Abstract: A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, permitting optimal compensation of all losses of the internal combustion engine in half-engine operation. The internal combustion engine has several cylinder banks, at least a first cylinder bank being deactivatable, and, during deactivation of the first cylinder bank, the first cylinder bank losses and the losses of a second cylinder bank being taken into account during activation of the second cylinder bank, and the default value of the second cylinder bank quantity being formed in several steps. In at least one of these steps, the first cylinder bank losses and the second cylinder bank losses are taken into account for forming the default value.

Abstract: A steam turbine (10) with heating steam extraction includes a plurality of turbine sections (11, 12, 15, 17, 19, 20) for the high pressure, medium pressure and low pressure ranges, which turbine sections (11, 12, 15, 17, 19, 20) are arranged in each case in a separate casing and connected by a common shaft (28), and which includes one high pressure turbine (11), at least one subsequent medium pressure turbine (15, 17), which is connected on the outlet side to two series-connected heaters (21, 24) of a district heating circuit (27), and one subsequent low pressure turbine (19, 20). Safe control of high volumetric flows of steam is achieved by providing, for heating steam extraction, two medium pressure turbines (15, 17), which operate in parallel, in separate casings, and which are connected on the outlet side in each case to one of the heaters (21, 24).

Abstract: In a method for diagnosing an internal combustion engine having first and second fuel injectors, if a misfire is detected, the following steps are performed in sequence: a first fuel quantity of the fuel is introduced only by the first fuel injector; a check is performed to determine whether a misfire results from the introduction of a first fuel quantity in the first step; a second fuel quantity of the fuel is introduced only by the second fuel injector; a check is performed to determine whether a misfire results from the introduction of the second fuel quantity in the third step; and an engine error is diagnosed if a misfire was detected in the second or in the fourth step.

Abstract: A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine including at least one cylinder are described, the at least one cylinder including at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve and a diagnosis of at least one erroneous intake valve or at least one erroneous exhaust valve is made possible without using a position acknowledgment. A gas exchange of the at least one cylinder is diagnosed thereby.

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for operating an internal combustion engine which allow for an improved diagnosis of the valve mechanism of cylinders of the internal combustion engine. For this purpose, a variable characteristic of a suction performance of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine is ascertained. The variable characteristic of the suction performance is ascertained as a function of the mass flow flowing into an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine and of a change of the intake manifold pressure during an intake phase of the cylinder.

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for operating a drive unite having an engine and a transmission, which make possible an improved shifting strategy. In a first operating state, the engine is operated using a first number of active cylinders. In a second operating state, the engine is operated using a second number of active cylinders. The first number is different from the second number. A gear ratio is set as a function of at least one operating variable of the drive unit. The gear ratio is also set as a function of the current or the attainable operating state of the engine with respect to the number of the active cylinders.

Abstract: A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine make it possible to shift the combustion limit. In this context, a predefined output variable of the internal combustion engine such as the torque, for example, is realized in at least one operating state of the internal combustion engine by at least a retardation of an ignition angle. It is checked whether, due to the retardation of the ignition angle, a variable like, for example, a misfiring, characteristic for the combustibility of the air/fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, exceeds a predefined limiting value in terms of a deterioration of the combustibility, and in this case, at least one actuator of the internal combustion engine, different from an actuator for setting the ignition angle, such as the exhaust-gas recirculation valve or EGR valve, for instance, is controlled along the lines of improving the combustibility of the air/fuel mixture.

Abstract: A method and a device for monitoring the intake manifold pressure of an internal combustion engine in which a measured signal for the intake manifold pressure is compared with a reference signal for the intake manifold pressure. For a deviation of the measured signal for the intake manifold pressure from the reference signal for the intake manifold pressure, a tolerance range is predefined for error-free operation of the intake and/or exhaust valves of at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine. A check is made whether the measured signal for the intake manifold pressure deviates from the reference signal for the intake manifold pressure by more than a predefined tolerance range. In this case an erroneous operation of the intake and/or exhaust valves is detected; otherwise an error-free operation of the intake and/or exhaust valves is detected.

Abstract: A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine are provided which make it possible to implement different deceleration requests to the internal combustion engine by switching over between half engine operation and full engine operation. A deceleration request is received particularly in a nonoperating state. A switchover is made between a first operating state and a second operating state of the internal combustion engine as a function of the magnitude of the deceleration request. The first operating state and the second operating state differ, in this instance, in the number of cylinders whose charge changing process is interrupted.

Abstract: A method and a device for the diagnosis of at least one gas exchange valve of at least one cylinder of an internal combustion engine that is on the one hand reliable and on the other hand does without additional sensor equipment are described. In a first operating state of the internal combustion engine, at least one gas exchange valve of the at least one cylinder is activated. In a second operating state of the internal combustion engine, all the gas exchange valves of the at least one cylinder are deactivated and therewith closed in stationary fashion. Sound waves produced by the internal combustion engine are acquired. It is checked whether a significant change occurs in a quantity characterizing the acquired sound waves upon a transition from the first operating state to the second operating state. In this case, an erroneous opening of the at least one gas exchange valve is recognized.

Abstract: A supply pump actuating turbine, in particular for a power plant, that includes at least two jet sectors for introducing a working gas into the turbine, a line system for connecting the at least two jet sectors to at least two different sources of working gas, and a valve arrangement for setting the supply of the jet sectors with the working gas from at least one of the sources. The valve arrangement and the line system are designed in such a way that at least three operating states can be set: a first operating state, in which all the jet sectors are supplied with the working gas of the first source, a second operating state, in which all the jet sectors are supplied with the working gas of the second source, and a third operating state, in which at least one of the jet sectors is supplied with the working gas of the first source and at least one other of the jet sectors is supplied with the working gas of the second source.

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for operating a drive unit of a vehicle having an engine which in a first operating state is operated with a first number of cylinders and in a second operating state is operated with a second number of cylinders. The first number of cylinders and the second number of cylinders are different from one another. The switchover of the engine between the first operating state and the second operating state is adapted to the driver type or the driving situation. Switchover between the first operating state and the second operating state is delayed as a function of the driver type or the driving situation.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinder banks, of which at least one first cylinder bank is able to be deactivated. At least one cylinder of the first cylinder bank is intermittently activated again during the deactivation of the first cylinder bank.

Abstract: A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinder banks which allow a simple diagnosis of a faulty deactivation of the gas exchange of at least one cylinder bank, or a simple determination of the ambient pressure. In the process, in addition to at least one first cylinder bank having activated gas exchange of at least one cylinder, a deactivation of the gas exchange of all cylinders of at least one second cylinder bank is initiated in at least one operating state of the internal combustion engine. The at least one second cylinder bank is assigned a separate intake tract. In the at least one operating state, a variable that is characteristic for the pressure in the intake tract of the at least one second cylinder bank is measured and evaluated for the presence of undesired pressure pulsations.

Abstract: Method to detect a faulty operating condition during a cylinder cutoff of an internal combustion engine with at least two cylinder banks, wherein the internal combustion engine comprises in each case a separate mechanism to determine the Lambda value of the combustion for each cylinder bank. When the Lambda values of the cylinder banks change in opposite directions, a faulty cylinder cutoff is suggested.

Abstract: A method and a device for monitoring the intake manifold pressure of an internal combustion engine in which a measured signal for the intake manifold pressure is compared with a reference signal for the intake manifold pressure. For a deviation of the measured signal for the intake manifold pressure from the reference signal for the intake manifold pressure, a tolerance range is predefined for error-free operation of the intake and/or exhaust valves of at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine. A check is made whether the measured signal for the intake manifold pressure deviates from the reference signal for the intake manifold pressure by more than a predefined tolerance range. In this case an erroneous operation of the intake and/or exhaust valves is detected; otherwise an error-free operation of the intake and/or exhaust valves is detected.

Abstract: A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, permitting optimal compensation of all losses of the internal combustion engine in half-engine operation. The internal combustion engine has several cylinder banks, at least a first cylinder bank being deactivatable, and, during deactivation of the first cylinder bank, the first cylinder bank losses and the losses of a second cylinder bank being taken into account during activation of the second cylinder bank, and the default value of the second cylinder bank quantity being formed in several steps. In at least one of these steps, the first cylinder bank losses and the second cylinder bank losses are taken into account for forming the default value.

Abstract: A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine including at least one cylinder are described, the at least one cylinder including at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve and a diagnosis of at least one erroneous intake valve or at least one erroneous exhaust valve is made possible without using a position acknowledgment. A gas exchange of the at least one cylinder is diagnosed thereby.

Abstract: A method and a device for operating a drive unit provide a switch between half-engine operation and full-engine operation. A switch takes place between two operating states of a first component of the drive unit as a function of a first performance quantity of the drive unit. A switch takes place between two operating states of a second component of the drive unit as a function of a second performance quantity of the drive unit. A check is performed whether switching between two operating states of the second component results in a shift of the first performance quantity over a switching threshold for switching between two operating states of the first component, and if so, the switch between the two operating states of second component is delayed until a switch between the two operating states of first component has occurred.

Abstract: A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine having multiple cylinders allows for an operating state of the internal combustion engine to be switched over as quickly as possible following the receipt of a switchover request. For this purpose, at least one intake or exhaust valve of a cylinder is switched off or at least one switched-off intake or exhaust valve of the cylinder is switched on again in at least one operating state of the internal combustion engine in response to the switchover request.