초록 ▼

Exhaust gases (28) from an engine (16, 16′), input to turbo-compounder (20), drive a bladed turbine rotor (48) therein, which drives a generator (56, 56.1, 56.1′, 126, 126′, 126″), the output of which is used to electrically drive an induction motor (104, 104′), the rotor (106) of which is mechanica

Exhaust gases (28) from an engine (16, 16′), input to turbo-compounder (20), drive a bladed turbine rotor (48) therein, which drives a generator (56, 56.1, 56.1′, 126, 126′, 126″), the output of which is used to electrically drive an induction motor (104, 104′), the rotor (106) of which is mechanically coupled to the engine (16, 16′) so as to provide for recovering power to the engine (16, 16′). The turbo-compounder (20) also incorporates a wastegate valve (36, 36′) to provide for the exhaust gases (28) to bypass the bladed turbine rotor (48). Upon startup the wastegate valve (36, 36′) is opened, and the generator may be decoupled from the engine (16, 16′). The generator (56, 56.1, 56.1′, 126, 126′, 126″) may be coupled to the engine (16, 16′) either by closure of a contactor (110, 110′), engagement of an electrically-controlled clutch (124), or by control of either a solid-state switching (125) or control system or an AC excitation signal (130), when the frequency (fGENERATOR) of the generator (56, 56.1, 56.1′, 126, 126′, 126″) meets or exceeds that (fMOTOR) of the induction motor (104, 104′). Wastegate valve (36, 36′) closure provides for the generator (56, 56.1, 56.1′, 126, 126′, 126″) to recover power from the exhaust gases (28).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine, comprising: a. receiving the flow of exhaust from the internal combustion engine;b. controlling a division of said flow of exhaust from said internal combustion engine between first and remaining second portio

1. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine, comprising: a. receiving the flow of exhaust from the internal combustion engine;b. controlling a division of said flow of exhaust from said internal combustion engine between first and remaining second portions of said flow of exhaust, wherein each of said first and remaining second portions of said flow of exhaust is greater than or equal to none of said flow of exhaust, and less than or equal to all of said flow of exhaust;c. causing said first portion of said flow of exhaust, if greater than zero, to impinge upon a plurality of blades of a bladed turbine rotor;d. causing said remaining second portion of said flow of exhaust, if greater than zero, to bypass said plurality of blades of said bladed turbine rotor;e. driving a generator with said bladed turbine rotor responsive said first portion of said flow of exhaust, if greater than zero, impinging upon said plurality of blades of said bladed turbine rotor;f. operatively coupling an electrical output of said generator to an induction motor so as to provide for powering said induction motor with electrical power generated by said generator; andg. operatively mechanically coupling an output shaft of said induction motor to an output shaft of said internal combustion engine so as to provide for recovering power from said first portion of said flow of exhaust, wherein when commencing the operation of recovering said power from said first portion of said flow of exhaust, said division of said flow of exhaust is controlled so that said remaining second portion of said flow of exhaust includes all of said flow of exhaust received from said internal combustion engine that will flow through said associated open wastegate valve at said associated operating condition of said internal combustion engine. 2. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein said generator comprises a multi-phase A.C. synchronous generator, said induction motor comprises a multi-phase induction motor, the number of phases of said multi-phase induction motor is at least three and equal in number to the number of phases of said multi-phase A.C. synchronous generator, each phase of said multi-phase induction motor is electrically associated with a corresponding phase of said multi-phase A.C. synchronous generator. 3. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of the operations selected from the group consisting of the operation of operatively coupling said electrical output of said generator to said induction motor and the operation of operatively mechanically coupling said output shaft of said induction motor to said output shaft of said internal combustion engine provides for decoupling said generator from said internal combustion engine when either commencing or terminating the operation of recovering said power from said first portion of said flow of exhaust, and provides for operatively coupling said generator to said internal combustion engine when recovering said power from said first portion of said flow of exhaust. 4. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 3, wherein the operation of commencing the operation of recovering said power from said first portion of said flow of exhaust comprises: a. controlling said division of said flow of exhaust so that said remaining second portion of said flow of exhaust includes all of said flow of exhaust received from said internal combustion engine that will flow through said associated open wastegate valve at said associated operating condition of said internal combustion engine;b. decoupling said generator from said internal combustion engine;c. if not already started, starting said internal combustion engine and running said internal combustion engine at a rated speed;d. comparing a first signal responsive to a frequency or rotational speed of said generator, with a corresponding second signal responsive to a corresponding frequency or rotational speed of said induction motor; ande. if said first signal is greater than or equal to said second signal, then operatively coupling said generator to said internal combustion engine so as to provide for said generator to supply said power to said internal combustion engine;f. otherwise, or if not already provided for, controlling said division of said flow of exhaust so that said first portion of said flow of exhaust includes at least a substantial portion of said flow of exhaust received from said internal combustion engine. 5. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 3, wherein the operation of terminating the operation of recovering said power from said first portion of said flow of exhaust comprises: a. controlling said division of said flow of exhaust so that said remaining second portion of said flow of exhaust includes all of said flow of exhaust received from said internal combustion engine that will flow through said associated open wastegate valve at said associated operating condition of said internal combustion engine;b. comparing a first signal responsive to a frequency or rotational speed of said generator, with a corresponding second signal responsive to a corresponding frequency or rotational speed of said induction motor; andc. if said first signal is less than or equal to said second signal, then decoupling said generator from said internal combustion engine so as to prevent said generator from supplying said power to said internal combustion engine. 6. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 3, wherein the operation of terminating the operation of recovering said power from said first portion of said flow of exhaust comprises: a. controlling said division of said flow of exhaust so that said remaining second portion of said flow of exhaust includes all of said flow of exhaust received from said internal combustion engine that will flow through said associated open wastegate valve at said associated operating condition of said internal combustion engine;b. comparing a measure of phase current with a threshold, wherein said measure of phase current is responsive to a measurement of phase current in a conductor that electrically connects a phase of said generator to a corresponding phase of said induction motor; andc. if said measure of phase current is less than said threshold, then decoupling said generator from said internal combustion engine so as to prevent said generator from supplying said power to said internal combustion engine. 7. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 2, wherein the operation of operatively coupling said electrical output of said generator to said induction motor comprises operatively coupling said electrical output of said generator to said induction motor through at least one contactor, relay or solid-state switching or control system that provides for decoupling said generator from said internal combustion engine, and that provides for operatively coupling said generator to said internal combustion engine, responsive to a control signal. 8. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 2, wherein the operation of operatively mechanically coupling said output shaft of said induction motor to said output shaft of said internal combustion engine comprises mechanically coupling said output shaft of said induction motor to said output shaft of said internal combustion engine through an electrically-controlled clutch that provides for decoupling said generator from said internal combustion engine, and that provides for operatively coupling said generator to said internal combustion engine, responsive to a control signal. 9. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 2, further comprising controlling said division of said flow of exhaust so that said remaining second portion of said flow of exhaust includes all of said flow of exhaust received from said internal combustion engine that will flow through said associated open wastegate valve at said associated operating condition of said internal combustion engine, if said electrical output of said generator becomes disconnected during the operation of recovering said power from said flow of exhaust. 10. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 2, further comprising operating said multi-phase induction motor at a rotational speed that is lower than a rotational speed of said multi-phase A.C. synchronous generator by an amount greater than might otherwise result from frequency slip, responsive to a difference in a number of poles therebetween. 11. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein said generator comprises a multi-phase induction generator, said induction motor comprises a multi-phase induction motor, the number of phases of said multi-phase induction motor is at least three and equal in number to the number of phases of said multi-phase induction generator, each phase of said multi-phase induction motor is electrically associated with a corresponding phase of said multi-phase induction generator, further comprising generating a multi-phase excitation signal, wherein a frequency of said multi-phase excitation signal is responsive to a rotational speed of said multi-phase induction generator, and each phase of said multi-phase excitation signal is electrically associated with a corresponding phase of said multi-phase induction generator. 12. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 11, further comprising operating said multi-phase induction motor at a rotational speed that is lower than a rotational speed of said multi-phase induction generator by an amount greater than might otherwise result from frequency slip, responsive to a difference in a number of poles therebetween. 13. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the operations selected from the group consisting of the operation of operatively coupling said electrical output of said generator to said induction motor and the operation of operatively mechanically coupling said output shaft of said induction motor to said output shaft of said internal combustion engine provides for decoupling said generator from said internal combustion engine when either commencing or terminating the operation of recovering said power from said first portion of said flow of exhaust, and provides for operatively coupling said generator to said internal combustion engine when recovering said power from said first portion of said flow of exhaust. 14. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 13, wherein the operation of commencing the operation of recovering said power from said first portion of said flow of exhaust comprises: a. controlling said division of said flow of exhaust so that said remaining second portion of said flow of exhaust includes all of said flow of exhaust received from said internal combustion engine that will flow through said associated open wastegate valve at said associated operating condition of said internal combustion engine;b. decoupling said generator from said internal combustion engine;c. if not already started, starting said internal combustion engine and running said internal combustion engine at a rated speed;d. comparing a first signal responsive to a frequency or rotational speed of said generator, with a corresponding second signal responsive to a corresponding frequency or rotational speed of said induction motor; ande. if said first signal is greater than or equal to said second signal, then operatively coupling said generator to said internal combustion engine so as to provide for said generator to supply said power to said internal combustion engine;f. otherwise, or if not already provided for, controlling said division of said flow of exhaust so that said first portion of said flow of exhaust includes at least a substantial portion of said flow of exhaust received from said internal combustion engine. 15. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 13, wherein the operation of terminating the operation of recovering said power from said first portion of said flow of exhaust comprises: a. controlling said division of said flow of exhaust so that said remaining second portion of said flow of exhaust includes all of said flow of exhaust received from said internal combustion engine that will flow through said associated open wastegate valve at said associated operating condition of said internal combustion engine;b. comparing a first signal responsive to a frequency or rotational speed of said generator, with a corresponding second signal responsive to a corresponding frequency or rotational speed of said induction motor; andc. if said first signal is less than or equal to said second signal, then decoupling said generator from said internal combustion engine so as to prevent said generator from supplying said power to said internal combustion engine. 16. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 13, wherein the operation of terminating the operation of recovering said power from said first portion of said flow of exhaust comprises: a. controlling said division of said flow of exhaust so that said remaining second portion of said flow of exhaust includes all of said flow of exhaust received from said internal combustion engine that will flow through said associated open wastegate valve at said associated operating condition of said internal combustion engine;b. comparing a measure of phase current with a threshold, wherein said measure of phase current is responsive to a measurement of phase current in a conductor that electrically connects a phase of said generator to a corresponding phase of said induction motor; andc. if said measure of phase current is less than said threshold, then decoupling said generator from said internal combustion engine so as to prevent said generator from supplying said power to said internal combustion engine. 17. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein the operation of operatively coupling said electrical output of said generator to said induction motor comprises operatively coupling said electrical output of said generator to said induction motor through at least one contactor, relay or solid-state switching or control system that provides for decoupling said generator from said internal combustion engine, and that provides for operatively coupling said generator to said internal combustion engine, responsive to a control signal. 18. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein the operation of operatively mechanically coupling said output shaft of said induction motor to said output shaft of said internal combustion engine comprises mechanically coupling said output shaft of said induction motor to said output shaft of said internal combustion engine through an electrically-controlled clutch that provides for decoupling said generator from said internal combustion engine, and that provides for operatively coupling said generator to said internal combustion engine, responsive to a control signal. 19. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, further comprising controlling said division of said flow of exhaust so that said remaining second portion of said flow of exhaust includes all of said flow of exhaust received from said internal combustion engine that will flow through said associated open wastegate valve at said associated operating condition of said internal combustion engine, if said electrical output of said generator becomes disconnected during the operation of recovering said power from said flow of exhaust. 20. A method of recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1, wherein when terminating the operation of recovering said power from said first portion of said flow of exhaust, said division of said flow of exhaust is controlled so that said remaining second portion of said flow of exhaust includes all of said flow of exhaust received from said internal combustion engine that will flow through an associated open wastegate valve at an associated operating condition of said internal combustion engine. 21. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine, comprising: a. an inlet, wherein said inlet provides for receiving the flow of exhaust from the internal combustion engine;b. a wastegate valve, wherein said wastegate valve provides for dividing said flow of exhaust between first and remaining second portions, each of said first and remaining second portions of said flow of exhaust is greater than or equal to none of said flow of exhaust, and less than or equal to all of said flow of exhaust, and when commencing the operation of said turbo-compounding system, a division of said flow of exhaust is controlled so that said remaining second portion of said flow of exhaust includes all of said flow of exhaust received from said internal combustion engine that will flow through said associated open wastegate valve at said associated operating condition of said internal combustion engine;c. a bladed turbine rotor, wherein the turbo-compounding system is configured so that said first portion of said flow of exhaust impinges upon a plurality of blades of said bladed turbine rotor, and said turbo-compounding system is configured so that said remaining second portion of said flow of exhaust bypasses said plurality of blades of said bladed turbine rotor;d. a generator operatively coupled to, and driven by, said bladed turbine rotor so as to provide for generating electrical power responsive to mechanical shaft power from said bladed turbine rotor responsive to an interaction thereof with said first portion of said flow of exhaust from said internal combustion engine; ande. an induction motor, wherein an electrical input to said induction motor is operatively coupled to an electrical output of said generator, and an output shaft of said induction motor is operatively coupled to an output shaft of said internal combustion engine so as to provide for transferring said mechanical shaft power from said induction motor to said output shaft of said internal combustion engine. 22. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 21, wherein said generator comprises a multi-phase A.C. synchronous generator, said induction motor comprises a multi-phase induction motor, the number of phases of said multi-phase induction motor is at least three and equal in number to the number of phases of said multi-phase A.C. synchronous generator, and each phase of said multi-phase induction motor is electrically associated with a corresponding phase of said multi-phase A.C. synchronous generator. 23. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 22, wherein said generator comprises a multi-phase A.C. permanent-magnet generator. 24. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 22, wherein a number of poles of said multi-phase A.C. synchronous generator differs from a number of poles of said multi-phase induction motor so as to provide for a substantial reduction of the rotational speed of said multi-phase induction motor relative to that of said multi-phase A.C. synchronous generator. 25. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 22, further comprising a means for decoupling a flow of power from said generator to said internal combustion engine. 26. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 25, further comprising: a. a first frequency or rotational speed sensor, wherein said first frequency or rotational speed sensor generates a first signal responsive to a frequency or rotational speed of said generator;b. a second frequency or rotational speed sensor, wherein said second frequency or rotational speed sensor generates a second signal responsive to a frequency or rotational speed of said induction motor; andc. a controller, wherein said controller is operatively coupled to said first and second frequency or rotational speed sensors, and to said means for decoupling said flow of power from said generator to said internal combustion engine, and said controller controls said means for decoupling said flow of power from said generator to said internal combustion engine responsive to said first and second signals. 27. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 25, further comprising: a. a phase current sensor, wherein said phase current sensor generates a phase current signal responsive to a measurement of phase current in a conductor electrically connecting a phase of said generator to a corresponding phase of said induction motor; andb. a controller, wherein said controller is operatively coupled to said phase current sensor, and to said means for decoupling said flow of power from said generator to said internal combustion engine, and said controller controls said means for decoupling said flow of power from said generator to said internal combustion engine responsive to said phase current signal. 28. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 22, further comprising: a. a contactor or at least one relay, wherein said contactor or said at least one relay provides for electrically connecting said generator to said induction motor when said contactor or said at least one relay is closed, and said contactor or said at least one relay provides for electrically disconnecting said generator from said induction motor when said contactor or said at least one relay is open; andb. a controller, wherein said contactor or said at least one relay is operatively coupled to said controller, and said controller provides for controlling whether said contactor or said at least one relay is either open or closed. 29. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 22, further comprising: a. a solid-state switching or control system, wherein said solid-state switching or control system provides for electrically connecting said generator to said induction motor when said solid-state switching or control system is in a conducting state, and said solid-state switching or control system provides for electrically disconnecting said generator from said induction motor when said solid-state switching or control system is in a non-conducting state; andb. a controller, wherein said solid-state switching or control system is operatively coupled to said controller, and said controller provides for controlling whether said solid-state switching or control system provides for said generator to power said induction motor. 30. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 22, further comprising: a. an electrically-controlled clutch coupling said output shaft of said induction motor to said output shaft of said internal combustion engine; andb. a controller, wherein said electrically-controlled clutch is operatively coupled to said controller, and said controller provides for controlling whether said electrically-controlled clutch engaged or disengaged. 31. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 21, wherein said generator comprises a multi-phase induction generator, said induction motor comprises a multi-phase induction motor, the number of phases of said multi-phase induction motor is at least three and equal in number to the number of phases of said multi-phase induction generator, and each phase of said multi-phase induction motor is electrically associated with a corresponding phase of said multi-phase induction generator, further comprising: a. a multi-phase induction generator inverter; andb. an induction generator rotational-speed sensor, wherein said multi-phase induction generator inverter generates a multi-phase excitation signal, a frequency of said multi-phase excitation signal is responsive to a rotational-speed signal from said induction generator rotational-speed sensor, and each phase of said multi-phase excitation signal is electrically associated with a corresponding phase of said multi-phase induction generator. 32. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 31, wherein a number of poles of said multi-phase induction generator differs from a number of poles of said multi-phase induction motor so as to provide for a substantial reduction of the rotational speed of said multi-phase induction motor relative to that of said multi-phase induction generator. 33. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 21, further comprising a means for decoupling a flow of power from said generator to said internal combustion engine. 34. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 33, further comprising: a. a first frequency or rotational speed sensor, wherein said first frequency or rotational speed sensor generates a first signal responsive to a frequency or rotational speed of said generator;b. a second frequency or rotational speed sensor, wherein said second frequency or rotational speed sensor generates a second signal responsive to a frequency or rotational speed of said induction motor; andc. a controller, wherein said controller is operatively coupled to said first and second frequency or rotational speed sensors, and to said means for decoupling said flow of power from said generator to said internal combustion engine, and said controller controls said means for decoupling said flow of power from said generator to said internal combustion engine responsive to said first and second signals. 35. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 33, further comprising: a. a phase current sensor, wherein said phase current sensor generates a phase current signal responsive to a measurement of phase current in a conductor electrically connecting a phase of said generator to a corresponding phase of said induction motor; andb. a controller, wherein said controller is operatively coupled to said phase current sensor, and to said means for decoupling said flow of power from said generator to said internal combustion engine, and said controller controls said means for decoupling said flow of power from said generator to said internal combustion engine responsive to said phase current signal. 36. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 21, further comprising: a. a contactor or at least one relay, wherein said contactor or said at least one relay provides for electrically connecting said generator to said induction motor when said contactor or said at least one relay is closed, and said contactor or said at least one relay provides for electrically disconnecting said generator from said induction motor when said contactor or said at least one relay is open; andb. a controller, wherein said contactor or said at least one relay is operatively coupled to said controller, and said controller provides for controlling whether said contactor or said at least one relay is either open or closed. 37. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 21, further comprising: a. a solid-state switching or control system, wherein said solid-state switching or control system provides for electrically connecting said generator to said induction motor when said solid-state switching or control system is in a conducting state, and said solid-state switching or control system provides for electrically disconnecting said generator from said induction motor when said solid-state switching or control system is in a non-conducting state; andb. a controller, wherein said solid-state switching or control system is operatively coupled to said controller, and said controller provides for controlling whether said solid-state switching or control system provides for said generator to power said induction motor. 38. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 21, further comprising: a. an electrically-controlled clutch coupling said output shaft of said induction motor to said output shaft of said internal combustion engine; andb. a controller, wherein said electrically-controlled clutch is operatively coupled to said controller, and said controller provides for controlling whether said electrically-controlled clutch engaged or disengaged. 39. A turbo-compounding system that provides for recovering power from a flow of exhaust from an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 21, wherein when terminating the operation of recovering said power from said first portion of said flow of exhaust, said division of said flow of exhaust is controlled so that said remaining second portion of said flow of exhaust includes all of said flow of exhaust received from said internal combustion engine that will flow through an associated open wastegate valve at an associated operating condition of said internal combustion engine.