# US 9,435,298 B2 · Dedicated EGR engine with dynamic load control

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- Number: US 9,435,298 B2
- Document ID: US9435298B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/937,280
- Filed: 2013-07-09
- Published: 2015-01-15
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-07-09
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Inventors: Alan W. Hayman; Robert S. McAlpine; Edward J. Keating
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435298B2

## CPC

- F02D 41/0077: {Control of the EGR valve or actuator, e.g. duty cycle, closed loop control of position (EGR valve position sensor F02M26/48)}
- F02B 27/0268: {Valves}
- F02D 13/0226: {changing valve lift or valve lift and timing}
- F02D 41/0007: {for control of turbo-charged or super-charged engines (control of the pumps per se F02B37/12)}
- F02D 41/0082: {per groups or banks (F02D41/0087 takes precedence)}
- F02M 26/03: with a single mechanically or electrically driven intake charge compressor
- F02M 26/09: Constructional details, e.g. structural combinations of EGR systems and supercharger systems; Arrangement of the EGR and supercharger systems with respect to the engine
- F02M 26/19: Means for improving the mixing of air and recirculated exhaust gases, e.g. venturis or multiple openings to the intake system
- F02M 26/21: with EGR valves located at or near the connection to the intake system
- F02M 26/23: Layout, e.g. schematics
- F02M 26/39: with two or more EGR valves disposed in series
- F02M 26/43: in which exhaust from only one cylinder or only a group of cylinders is directed to the intake of the engine
- F02M 26/44: in which a main EGR passage is branched into multiple passages
- F02M 35/10157: {Supercharged engines}
- F02M 35/10222: {Exhaust gas recirculation [EGR]; Positive crankcase ventilation [PCV]; Additional air admission, lubricant or fuel vapour admission}
- F02M 35/10255: {Arrangements of valves; Multi-way valves (F02M35/10032 takes precedence; valves in the plenum chamber F02M35/10065; check valves F02M35/10275)}
- F02B 29/0406: {Layout of the intake air cooling or coolant circuit}
- F02B 33/00: Engines characterised by provision of pumps for charging or scavenging
- F02D 2041/0017: {by simultaneous control of throttle and exhaust gas recirculation}
- F02M 26/15: in relation to engine exhaust purifying apparatus
- F02M 26/38: with two or more EGR valves disposed in parallel
- F02M 35/10045: {Multiple plenum chambers; Plenum chambers having inner separation walls (for V-engines F02M35/116; for resonance charging F02B27/02)}
- Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies
- 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)
- F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G)
- F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

An internal combustion engine comprises a first engine bank and a second engine bank. A first intake valve is disposed in an intake port of a cylinder of the first engine bank, and is configured for metering the first flow of combustion air by periodically opening and closing according to a first intake valve lift and duration characteristic. A variable valve train control mechanism is configured for affecting the first intake valve lift and duration characteristic. Either a lift or duration of the first intake valve is modulated so as to satisfy an EGR control criterion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine comprising:
providing a first engine bank defining a first combustion chamber with a first intake port for providing a first flow of combustion air to the first combustion chamber and with a first exhaust port for providing a first flow of combustion products from the first combustion chamber;
providing a second engine bank defining a second combustion chamber with a second intake port for providing a second flow of combustion air to the second combustion chamber and with a second exhaust port for providing a second flow of combustion products from the second combustion chamber;
providing a first intake valve disposed in the first intake port, the first intake valve being configured for metering the first flow of combustion air by periodically opening and closing according to a first intake valve lift and duration characteristic;
providing a second intake valve disposed in the second intake port, the second intake valve being configured for metering the second flow of combustion air by periodically opening and closing according to a second intake valve lift and duration characteristic; and
providing an intake manifold defining an intake plenum, the intake manifold also defining an air inlet, a first intake runner, a second intake runner, and an EGR duct, each being in fluid communication with the intake plenum, wherein the EGR duct includes an EGR splitter forming a boost leg and a direct return leg, the boost leg being fluidically connected to an inlet of a supercharger and the direct return leg being in fluid communication with the intake plenum;
providing an EGR return flow control valve disposed in the EGR duct, the EGR vent flow control valve being configured for allowing at least a portion of the first flow of combustion products to be delivered directly to the intake plenum when the EGR return flow control valve is in an open mode and to prevent flow of the first flow of combustion products directly to the intake plenum when the EGR return flow control valve is in a closed mode;
wherein the air inlet is in fluid communication with a supply of ambient air and configured for carrying the supply of ambient air for delivery to the intake plenum;
wherein the first intake runner is in fluid communication with the first intake port and configured for carrying the first flow of combustion air from the intake plenum to the first intake port;
wherein the second intake runner is in fluid communication with the second intake port and configured for carrying the second flow of combustion air from the intake plenum to the second intake port; and
wherein the EGR duct is in fluid communication with the first exhaust port and configured for carrying the first flow of combustion products from the first exhaust port to the intake plenum;
further comprising providing a variable valve train control mechanism configured for affecting the first intake valve lift and duration characteristic;
modulating either a lift or duration of the first intake valve so as to satisfy an EGR control criterion;
providing an EGR vent in fluid communication with the EGR duct and configured for carrying at least a portion of the first flow of combustion products from the EGR duct to be discharged to atmosphere;
providing an EGR vent flow control valve disposed in the EGR vent, the EGR vent flow control valve configured for allowing at least a portion of the first flow of combustion products to be vented to the atmosphere when the EGR vent flow control valve is in an open mode and to prevent release of the first flow of combustion products to the atmosphere when the EGR vent flow control valve is in a closed mode;
wherein the boost leg is in fluid communication with an inlet of a supercharger, the boost leg is configured for carrying the first flow of combustion products to be mixed with the supply of ambient air, to create a combined flow of combustion air, and to deliver the combined flow of combustion air to the inlet of the supercharger;
wherein the supercharger is in fluid communication with the inlet of the supercharger and with the intake plenum;
wherein the supercharger is configured for compressing the combined flow of combustion air and delivering the combined flow of combustion air to the intake plenum;
further comprising providing an EGR boost flow control valve disposed in the direct return leg, the EGR boost flow control valve configured for allowing at least a portion of the first flow of combustion products to be delivered through the direct return leg to the intake plenum when the EGR boost flow control valve is in an open mode and to prevent flow through the direct return leg to or from the intake plenum when the EGR boost flow control valve is in a closed mode; and
further comprising closing the EGR return flow control valve so as to operate the internal combustion engine in a normally aspirated mode, producing power in both the first engine bank and the second engine bank.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising modulating duration of the first intake valve.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising modulating a lift of the first intake valve.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising modulating a lift and duration of the first intake valve.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising closing the EGR vent flow control valve so as to operate the internal combustion engine with the first engine bank deactivated.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising closing the EGR boost flow control valve so as to operate the internal combustion engine in a boosted mode while the first engine bank is operated at a relatively light load in accordance with the first intake valve lift and duration characteristic while the second engine bank is operated at a relatively heavy load.