WO2010009945A2

WO2010009945A2 - Cooled turbocharger housing comprising one or more electronic devices

Info

Publication number: WO2010009945A2
Application number: PCT/EP2009/057652
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roland Herfurth; Achim Koch
Original assignee: Continental Automotive Gmbh
Priority date: 2008-07-25
Filing date: 2009-06-19
Publication date: 2010-01-28
Also published as: WO2010009945A3; DE102008034680A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a turbocharger which comprises a cooling device, the turbocharger also comprising at least one or more electronic devices, the respective electronic device being connected to the cooling device in such a manner that the electronic device can be cooled by means of the cooling device.

Description

description

Cooled turbocharger housing with one or more electronic devices

The invention relates to a cooled turbocharger housing with one or more Elektronikemπchtungen. The cooled area of the turbocharger housing comprises a turbine housing, a compressor housing and / or a bearing housing or at least a part or area thereof.

Against the background of rising fuel prices and the debate about CO ₂ emissions, reducing fuel consumption is an important issue in the development of future vehicle concepts. A suitable measure for achieving the goal of fuel reduction is the so-called Turbo Downsizmg. Here, an engine is used for the same power class, which has a smaller displacement. So that the engine can still provide a high torque for the driver, it is charged. That is, the intake air can be supplied compressed to the engine by means of a turbocharger or its compressor.

Usually a turbocharger has one

on, which is arranged in an exhaust gas stream. During operation, the turbine or its turbine wheel is driven via the exhaust gas flow and thereby supplies the drive energy for the compressor. The exhaust stream, which is passed through an exhaust manifold into the turbine housing, drives the turbine wheel of the turbine, which in turn drives a compressor wheel of the compressor, which is arranged with the turbine wheel on a shaft. As a result, the compressor increases the pressure in the intake tract of the engine, whereby a larger amount of air enters the cylinder during the intake stroke. As a result, more oxygen is available and a larger amount of fuel can be burned.

In the diesel sector, almost all engines are equipped with an exhaust gas turbocharger. It is assumed that in the near Future of the exhaust gas turbocharger also increasingly applies to gasoline engines.

In supercharged operation, the power of the internal combustion engine is adjusted by the performance of the exhaust gas turbocharger. More specifically, the performance of the turbine of the exhaust gas turbocharger is regulated. Two different concepts have been established so far.

For diesel engines, the turbine is set via a variable turbine geometry VTG. In this case, the entire exhaust gas mass flow always flows through the turbine. By providing variable guide vanes, the exhaust gas flow can be dammed up and its flow can be suitably changed.

In Otto engines, the control is usually via a so-called waste gate or a bypass channel. In this case, a part of the exhaust gas mass flow can be blown past the turbine, which also changes the pressure in front of the turbine. Above all, this solution offers advantages at high exhaust gas temperatures, which are generally higher in gasoline engines than in diesel engines.

The exhaust gas flow with its high temperatures, which is passed through the turbocharger, has the consequence that the components of the turbocharger, in particular the turbine housing, are thermally heavily loaded. In this case, for example, exhaust gas temperatures of up to 1100 ⁰ C in passenger car gasoline engines can be achieved. In particular, in full-load operation or in full-load operation, it can therefore lead to significant thermal stress on the components of the turbocharger.

For this reason, no facilities that are sensitive to heat or heat are arranged on a turbocharger so far.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention

Turbocharger provide, with an improved structure that allows the arrangement of heat-sensitive components. This object is achieved by a turbocharger having the features of patent claim 1.

Accordingly, according to the invention, a turbocharger is provided with a turbocharger housing that has cooling in at least one area, wherein the cooling is connected to at least one or more electronic devices which are integrated into the turbocharger and wherein the respective electronic device can be cooled by means of the cooling.

Such a turbocharger has the advantage that the cooling can not only be used to cool the turbocharger as such, but also to cool an electronic device. This makes it possible for electronic devices to be able to be provided on the turbocharger or to be integrated into the turbocharger, with these electronic devices not being additionally specially protected against high temperatures.

The idea of the invention is to use an already existing cooling device of a turbocharger in order to arrange all types of electronic devices on a turbocharger without being damaged by the heat or heat occurring in the turbocharger. Optionally, a turbocharger having no cooling device can be provided with an additional cooling device which cools at least the electronic devices and optionally also at least parts of the turbocharger housing.

Advantageous embodiments and modifications of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description with reference to the drawings.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooling device cools the compressor housing, the bearing housing and / or the turbine housing or at least a portion thereof. Depending on where the respective electronic device is arranged on the turbocharger, the cooling device can be provided, it can the cooling device only cool the area in which the electronic device is arranged or a larger area of the turbocharger housing, depending on the function and purpose.

In another embodiment according to the invention, the cooling device has at least one coolant pump, for example an electric coolant pump. Such an electric coolant pump has the advantage that it can continue to operate even after stopping the engine, which is connected to the turbocharger, in order to cool the turbocharger housing. As a result, it is possible, for example, to prevent a so-called "hot soak effect." The coolant can be, for example, cooling water or oil, to name two examples of a coolant be used of the engine or an additional coolant or an additional cooling circuit can be provided.

In a further embodiment according to the invention, the electronic device is, for example, a sensor device, an electric actuation device, an evaluation device, a memory device and / or a control device. That is, at the turbocharger, parts or all of the sensors, actuators and / or electronics (e.g., turbocharger evaluation, storage and control, etc.) of the turbocharger may be integrated. So far, such parts were either located outside of the turbocharger or provided with a special protection against high temperatures, which, however, led to significant additional costs.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sensor device comprises, for example, a pressure sensor device, a temperature sensor device and / or a rotational speed sensor device. In principle, however, further sensor devices can also be integrated on the turbocharger, depending on the function and intended use. In one embodiment of the invention, the actuator is, for example, a wastegate actuator, a variable turbine geometry actuator, or a valve actuator, such as an actuator for a diverter valve or bleed valve. However, the invention is not limited to these examples of actuators but can be applied to all other electronic actuators used in turbochargers.

In another embodiment, one or more electronic devices can be part of a printed circuit board or can be connected or coupled to the printed circuit board. In this case, electronic devices such as memory devices, evaluation devices and / or control devices may be provided on the circuit board, as well as other electrical components.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the cooling device is designed such that it cools a compressor housing and / or a bearing housing of the turbocharger. The cooling of the compressor housing has the advantage that particularly good electronics can be arranged here, since the compressor housing does not need to be cooled so much, since not so high temperatures occur, such as on the turbine housing. Optionally, the bearing housing can also be cooled with, to prevent it from being overheated by a hot turbine housing.

In another embodiment according to the invention, the coolant of the cooling device is guided along the respective electronic device or printed circuit board in order to cool it suitably. The cooling has the advantage that common electronic devices, such as those used in the automotive sector, can be used. This can be based on a special heat-resistant design of this E- electronics components are dispensed with and thereby costs are saved.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the cooling device is designed such that it can continue to cool even after switching off the motor connected to the turbocharger. This has the advantage that it can be prevented that a "hot soak effect" occurs and thus a possible overheating of the turbocharger and thus its integrated electronic devices.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the cooling device is connectable to a cooling circuit of the engine. Alternatively or additionally, the cooling device may also have its own cooling circuit. The connection to the cooling circuit of the engine has the advantage that the cooling circuit and coolant can be used with.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments indicated in the schematic figures of the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a simplified, schematic view of a

Turbocharger, which is provided with a cooling; and

Fig. 2 is a simplified schematic view of a turbocharger according to the invention having integrated electronics cooled by cooling the turbocharger.

In the following, an inventive, cooled turbocharger with an electrical device will be explained with reference to the figures an example. In the case of the turbocharger, for example, the compressor housing and additionally the bearing housing are cooled. In principle, however, the compressor housing, the bearing housing and / or the turbine housing of the turbocharger can be cooled or at least a portion thereof. This applies to all embodiments of the invention. Such a turbocharger can for example be used in particular in a passenger car vehicle or another motor vehicle and in this case be used both in diesel engines such as gasoline engines and other engines.

For cooling the exhaust gas turbocharger, especially in gasoline engines with an exhaust gas turbocharger, the bearing housing 12 is traversed by a cooling liquid, as shown in the illustration of a turbocharger 10 in Fig. 1.

For the sake of clarity, this illustration has been omitted to show some details, such as the representation of a waste gate, the control of the waste gate, a thrust bearing, a lubrication example using oil as a lubricant, etc. ..

The cooling fluid may be part of the engine cooling circuit. But there are also concepts in which there is a separate cooling circuit with its own electric water pump device for the exhaust gas turbocharger 10. The advantage of this concept is that the exhaust gas turbocharger 10 can continue to be cooled even after stopping the engine. Otherwise, for example, the bearing housing 12 of the turbocharger 10 may overheat when the turbine 14 and the turbine housing 16 are still hot after a high engine load. The heat can propagate, for example, from the turbine housing 16 in the exhaust gas turbocharger 10 without being properly discharged. This effect of overheating after stopping the engine is called "hot soak effect".

So far, the exhaust gas turbocharger 10, as used in the prior art, a purely mechanical component. The control of, for example, the variable turbine geometry VTG has hitherto been realized by an electric actuator. At some gasoline engines with an exhaust gas turbocharger is now also an electric diverter valve device to find. It makes sense, however, other electronic components or Devices, such as an electric wastegate gate device or a sensor device, such as a speed sensor device, a sensor device for determining a pressure after the compressor, etc., to integrate into the exhaust gas turbocharger 10.

It may be advantageous if the evaluation of these sensor devices or their sensors and the actuation of actuators is performed directly by an integrated control device as an electronic device. Since the turbine housing 16 becomes very warm in operation, it is advantageous to arrange an electronic device on the other side of the turbocharger 10, for example on the compressor side.

At the compressor 18, by compressing the air also temperatures of up to 180 ⁰ C arise. It can also by the previously described "hot Soak- effect" come to even higher temperatures. Usually, electronic devices for ambient temperatures up to 140 ⁰ C designed. If electronic devices are however, designed for temperatures above that, it is usually with significant The cooling of electronic devices themselves is known, but is not used in turbochargers so far.

The invention now also provides for heat-sensitive or heat-sensitive devices to be provided on a turbocharger 10, for example electronic devices or electrical devices, such as an integrated turbocharger control device, etc. Such electronic devices are connected, for example, to the cooling circuit of the exhaust gas turbocharger and / or cooled by a separate cooling circuit. The advantage here is that the electrical devices such as a turbocharger control device or other electronic devices need not be specified for particularly high temperatures. Instead, normal components or e- electronic devices from the automotive sector are used.

In the turbocharger 10 shown in FIG. 1, a turbine 14 and a compressor 18 are provided, wherein a turbine wheel 20 and a compressor wheel 22 are arranged on a common shaft 24. Here, for example, a cooling or cooling device 26 is provided, which cools the bearing housing 12 of the turbocharger 10. For this purpose, for example, at least one coolant channel 28 is provided in the region of the bearing housing 12, to which coolant, for example cooling water, is supplied via a coolant connection 30 in order to cool the bearing housing 12. After cooling the bearing housing 12, the coolant is discharged via a corresponding coolant connection 32 again.

The cooling of the bearing housing 12 has the effect, for example, that the compressor housing 34 is not additionally heated due to, for example, the so-called "hot soak effect." As a result, electronic devices can be attached to the compressor housing 34 and / or the bearing housing 12 (not shown) According to the invention, the respective electronic device can for example be connected to the cooling device of the motor or be coupled thereto, ie the respective electronic device can be cooled directly by means of the cooling device, for example, by connecting the electronic device to the cooling device and thus directly Alternatively or additionally, however, the electronic device can also be arranged in a region of the turbocharger 10, which is cooled by the cooling device 26 and thereby the electronic device indirectly be cooled with ekt.

Alternatively, however, the cooling device 26 may also be provided on the turbocharger 10 in such a way that, for example, a region of the turbocharger 10 is additionally cooled, on which an electronic device is provided, so that it can be suitably cooled by the cooling device 10. Referring now to Figure 2, an example of a turbocharger 10 is shown provided with integrated electronics. The integrated electronics or the electronic device 36 is in this case provided, for example, in or on the compressor housing 34 of the turbocharger 10.

In the representation in FIG. 2, an actuating device or an actuator device 38 as electronic device 36, for example for a wastegate device or a variable turbine geometry (VTG) device, as well as an electronic device 40 for the compressor housing 34, is integrated into the turbocharger 10 ,

In the present case, as shown in Fig. 2, the compressor housing 34 and the bearing housing 12 is cooled. For this purpose, a corresponding coolant channel 28 is provided, which cools the compressor housing 34 and the bearing housing 12. In this case, for example, the coolant is first passed through the compressor housing 34 and then through the bearing housing 12, before it is discharged via a coolant outlet 32. The coolant connection 30 for supplying the coolant is also shown in FIG. 2. The compressor housing 34 has, for example, a compressor volute 42 in which a compressor wheel 22 is arranged. The compressor wheel 22 is arranged on a common shaft 24 with a turbine wheel 20 of a turbine 14. The shaft 24 is in this case mounted in the bearing housing 12. Opposite the compressor housing 34, the turbine housing 16 is arranged with the turbine wheel 20.

In order to cool electronic devices 36, which are integrated in the turbocharger 10, the cooling circuit of the cooling device 26 can for example be extended in such a way that it flows past in the region of the respective electronic device 36 or cools it appropriately. Subsequently, the coolant of the cooling device 26, for example, from the compressor housing 34 are passed into the bearing housing 12 before it leaves the turbocharger 10 again. In this case, in an embodiment according to the invention, the cooling device 26 may have, for example, an electric pump device (not shown). The electric pump device can maintain the coolant flow even during an engine stop. In this way, overheating even after a motor stop directly following a high load request to the motor can be prevented.

In a further embodiment according to the invention, the electronics, actuators and / or sensors can either be provided separately or arranged in a separate control device (not shown). In this case, the coolant of the cooling device 26, for example, passed through or on the control device along and then be performed for example by a suitable tubing, for example in the bearing housing 12 or the turbocharger housing to be cooled in this area.

In the embodiment as shown in Fig. 2, electronics are provided, for example in the form of a printed circuit board 46 on which a plurality of electronic devices 36 are provided or coupled, for example one or more sensor devices, e.g. Durcksensoreinrichtungen, speed detection devices,

Furthermore, one or more evaluation or processing devices, memory devices, etc., may be provided on or coupled to the printed circuit board 46. The printed circuit board 46 is in this case arranged, for example, on the compressor housing 34 or integrated in this. In this case, for example, a coolant flow is conducted past the printed circuit board 46 in order to cool it, or the region of the turbocharger housing in this region is cooled. Furthermore, an actuating device is known. Actuator provided for example on the compressor housing 34. This actuating device may be, for example, an actuator for a wastegate device or another device of the turbocharger 10, such as a Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG) device or an electric diverter valve or bleed valve device, etc., to name but a few examples of many. The actuators are also cooled by the cooling device 26. In this case, the coolant flows, for example, in the area of the actuators or the actuating device along to cool them suitable or the area of the turbocharger housing, where the respective electronic device 36 is provided.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments, it is not limited thereto, but modified in many ways. The embodiments described above can be combined with one another, in particular individual features thereof.

The coolant, such as cooling water, for cooling the turbocharger 10 may be removed, for example in one embodiment, from a cooling circuit of an engine connected to the turbocharger 10. The cooling circuit is formed for example of an engine block, a thermostat, a radiator and a coolant pump. After cooling the turbocharger housing, the coolant can be fed back to the cooling circuit. However, the invention is not limited to this embodiment of a refrigeration cycle.

Alternatively or additionally, a separate cooling circuit or a separate cooling device for the turbocharger may be provided. In all embodiments according to the invention, the compressor housing 34, the bearing housing 12 and / or the turbine housing 16 can be cooled or at least portions of these housings. Furthermore, parts or all electronic devices 36 may be provided on the compressor housing 34, the bearing housing 12 and / or the turbine housing 16, wherein a cooling of the electronic devices 36 is provided in this case. As a coolant, for example, a coolant fluid such as water or oil may be provided, etc.

Claims

claims

1. A turbocharger (10) having a cooling device (26), wherein the turbocharger (10) further comprises at least one or more electronic devices (36), wherein the respective electronic device (36) is connected to the cooling device (26) so in that the electronic device (36) can be cooled by means of the cooling device (26).

2. The turbocharger according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling device (26) cools the compressor housing (34), the bearing housing (12) and / or the turbine housing (16).

3. Turbocharger according to at least one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one or more electronic devices (36) are arranged in the cooled by the cooling device (26) region of the turbocharger housing or the cooling means of the cooling device (26) in the region of the respective Electronic device (36) flows past or along.

4. The turbocharger according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device has at least one coolant pump, for example an electric coolant pump.

5. The turbocharger according to claim 1, wherein the coolant is water or oil.

6. turbocharger according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the electronic device (36), for example, a sensor device, an electric Baftätigungseinrichtung, a Evaluation device, a memory device and / or a control device is.

7. The turbocharger according to claim 6, wherein a sensor is, for example, a pressure sensor device, a temperature sensor device or a rotational speed sensor device.

8. A turbocharger as claimed in any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the actuator (38) is, for example, a waste gate actuator, a variable turbine geometry actuator, or a valve actuator.

9. The turbocharger according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is connectable or couplable to a printed circuit board.

10. The turbocharger according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device cools a compressor housing and / or a bearing housing of the turbocharger.

11. The turbocharger according to claim 1, wherein the coolant of the cooling device is routable along the respective electronic device or circuit board in order to cool it.

12. Turbocharger according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the cooling device (26) is designed such that it can continue to cool even after switching off the motor connected to the turbocharger (10).

13. The turbocharger according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device is connectable to a cooling circuit of the engine and / or has its own cooling circuit.