Method and Apparatus for Regulating a Charge Air Pressure of an Internal Combustion Engine of a Vehicle

A method for regulating a charge air pressure of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle having an exhaust gas turbocharger, a fresh gas supply device, a vehicle air system with an air conditioning system and with a compressor and an engine control unit, wherein the compressor is supplied with compressed air from the exhaust gas turbocharger or with air from at least one further air source, wherein the method comprising the acts of:

• (i) registering of a torque request to the internal combustion engine, the determination of a current charge air pressure and the determination of a current pressure of the vehicle air system;
• (ii) comparison of the current charge air pressure with a setpoint charge air pressure which corresponds to this torque request, and comparison of the determined, current pressure of the vehicle air system with a setpoint operating pressure of the vehicle air system;
• and
• (iii) regulation of the charge air pressure by suspending the supply of compressed air, supplied by the exhaust gas turbocharger, to the compressor if the determined, current charge air pressure is lower than the corresponding setpoint charge air pressure and the current pressure of the vehicle air system is higher than or equal to the setpoint operating pressure of the vehicle air system, or by suspending the supply of compressed air, supplied by the exhaust gas turbocharger, to the compressor and supplying air to the compressor from at least one further air source if the determined, current charge air pressure is lower than the corresponding setpoint charge air pressure, and the current pressure of the vehicle air system is lower than the setpoint operating pressure of the vehicle air system.

A device for regulating a charge air pressure of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, comprising:

• a) an exhaust gas turbocharger for generating compressed charge air;
• b) a fresh gas supply device for supplying the compressed charge air and additional fresh gas to the internal combustion engine;
• c) a vehicle air system having an air conditioning system, wherein the air conditioning system is provided for controlling the vehicle air system and for determining a current pressure of the vehicle air system;
• d) a compressor for generating compressed air for the vehicle air system, wherein the compressor is connected to the exhaust gas turbocharger in order to supply compressed charge air to the compressor;
• and
• e) an engine control unit for controlling the internal combustion engine, for registering a torque request to the internal combustion engine in order to determine a current charge air pressure,
• wherein the engine control unit is designed to compare the current charge air pressure with a setpoint charge air pressure which corresponds to this torque request, and to generate a signal if the current charge air pressure is lower than the setpoint charge air pressure, and to pass on this signal to the air conditioning system, and
• wherein the air conditioning system and/or the engine control unit are/is designed to compare the determined, current pressure of the vehicle air system with a setpoint operating pressure of the vehicle air system and to regulate the charge air pressure by suspending the supply of compressed air, supplied by the exhaust gas turbocharger, to the compressor if the determined, current charge air pressure is lower than the corresponding setpoint charge air pressure and the current pressure of the vehicle air system is higher than or equal to the setpoint operating pressure of the vehicle air system.

A device for regulating a charge air pressure of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, comprising:

• (i) an exhaust gas turbocharger for generating compressed charge air;
• (ii) a fresh gas supply device for supplying the compressed charge air and additional fresh gas to the internal combustion engine;
• (iii) a vehicle air system having an air conditioning system, wherein the air conditioning system is provided for controlling the vehicle air system and for determining a current pressure of the vehicle air system;
• (iv) a compressor for generating compressed air for the vehicle air system, wherein the compressor can be connected to the exhaust gas turbocharger in order to supply compressed charge air to the compressor, and in order to supply charge air from at least one further air source;
• and
• (v) an engine control unit for controlling the internal combustion engine and for registering a torque request to the internal combustion engine,
• (vi) wherein the engine control unit is designed to compare the current charge air pressure with a setpoint charge air pressure which corresponds to this torque request, and to generate a signal if the current charge air pressure is lower than the setpoint charge air pressure, and to pass on this signal to the air conditioning system, and
• (vii) wherein the air conditioning system and/or the engine control unit are/is designed to compare the determined, current pressure of the vehicle air system with a setpoint operating pressure of the vehicle air system and to regulate the charge air pressure by suspending the supply of compressed air, supplied by the exhaust gas turbocharger, to the compressor if the determined, current charge air pressure is lower than the corresponding setpoint charge air pressure, and the current pressure of the vehicle air system is higher than or equal to the setpoint operating pressure of the vehicle air system, and by suspending the supply of compressed air, supplied by the exhaust gas turbocharger, to the compressor and supplying air to the compressor from at least one further air source if the determined, current charge air pressure is lower than the corresponding setpoint charge air pressure, and the current pressure of the vehicle air system is lower than the setpoint operating pressure of the vehicle air system.