# US 2019/0170061 A1 · Systems and methods for turbo wastegate diagnostics > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170061 A1 - Document ID: US20190170061A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/831,634 - Filed: 2017-12-05 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-05 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Aed M. Dudar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170061A1 ## CPC - F02B 37/186: {Arrangements of actuators or linkage for bypass valves} - F02B 37/04: Engines with exhaust drive and other drive of pumps, e.g. with exhaust-driven pump and mechanically-driven second pump - F02B 37/18: by bypassing exhaust {from the inlet to the outlet of turbine or to the atmosphere} - F02B 37/225: {air passages} - F02B 39/10: electric - F02D 41/0007: {for control of turbo-charged or super-charged engines (control of the pumps per se F02B37/12)} - F02D 41/221: {relating to the failure of actuators or electrically driven elements} - F02D 41/0055: {Special engine operating conditions, e.g. for regeneration of exhaust gas treatment apparatus} - F02D 41/042: {for stopping the engine} - F02D 2009/0225: {Intake air or mixture temperature} - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract Methods and systems are provided for indicating whether a wastegate positioned in a vehicle exhaust system is stuck in a closed or open configuration. In one example, a method comprises activating an electric air compressor positioned in an intake of the engine and obtaining a first baseline air flow and a second baseline air flow in the exhaust system, and in response to an indication that the wastegate is potentially stuck open or closed, obtaining a test air flow measurement via activating the electric air compressor and comparing the test air flow in the exhaust system to the first and/or the second baseline air flow. In this way, the wastegate may be diagnosed under conditions of limited engine operation, such as that which may occur in hybrid electric vehicles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: activating an electric air compressor in an intake of an engine to obtain a first and a second baseline air flow in an exhaust system of the engine; and during a degradation test, diagnosing whether a wastegate in the exhaust system is functioning as desired by activating the electric air compressor and comparing a test air flow in the exhaust system to the first and/or the second baseline air flow. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: just prior to activating the electric air compressor to obtain the first baseline air flow, the second baseline air flow, and just prior to diagnosing whether the wastegate is functioning as desired, controlling the engine via a motor to a predetermined position, where the predetermined position includes a predetermined piston coupled to a predetermined cylinder of the engine within a threshold number of degrees from top dead center. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the first and the second baseline air flow, and diagnosing whether the wastegate is functioning as desired includes monitoring air flow in the exhaust system of the engine with an exhaust gas recirculation valve positioned in an exhaust gas recirculation passage which is coupled to the exhaust system for a predetermined duration with the exhaust gas recirculation valve closed, then monitoring air flow in the exhaust system of the engine with the exhaust gas recirculation valve open; and obtaining a difference between air flow with the exhaust gas recirculation valve open compared to air flow with the exhaust gas recirculation valve closed to provide the first baseline flow, the second baseline air flow, or the test flow. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first baseline air flow, the second baseline air flow, and the test air flow is monitored via a differential pressure sensor positioned in an exhaust system downstream of a turbine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the differential pressure sensor is coupled to a gasoline particulate filter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first baseline air flow is obtained with the wastegate commanded to a fully closed configuration; and wherein the second baseline air flow is obtained with the wastegate commanded to a fully open configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the test air flow is obtained via commanding the wastegate to the fully open configuration under conditions where an indication of engine degradation prior to the degradation test includes an indication that the wastegate is stuck closed; and wherein the test air flow is obtained via commanding the wastegate to the fully closed configuration under conditions where the indication of engine degradation includes an indication that the wastegate is stuck open. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein diagnosing whether the wastegate is functioning as desired includes indicating the wastegate is stuck closed responsive to the test air flow under conditions where the wastegate is commanded to the fully open configuration being within a threshold of the first baseline air flow; and indicating the wastegate is stuck open responsive to the test air flow under conditions where the wastegate is commanded to the fully closed configuration being within a threshold of the second baseline air flow. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein activating the electric air compressor to obtain the first baseline air flow, the second baseline air flow and/or the test flow further comprises a state of charge of an onboard energy storage device being above a threshold state of charge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the engine is included in a vehicle capable of being plugged in to an electric grid; and wherein activating the air compressor to obtain the first baseline air flow, the second baseline air flow and/or the test flow further comprises an indication that the vehicle is plugged in to the electric grid. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: in response to an indication that a vehicle equipped to charge an onboard energy storage device via an electrical connection to an electrical grid is experiencing degradation of an engine in an engine system of the vehicle, the degradation potentially related to an issue with a wastegate coupled to an exhaust system of the engine, and further responsive to an indication that the vehicle is plugged in to the electrical grid: obtaining a test measurement of air flow through the engine system via activating an electric compressor positioned in an intake of the engine to direct air flow through the engine system, where the test measurement of air flow is monitored via a differential pressure sensor positioned downstream of a turbine in the exhaust system, the turbine coupled to a mechanical compressor upstream of the electric compressor; and indicating whether the wastegate is functioning as desired by comparing the test measurement of air flow to one or more baseline air flow measurements obtained under similar circumstances as the test measurement at an earlier time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, where the differential pressure sensor is coupled to a gasoline particulate filter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more baseline air flow measurements include a first baseline air flow measurement and a second baseline air flow measurement, where the first baseline air flow measurement is obtained under conditions where the wastegate is commanded fully closed, and where the second baseline air flow measurement is obtained under conditions where the wastegate is commanded fully open; wherein the first baseline air flow measurement includes a difference between air flow through the engine and through the turbine as compared to air flow around the engine and through the turbine; and wherein the second baseline air flow measurement includes a difference between air flow through the engine and around the turbine as compared to air flow around the engine and around the turbine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the test measurement of air flow includes either a first test measurement or a second test measurement, the first test measurement including the wastegate commanded to the fully open position and the second test measurement including the wastegate commanded to the fully closed position; and wherein both the first test measurement and the second test measurement involve determining a difference between at least air flow through the engine as compared to air flow around the engine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the first test measurement is obtained under conditions where degradation of the engine includes indications of one or more of inaccurate boost, a turbo overspeed condition, and/or engine overheating; and wherein the second test measurement is obtained under conditions where degradation of the engine includes indication of one or more of low boost, degraded fuel economy, and or indications of black smoke being emitted from the exhaust system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein air flow through the engine includes an exhaust gas recirculation valve positioned in an exhaust gas recirculation passage being commanded to a fully closed position; and wherein air flow around the engine includes the exhaust gas recirculation valve commanded to a fully open position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein activating the electric compressor includes activating the electric compressor to a predetermined speed or predetermined power level. ### Claim 18 A system for a hybrid electric vehicle, comprising: an engine positioned in an engine system, the engine system including an intake and an exhaust system; an exhaust gas recirculation passage including an exhaust gas recirculation valve; a turbine positioned in the exhaust system, the turbine mechanically coupled to a compressor in the intake; a wastegate valve positioned in a wastegate passage, the wastegate passage in parallel with the turbine; an electric compressor positioned in the intake; a differential pressure sensor positioned in the exhaust system downstream of the turbine; and a controller storing instructions in non-transitory memory that, when executed cause the controller to: obtain a first baseline air flow through the engine system via activating the electric compressor with the wastegate valve commanded closed and indicating a difference between a first air flow and a second air flow as monitored via the differential pressure sensor, the first air flow obtained with the exhaust gas recirculation valve closed and the second air flow obtained with the exhaust gas recirculation valve open; obtain a second baseline air flow through the engine system via activating the electric compressor with the wastegate valve commanded open and indicating a difference between a third air flow and a fourth air flow as monitored via the differential pressure sensor, the third air flow obtained with the exhaust gas recirculation valve closed and the second air flow obtained with the exhaust gas recirculation valve open; and in response to an indication that the wastegate is potentially stuck closed, commanding open the wastegate valve and obtaining a first test measurement air flow via activating the electric compressor to determine a difference between a fifth air flow obtained with the exhaust gas recirculation valve closed and a sixth air flow obtained with the exhaust gas recirculation valve open, or in response to an indication that the wastegate is potentially stuck open, commanding the wastegate valve closed and obtaining a second test measurement air flow via activating the electric compressor to determine a difference between a seventh air flow obtained with the exhaust gas recirculation valve closed and an eighth air flow obtained with the exhaust gas recirculation valve open. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the controller stores further instructions to indicate that the wastegate valve is stuck closed in response to the first test measurement air flow being within a first threshold of the first baseline air flow; indicate that the wastegate valve is stuck open in response to the second test measurement being within a second threshold of the second baseline air flow; and indicate that the wastegate valve is degraded in response to the first test measurement air flow not within the first threshold of the first baseline air flow or the second threshold of the second baseline air flow, or in response to the second test measurement air flow not within the first threshold of the first baseline air flow or the second threshold of the second baseline air flow. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, further comprising a motor configured to rotate the engine, and wherein obtaining the first baseline air flow, the second baseline air flow, the first test measurement air flow and the second test measurement air flow further includes positioning the engine at a predetermined position prior to activating the electric compressor, the predetermined position including a predetermined piston of a predetermined cylinder of the engine within a threshold number of degrees from a top dead center position.