Inline turbocharger arrangement and method

A method for operating an engine, the method comprising:

• operating an engine having a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder including an exhaust runner, wherein the cylinders are disposed in a cylinder case of the engine, the cylinder case having a Vee configuration in which the plurality of cylinders is arranged along two cylinder banks disposed on either side of a valley;
• providing a singular exhaust log structure that includes:
• a body disposed in the valley and having an elongate shape that extends along substantially an entire length of the cylinder case,
• a plurality of inlet ports extending through the body and being fluidly connected directly to the plurality of exhaust runners at all times,
• a singular plenum formed within the body of the singular exhaust log structure and being fluidly open to the plurality of inlet ports at all times, such that the singular plenum receives exhaust gas from all cylinders of the plurality of cylinders,
• a plurality of outlet ports extending through the body and being fluidly open to the singular plenum, and
• a water jacket formed in the body and surrounding at least the plenum;
• mounting a plurality of turbochargers directly onto the singular exhaust log structure, each turbocharger of the plurality of turbochargers including:
• a turbine connected to the singular exhaust log structure and having an inlet fluidly connectable to a respective one of the plurality of outlet ports,
• a turbine valve disposed at an outlet of the turbine such that the flow of exhaust gas out of the turbine is fluidly blocked from escaping the turbine when the turbine valve is closed and fluidly open when the turbine valve is open, and
• an actuator associated with the turbine valve and operating to move the turbine valve from a closed position to an open position and vice versa;
• and
• providing an electronic controller associated with the internal combustion engine and configured to provide a command to the actuator to move the turbine valve between the open and closed positions;
• wherein the electronic controller operates to selectively open two or more turbine valves based on an operating condition of the engine.

A method for diagnosing an operating health of a plurality of turbochargers associated with an engine, the method comprising:

• operating an engine having an exhaust conduit and an intake conduit, the exhaust conduit including a singular exhaust log structure, the singular exhaust log structure including a body having an elongate shape that extends along substantially an entire length of a cylinder case of the engine, the cylinder case of the engine having a Vee configuration in which a plurality of cylinders is arranged along two cylinder banks disposed on either side of a valley, the body forming a singular plenum that is fluidly connected to exhaust runners of the plurality of cylinders at all times, the singular exhaust log structure being mounted inboard on the cylinder case and disposed in the valley;
• providing a plurality of turbochargers mounted directly onto the body, each of the plurality of turbochargers having a turbine that is selectively fluidly connected to the exhaust conduit directly to the singular plenum of the exhaust log structure via a turbine valve and a compressor that is selectively fluid connected to the intake conduit via a compressor shutoff valve, the turbine valve and the compressor shutoff valve being operated between open and closed positions by at least one actuator that is responsive to a command signal from an electronic controller such that the electronic controller can activate any one of the plurality of turbochargers by commanding the turbine valve and the compressor shutoff valve of that turbocharger to open, and deactivate any one of the plurality of turbochargers by commanding the turbine valve and the compressor shutoff valve of that turbocharger to close;
• at any time during engine operation, determining, using the electronic controller, which of the plurality of turbochargers is/are active;
• for at least one active turbocharger, using the electronic controller to provide a signal to activate or deactivate the respective actuator and to monitor system parameters to determine whether the system parameters dynamically respond to the signal in a desired fashion;
• and
• when the system parameters are determined to respond in an undesired fashion, flagging a fault in the electronic controller and removing the at least one active turbocharger from service.