Adaptable turbocharger control

摘要

A method of adapting operation of a variable geometry turbocharger having a variable position vane mechanism with movable vanes is disclosed. The method includes performing at time T1 a vane sweep between open-limit and closed-limit positions to identify an initial range of movement of the mechanism and storing in controller's memory the initial range of movement. The method additionally includes performing at time T2 a vane sweep between the open-limit and closed-limit positions to identify a current range of movement of the mechanism and storing in controller's memory the current range of movement. The method also includes comparing the current range with the initial range. Furthermore, the method includes replacing in controller's memory the initial range with the current range if the current range is equal to or greater than a predetermined range to thereby adapt the operation of the turbocharger to the mechanism's wear between T1 and T2.

主权项

1. A method of adapting operation of a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) having a turbine housing, a turbine wheel retained inside the turbine housing and configured to be rotated by post-combustion gasses, wherein the turbine housing defines an inlet to the turbine wheel, and a variable position vane mechanism having a plurality of movable vanes arranged at the inlet, the method comprising:
commanding, via a controller having a memory, the variable position vane mechanism to perform at a time T1 a sweep of the plurality of vanes between an open-limit position and a closed-limit position to identify an initial range of movement of the vane mechanism; storing in the memory of the controller the identified initial range of movement of the vane mechanism; commanding, via the controller, the variable position vane mechanism to perform at a time T2 the sweep of the plurality of moveable vanes between the open-limit position and the closed-limit position to identify a current range of movement of the vane mechanism; storing in the memory of the controller the identified current range of movement of the vane mechanism; comparing, via the controller, the current range of movement with the initial range of movement of the vane mechanism; and replacing in the memory of the controller the initial range of movement of the vane mechanism with the current range of movement of the vane mechanism if the current range of movement is equal to or greater than a predetermined range of movement stored in the memory of the controller to thereby adapt the operation of the VGT to the wear of the vane mechanism between the time T1 and the time T2.