Power plants – Fluid motor means driven by waste heat or by exhaust energy... – With supercharging means for engine
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-04
2002-06-04
Denion, Thomas (Department: 3748)
Power plants
Fluid motor means driven by waste heat or by exhaust energy...
With supercharging means for engine
C060S605100, C060S605200, C060S602000, C123S562000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06397598
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a turbocharger system for use in an internal combustion engine, and, more particularly, to a turbocharger system having series connected compressors and turbines.
BACKGROUND ART
An internal combustion engine may include one or more turbochargers for compressing a fluid which is supplied to one or more combustion chambers within corresponding combustion cylinders. Each turbocharger typically includes a turbine driven by exhaust gases of the engine and a compressor which is driven by the turbine. The compressor receives the fluid to be compressed and supplies the compressed fluid to the combustion chambers. The fluid which is compressed by the compressor may be in the form of combustion air or a fuel and air mixture.
It is known to provide multiple turbochargers within a turbocharger system in an internal combustion engine. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,250,068 (Vulliamy) discloses an internal combustion engine having two turbochargers. A first turbocharger includes a turbine which is driven by a single exhaust manifold on the internal combustion engine. The spent exhaust gas from the turbine of the first turbocharger is transported in a series manner to the inlet of a turbine of the second turbocharger. The spent exhaust gas is then discharged to the ambient environment from the turbine of the second turbocharger. The compressor of the second turbocharger compresses ambient combustion air and provides the compressed combustion air in a series manner to the compressor of the first turbocharger, which in turn transports the compressed combustion air to the intake manifold of the engine.
A problem with a turbocharger system as described above is that the spent exhaust gas from the turbine of the turbocharger may not have enough energy to provide a desired compression ratio within the second turbocharger. The overall compression ratio from the turbocharger system is thus limited according to the amount of energy available at the turbine of the second turbocharger.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the invention, an internal combustion engine is provided with a plurality of combustion cylinders, at least one exhaust manifold and at least one intake manifold. Each exhaust manifold is coupled with a plurality of the combustion cylinders. Each intake manifold is coupled with a plurality of the combustion cylinders. A first turbocharger includes a first turbine having at least one inlet and an outlet, and a first compressor having an inlet and an outlet. The at least one first turbine inlet is fluidly coupled with a corresponding exhaust manifold, and the first compressor outlet is fluidly coupled with the intake manifold. A second turbocharger includes a second turbine having at least one inlet and an outlet, and a second compressor having an inlet and an outlet. The at least one second turbine inlet is fluidly coupled with the first turbine outlet and with a corresponding exhaust manifold. The second compressor outlet is fluidly coupled with the first compressor inlet.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of operating an internal combustion engine is provided with the steps of: transporting exhaust gas from a plurality of combustion cylinders to at least one exhaust manifold; providing a first turbocharger including a first turbine having an inlet and an outlet, and a first compressor having an inlet and an outlet; providing a second turbocharger including a second turbine having at least one inlet and an outlet, and a second compressor having an inlet and an outlet; rotatably driving the first turbine with exhaust gas introduced at the first turbine inlet from a corresponding exhaust manifold; rotatably driving the second turbine with exhaust gas introduced at the at least one second turbine inlet from each of the first turbine outlet and a corresponding exhaust manifold; introducing combustion air at the second compressor inlet; transporting compressed combustion gas from the second compressor outlet to the first compressor inlet; and transporting compressed combustion gas from the first compressor outlet to at least one intake manifold.
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Caterpillar Inc.
Denion Thomas
Taylor & Aust PC
Trieu Thai-Ba
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