Recirculation system for a power system that includes a plurality of turbochargers
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsJeremy Byrd, Eric Lee Schroeder, David Andrew Pierpont, Brian R. Bell, Deborah Lee Ribordy, Jared P. Tolan, Craig P. Hittle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A recirculation system for a power system is disclosed. The recirculation system may determine, according to a sequence for individually activating a plurality of turbochargers of an engine, that a designated turbocharger of the plurality of turbochargers is to be activated. The recirculation system may cause a recirculation valve of a recirculation line to open to increase an airflow between an intake manifold and a compressor of the designated turbocharger.
Claims18
A power system comprising:
- an engine;
- a plurality of turbochargers associated with the engine;
- a recirculation system configured between a first turbocharger of the plurality of turbochargers and an intake manifold of the engine;
- and
- a controller to:
- determine that the first turbocharger is to be activated according to a turbocharger activation sequence associated with the plurality of turbochargers;
- and
- cause, based on determining that the first turbocharger is to be activated, a recirculation valve of the recirculation system to open to allow airflow between the intake manifold and a compressor of the first turbocharger,
- wherein the recirculation system includes a recirculation line that is fluidly coupled to the intake manifold of the engine and the compressor of the first turbocharger,
- wherein the recirculation valve is configured within the recirculation line to control the airflow to prevent a speed of the first turbocharger from exceeding a threshold.
A power system comprising:
- an engine;
- a plurality of turbochargers associated with the engine;
- a recirculation system configured between a first turbocharger of the plurality of turbochargers and an intake manifold of the engine;
- and
- a controller to:
- determine that the first turbocharger is to be activated according to a turbocharger activation sequence associated with the plurality of turbochargers;
- and
- cause, based on determining that the first turbocharger is to be activated, a recirculation valve of the recirculation system to open to allow airflow between the intake manifold and a compressor of the first turbocharger,
- the power system further comprising:
- an intake cooling system to provide cooled air to the intake manifold of the engine,
- wherein the airflow between the intake manifold and the compressor of the first turbocharger includes the cooled air to slow a speed of the first turbocharger as the first turbocharger is activated.
A method for controlling overshoot of a turbocharger of a power system, the method comprising:
- determining, according to a sequence for individually activating a plurality of turbochargers of an engine, that a designated turbocharger of the plurality of turbochargers is to be activated;
- and
- causing a recirculation valve of a recirculation line to open to increase an airflow between an intake manifold and a compressor of the designated turbocharger,
- wherein causing the recirculation valve to increase the airflow comprises:
- causing the recirculation valve to be opened until the designated turbocharger reaches a threshold speed.
A method for controlling overshoot of a turbocharger of a power system, the method comprising:
- determining, according to a sequence for individually activating a plurality of turbochargers of an engine, that a designated turbocharger of the plurality of turbochargers is to be activated;
- causing a recirculation valve of a recirculation line to open to increase an airflow between an intake manifold and a compressor of the designated turbocharger;
- determining, after causing the recirculation valve to be opened, that the designated turbocharger has reached a steady state;
- and
- causing the recirculation valve to close to prevent the airflow between the intake manifold and the compressor.
A turbocharger configuration for an engine, the turbocharger configuration comprising:
- a plurality of turbochargers that are sequentially activated to provide airflow to the engine according to a characteristic of the engine;
- and
- a recirculation system situated between an intake manifold of the engine and a compressor of a designated turbocharger of the plurality of turbochargers,
- wherein the recirculation system is configured to prevent, by recirculating air from the intake manifold to the compressor, the designated turbocharger from exceeding a threshold speed after the designated turbocharger is activated to increase airflow to the engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.