초록 ▼

An air charge system for an internal combustion engine may include a charge path having a charge inlet configured to receive air, and a charge outlet configured to convey air to an intake of the internal combustion engine; a first compressor in the charge path, the first compressor being driven by a

An air charge system for an internal combustion engine may include a charge path having a charge inlet configured to receive air, and a charge outlet configured to convey air to an intake of the internal combustion engine; a first compressor in the charge path, the first compressor being driven by a motor and configured to receive the air from the charge inlet and increase temperature, pressure and volumetric flow rate of the air in the charge path; a first valve in the charge path downstream of the first compressor configured to divert at least a portion of the air leaving the first compressor from exiting the charge path through the charge outlet; and a controller configured to modulate at least one of the first valve and a speed of the motor to adjust a volumetric flow rate of air leaving the charge outlet.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for providing charge air to an internal combustion engine, the method comprising: conveying ambient air through a charge path from an inlet of the charge path to an intake of the internal combustion engine;activating a compressor in the charge path, the compressor being driven by a motor

1. A method for providing charge air to an internal combustion engine, the method comprising: conveying ambient air through a charge path from an inlet of the charge path to an intake of the internal combustion engine;activating a compressor in the charge path, the compressor being driven by a motor and configured to compress the air in the charge path to increase a temperature, pressure and mass flow rate of the air in the charge path;measuring charge air conditions in the charge path; andmodulating a volumetric flow of the air to the intake by diverting at least a portion of the air leaving the compressor from the charge path during a start-up of the internal combustion engine and modulating a speed of the motor, wherein diverting the at least a portion of the air leaving the compressor from the charge path includes at least one of venting the at least the portion of the air leaving the compressor and recirculating the at least a portion of the air leaving the compressor to the charge path upstream of the compressor. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a second compressor in the charge path, the second compressor being driven by a second turbine in an exhaust path extending from an exhaust of the internal combustion engine to ambient; and modulating a flow of exhaust through the second turbine, thereby controlling a mass flow rate and pressure increase of air effected by the second compressor. 3. An air charge system for an internal combustion engine, the air charge system comprising: a charge path having a charge inlet configured to receive air, and a charge outlet configured to convey air to an intake of the internal combustion engine;a first compressor in the charge path, the first compressor being driven by a motor and configured to receive the air from the charge inlet and increase temperature, pressure and mass flow rate of the air in the charge path;a first valve in the charge path downstream of the first compressor configured to divert at least a portion of the air leaving the first compressor from exiting the charge path through the charge outlet during a start-up of the internal combustion engine;an inlet air heater, mounted on the charge path, for heating charge air entering the intake of the internal combustion engine during the start-up of the internal combustion engine; anda controller configured to modulate at least one of the first valve and a speed of the motor to adjust a volumetric flow rate of air leaving the charge outlet and entering the intake of the internal combustion engine, wherein the controller controls operation of the inlet air heater. 4. The air charge system of claim 3, further comprising at least one sensor configured to communicate with the controller and to measure at least one of temperature of the air in the charge path, pressure of the air in the charge path, mass flow of the air in the charge path, a speed of the first compressor, a speed of the internal combustion engine, a fuel flow to the internal combustion engine, and an operation mode of the internal combustion engine. 5. The air charge system of claim 3, further comprising: an exhaust path having an exhaust inlet configured to receive exhaust air from the internal combustion engine, and an exhaust outlet;a second compressor in the charge path, and a second turbine in the exhaust path, the second turbine being connected to drive the second compressor; anda charge cooler in the charge path downstream of the second compressor. 6. The air charge system of claim 5, further comprising: a first bypass path, connected to the charge path, to allow the air in the charge path to bypass at least one of the second compressor and the charge cooler, the first bypass path having a first variable bypass valve configured to adjust air flow through the first bypass path. 7. The air charge system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to modulate the first variable bypass valve to control a pressure drop and a temperature of the air in the charge path. 8. The air charge system of claim 7, wherein the first compressor is connected to includes a first turbine in the exhaust path; the exhaust path includes a second bypass path connected thereto to modulate the air in the exhaust path around the first turbine, and the second bypass path includes a second variable bypass valve configured to modulate the flow rate of the air flowing through the second bypass path, and wherein the second variable bypass valve is modulated by the controller. 9. The air charge system of claim 5, further comprising a second motor connected to drive the second compressor, wherein the second motor connected to be controlled by the controller. 10. The air charge system of claim 5, wherein the charge path includes a primary charge path that includes the second compressor and the charge cooler; and a bypass charge path, connected in parallel to the primary charge path, that includes the first compressor. 11. The air charge system of claim 10, wherein the bypass charge path includes the first valve. 12. The air charge system of claim 10, wherein the charge path includes a recirculation path configured to divert at least a portion of the air leaving the first compressor to a point upstream of the first compressor during a start-up of the internal combustion engine. 13. The air charge system of claim 12, wherein the recirculation path is connected to the primary charge path at a downstream end of the recirculation path and is connected to one of the primary charge path and the bypass charge path at an upstream end of the recirculation path. 14. The air charge system of claim 12, wherein the recirculation path includes a recirculation valve configured to modulate the flow of the air through the recirculation path, the recirculation valve being modulated by the controller. 15. The air charge system of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to access at least one of data including operating characteristics of the internal combustion engine, and compressor maps, the controller configured to modulate at least one of the first valve and a speed of the motor to adjust a volumetric flow rate of air leaving the charge outlet, based on the at least one of the data and the compressor maps. 16. An air charge system for an internal combustion engine, the air charge system comprising: a charge path having a charge inlet configured to receive air and a charge outlet configured to convey air to an intake of the internal combustion engine;a first compressor in the charge path, the first compressor being driven by a motor and configured to receive the air from the charge inlet and increase temperature, pressure and mass flow rate of the air in the charge path;a first valve in the charge path downstream of the first compressor configured to divert at least a portion of the air leaving the first compressor from exiting the charge path through the charge outlet during a start-up of the internal combustion engine;an exhaust path having an exhaust inlet configured to receive exhaust air from the internal combustion engine, and an exhaust outlet;a second compressor in the charge path;a second turbine in the exhaust path, the second turbine being connected to drive the second compressor;a charge cooler in the charge path downstream of the second compressor;a second motor connected to drive the second compressor; anda controller configured to modulate at least one of the first valve and a speed of the motor to adjust a volumetric flow rate of air leaving the charge outlet and entering the intake of the internal combustion engine, wherein the controller controls operation of the second motor. 17. An air charge system for an internal combustion engine, the air charge system comprising: a charge path having a charge inlet configured to receive air, and a charge outlet configured to convey air to an intake of the internal combustion engine;a first compressor in the charge path, the first compressor being driven by a motor and configured to receive the air from the charge inlet and increase temperature, pressure and mass flow rate of the air in the charge path;a first valve in the charge path downstream of the first compressor configured to divert at least a portion of the air leaving the first compressor from exiting the charge path through the charge outlet during a start-up of the internal combustion engine;an exhaust path having an exhaust inlet configured to receive exhaust air from the internal combustion engine, and an exhaust outlet;a second compressor in the charge path, and a second turbine in the exhaust path, the second turbine being connected to drive the second compressor;a charge cooler in the charge path downstream of the second compressor;a first bypass path, connected to the charge path, to allow the air in the charge path to bypass at least one of the second compressor and the charge cooler, the first bypass path having a first variable bypass valve configured to adjust air flow through the first bypass path;a first turbine in the exhaust path connected to the first compressor; the exhaust path includes a second bypass path connected thereto to modulate the air in the exhaust path around the first turbine, and the second bypass path includes a second variable bypass valve configured to modulate the flow rate of the air flowing through the second bypass path, anda controller configured to modulate at least one of the first valve and a speed of the motor to adjust a volumetric flow rate of air leaving the charge outlet and entering the intake of the internal combustion engine, wherein the controller is configured to modulate the first variable bypass valve to control a pressure drop and a temperature of the air in the charge path, andwherein the second variable bypass valve is modulated by the controller. 18. An air charge system for an internal combustion engine of an aircraft, the air charge system comprising: a charge path having an inlet configured to receive air from ambient, and an outlet configured to be connected to an intake of the internal combustion engine to convey air from the inlet to the intake of the internal combustion engine;a first compressor in the charge path connected to receive air from the inlet;a charge cooler in the charge path connected to receive air from the first compressor;a second compressor in the charge path connected to receive air from the charge cooler;a variable bypass valve connected to divert at least a portion of the air from the charge path upstream of the first compressor, around at least one of the first compressor and the charge cooler and back to the charge path during a start-up of the internal combustion engine; anda controller connected to the variable bypass valve and configured to vary an amount of air flowing through the variable bypass valve to control a temperature of charge air entering the intake of the internal combustion engine; wherein during the start-up of the internal combustion engine at high altitudes above sea level, the variable bypass valve is opened to provide a maximum charge temperature to the intake of the internal combustion engine, to ensure ignition of the internal combustion engine, andwherein during a transition to steady-state operation, a steady state operation and a shutdown of the internal combustion engine, the variable bypass valve is closed to provide a minimum charge temperature to the intake of the internal combustion engine to increase air density. 19. The air charge system of claim 18, wherein the second compressor is driven by a motor. 20. The air charge system of claim 19, further comprising a second charge cooler in the charge path connected to receive air from the second compressor.