Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A plenum unit (100) of a turbocharger assembly for a single-cylinder engine (200), said unit operatively disposed between an exhaust port (205) of said engine (200) and an inlet port of a turbocharger (215).
2. The plenum unit (100) of a turbocharger assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plenum unit (100) comprising:
a. an inlet (110) in fluid communication with an exhaust port (205) of said engine (200) and configured for receiving exhaust gas from said engine (200);
b. a chamber (105) configured for receiving and storing the exhaust gas in fluid communication with said inlet (110);
c. an inlet flange (115) fixed at said inlet (110) and configured to couple with an exhaust port flange (210); and
d. an outlet port with an outlet flange in fluid communication with said chamber (105) for supplying the stored exhaust gas to the turbine portion of a turbocharger (215).
3. The plenum unit (100) of said turbocharger assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cross section of said chamber (105) is selected from the group consisting of a square, a rectangle, a triangle, a circle, a pentagon, a hexagon, and any geometrical or non-geometrical shape.
4. The plenum unit (100) of as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cross section of said chamber (105) increases along the direction of the flow of the exhaust gas.
5. The plenum unit (100) of said turbocharger assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material of said chamber (105) is selected from the group consisting of metals, a plastic, a polymer, and a composite material capable of withstanding elevated temperatures.
6. The plenum unit (100) of said turbocharger assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of vibration damping elements are provided between said plenum unit (100) and said engine (200).
7. The plenum unit (100) of said turbocharger assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the material of said vibration damping elements is selected from the group consisting of natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers, polymers, and an elastic material.
8. The plenum unit (100) of said turbocharger assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a pressure sensor is incorporated in said plenum unit (100).
9. The plenum unit (100) of said turbocharger assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a filter is placed in said plenum unit (100).
, Description:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of engines, particularly turbocharged engines.
DEFINITION
As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicate otherwise.
Plenum: The expression ‘plenum’ used hereinafter in this specification refers to, but is not limited to a pressurized housing containing a gas or fluid (typically air) at a positive pressure with respect to the surrounding.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
Turbocharging of an engine is desired to improve the performance of the engine. Recently, turbochargers are being widely used in a multi-cylinder engine to increase power and performance of the vehicles. However, it is technically difficult to turbocharge a single-cylinder engine, whether it is a gasoline engine or a diesel engine. Efficient turbocharging of the single-cylinder engine is difficult due to an inherent phase lag between the duration of operations of an intake and an exhaust valve of the single-cylinder engine.
When the exhaust valve is opened, the exhaust gas at high pressure and high temperature rush out through the exhaust port and reach a turbine portion of the turbocharger. The exhaust gas drives the turbine of the turbocharger. The turbine rotates to drive a compressor which further compresses the ambient air above the atmospheric pressure. However, this compressed air has nowhere to go as the intake valve is closed during an exhaust stroke of the engine. On the other hand, when the intake valve is opened, the turbine does not instantly receive the exhaust energy from the exhaust gas as the exhaust valve is already closed. Due to this phase lag between the intake valve opening duration and the exhaust valve closing duration, the turbocharger does not start compressing the ambient air instantly. Further, the resistive momentum of the turbocharger, also known as the “turbo lag” does not allow it to instantly speed up and charge the engine. Further, in the single-cylinder engine, the exhaust valve is opened only for about 240 degrees crank rotation during the combustion cycle wherein there are two revolutions of the crankshaft (720 degrees of crank angle). Therefore, in the single-cylinder engine the exhaust energy is intermittent. On the other hand, in a multi-cylinder engine, exhaust valves are provided on each cylinder and hence at any given time at least one of the cylinders will be in the exhaust stroke, thereby providing exhaust energy to the turbine across 720 degrees crank angle rotation. These intermittent exhaust pulses (exhaust gas flow) results in a drastic fluctuation of the speed of the turbocharger, thereby damaging bearings of the turbocharger. Also, due to the intermittent exhaust pulses, the turbocharger experiences high magnitude thrust forces leading to the damage of thrust bearings.
Conventional turbochargers used on a single cylinder engine do not operate under a steady state due to the fluctuation in the supply of the exhaust gas to the turbine portion of the turbocharger. Thus, the compressor and the turbine of the conventional turbocharger operate at very low efficiencies due to losses like windage losses.
There is, therefore, felt a need of a plenum unit for a turbocharged single-cylinder engine which ameliorates the aforementioned issues.

OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a plenum unit for a turbocharged single-cylinder engine.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a plenum unit that increases the efficiency of a turbocharged single-cylinder engine.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a plenum unit that reduces speed fluctuations of a turbocharged single-cylinder engine.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a plenum unit that reduces windage losses in a turbocharged single-cylinder engine.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a plenum unit that increases the life of a turbocharger and the associated bearing assemblies.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a plenum unit for a turbocharged single-cylinder engine. The plenum unit of the turbocharged single-cylinder engine is operatively disposed between an exhaust port of the engine and an inlet port of a turbine of a turbocharger.
The plenum unit comprises an inlet that is in fluid communication with the exhaust port of the engine which is configured for receiving exhaust gas from the engine; a chamber configured for receiving and storing the exhaust gas which is in fluid communication with the inlet; an inlet flange fixed at the inlet and configured to couple with an exhaust port flange; an outlet port (not shown specifically) with an outlet flange (not shown specifically) in fluid communication with the chamber for supplying the stored exhaust gas to the turbine portion of a turbocharger.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the cross section of the chamber can be selected from the group consisting of a square, a rectangle, a triangle, a circle, a pentagon, a hexagon, and any geometrical or non-geometrical shape.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the cross section of the chamber may increase along the direction of the flow of the exhaust gas.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the material of the chamber can be selected from the group consisting of metals, a plastic, a polymer, and a composite material capable of withstanding elevated temperatures.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of vibration damping elements (not shown) can be provided between the plenum unit and the engine.
According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a pressure sensor is incorporated in the plenum unit of turbocharger assembly. Data collected by the pressure sensor can be monitored by an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle for optimizing the performance of the turbocharger 215.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a filter is placed inside the plenum unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A plenum unit for a turbocharged single-cylinder engine of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a plenum unit for a turbocharger;
Figure 2 illustrates a schematic side view of a single-cylinder engine showing an exhaust port;
Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view the single-cylinder engine of Figure 2 with a plenum unit mounted thereon; and
Figure 4 illustrates a simplified schematic view of the single-cylinder engine of Figure 2 with a plenum unit mounted thereon.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100 – Plenum unit
105 – Chamber
110 – Inlet of the chamber
115 – Inlet flange
200 – Single-cylinder Engine
205 – Exhaust port of the engine
210 – Exhaust port flange
215 - Turbocharger
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “including” and “having” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The particular order of steps disclosed in the method and process of the present disclosure is not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance as described or illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
The present disclosure envisages a plenum unit 100 for a turbocharged single-cylinder engine 200, as illustrated in Figure 1 to Figure 3. The plenum unit 100 as illustrated in an isometric view in Figure 1 envisages a chamber 105 for temporarily storing the exhaust gas, an inlet pipe 110 in fluid communication with the chamber 105, and a flange 115 fixed or welded to the inlet pipe 110. An exhaust port 205 is seen in the schematic side view of the engine 200 as illustrated in Figure 2. An exhaust port flange 210 is fixed around the exhaust port 205. Further, bearings are provided at suitable locations to support rotating parts like, a turbine, a compressor, and a shaft.
After the combustion cycle is completed, the exhaust gas leaves the engine cylinder through the exhaust port(s) 205. The exhaust gas is conventionally directed to a turbocharger where heat and kinetic energy of the exhaust gas is utilized by a turbine to drive a compressor. However, according to the present disclosure, this gas is channeled through the plenum unit 100 before reaching the turbocharger 215.
Figure 3 illustrates the plenum unit 100 assembled on the single-cylinder engine 200. The exhaust plenum unit 100 is first assembled onto the exhaust port flange 210 of the single-cylinder engine 200. The turbocharger 215 is then mounted onto the plenum unit 100 such that the outlet of the plenum unit 100 is in fluid communication with the inlet of the turbocharger. Exhaust outlet channels are then connected to the turbocharger 215. Oil supply and drain unit is provided/assembled onto the turbocharger 215. Hoses are provided for the supply of fresh air from an air filter to the compressor where the air is compressed and supplied to the combustion cylinder via inlet ports.
Figure 4 represents a simplified schematic view the single-cylinder engine 200 with the plenum unit 100. The exhaust gas exiting from the exhaust port of the engine 200 flows into the chamber 105 of the plenum unit 100. Further, the exhaust gas flows into the turbocharger 215 to drive the turbine of the turbocharger 215. The turbine further drives the compressor for compressing ambient air. The compressed air from the compressor is channeled towards the intake ports of the single-cylinder engine 200 to charge the single-cylinder engine 200.
The plenum unit 100 described above ensures a constant-pressure turbocharging of the engine 200. The chamber portion 105 of the plenum unit 100 convert the kinetic energy of the exhaust gas into pressure energy which is supplied to turbine of the turbocharger 215 wherein the pressure energy is converted back into kinetic energy. The plenum unit 100 acts as a de-coupler as it cuts down the pulses of exhaust gas supplied to the turbine and tries to supply energy to the turbocharger 215 continuously. In other words, the plenum unit 100 acts as an energy reservoir similar to that of an engine flywheel. By carrying out a constant-pressure turbocharging, the single-cylinder engine is efficiently turbocharged.
The plenum unit 100 of the present disclosure ensures efficient turbocharging of a single-cylinder engine (gasoline, diesel, etc.) which was earlier not feasible. Steady exhaust energy is delivered to the turbine instead of a pulsating flow. The fluctuation in the speed of the turbocharger is drastically reduced due to the plenum unit as a nearly constant pressure turbocharging is achieved. The efficiency of the turbine is increased as the turbine operates at a steady state as against a pulsating flow. The efficiency of the compressor is also improved as there is lesser fluctuation of speed. The windage losses are also reduced at both the compressor side and the turbine side of the turbocharger 215. An improved engine performance at high speed is achieved as a lesser back pressure is developed due to the presence of the plenum unit 100. Thus, the life of the turbocharger 215 and related components is drastically increased due to a constant-pressure supply of exhaust gas.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the single-cylinder engine 200 has a plurality of exhaust and inlet ports. The plenum unit 100 is provided upstream of a catalyst module and downstream of a plurality of exhaust ports 205 of an engine. The chamber 105 of the plenum unit 100 is provided with a larger cross-sectional area such that the velocity of the exhaust gas reduces after entering the chamber 105 and as they travel along the chamber 120 portion. This reduction of the velocity of exhaust gas improves the probability that the exhaust gas will be more evenly distributed across the inlet surface of the catalyst module.
The present disclosure is closely related to the concept of constant pressure turbocharging. The plenum unit 100 acts as a de-coupler as it cuts down the pulses and provides a continuous supply of energy to the turbocharger. In short, it acts as an energy reservoir similar to that of an engine flywheel.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cross section of the chamber 105 is selected from the group consisting of a square, a rectangle, a triangle, a circle, a pentagon, a hexagon, and any geometrical or non-geometrical shape.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cross section area of the chamber 105 increases along the direction of the flow of the exhaust gas.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plenum unit 100 is made of metals, a plastic, a polymer, and a composite material capable of withstanding elevated temperatures.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of vibration damping elements (not shown specifically) is provided between said plenum unit 100 and the engine 200.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the material of the vibration damping elements is selected from the group consisting of natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers, polymers, and an elastic material.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a pressure sensor is placed in the plenum unit 100.
When an element is referred to as being “mounted on”, “engaged to”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.
The terms first, second, third, etc., should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure as the aforementioned terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another component, region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, third etc., when used herein do not imply a specific sequence or order unless clearly suggested by the present disclosure.
Terms such as “inner”, “outer”, “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a plenum unit for a turbocharged single-cylinder engine, which:
• ensures a continuous supply of exhaust gas to turbocharger assembly;
• eliminates pulsated and intermittent flow of exhaust gas to the turbine portion of a turbocharger;
• delivers a steady exhaust energy to the turbine portion of a turbocharger;
• reduces the fluctuation of speed experienced by a turbocharger of a single-cylinder engine;
• increases the efficiency of a single-cylinder engine;
• increases the performance of a single-cylinder engine;
• is easy to install;
• is easy for maintenance; and
• is economical.
The foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.