A method for controlling a turbocharger system of a combustion engine in a vehicle

A method for controlling a turbocharger system fluidly connected to an exhaust manifold of a combustion engine in a vehicle, said turbocharger system comprising a turbocharger turbine operable by exhaust gases from said exhaust manifold, and a tank with pressurized gas, said tank being fluidly connectable to said turbocharger turbine, said method comprising the steps of:

• predicting the coming drive conditions of the vehicle,
• injecting pressurized gas from said tank to drive said turbocharger turbine such that the turbocharger turbine is at least partly driven by said pressurized gas, in response to the predicted drive conditions, wherein the predicted drive conditions are indicative of the need for injection of pressurized gas from said tank,
• where the step of injecting pressurized gas from the tank is dependent on a gear shifting operation, wherein said vehicle further comprises a gear box or transmission system coupled to the combustion engine, wherein said method comprises the step of:
• executing a first gear shifting operation, and subsequently
• executing a second gear shifting operation, and
• wherein the step of injecting pressurized gas from said tank to drive said turbocharger turbine is carried out between the step of executing a first gear shifting operation and the step of executing a second gear shifting operation.

A turbocharger system for use together with a combustion engine in a vehicle, said combustion engine having an exhaust manifold, said turbocharger system comprising:

• a turbocharger turbine operable by exhaust gases from said exhaust manifold,
• a tank comprising pressurized gas, said tank being fluidly connectable to said turbocharger turbine, and
• a control unit
• characterized in that the control unit is configured to:
• predict and/or receive data indicative of the coming drive conditions of the vehicle,
• initiate injection of pressurized gas from said tank to drive said turbocharger turbine such that the turbocharger turbine is at least partly driven by said pressurized gas, in response to the predicted drive conditions, wherein the predicted drive conditions are indicative of the need for injection of pressurized gas from said tank,
• where the injection of pressurized gas from the tank is dependent on a gear shifting operation, wherein said vehicle further comprises a gear box or transmission system coupled to the combustion engine, wherein said control unit is configured to:
• identify a first gear shifting operation, and subsequently
• identify a second gear shifting operation, and
• initiate the injection of pressurized gas from said tank to drive said turbocharger turbine such that the turbocharger turbine is at least partly driven by said pressurized gas between the identification of the first gear shifting operation and the second gear shifting operation.