# US 10,309,287 B2 · Inferential sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,287 B2 - Document ID: US10309287B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/782,669 - Filed: 2017-10-12 - Published: 2018-05-31 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-29 - Assignees: Garrett Transportation I Inc. - Applicants: Garrett Transportation I Inc. - Inventors: Daniel Pachner; Michael Uchanski; Lucas Lansky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309287B2 ## CPC - F01N 11/005: {the temperature or pressure being estimated, e.g. by means of a theoretical model} - F01N 3/208: {Control of selective catalytic reduction [SCR], e.g. by adjusting the dosing of reducing agent} - F01N 9/005: {using models instead of sensors to determine operating characteristics of exhaust systems, e.g. calculating catalyst temperature instead of measuring it directly} - F01N 11/007: {the diagnostic devices measuring oxygen or air concentration downstream of the exhaust apparatus} - F02D 41/0072: {Estimating, calculating or determining the EGR rate, amount or flow (sensors in EGR systems F02M26/45)} - F02D 41/1458: {with determination means using an estimation} - F02M 35/1038: {for temperature or pressure} - G01N 33/0037: {NOx} - F01N 2560/026: for measuring or detecting NOx - F01N 2900/14: said parameters being related to the exhaust gas - F02D 41/1456: {with sensor output signal being linear or quasi-linear with the concentration of oxygen} - F02D 41/2451: {characterised by what is learned or calibrated} - F02D 41/2454: {Learning of the air-fuel ratio control} - F02D 2200/0402: the parameter being determined by using a model of the engine intake or its components - F02D 2200/0406: Intake manifold pressure - F02D 2200/0411: Volumetric efficiency - F02D 2200/0414: Air temperature - F02D 2200/0418: Air humidity - Y02A 50/20: Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A system and an approach for determining various pressures or flows in an internal combustion engine, such as a pressure adjacent a recirculation exhaust gas flow through a controlled valve of an engine. Also, among the sensors accommodated in the system, is a pressure sensor sensing a pressure in an intake manifold of the engine. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inferential exhaust manifold pressure detection device comprising: an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve having a first fluid input, a fluid output and a second fluid input; an exhaust manifold of an engine having a fluid output connected to the first fluid input of the EGR valve and to a fluid input of a turbine, and having a fluid input connected to exhaust ports of cylinders of the engine; an intake manifold of the engine having a fluid input connected to the fluid output of the EGR valve and to a fluid output of a compressor, and a fluid output connected to intake ports of the cylinders; a pressure sensor situated in the intake manifold; and a processor having an electrical signal input connected to the pressure sensor and an electrical signal output; and wherein: the processor calculates an inlet pressure of the EGR valve based on a pressure from the pressure sensor; the processor derives the calculated EGR valve inlet pressure using a turbine power versus compressor power balance in view of an efficiency of the turbine and an efficiency of the compressor; and the processor determines a control signal for the EGR valve based on the calculated inlet pressure of the EGR and outputs the control signal to the EGR valve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the processor: determines the compressor power balance based on a turbocharger angular velocity signal from a physical turbo speed sensor; and derives a power of a turbocharger acceleration from a time derivative of the turbocharger angular velocity signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the processor calculates the inlet pressure of the EGR valve as an interval of possible values based on intervals of turbocharger efficiency. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the intervals of turbocharger efficiency are a product of a compressor efficiency and a turbine efficiency and the processor determines a maximum value of the product by finding a maximum value in the turbocharger map. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the processor calculates a lower bound for the inlet pressure of the EGR valve based on a maximum possible turbocharger efficiency. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the processor uses the lower bound for the inlet pressure of the EGR valve to calculate an interval containing a fresh air mass flow rate and an interval containing an EGR mass flow rate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the processor detects an EGR valve blockage based on an upper bound for an EGR mass flow rate when determining that the EGR mass flow rate is not sufficient for a given valve opening angle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the processor detects an intake system air leakage based on a lower bound on a fresh mass flow rate when determining the fresh mass flow rate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the processor detects one or both of an EGR valve failure and an intake air leakage failure when a turbocharger efficiency is in an Efficiency Island. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the processor is blocked from detecting an EGR valve failure and an intake air leakage failure when the turbocharger efficiency is outside of the Efficiency Island. ### Claim 11 An inferential mechanism for determining pressure in an exhaust manifold an engine having a turbocharger comprising: an exhaust manifold having a first fluid input connected to an exhaust of an engine and having a fluid output; an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve having a first fluid input connected to the fluid output of the exhaust manifold and having a fluid output; an intake manifold of the engine having a fluid input connected to the fluid output of the EGR valve and having a fluid output; a pressure sensor situated in the intake manifold; and a processor having an electrical signal input connected to the pressure sensor and having an electrical signal output; and wherein the processor: calculates a lower bound for an inlet pressure of the EGR valve based on a maximum possible turbocharger efficiency; uses the lower bound for the inlet pressure of the EGR valve to calculate an interval containing a fresh air mass flow rate; detects a fuel injection offset using the interval on a fresh air mass flow rate; and determines a control signal to adjust fuel injection in view of the fuel injection offset and outputs the control signal to a fuel injector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The mechanism of claim 11, further comprising: a lambda sensor having an electrical signal output connected to the electrical signal input of the processor; and wherein the processor detects the fuel injection offset using the interval on a fresh air mass flow rate by comparing the interval on a fresh air mass flow rate with an interval on a fresh air mass flow rate derived from a lambda sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The mechanism of claim 11, further comprising: a fresh air mass flow rate physical sensor having an electrical signal output connected to the electrical signal input of the processor; and wherein the processor detects a fresh air mass flow rate physical sensor offset by comparing the interval on a fresh air mass flow rate sensed with a fresh air mass flow rate physical sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The mechanism of claim 11, wherein the processor: calculates an inlet pressure of the EGR valve based on a pressure from the pressure sensor; and determines a control signal for the EGR valve based on the calculated inlet pressure of the EGR and outputs the control signal to the EGR valve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The mechanism of claim 14, wherein the processor: derives the calculated EGR valve inlet pressure using a turbine versus compressor power balance in view of an efficiency of a turbine connected to the output of the exhaust manifold and an efficiency of a compressor connected to the input of the intake manifold; determines a compressor power balance based on a turbocharger angular velocity signal from a physical turbo speed sensor; and derives a power of a turbocharger acceleration from a time derivative of the turbocharger angular velocity signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The mechanism of claim 14, wherein the processor calculates the inlet pressure of the EGR valve as an interval of possible values based on intervals of turbocharger efficiency. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The mechanism of claim 14, wherein the processor detects an EGR valve blockage based on an upper bound on an EGR mass flow rate when determining that the EGR mass flow rate is not sufficient for a given valve opening angle. ### Claim 18 A method for inferring a pressure at an exhaust manifold of an engine having a turbocharger, the method comprising: detecting a pressure in an intake manifold connected to an engine; calculating an inlet pressure of an exhaust manifold connected to the engine based on the detected pressure in the intake manifold and a turbine power versus compressor power balance; determining a control signal for an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve based on the calculated inlet pressure in the exhaust manifold; outputting the control signal for the EGR valve to the EGR valve; and wherein the inlet pressure of the exhaust manifold is calculated as an interval of possible values based on intervals of turbocharger efficiency.