Supercharger Controller Reducing Calibration Man-Hours
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for controlling a supercharger-equipped internal combustion engine require extensive data measurement and matching processes, leading to increased man-hours when the engine or supercharger specifications change, as they rely on specific characteristics that need to be re-measured and re-calibrated.
Innovation Solution
A controller system that calculates and adjusts control values for the wastegate valve based on real-time engine conditions and specifications, independent of the supercharger's characteristics, allowing for reduced data measurement and matching efforts by utilizing pre-determined maps and calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the conventional wastegate valve control method utilizing the characteristic that the relationship between exhaust gas flow rate and compressor driving force changes in accordance with the control value for the actuator is used, then accurate control of the supercharger system can be achieved, but extensive data measurement and matching processes are required, leading to increased man-hours when engine or supercharger specifications change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control process into two independent parts: (1) a supercharger-independent control value calculation based on engine specifications and operating conditions, and (2) a supercharger-specific characteristic map that is pre-determined and stored. This segmentation allows the control logic to be separated from the hardware characteristics, enabling reuse across different supercharger models without re-measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from using absolute characteristic values (which require re-measurement for each supercharger model) to using relative parameter relationships (engine conditions, specifications, and operating points) that remain consistent across different supercharger models. This parameter transformation enables the control system to adapt to different superchargers without extensive recalibration.
2Reliability
If the conventional control method requiring data measurement and matching for each engine-supercharger combination is used, then accurate control characteristics can be obtained, but the complexity of the control system increases due to the need for extensive calibration data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the supercharger-specific characteristics from the control logic and stores them as separate pre-determined maps. This extraction removes the complexity of real-time characteristic determination from the control system, leaving only simple look-up and calculation operations during actual control, thereby reducing computational complexity while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs the complex data measurement and matching processes in advance, before the actual control operation. By pre-determining the characteristic maps during manufacturing or initial setup, the system eliminates the need for complex real-time calculations and reduces the computational burden during actual engine operation.
3Measurement precision
If the conventional method requiring re-measurement and re-calibration when supercharger specifications change is used, then accurate control can be maintained, but the adaptability of the control system to different supercharger models decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal control framework that can work with multiple supercharger models and engine specifications. By base the control calculation on fundamental engine parameters and operating conditions rather than supercharger-specific characteristics, the system achieves multi-functionality across different hardware configurations without requiring model-specific recalibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pre-determined characteristic maps that can be copied and applied across different supercharger models. Instead of creating new control logic for each model, the system copies the established control methodology and applies it with model-specific pre-stored parameters, enabling rapid adaptation to different supercharger specifications.
Data Source
AI summary
The objective of the present invention is to provide a controller for a supercharger-equipped internal combustion engine and a control method that can reduce man-hours for data measurement and matching, which are required to perform while the internal combustion engine and the supercharger are combined. In a controller, a target turbine flow rate for realizing a target compressor driving force is calculated; a target wastegate flow rate is calculated based on an exhaust gas flow rate and the target turbine flow rate; a target turbine-upstream pressure is calculated based on a target before/after-turbine pressure ratio for realizing the target compressor driving force and a turbine-downstream pressure; a target gate effective opening area is calculated based on the target wastegate flow rate, the target before/after-turbine pressure ratio, and the target turbine-upstream pressure; then, a gate valve control value is calculated.