controlling the engine respectively using a measurement of the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor and implementing the determination method according to the invention for various engine speeds: 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 rpm.

FIGS. 9 a) and 9b) represent the positions of the actuators for an open-loop control according to an engine control method respectively using a measurement of the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor and implementing the determination method according to the invention for various engine speeds: 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 rpm.

FIGS. 10 a) and 10b) represent the boost pressure for a closed-loop control according to an engine control method respectively using a measurement of the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor and implementing the determination method according to the invention for various engine speeds: 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 rpm.

FIGS. 11 a) and 11b) represent the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor for a closed-loop control according to an engine control method respectively using a measurement of the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor and implementing the determination method according to the invention for various engine speeds: 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 rpm.

FIGS. 12 a) and 12b) represent the positions of the actuators for a closed-loop control according to an engine control method respectively using a measurement of the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor and implementing the determination method according to the invention for various engine speeds: 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 rpm.

FIGS. 13 a) and 13b) illustrate the boost pressure overshoot for one thousand dispersed tests for closed loop control according to an engine control method respectively using a measurement of the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor and implementing the determination method according to the invention for various engine speeds: 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 rpm.

FIGS. 14 a) and 14b) illustrate the boost pressure response time over one thousand dispersed tests for closed-loop control according to an engine control method respectively using a measurement of the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor and implementing the determination method according to the invention for various engine speeds: 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 rpm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The method of determining the pressure upstream of a mechanical or electric (i.e. driven by an electric motor) compressor according to the invention is suited to any combustion engine equipped with double supercharging and is not restricted to the combustion engine of FIG. 1. However, in order to explain the invention, the method is described for the case of the double-supercharging example of FIG. 1. In addition, in the remainder of the description and in FIGS. 2a) and 2b) only the embodiment with a mechanical compressor driven by the crankshaft of the combustion engine is described although the invention is equally suited to double supercharging performed by a mechanical compressor driven by an electric motor.

The method according to the invention involves determining the upstream pressure P_avcm of a gaseous mixture (air and optionally burnt gases) upstream of the compressor of a supercharging system. In order to determine this pressure, the following steps are performed:

• • 1) The temperature T_avcm upstream of the compressor is determined.
  • 2) The boost pressure and boost temperature and the openness of the bypass valve are acquired.
  • 3) The upstream pressure P_avcm is determined by means of a dynamic model.

Steps 1) and 2) are independent and can be carried out in the order described, in the reverse order, or simultaneously. Thus, by virtue of the method according to the invention, it is possible to know the pressure upstream of the compressor without the use of an additional sensor.

Notations

During the course of the description, the terms upstream and downstream are defined with respect to the direction in which the gases flow on the intake side and on the exhaust side. In addition, the following notations are used:

• • P_avcm, T_avcm are the pressure and temperature upstream of the mechanical compressor (3), on the outlet side of the first charge air cooler (6).
  • P_sural, T_sural are the boost pressure and temperature on the intake side of the engine (1) and downstream of the mechanical compressor (3).
  • V_avcm is the volume upstream of the mechanical compressor (3) comprised between the mechanical compressor (3) and the air cooler (6).
  • V_sural is the supercharging boost volume comprised between the intake valves of the engine (1) on the one hand, and the mechanical compressor (3) and the bypass valve (4) on the other.
  • P_avcm is the pressure downstream of the mechanical compressor (3) and upstream of the second charge air cooler (5).
  • P_atm is the atmospheric pressure.
  • Bypass is the position of opening of the bypass valve (4).
  • N_e is the speed of the engine (1).
  • R is the specific perfect gas constant which is the same for all the gases involved here (air and exhaust gases), and which is equal to 288 J/kg/K.
  • D_cm is the mass flow rate of air leaving the mechanical compressor (3).
  • D_bp is the mass flow rate of air passing through the bypass valve (4).
  • D_c is the mass flow rate of air passing through the compressor of the turbocharger (2).
  • A_bp is the area of opening of the bypass valve (4).
  • γ is the ratio of the mass heat capacities of the gases; for the gaseous mixture (air and exhaust gas) it is considered that γ=1.4.
  • r_cm is the reduction ratio between the mechanical compressor (3) and the crankshaft (when the compressor is a mechanical compressor and is driven by the engine).
  • ρ_cm is the density of the gases passing through the mechanical compressor (3), given by

${\rho }_{\mathrm{cm}}=\frac{P_{\mathrm{acvm}}}{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{acvm}}}.$

• • □ is the volumetric flow rate of the mechanical compressor (3). The volumetric flow rate is obtained from a map which may form part of the data supplied by the supplier of the mechanical compressor (3).
  • δP is the pressure drop across the charge air cooler (6) situated between the turbocharger (2) and the mechanical compressor (3). This pressure-drop term is mapped as a function of the speed of the mechanical compressor (3) and of the density of the gases.
  • K_i and K_p are the calibration parameters for the feedback loop for the closed-loop embodiment of the control method.
  • MEP is the mean effective pressure which correspond to the ratio between the work supplied by the engine (1) during a cycle and the cylinder capacity of the engine (1).
  • VGT is the openness of the turbine of the turbocharger (2).

These notations, with the suffix—^sp, represent setpoints associated with the parameters concerned. The suffix—^mes indicates measured values; the suffix—^nom indicates nominal values; the suffix—^disp corresponds to values with spread (dispersion); and the suffix—^est indicates estimated values. The first derivative with respect to time is indicated by a dot above the variable concerned.

Step 1) Determining the Temperature Upstream of the Mechanical Compressor

In order to be able to determine the pressure P_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor (3), the temperature T_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor (3) is determined.

According to a first alternative form of this step, the temperature T_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor (3) is determined by a map of the air cooler (6) situated between the two compressors and by the air flow rate passing through the air cooler (6) and the external temperature. The map, for example, corresponds to a curve in the flow rate/external temperature plane. The air flow rate through the cooler corresponds to the air flow rate D_asp aspirated by the cylinders. The engine instrumentation for this embodiment is depicted in FIG. 2a). This form of embodiment offers the advantage of not requiring any sensor upstream of the mechanical compressor.

According to a second alternative form of this step, the temperature T_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor (3) is determined by a temperature sensor positioned at the outlet of the air cooler (6) upstream of the mechanical compressor (3) before the bypass. The engine instrumentation for this embodiment is depicted in FIG. 2b).

Step 2) Acquiring Data

The boost pressure P_sural and boost temperature T_sural on the intake side of the engine (1) and the openness Bypass of the bypass valve (4) are values that need to be acquired in order to determine the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor using the method according to the invention.

As depicted in FIGS. 2a) and 2b), the boost pressure P_sural and boost temperature T_sural on the intake side of the engine (1) can be determined by respective pressure and temperature sensors situated upstream of the engine at the outlet of the mechanical compressor (3) and of the bypass circuit.

The openness Bypass of the bypass valve (4) can be determined by its setpoint or by the position of its actuator.

It should be noted that step 2) is independent of step 1) and may be performed before, after or during step 1).

Step 3) Determining the Pressure Upstream of the Mechanical Compressor

In order to determine the pressure P_avcm of the gaseous mixture upstream of the mechanical compressor (3), a dynamic mo del based on a law of conservation of flow rate which applies the volume upstream of the mechanical compressor (3) is made. The upstream volume V_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor (3) is delimited by the mechanical compressor (3), the air cooler (6) and does not include the volume of the bypass circuit. The dynamic model represents the filling of this volume and links the pressure P_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor (3) to the boost pressure Psural and boost temperature T_sural on the intake side of the engine (1) and to the openness Bypass of the said bypass valve (4). For preference, the dynamic model may be written in the form of a formula of the type:

${\stackrel{.}{P}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}=\frac{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{V_{\mathrm{avcm}}}\left(D_{\mathrm{bp}}+D_c-D_{\mathrm{cm}}\right),$

the flow rates D_bp and D_cm are dependent on the pressure P_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor (3), on the boost pressure P_sural and boost temperature T_sural on the intake side of the engine (1) and on the openness Bypass of the bypass valve (4). The flow rate D_c may correspond to an estimate of the flow rate through the centrifugal compressor (2) using a filling model that models the filling of the cylinders plus a dynamic term originating from the deconvolution of the dynamics in the intake manifold. The aspirated flow rate D_asp is given by the engine filling model which is a static model linking the flow rate aspirated by the cylinders to parameters on the intake side. This type of model is conventionally part of the engine control and may be of the type D_asp=function (P_sural, T_sural, Ne). This model is therefore a function of the boost pressure. Next, in order to determine the flow rate D_c, the dynamics in the intake manifold of the engine are reverted in order to obtain a relationship of the type:

${\stackrel{.}{P}}_{\mathrm{sural}}=\frac{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{sural}}}{V_{\mathrm{avcm}}}\left(D_c-D_{\mathrm{asp}}\right).$

Advantageously, the flow rate D_bp passing through the bypass valve (4) is determined by a pressure drop relationship (Barré-Saint-Venant equation) across the bypass valve (4), which is written in the form of a formula of the type: D_bp=A_bp(Bypass)×f(P_avcm, P_sural, T_avcm) where A_bp(Bypass) is the area of opening of the bypass valve and f is the flow rate per unit area as defined by a formula of the type:

$f\left(P_{\mathrm{avcm}},P_{\mathrm{sural}},T_{\mathrm{avcm}}\right)=\frac{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}{\sqrt{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}}}\{\begin{array}{cc}{\left(\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}\right)}^{\frac{1}{\gamma }}\sqrt{\frac{2}{\gamma -1}\left(1-{\left(\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma -1}{\gamma }}\right)}& \mathrm{if}\left(\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}\right)>{\left(\frac{2}{\gamma +1}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma }{\gamma +1}}\\ {\left(\frac{2}{\gamma +1}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma +1}{\gamma -1}}& \mathrm{if}\left(\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{P_{\mathrm{sural}}}\right)\le {\left(\frac{2}{\gamma +1}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma }{\gamma +1}}\end{array}$

In addition, the flow rate D_cm passing through the mechanical compressor (3) can be determined when the mechanical compressor (3) is connected to the crankshaft of the engine (1) (compare FIGS. 1 and 2), by a formula of the type:

$D_{\mathrm{cm}}=\phi \left(r_{\mathrm{cm}}\times N_e,\frac{P_{\mathrm{sural}}+\delta P\left(r_{\mathrm{cm}}\times N_e,\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}}\right)}{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}\right)\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}}.$

In this formula, the term r_cm×Ne corresponds to the speed of the mechanical compressor (3) and the term P_sural+δP corresponds to the value of the pressure downstream of the mechanical compressor P_apcm. What happens is that the volumetric flow rate φ of the mechanical compressor (3) is obtained from a map of the mechanical compressor (3) of the speed of the mechanical compressor as a function of the ratio of the downstream and upstream pressures. This map may form part of the data supplied by the supplier of the mechanical compressor (3) or may be determined experimentally. Furthermore, the term

$\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}}$

represents the density ρ_cm of the gases passing through the mechanical compressor.

Thus, the dynamic model can be written in the form of a formula of the form:

${\stackrel{.}{P}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}=\frac{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{V_{\mathrm{avcm}}}\left(A_{\mathrm{bp}}\left(\mathrm{Bypass}\right)·f\left(P_{\mathrm{avcm}},P_{\mathrm{sural}},T_{\mathrm{avcm}}\right)+D_c^{\mathrm{asp}}-\phi \left(r_{\mathrm{cm}}\times N_e,\frac{P_{\mathrm{sural}}+\delta P\left(r_{\mathrm{cm}}·N_e,\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}}\right)}{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}\right)\frac{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{avcm}}}\right)$

Once the model has been built, it is used to determine the pressure P_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor as a function of the acquired values of the boost pressure P_sural and boost temperature T_sural on the intake side of the engine (1), of the openness Bypass of the bypass valve (4) and of the flow rate D_C passing through the compressor of the turbocharger (2). In this way, a value is obtained for the pressure P_avcm without instrumenting with a pressure sensor upstream of the mechanical compressor (3).

The method according to the invention is suited to the combustion engine, notably for vehicles, and more particularly motor vehicles. The combustion engine concerned may be a gasoline engine or a diesel engine.

Applications of the Method According to the Invention

According to one embodiment of the invention, the method according to the invention may be used within a method for controlling the supercharging of a combustion engine. Thus, the invention also relates to a method for controlling the supercharging of a combustion engine (1) equipped with a supercharging system, the supercharging system comprising a turbocharger (2) and a mechanical compressor (3) for compressing the gaseous mixture on the intake side of the engine (1) and a bypass circuit arranged in parallel with the mechanical compressor (3) comprising a bypass valve (4). For this method, the following steps are carried out:

• • a) the pressure P_avcm of a gaseous mixture upstream of a mechanical compressor (3) is determined by the method as described hereinabove;
  • b) the pressure P_avcm is used to determine supercharging conditions such as the quantities of air and of fuel within the cylinders of the engine (1), the engine speed and torque, etc.; and
  • c) as a function of the supercharging conditions the bypass valve (4) and/or the turbocharger (2) (particularly when this is a variable geometry turbine (VGT) turbocharger) and/or if appropriate the clutch situated between the engine crankshaft and the mechanical compressor (3) is/are controlled.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the method as described hereinabove can be used within a method of diagnosing the supercharging. Thus, the invention further relates to a method for diagnosing abnormal operation of a combustion engine (1) equipped with a supercharging system, the supercharging system comprising a turbocharger (2) and a mechanical compressor (3) for compressing the gaseous mixture on the intake side of the engine (1) and a bypass circuit arranged in parallel with the mechanical compressor (3) comprising a bypass valve (4). For this method, the following steps are carried out:

• • a) the pressure P_avcm of a gaseous mixture upstream of a mechanical compressor (3) is determined by the method as described hereinabove;
  • b) the pressure P_avcm is used to determine supercharging conditions such as the quantities of air and of fuel within the cylinders of the engine (1), the engine speed and torque, etc.; and
  • c) abnormal operation of the supercharging system is detected as a function of the supercharging conditions.

For example, abnormal operation of the engine corresponds to a leak in the supercharging system.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the method for determining the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor can be used within a method for controlling a combustion engine equipped with double supercharging. Thus, the invention also relates to a method of controlling a combustion engine (1) equipped with a supercharging system, the supercharging system comprising a turbocharger (2) and a mechanical compressor (3) for compressing a gaseous mixture on the intake side of the engine (1) and a bypass circuit arranged in parallel with the mechanical compressor comprising a controlled bypass valve (4). For this method, the following steps are carried out:

• • a) a temperature T_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor (3), a boost pressure P_sural and a boost temperature T_sural on the intake side of the engine (1), and a pressure P_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor (3) are determined by the method as described previously;
  • b) a boost pressure setpoint P_sural^sp is acquired;
  • c) a filling model that models the filling of the supercharging volume comprised between the intake valves of the engine (1) on the one hand, and the mechanical compressor (3) and the bypass valve (4) on the other is made, the model links the boost pressure P_sural to the openness Bypass of the bypass valve by the pressure P_avcm and the temperature T_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor (3) and the boost temperature T_sural;
  • d) an openness setpoint Bypass^sp for the bypass valve (4) is determined by the filling model, of the boost pressure setpoint P_sural^sp, and of the pressure P_avcm and the temperature T_avcm upstream of the mechanical compressor (3) and of the boost pressure P_sural and boost temperature T_sural; and
  • e) the bypass valve (4) is controlled according to the openness setpoint Bypass^sp of the bypass valve.

The filling model interprets the filling of the supercharging volume and takes the physical phenomena involved in this filling into consideration.

According to an alternative form of the invention, the evolution in pressure downstream of the mechanical compressor is governed by the dynamics of the filling of the volume situated upstream of the valves. These dynamics can be written in the form of a formula of the type:

${\stackrel{.}{P}}_{\mathrm{sural}}=\frac{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{sural}}}{V_{\mathrm{sural}}}\left(D_{\mathrm{cm}}-D_{\mathrm{bp}}-D_{\mathrm{asp}}\right)$

• • The aspirated flow rate D_asp is given by the engine filling model which is a static model linking the flow rate aspirated by the cylinders to parameters on the intake side. This type of model is conventionally part of the engine control and may be of the type D_asp=function (P_sural, T_sural, Ne). This model is therefore a function of the boost pressure.
  • The flow rates D_bp and D_om may be determined in the same way as the way in which the pressure P_avcm is determined.

In Open loop, the filling model can be written in the form:

${\mathrm{Bypass}}^{\mathrm{sp}}=A_{\mathrm{bp}}^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{f\left(P_{\mathrm{avcm}},P_{\mathrm{sural}},T_{\mathrm{avcm}}\right)}\left(-\frac{V_{\mathrm{sural}}}{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{sural}}}{\stackrel{.}{P}}_{\mathrm{sural}}^{\mathrm{sp}}+\phi \left(r_{\mathrm{cm}}·N_e,\frac{P_{\mathrm{sural}}^{\mathrm{sp}}+\delta P\left(r_{\mathrm{cm}}·N_e·{\rho }_{\mathrm{cm}}\right)}{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}\right){\rho }_{\mathrm{cm}}-D_{\mathrm{asp}}^{\mathrm{sp}}\right)\right).$

Alternatively, the closed-loop filling model may be written in the form of a relationship of the type:

$A_{\mathrm{bp}}^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{f\left(P_{\mathrm{avcm}},P_{\mathrm{sural}}^{\mathrm{sp}},T_{\mathrm{avcm}}\right)}\left(-\frac{V_{\mathrm{sural}}}{{\mathrm{RT}}_{\mathrm{sural}}}{\stackrel{.}{P}}_{\mathrm{sural}}^{\mathrm{sp}}+{\delta }_M+\phi \left(r_{\mathrm{cm}}·N_e,\frac{P_{\mathrm{sural}}^{\mathrm{sp}}+\delta P\left(r_{\mathrm{cm}}·N_e·{\rho }_{\mathrm{cm}}\right)}{P_{\mathrm{avcm}}}\right){\rho }_{\mathrm{cm}}-D_{\mathrm{asp}}^{\mathrm{sp}}\right)\right)$

with δ_Pl=−K_P(P_sural−P_sural^sp)−K_l∫₀^l(P_sural−P_sural^sp)dt, K_p, K_l being feedback loop calibration parameters.

Examples of Applications

In order to verify the estimate of the pressure P_avcm with the method of the invention, simulations are carried out for the instrumentation according to the prior art (FIG. 1) and according to the diagram of FIG. 2a), with a mechanical compressor. The control method according to the third embodiment of the invention for the open-loop control and closed-loop control of the instrumented combustion engine is also simulated. For these simulations, the predetermined threshold S for use of the mechanical compressor (3) is set at 3000 rpm. FIGS. 6 to 9, 13a) and 14a) correspond to open-loop control as described hereinabove, and FIGS. 10 to 12 correspond to closed-loop control as described in the paragraph above.

FIGS. 3 a) and 3b) show the results of estimates of the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor (3) for all the operating points of the zone of use of the mechanical compressor (3). FIG. 3a) represents the points of actual values given by a reference model and points of values given by the method according to the invention. It may be noted that the points of the reference model and the estimated points are superposed. The estimate is therefore good over the entire operating range. FIG. 3b) shows the absolute errors in pressure in a mean effective pressure MEP and engine speed Ne frame of reference. It may be noted that the discrepancies are minimal (comprised between −6 and 16 mbar).

In order to study the robustness of the determination method in the presence of spread, spread is considered for the various sensors and the various components of the supercharging system. The spread is intended to simulate a difference between vehicles as they leave the factory. A test sample of one thousand vehicles is considered. The spread follows a Gaussian distribution. The spread is as follows:

• • boost pressure sensor: three sigma at 35 mbar (which means that the probability of the actual pressure value being less than 35 mbar away from the measured value is 99.7%),
  • boost temperature sensor: three sigma at 3° C.,
  • atmospheric pressure sensor: three sigma at 35 mbar (same spread as the boost pressure sensor),
  • flow rate through the mechanical compressor: three sigma at 0.5%, and
  • position of the bypass valve: three sigma function of openness, cf. Table 1 below.

TABLE 1
Spread on bypass valve
Bypass valve openness (%)	100	80	60	40	20	0
Three sigma (%)	1.46	2.91	4.01	5.48	7.80	6.63

FIGS. 4 a) and 4b) correspond to FIGS. 3a) and 3b) and show the results on all the operating points of the zone of use of the mechanical compressor over five thousand dispersed tests. In FIG. 4a) the pale gray points in the middle are the actual values given by the reference model and the black points are the values at plus and minus three sigma. It will be noted that the variation in the estimate is small: the black points closely flank the reference points. FIG. 4b) shows the errors at three sigma for pressure. These results show that the estimate is not very dependent on the reliability of the inputs. The error remains below 60 mbar. As a result, the control method according to the invention is very robust as far as spread is concerned.

FIG. 5 shows, on each operating point, the origin of the spread in the estimate of the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor. Each pie represents the contribution that the spread on each input: boost pressure Psural, boost temperature Tsural, pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor Pavc, mechanical compressor flow rate Dcm and openness of the bypass valve Bypass makes to the output spread. It may be noted that the boost pressure is the most influential, notably at the heaviest loads where the Barré Saint Venant function is in a zone of great variation (the pressure difference across the terminals of the bypass valve is small at these points). At the lightest loads, it may be noted that the bypass valve section adopts greater influence. This is because this valve is partially closed in this zone in order to achieve the required boost pressure. An error in the positioning of the valve may therefore greatly alter the estimate of the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor.

In order to evaluate the impact that estimating using the method according to the invention has on the control method of the third embodiment, attention is first of all paid to an open-loop control in order to verify that the estimate made returns results equivalent to the prior art. A case without spread is considered first of all, then the case where there is spread on the system. Afterwards, the closed-loop strategy is assessed for the case with spread.

FIGS. 6 a) to 6c) show successive increases in load for speeds of 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000 rpm for the open-loop control method. In these figures, the index 1 corresponds to the determination method according to the invention (without sensor, FIG. 2a) and the index 2 corresponds to the method with pressure and temperature sensors upstream of the mechanical compressor (FIG. 1). FIG. 6a) shows the setpoint boost pressure P_sural^sp and the boost pressures determined according to the prior art and according to the invention. It may be noted that the method of determining the pressure upstream has no influence on the speed of the control method. FIG. 6b) illustrates the comparison between the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor obtained by the two methods. It may be noted that the plots for the two methods are similar. FIG. 6c) shows the opennesses of the bypass valve (4) and of the variable geometry turbocharger (2). In all the figures, the opennesses are expressed in percent, 0% signifies that the actuator is closed, whereas 100% signifies that the actuator is wide open. It may be noted that the position defined by the control method is almost the same for both methods. However, there is a perceptible difference in the position of the bypass valve at the end of the transient at 2000 rpm. This is not detrimental because the difference in pressure across the bypass valve is very small at this point. FIG. 6d) shows that the plot of the mean effective pressure MEP is the same for both methods.

In order to verify the robustness of the open-loop control method using the determination method according to the invention, simulations are carried out in which spread on the various sensors and components of the supercharging system is considered. The purpose of the spread is to simulate a difference between vehicles as they leave the factory. A sample size of one thousand vehicles is considered. The spread follows a Gaussian distribution.

The spread on the sensors is as follows:

• • boost pressure sensor (instrumentation according to the prior art): three sigma at 35 mbar (which means that the probability of the actual pressure value being less than 35 mbar away from the measured value is 99.7%),
  • pressure sensor sensing pressure upstream of mechanical compressor: three sigma at 35 mbar (it should be noted that the two pressure sensors may be readjusted to one another, and the spread applied thereafter is therefore identical for both these sensors),
  • boost temperature sensor: three sigma at 3° C.,
  • temperature sensor sensing temperature upstream of mechanical compressor (3) (instrumentation according to the prior art): three sigma at 3° C.

The spread on the components of the supercharging system is as follows:

• • flow rate through the mechanical compressor (3): three sigma at 0.5%,
  • effectiveness of the centrifugal compressor (2): three sigma at 2%,
  • effectiveness of the turbine (2): three sigma at 2%,
  • position of the VGT (2): three sigma at 4%,
  • position of the bypass valve (3): three sigma dependent on openness, cf. Table 1 below:

TABLE 1
Spread on bypass valve
Openness of bypass valve (%)	100	80	60	40	20	0
Three sigma (%)	1.46	2.91	4.01	5.48	7.80	6.63

FIGS. 7 a) to 9b) show the same load transients at their various speeds as in FIGS. 6a) to 6c). FIGS. 7a), 8a) and 9a) correspond to the embodiment according to the prior art (FIG. 1 with four sensors), FIGS. 7b), 8b) and 9b) correspond to the embodiment according to the invention (FIG. 2a) with no sensor upstream of the mechanical compressor).

FIGS. 7 a) and 7b) provide the plot of boost pressure for the two methods. In these figures, the setpoint (“sp”), the response without spread (“nom”) and the thousand cases with spread (“disp”) are shown in a finer line. For the method according to the prior art, the spread on the boost pressure is great. For the method according to the invention it may be noted that the spread is not so great at low engine speeds for which the mechanical compressor is called into operation. This is because the fact of estimating the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor allows this information to be made consistent with the boost pressure measurement (which is not the case when the measurement incorporating spread is used).

FIGS. 8 a) and 8b) show the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor on the same tests. The curves in thicker line correspond to the nominal value (“nom”) whereas the curves in finer line correspond to the thousand cases with spread (“disp”). It may be noted that the values determined according to the method according to the invention have slightly less spread than in the prior art. This confirms the observations made previously.

FIGS. 9 a) and 9b) show the position of the actuators in the same tests. Once again, the spread obtained is of the same order as for the boost pressure and pressure upstream of mechanical compressor.

Therefore the open-loop control method using the determination method according to the invention is robust with respect to spread and is even slightly more robust than the same control method using pressure measurements.

In order to verify the robustness with respect to spread for the closed-loop control method using the determination method according to the invention, simulations are carried out for which the same spread is considered for the various sensors and components of the supercharging system.

FIGS. 10 a) to 12b) correspond to FIGS. 7a) to 9b) for which the control method is a closed-loop control.

FIGS. 7 a) and 7b) show the plot of boost pressure. The two methods (with and without sensor) yield similar results in terms of following the plot.

FIGS. 8 a) and 8b) as well as FIGS. 9a) and 9b) show the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor and the position of the actuators. Once again it may be seen that the results for the two methods are similar.

Therefore the use of the method for determining the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor makes it possible to achieve a control method which is robust with respect to spread.

FIGS. 13 a) to 14b) give the overshoot D and the response time Tr at 95% of the boost pressure over the thousand tests with spread. FIGS. 13a) and 14a) correspond to the closed-loop control using the determination method according to the prior art. FIGS. 13b) and 14b) correspond to the closed-loop control using the determination method according to the invention. For each engine speed, the horizontal lines of the rectangles define the second quartile, the median and the third quartile. The lines outside the rectangle represent the three-sigma interval (99.7% of the points are inside the interval). The points defined by crosses are marginal points. The overshoot values D and response times Tr are slightly less good for the method according to the invention but are still acceptable. This can be explained by estimation discrepancies in transient mode.

It may be noted that the estimate of pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor is satisfactory throughout the operating range, even when there is spread on the sensors and components of the supercharging system.

An analysis of the transient results allows the conclusion that the same performance is obtained by both methods (with and without sensor upstream of the mechanical compressor).

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A method of determining a pressure of a gaseous mixture upstream of a mechanical compressor incorporated into a supercharging system of a combustion engine, including a turbocharger for compressing the gaseous mixture on an intake side of the engine and a bypass circuit disposed in parallel with the mechanical compressor including a bypass valve, comprising: a) providing a dynamic model applying a conservation-of-flow rate law to a volume upstream of the mechanical compressor, the model linking pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor to a temperature upstream of the mechanical compressor, to a boost pressure at the an intake side of the engine and a boost temperature at the intake side of the engine, and to an opening of the bypass valve;b) determining the temperature upstream of the mechanical compressor;c) acquiring the boost pressure and the boost temperature on the intake side of the engine and the openness of the bypass valve; andd) determining the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor from the dynamic model.

18. A method according to claim 17, comprising determining the temperature upstream of the mechanical compressor with a temperature sensor positioned upstream of the mechanical compressor.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the supercharging system comprises an air cooler for cooling a charge which is disposed between the turbocharger and the mechanical compressor and further comprising determining the temperature upstream of the mechanical compressor by using a map of the air cooler and of a flow rate passing through the air cooler.

20. A method according to claim 17 wherein the dynamic model is expressed by a formula:

21. A method according to claim 18 wherein the dynamic model is expressed by a formula:

22. A method according to claim 19 wherein the dynamic model is expressed by a formula of the type:

23. A method according to claim 20, comprising: determining a flow rate Dbp passing through the bypass valve from a pressure drop relationship across the bypass valve, which is expressed by a relationship: Dbp=Abp(Bypass)×f(Pavcm, Psural, Tavcm) where Abp(Bypass) is an area of opening of the bypass valve and f is a flow rate per unit area defined by a formula:

24. A method according to claim 21 wherein: determining a flow rate Dbp passing through the bypass valve from a pressure drop relationship across the bypass valve, which is expressed by a relationship: Dbp=Abp(Bypass)×f(Pavcm, Psural, Tavcm) where Abp(Bypass) is an area of opening of the bypass valve and f is a flow rate per unit area defined by a formula:

25. A method according to claim 22 wherein: determining a flow rate Dbp passing through the bypass valve from a pressure drop relationship across the bypass valve, which is expressed by a relationship: Dbp=Abp(Bypass)×f(Pavcm, Psural, Tavcm) where Abp(Bypass) is an area of opening of the bypass valve and f is a flow rate per unit area defined by a formula:

26. A method according to claim 20, wherein the mechanical compressor is driven by the crankshaft of the engine and a flow rate Dcm passes through the mechanical compressor which is expressed by a formula:

27. A method according to claim 25, wherein the mechanical compressor is driven by a crankshaft of the engine and a flow rate Dcm passes through the mechanical compressor which is expressed by a formula:

28. A method according to claim 17, wherein the mechanical compressor is driven by an electrical motor.

29. A method according to claim 18, wherein the mechanical compressor is driven by an electrical motor.

30. A method according to claim 19, wherein the mechanical compressor is driven by an electrical motor.

31. A method according to claim 20, wherein the mechanical compressor is driven by an electrical motor.

32. A method according to claim 23, wherein the mechanical compressor is driven by an electrical motor.

33. A method according to claim 17, wherein a determined pressure Pavan is saturated by atmospheric pressure Patm and boost pressure Psural, expressed by a formula: Pavcm=min(max(Patm, Pavcm, Psural).

34. A method according to claim 17, wherein the boost pressure and the boost temperature on the intake side of the engine are acquired by pressure and temperature sensors positioned upstream of the intake manifold of the engine.

35. A method for controlling supercharging of a combustion engine equipped with a supercharging system including a turbocharger and a mechanical compressor for compressing a gaseous mixture on an intake side of the engine and a bypass circuit disposed in parallel with the mechanical compressor including a bypass valve, comprising the steps of: a) determining pressure of a gaseous mixture upstream of the mechanical compressor by providing a dynamic model applying a conservation-of-flow rate law to a volume upstream of the mechanical compressor, the model linking pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor to a temperature upstream of the mechanical compressor, to a boost pressure at the intake side of the engine and a boost temperature at the intake side of the engine, and to an opening of the bypass valve, determining the temperature upstream of the mechanical compressor, acquiring the boost pressure and the boost temperature on the intake side of the engine and the opening of the bypass valve, and determining the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor from dynamic model;b) determining the supercharging conditions from pressure of the gaseous medium; andc) controlling the bypass valve and/or the turbocharger as a function of supercharging conditions.

36. A method for diagnosing abnormal operation of a supercharging system of a combustion engine, including a turbocharger and a mechanical compressor for compressing a gaseous mixture on an intake side of the engine and a bypass circuit disposed in parallel with the mechanical compressor including a bypass valve, comprising: a) determining pressure of the gaseous mixture upstream of the mechanical compressor by providing a dynamic model applying a conservation-of-flow rate law to the volume upstream of the mechanical compressor, the model linking pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor and to a temperature upstream of the mechanical compressor, to a boost pressure at the intake side of the engine and a boost temperature at the intake side of the engine, and to an opening of the bypass valve, determining the temperature upstream of the mechanical compressor, acquiring the boost pressure and the boost temperature on the intake side of the engine and an opening of the bypass valve and determining the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor from the dynamic model;b) determining supercharging conditions by use of the pressure of the gaseous mixture; andc) detecting the abnormal operation of the supercharging system from the supercharging conditions.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein: the abnormal operation of the supercharging system is a leak in the intake system.

38. A method of controlling a combustion engine equipped with a supercharging system, including a turbocharger and a mechanical compressor for compressing a gaseous mixture on an intake side of the engine and a bypass circuit disposed in parallel with the compressor including a controlled bypass valve, comprising the steps: a) determining a temperature upstream of the mechanical compressor, a boost pressure and a boost temperature on the intake side of the engine and a pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor by providing a dynamic model applying a conservation-of-flow rate law to a volume upstream of the mechanical compressor, the model linking pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor to a temperature upstream of the mechanical compressor, to a boost pressure at the intake side, to a boost temperature at the intake side of the engine and to an opening of the bypass valve, determining the temperature upstream of the mechanical compressor, acquiring the boost pressure and the boost temperature on the intake side of the engine and an opening of the bypass valve, and determining the pressure upstream of the mechanical compressor from the dynamic model;b) acquiring boost pressure setpoint;c) providing a filling model of a supercharging volume disposed between intake valves of the engine, the mechanical compressor and the bypass valve which links the boost pressure to the opening of the bypass valve by use of pressure and temperature upstream of the mechanical compressor and the boost temperature;d) determining an opening setpoint for the bypass valve with the filling model, of the boost pressure setpoint and of the pressure and the temperature upstream of the mechanical compressor and of the boost pressure and the boost temperature; ande) controlling the bypass valve according to the opening setpoint of the bypass valve.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the filling model is determined by a filling equation expressing supercharging volume and defined by a conservation-of-flow rate formula:

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the filling model is an open-loop filling model which is expressed by a relationship:

41. A method according to claim 39, wherein the filling model is a closed-loop filling model expressed by a: