Exhaust gas recirculation apparatus for internal combustion engine and method of controlling exhaust gas recirculation apparatus

An exhaust gas recirculation apparatus for an internal combustion, comprising:

• a variable-geometry turbocharger that includes a turbine provided in an exhaust passage, and a compressor provided in an intake passage, wherein a cross sectional area of a path through which exhaust gas passes is adjusted by adjusting an opening degree of a nozzle vane;
• a low-pressure EGR passage that connects an area of the exhaust passage downstream of the turbine to an area of the intake passage upstream of the compressor, and through which EGR gas, which is part of exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine, is recirculated to the intake passage;
• a deceleration-EGR controlling portion that receives an engine operating condition and a fuel cut-off condition and that directs the EGR gas to flow through the low-pressure EGR passage when the vehicle is decelerating or when fuel supply to the internal combustion engine is cut off;
• and
• a deceleration-supercharging controlling portion that adjusts a pressure in the intake passage toward a target pressure by adjusting the opening degree of the nozzle vane when the EGR gas flows through the low-pressure EGR passage by being controlled by the deceleration-EGR portion and at least one of the vehicle decelerating and the fuel supply being cut off.