# US 10,767,659 B2 · Exhaust gas recirculation compressor inlet thermal separation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,659 B2 - Document ID: US10767659B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/217,191 - Filed: 2018-12-12 - Published: 2020-06-18 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-12 - Assignees: Volvo Car Corporation - Applicants: Volvo Car Corporation - Inventors: Ola Rolandson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767659B2 ## CPC - F04D 29/5853: {heat insulation or conduction} - F02B 33/40: of non-positive-displacement type - F04D 17/10: for compressing or evacuating - F04D 29/403: {especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps} - F04D 29/4213: {suction ports} - F05D 2220/40: in turbochargers - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system that utilizes an insulated separation wall that separates the hot, humid EGR gas duct from the cool, dry inlet air duct in the upstream proximity of the compressor inlet of the associated turbocharger compressor. This insulated separation wall inhibits the condensation of water droplets and the formation of ice particles near the mixing point of the EGR gases and inlet air in the upstream proximity of the compressor inlet, such that the turbocharger compressor wheel, blades, and other components are not subsequently damaged by the condensed water droplets or formed ice particles. The added insulation in this cold sink area essentially thermally isolates the hot, humid EGR gas flow from the cool, dry inlet air flow until the actual mixing point of the flows. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) compressor inlet thermal separation system, comprising: an EGR gas duct adapted to carry EGR gas to a compressor inlet area disposed adjacent to a compressor; an inlet air duct adapted to carry inlet air to the compressor inlet area disposed adjacent to the compressor, wherein the EGR gas is relatively hotter and more humid than the inlet air; and an insulated separation wall disposed between the EGR gas duct and the inlet air duct adjacent to the compressor inlet area, wherein the insulated separation wall is adapted to thermally insulate the EGR gas from the inlet air until the EGR gas is mixed with the inlet air in or after the compressor inlet area; wherein the inlet air duct is disposed along an axis of rotation of a wheel of the compressor and the EGR gas duct is disposed outside of and adjacent to the inlet air duct and intersects the compressor inlet area at an angle to the axis of rotation of the wheel of the compressor, and wherein the insulated separation wall forms at least a portion of a common external wall of both the inlet air duct and the EGR gas duct. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The EGR compressor inlet thermal separation system of claim 1, further comprising a ported shroud structure in which the EGR gas duct, the inlet air duct, and the insulated separation wall are formed or disposed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The EGR compressor inlet thermal separation system of claim 2, wherein the ported shroud structure partially or wholly defines the compressor inlet area. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The EGR compressor inlet thermal separation system of claim 1, wherein the insulated separation wall comprises one or more of a non-metallic material and a structure adapted to trap a gas in one or more voids. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The EGR compressor inlet thermal separation system of claim 4, wherein the insulated separation wall comprises a composite, plastic, or foam material interspersed with a metallic material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The EGR compressor inlet thermal separation system of claim 4, wherein the insulated separation wall comprises a composite, plastic, or, foam material that defines one or more gas-filled voids. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The EGR compressor inlet thermal separation system of claim 4, wherein the insulated separation wall comprises a honeycomb structured metallic material that defines one or more gas-filled voids. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The EGR compressor inlet thermal separation system of claim 4, wherein the insulated separation wall comprises one or more of the non-metallic material and the structure adapted to trap the gas in one or more voids coupled to a metallic wall. ### Claim 9 A vehicle, comprising: a turbocharger compressor; an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system coupled to the compressor; and an EGR compressor inlet thermal separation system coupled to the compressor, comprising: an EGR gas duct adapted to carry EGR gas to a compressor inlet area disposed adjacent to a compressor; an inlet air duct adapted to carry inlet air to the compressor inlet area disposed adjacent to the compressor, wherein the EGR gas is relatively hotter and more humid than the inlet air; and an insulated separation wall disposed between the EGR gas duct and the inlet air duct adjacent to the compressor inlet area, wherein the insulated separation wall is adapted to thermally insulate the EGR gas from the inlet air until the EGR gas is mixed with the inlet air in or after the compressor inlet area; wherein the inlet air duct is disposed along an axis of rotation of a wheel of the compressor and the EGR gas duct is disposed outside of and adjacent to the inlet air duct and intersects the compressor inlet area at an angle to the axis of rotation of the wheel of the compressor, and wherein the insulated separation wall forms at least a portion of a common external wall of both the inlet air duct and the EGR gas duct. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the EGR compressor inlet thermal separation system further comprises a ported shroud structure in which the EGR gas duct, the inlet air duct, and the insulated separation wall are formed or disposed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the ported shroud structure partially or wholly defines the compressor inlet area. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the insulated separation wall comprises one or more of a non-metallic material and a structure adapted to trap a gas in one or more voids. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the insulated separation wall comprises a composite, plastic, or foam material interspersed with a metallic material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the insulated separation wall comprises a composite, plastic, or, foam material that defines one or more gas-filled voids. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the insulated separation wall comprises a honeycomb structured metallic material that defines one or more gas-filled voids. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the insulated separation wall comprises one or more of the non-metallic material and the structure adapted to trap the gas in one or more voids coupled to a metallic wall. ### Claim 17 An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) compressor inlet thermal separation method, comprising: delivering EGR gas to a compressor inlet area disposed adjacent to a compressor via an EGR gas duct; delivering inlet air to the compressor inlet area disposed adjacent to the compressor via an inlet air duct, wherein the EGR gas is relatively hotter and more humid than the inlet air; and thermally insulating a separation wall disposed between the EGR gas duct and the inlet air duct adjacent to the compressor inlet area to thermally insulate the EGR gas from the inlet air until the EGR gas is mixed with the inlet air in or after the compressor inlet area; wherein the inlet air duct is disposed along an axis of rotation of a wheel of the compressor and the EGR gas duct is disposed outside of and adjacent to the inlet air duct and intersects the compressor inlet area at an angle to the axis of rotation of the wheel of the compressor, and wherein the thermally insulated separation wall forms at least a portion of a common external wall of both the inlet air duct and the EGR gas duct. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The EGR compressor inlet thermal separation method of claim 17, wherein thermally insulating the separation wall disposed between the EGR gas duct and the inlet air duct adjacent to the compressor inlet area comprises providing a separation wall comprising one or more of a non-metallic material and a structure configured to trap a gas in one or more voids.