Turbocharger electric preheater for exhaust gases with integrated generator and storage device
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorMark D. Moeckel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical preheater for a turbine inlet of a turbocharger for an internal combustion engine. An electric motor/generator is drivingly coupled to the turbocharger, and electrically connected to a storage device. The electrical preheater is powered by the storage device to heat a stream of exhaust gases entering the turbocharger turbine from the engine exhaust manifold. The preheater provides an additional control of the turbocharger performance.
Claims12
A method for turbocharging an internal combustion engine, having a plurality of combustion cylinders, an exhaust manifold and an intake manifold, said method comprising steps of:
- transporting exhaust gas from the combustion cylinders to the exhaust manifold;
- providing a turbocharger including a turbine having a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet, and a compressor having a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet;
- providing a preheater associated with the turbine inlet;
- driving the turbine with exhaust gas introduced at the turbine inlet;
- introducing combustion gas at the compressor inlet;
- transporting combustion gas from the compressor outlet to the intake manifold;
- heating exhaust gas introduced at the turbine inlet;
- sensing at least one of operating conditions of the engine and performance of the turbocharger;
- and
- controlling said heating step in response to said sensing step.
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a plurality of combustion cylinders;
- an exhaust manifold coupled with at least some cylinders of said plurality of combustion cylinders;
- an intake manifold coupled with said plurality of combustion cylinders;
- a turbocharger including a turbine having a turbine inlet coupled with said exhaust manifold and a turbine outlet, a compressor having a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet, said compressor outlet coupled with said intake manifold;
- a preheater associated with said turbine inlet, said preheater including an electric heater element connected to an electric source;
- and
- said electric source including a storage battery and a generator driven by said turbocharger and electrically connected to said storage battery.
A turbocharger system, comprising:
- a turbine shaft;
- a turbine having a turbine casing defining a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet, and a turbine wheel mounted on said shaft and operatively disposed in said turbine casing;
- a compressor having a compressor casing defining a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet, and a compressor wheel mounted on said shaft and operatively disposed in said compressor casing;
- a preheater associated with said turbine inlet;
- said preheater including an electric heater element connected to an electric source;
- and
- said electric source including a storage battery and a motor/generator mounted on said turbocharger shaft and electrically connected to said storage battery.
A method for operating a turbocharger, comprising:
- providing a turbocharger including a turbine having a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet, and a compressor having a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet;
- providing a fluid stream to the turbine inlet;
- providing a preheater associated with the turbine inlet;
- driving the turbine with the fluid stream introduced at the turbine inlet;
- heating the fluid stream entering the turbine inlet;
- providing an electric heater element in the preheater, and performing said heating step with the electric heater element;
- providing a generator operated by the turbine, and a battery electrically connected to the electric heater element;
- and
- charging the battery with the generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.