System and method for controlling exhaust braking in a vehicle

A system, comprising:

• an internal combustion engine;
• an intake manifold in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine, the intake manifold being configured to supply intake air to the internal combustion engine;
• an exhaust system in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine, the exhaust system being configured to receive exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine;
• a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) including a turbine configured to receive exhaust gas from the exhaust system, the turbine including turbine blades and vanes movable with respect to the turbine blades;
• and
• a control module in communication with the VGT and the internal combustion engine, the control module being configured to:
• receive an exhaust brake torque request;
• determine, via the control module, target pumping losses in the internal combustion engine based on the exhaust brake torque request;
• determine, via the control module, a target exhaust gas pressure within the exhaust system based on the target pumping losses;
• and
• determine, via the control module, a target vane position of the vanes based on the target exhaust gas pressure, wherein the target vane position is an angular position of the vanes with respect to the turbine blades, and the target vane position yields an exhaust brake torque in accordance with the exhaust brake torque request.