Exhaust gas recirculation flow control for reducing emissions with variable displacement internal combustion engines

US11459965B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Tula eTechnology, Inc. · US
• Cummins Inc. · US

Inventors

• Vijay Srinivasan · Durham, US
• Louis J. SERRANO · Los Gatos, US
• Xiaoping Cai · Fremont, US
• J. Steven Kolhouse · Columbus, US
• Avra Brahma · Fishers, US
• Adrian P. Dale · Columbus, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 26, 2021
• Grant date: Oct 4, 2022
• Expiry date: Feb 26, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T10/40
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Managing firing fraction transitions of a variable displacement internal combustion engines by (a) avoiding transport delays in an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) feed by starting movement of an EGR valve position after a decision to transition to a new firing fraction has been made, but prior to the start of the transition and (b) adjusting the EGR valve as needed during the transition so as to maintain an EGR fraction within a predetermined range during the transition. By performing both (a) and (b), spikes of nitrous oxide (NOx) and/or hydrocarbon emissions are reduced or altogether eliminated during the transition.