Wastegate Valve Control Device Abnormality Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for managing abnormalities in the drive mechanism of a wastegate valve are limited and cannot be applied to engines without an air bypass valve, necessitating a solution that can handle such abnormalities regardless of the presence of an air bypass valve.
Innovation Solution
A valve control device that generates a test drive signal based on an engine startup signal to assess the valve's drive mechanism for abnormalities, using a degree-of-opening signal and coolant temperature to determine if an abnormality exists, and adjusts the drive signal accordingly, without relying on a separate air bypass valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an air bypass valve is used to cope with abnormalities in the wastegate valve drive mechanism, then the abnormality can be managed, but the device complexity increases and the solution cannot be applied to engines without an air bypass valve
Solution Approach 1:
The wastegate valve's own drive mechanism is used to test and detect abnormalities in itself. The control unit commands the drive mechanism to perform a test operation and monitors the actual valve opening degree to determine if the drive mechanism is functioning normally, eliminating the need for a separate air bypass valve
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit performs multiple functions: it controls the wastegate valve during normal operation, generates test drive signals to activate the valve, and determines abnormalities by comparing actual valve position with commanded position. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components
2Reliability
If a test drive signal is generated to test the valve before normal operation, then abnormalities can be detected early, but the startup time and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit generates a test drive signal at engine startup to perform preliminary testing of the wastegate valve drive mechanism before normal operation begins. This allows abnormalities to be detected early, and the control unit can then adjust or compensate for detected issues during subsequent operation
3Measurement precision
If the control unit continuously monitors the degree of opening signal during test driving to determine abnormalities, then detection precision is improved, but the computational load and control complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors the degree of opening signal from the wastegate valve during test driving and compares it with the commanded valve position. This feedback mechanism allows precise detection of abnormalities by identifying discrepancies between expected and actual valve positions, while the control logic remains relatively simple
Data Source
AI summary
A valve control device controls a valve drive mechanism on the basis of a degree-of-opening signal for a valve and a startup signal for an engine, and includes: a drive signal generating unit that, when it is determined on the basis of the startup signal that the engine is stated, generates a test drive signal for test-driving the valve before the generation of a normal drive signal associated with normal driving of the valve; and an abnormality determining unit that, on the basis of the degree-of-opening signal during the test driving, determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the drive mechanism. The drive signal generating unit stops generating the test drive signal and the normal drive signal when the abnormality determining unit determines that the abnormality has occurred in the drive mechanism.