Gas flow control for an internal combustion engine

A motor vehicle comprising:

• an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder;
• a supply passage configured for supplying a combustion fluid to the cylinder;
• an exhaust gas passage configured for removing an exhaust gas from the cylinder;
• a gas flow control system including a bypass passage in fluid communication with the supply passage and the exhaust gas passage, and a fluid control switch configured to selectively control gas flow in the bypass passage, the fluid control switch having a pump and at least one control valve;
• an electronic control unit configured to selectively operate the fluid control switch in an exhaust gas return operating mode or in a post-air operating mode as a function of an operating state of the internal combustion engine;
• wherein the flow control switch is operable in the exhaust gas return operating mode for supplying exhaust gas from the exhaust gas passage through the bypass passage and into the supply passage, and wherein the flow control switch is operable in the post-air operating mode for supplying combustion fluid from the supply passage through the bypass passage and into the exhaust gas passage;
• and
• wherein the pump is operable for at least one of conveying exhaust gas through the bypass passage in the exhaust gas return operating mode and conveying combustion fluid through the bypass passage in the post-air operating mode.

A method of operating a gas flow control system for controlling gas flow in an internal combustion engine (ICE), the method comprising:

• receiving, by an electronic control unit (ECU) from at least one sensor, an operating parameter of the ICE;
• determining, by the ECU, whether the ICE is in one of a first operating state and a second operating state, the second operating state being different from the first operating state;
• operating, by the ECU, a gas flow control system in an exhaust gas return operating mode based on the determination that the ICE is in the first operating state, including supplying exhaust gas from an exhaust gas passage through a bypass passage and into a supply passage;
• operating, by the ECU, the gas flow control system in a post-air operating mode based on the determination that the ICE is in the second operating state, including supplying combustion fluid from the supply passage through the bypass passage and into the exhaust gas passage, wherein the second operational state is different than the first operational state;
• and
• wherein at least one of operating the gas flow control system in the exhaust gas return operating mode and operating the gas flow control system in the post-air operating mode includes pumping a pump to convey the one of the exhaust gas and the combustion fluid through the bypass passage.