HOUSING FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a housing for an internal combustion engine includes a manifold section configured to receive an exhaust gas flow from cylinders of the internal combustion engine and a turbine section, wherein the turbine section and manifold section are a single member. Further, the housing includes a volute chamber within the turbine section configured to direct the exhaust gas flow to a turbine wheel disposed about a turbine axis and a circumferential septum positioned inside the volute chamber to separate two chambers that are substantially nested about the turbine wheel.
Latest General Motors Patents:
- INTEGRATED PASSIVE-TYPE SEPARATOR ASSEMBLIES FOR SEGREGATING HYDROGEN AND WATER IN FUEL CELL SYSTEMS
- Network Access Control For Vehicle
- ELECTROLYTES FOR LITHIUM-RICH, LAYERED CATHODES
- FOLLOW MODE IN AUTONOMOUS DRIVING SYSTEM
- SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EYE-GAZE DIRECTION-BASED PRE-TRAINING OF NEURAL NETWORKS
This invention was made with Government support under Agreement No. DE-FC26-07NT43271, awarded by the Department of Energy. The U.S. Government has certain rights in the invention.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe subject invention relates to internal combustion engines, and, more particularly, to turbocharger housings for internal combustion engines.
BACKGROUNDAn engine control module of an internal combustion engine controls the mixture of fuel and air supplied to combustion chambers of the engine. After the spark plug ignites the air/fuel mixture, combustion takes place and, later, the combustion gases exit the combustion chambers through exhaust valves. The combustion gases are directed by an exhaust manifold to a catalytic converter or other exhaust after treatment systems.
A turbocharger can be utilized to receive the exhaust gases from the exhaust manifold to provide enhanced performance and reduced emissions for the engine. In addition, twin scroll technology is often used to further enhance the performance of a turbocharged engine; in particular inline four or six cylinder engines as well as those having “V” or “flat” architectures. In engines featuring twin scroll or twin turbo technology, the exhaust manifold of the engine is designed to group the cylinders so combustion events of the cylinders in each group are separated to minimize cylinder-to-cylinder exhaust flow interference, thereby improving exhaust pulse integrity. For example, cylinders are grouped to provide sequences of high pulse energy to drive the turbine wheel as each cylinder experiences combustion. Thus, a first group of cylinders that is substantially out of phase (substantially not firing) with respect to a second group of cylinders (substantially firing) does not interfere with or degrade an exhaust pulse ignited by the second group of cylinders. Accordingly, twin scroll turbocharger systems have forces imparted on the turbine wheel more frequently to improve turbine performance. In addition, engines utilizing twin scroll technology may have packaging and assembly constraints due to the complexity of separated exhaust passages. Additional components may be used to make factory assembly of the twin scroll turbocharger possible, but these additional components can increase overall complexity, materials and cost of the engine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a housing for an internal combustion engine includes a manifold section configured to receive an exhaust gas flow from cylinders of the internal combustion engine and a turbine section, wherein the turbine section and manifold section are a single member. Further, the housing includes a volute chamber within the turbine section configured to direct the exhaust gas flow to a turbine wheel disposed about a turbine axis and a circumferential septum positioned inside the volute chamber to separate two chambers that are substantially nested about the turbine wheel.
In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders in a cylinder head, a first portion of a turbine housing coupled to the cylinder head and in fluid communication with the plurality of cylinders and a second portion of the turbine housing including a volute chamber housing a turbine wheel disposed about a turbine axis. The engine also includes a septum positioned inside the volute chamber to form a first chamber and second chamber, wherein the first chamber is in fluid communication with the turbine wheel and a first group of cylinders and the second chamber is in fluid communication with the turbine wheel and a second group of cylinders.
The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Other objects, features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description of embodiments, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which:
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention,
The exhaust system 106 may include “close-coupled” catalysts 126 and 128 as well as an under floor exhaust treatment system 130. The exhaust gas 132 flows through the exhaust system 106 for the removal or reduction of pollutants and is then released into the atmosphere. In an exemplary internal combustion engine 100, the controller 110 is in signal communication with the turbocharger 108, a charge cooler 144 and the exhaust system 106, wherein the controller 110 is configured to use various signal inputs to control various processes, such as the amount of boost supplied to the engine by the turbocharger 108. As used herein the term controller refers to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated or group) and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality.
Still referring to
The turbocharger 108 includes twin scroll technology that separates exhaust pulses from the cylinders 114 by as many degrees as possible in relation to a firing order of the cylinders to maintain exhaust pulse energy received by the turbine wheel 124. The twin scroll turbocharger 108 reduces lag, decreases exhaust backpressure on the top end of the combustion cycle and increases fuel economy. The twin scroll design restricts fluid communication of combustion exhaust gases 122 from an out of phase cylinder (e.g., at a different combustion cycle position) from reducing the energy of an exhaust pulse provided by a recently fired cylinder. Accordingly, the housing 118 is designed to provide substantially separate fluid communication from two groups of cylinders 114. In one exemplary embodiment, “in phase” describes cylinders 114 with substantially similar positions in the combustion cycle at a point in time such that, for example, the first firing cylinder is out of phase with reference to the third firing cylinder. Thus, an exemplary in-line four cylinder engine has cylinders 114 in the following order 134-136-138-140. The firing order is then as follows, with the cylinder number shown in brackets: 1[134]-3[138]-4[140]-2[136]. Fluid communication and cross-talk between the passages of the adjacent and substantially out of phase cylinders can degrade exhaust pulse energy. Thus, in an embodiment, the housing 118 has a first group of cylinders 134, 140 and a second group of cylinders 136, 138, wherein separate chambers for the two cylinder groups reduce cross-talk to improve turbocharger 108 performance.
As depicted, the cylinders 114 direct exhaust gas flow 122 (
The exemplary single member or piece housing 118 provides simplified packaging, production and assembly for the turbocharger 108 and the engine 100. Further, the single member design reduces materials used for the twin scroll turbocharger 108 to reduce weight and improve thermal communication along the exhaust flow path (e.g. through the turbocharger 108 to exhaust treatment apparatus). Less volume and mass of material reduces the amount of thermal energy absorbed by the housing 118 prior to the exhaust gas flow 122 into the exhaust system 106 (
As depicted, the cylinders 114 direct exhaust gas flow 122 (
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the present application.
Claims
1. A housing for an internal combustion engine, the housing comprising:
- a manifold section configured to receive an exhaust gas flow from cylinders of the internal combustion engine;
- a turbine section, wherein the turbine section and manifold section comprise a single member;
- a volute chamber within the turbine section configured to direct the exhaust gas flow to a turbine wheel disposed about a turbine axis; and
- a circumferential septum positioned inside the volute chamber to separate two chambers that are substantially nested about the turbine wheel.
2. The housing of claim 1, wherein the manifold section is coupled to a cylinder head housing the cylinders.
3. The housing of claim 1, wherein the circumferential septum separates a first chamber from a second chamber in the volute chamber, wherein the first chamber is radially inside the second chamber.
4. The housing of claim 3, wherein the first chamber is in fluid communication with a first group of cylinders and the second chamber is in fluid communication with a second group of cylinders.
5. The housing of claim 3, wherein the circumferential septum is configured to prevent radial fluid communication between the first and second chambers for at least a portion of the volute chamber.
6. The housing of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the second chamber is defined by an outer wall of the volute chamber and the circumferential septum.
7. The housing of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured for use with a twin scroll turbocharger.
8. The housing of claim 1, wherein the two chambers are substantially concentric about the turbine axis.
9. A housing for an internal combustion engine, the housing comprising:
- a manifold section configured to receive an exhaust gas flow from cylinders of the internal combustion engine;
- a turbine section, wherein the turbine section and the manifold section comprise a single member;
- a volute chamber within the turbine section configured to direct the exhaust gas flow to a turbine wheel disposed about a turbine axis; and
- a septum positioned inside the volute chamber to form a first chamber in fluid communication with the turbine wheel and a first group of cylinders and a second chamber in fluid communication with the turbine wheel and a second group of cylinders.
10. The housing of claim 9, wherein the manifold section is coupled to a cylinder head housing the cylinders.
11. The housing of claim 9, wherein the septum comprises a substantially radial septum with respect to the turbine axis.
12. The housing of claim 9, wherein the first and second chambers are nested about the turbine wheel and the septum comprises a substantially circumferential septum with respect to the turbine axis.
13. The housing of claim 12, wherein the circumferential septum is configured to prevent fluid communication between the first and second chambers for at least a portion of the volute chamber.
14. The housing of claim 9, wherein the housing is configured for use with a twin scroll turbocharger.
15. An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a plurality of cylinders in a cylinder head;
- a first portion of a turbine housing coupled to the cylinder head and in fluid communication with the plurality of cylinders;
- a second portion of the turbine housing comprising a volute chamber housing a turbine wheel disposed about a turbine axis; and
- a septum positioned inside the volute chamber to form a first chamber and second chamber, wherein the first chamber is in fluid communication with the turbine wheel and a first group of cylinders and the second chamber is in fluid communication with the turbine wheel and a second group of cylinders.
16. The internal combustion engine of claim 15, wherein the septum comprises a substantially radial septum with respect to the turbine axis.
17. The internal combustion engine of claim 16, wherein the first and second chambers are in fluid communication with the turbine wheel via axially adjacent circumferential passages on each side of the radial septum.
18. The internal combustion engine of claim 15, wherein the first and second chambers are nested about the turbine wheel and the septum comprises a substantially circumferential septum with respect to the turbine axis.
19. The internal combustion engine of claim 18, wherein the circumferential septum is configured to prevent radial fluid communication between the first and second chambers for at least a portion of the volute chamber.
20. The internal combustion engine of claim 15, wherein the turbine housing is configured for use with a twin scroll turbocharger.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 15, 2011
Publication Date: Jan 17, 2013
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC. (Detroit, MI)
Inventors: Ko-Jen Wu (Troy, MI), Rodney E. Baker (Fenton, MI), Darrel J. Walter (Romeo, MI)
Application Number: 13/183,989
International Classification: F01N 13/10 (20100101);