Method and apparatus for indicating a risk of corrosion or scuffing of components of a combustion chamber of a turbocharged engine arrangement, in particular for vessels, and turbocharged engine arrangement for vessels

Abstract

In order to provide a method for indicating a risk of corrosion or scuffing of components of a combustion chamber of a turbo charged engine arrangement, in particular for vessels, the turbo charged engine arrangement includes a turbocharger and a charge gas cooler. A first gas stream of an ambient gas enters into the turbocharger, a second gas stream of charge gas flows from the turbocharger to the charge gas cooler, and the second gas stream of charge gas enters into the charge gas cooler. A third gas stream of charge gas flows from the charge gas cooler to the combustion chamber, and the third gas stream of the charge gas enters into the combustion chamber.

Claims

1. A method for indicating a risk of corrosion or scuffing of components of a combustion chamber of a turbo charged engine arrangement, in particular for vessels, wherein the turbo charged engine arrangement comprises a turbocharger and a charge gas cooler, wherein a first gas stream of an ambient gas enters into the turbocharger, wherein a second gas stream of charge gas flows from the turbocharger to the charge gas cooler, wherein the second gas stream of charge gas enters into the charge gas cooler, wherein a third gas stream of charge gas flows from the charge gas cooler to the combustion chamber, and wherein the third gas stream of charge gas enters into the combustion chamber, comprising the steps of: a) measuring parameters, wherein the measured parameters comprise at least one gas temperature, at least one gas pressure, a first water content of the charge gas of the third gas stream and a liner temperature of a liner of the combustion chamber, and b) determining, in particular calculating, a second water content of a gas in the combustion chamber based on the measured parameters, and at least one of: c1) indicating the determined second water content as an indicator of the risk of corrosion or scuffing of components of the combustion chamber, c2) comparing the determined second water content with at least one pre-determined value and indicating the risk of corrosion of components or scuffing of the combustion chamber when the determined second water content is higher than or equal to the at least one pre-determined value, c3) adjusting an operating parameter of the turbo charged engine.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature is at least one of a temperature of the first gas stream of ambient gas, a temperature of the second gas stream of charge gas, and a temperature of the third gas stream of charge gas, and/or wherein the at least one gas pressure is at least one of a pressure of the first gas stream of ambient gas, a pressure of the second gas stream of charge gas a pressure of the third gas stream of charge gas, and a pressure of the gas in the combustion chamber.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ambient gas of the first gas stream is ambient air and/or wherein the charge gas of the second gas stream is charge air and/or wherein the charge gas of the third gas stream is charge air and/or wherein the gas in the combustion chamber is a charge gas, in particular charge air, or a gas fuel mixture, in particular an air fuel mixture.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a third water content of a gas is measured, wherein the third water content is at least one of a water content of the first gas stream of ambient gas and a water content of the second gas stream of charge gas.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operating parameter of the turbo charged engine arrangement is at least one of the liner temperature of the liner, the temperature of the third gas stream of charge gas, a lubrication rate of the components of the combustion chamber with a lubricant, the alkalinity of the lubricant, and the charge gas pressure of the turbocharger.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the liner temperature is adjusted by adjusting the temperature of cooling fluid of a liner cooling system.

7. Apparatus for indicating a risk of corrosion or scuffing of components of a combustion chamber of a turbo charged engine arrangement, in particular for vessels, wherein the turbo charged engine arrangement comprises a turbocharger and a charge gas cooler, said apparatus comprising a processing unit and at least one sensor for measuring parameters, said parameters comprising a first water content of a charge gas of a third gas stream flowing from the charge gas cooler to the combustion chamber, at least one gas temperature and at least one gas pressure, characterized in that the at least one sensor comprises a sensor for measuring a liner temperature of a liner of the combustion chamber, the processing unit is configured for determining, in particular calculating, a second water content of a gas in the combustion chamber based on the parameters measured by the at least one sensor and that the processing unit is configured for comparing the determined second water content with at least one pre-determined value, the apparatus comprises at least one of: notification means for indicating at least one of the determined second water content as an indicator of the risk of corrosion or scuffing of components of the combustion chamber, the risk of corrosion or scuffing of components of the combustion chamber when the determined second water content is higher than or equal to the at least one pre-determined value, and adjusting means for adjusting an operating parameter of the turbo charged engine arrangement.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least one temperature is a temperature of a first gas stream of ambient gas entering the turbocharger and a temperature of a second gas stream of charge gas flowing from the turbocharger to the charge gas cooler and a temperature of the third gas stream of charge gas, and/or wherein the at least one gas pressure is a pressure of the first gas stream of ambient gas and/or a pressure of the second gas stream of charge gas and/or a pressure of the third gas stream of charge gas and/or a pressure of the gas in the combustion chamber.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the ambient gas of the first gas stream is ambient air and/or wherein the charge gas of the second gas stream is charge air and/or wherein the charge gas of the third gas stream is charge air and/or wherein the gas in the combustion chamber is a charge gas, in particular charge air or a gas fuel mixture, in particular an air fuel mixture.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the adjusting means are configured to adjust the liner temperature, and/or the temperature of the third gas stream of charge gas, and/or a lubrication rate of the components of the combustion chamber with a lubricant, and/or the alkalinity of the lubricant and/or the charge gas pressure of the turbocharger.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, comprising a liner cooling system, wherein the adjusting means are configured for adjusting the temperature of cooling fluid of the liner cooling system.

12. A turbocharged engine arrangement comprising the apparatus according to claim 7.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a turbocharged engine arrangement,

(3) FIG. 2 is another cross-sectional view of a turbocharged engine arrangement and

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a turbocharged engine arrangement.

(5) FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for indicating a risk of corrosion or scuffing of components of a combustion chamber of a turbocharged engine arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows a turbocharged engine arrangement for a marine vessel in a cross-sectional view. The turbocharged engine arrangement 100 comprises a combustion chamber 10 in a cylinder 11 and a piston 12. A first gas stream 13 of intake air or ambient air or engine room air indicated by an arrow flows into an intake 14 of a turbocharger 15. Between the intake 14 and the turbocharger 15 a first duct 16 is arranged for guiding the first gas stream 13 from the intake 14 to the turbocharger 15. A second duct 17 is arranged to guide a second gas stream 18 of charged air to a charge gas cooler 19a configured as a charge air cooler 19. A third duct 20 connecting the charge air cooler 19 with the combustion chamber 10 guides a third gas stream 21 of charged and cooled air indicated by an arrow from the charge air cooler 19 to the combustion chamber 10. A water catcher 32 is provided in the third duct 20 to drain water vapor condensed from the third gas stream 21. In operation ambient air enters the intake 14 and flows as a first gas stream 13 to the turbocharger 15, where the ambient air is compressed and charged to a high pressure. In the compression process of the intake air or ambient air, the temperature T.sub.a of the intake air is increased. The pressurized and heated ambient air is also called charge air or scavenge air. The charge air is then guided as the second gas stream 18 to the charge air cooler 19, where it is cooled down. Depending on the initial values of temperature T.sub.a, pressure p.sub.a and humidity .sub.a of the ambient air and the operating parameters of the turbocharger 15 and the charge air cooler 19, the humidity of the charge air increases in the charge air cooler 19 and may be saturated so that water vapor starts to condense. The pressurized and cooled down charge air is guided from the charge air cooler 19 as a third gas stream 21 via the third duct 20 and water catcher 32 to the combustion chamber 10.

(7) As shown in FIG. 2, sensors 22, 23, 24 are arranged on or integrated in the turbocharged engine arrangement 100. A first sensor 22 is disposed in the first gas stream 13 of ambient air entering the turbocharger 15, a second sensor 23 is disposed in the third gas stream 21 flowing from the charge air cooler 19 via third duct 20 into the combustion chamber 10 and a third sensor 24 is disposed on or integrated in the liner 25 of a cylinder 11 comprising combustion chamber 10. The first sensor 22 measures the temperature T.sub.a, the pressure p.sub.a and the humidity .sub.a of the ambient air entering the turbocharger 15. The second sensor 23 disposed between the charge air cooler 19 and the combustion chamber, measures the temperature T.sub.1, the pressure p.sub.1 and the humidity .sub.1 of the pressurized and cooled charge air of the third gas stream 21 flowing from the charge air cooler 19 to the combustion chamber 10. The third sensor 24 is disposed on or integrated in the liner 25 of the cylinder 11 and measures the temperature T.sub.L of the liner 25. Furthermore, the sensor 24 can be configured to also measure the pressure p.sub.2 inside the combustion chamber 10.

(8) In FIG. 3 the method of the present invention is shown in a schematic display of the apparatus of the present invention. The first sensor 22 measures the ambient conditions T.sub.a, p.sub.a, .sub.a, of the intake air, for example an ambient air or an engine room air. The intake air is guided through an intake filter 33 via the first duct 16 into the turbocharger 15, where the intake air is compressed and where the temperature rises due to the compression. The compressed and heated air flows through second duct 17 as the second gas stream 18 into the charge air cooler 19, where depending on the ambient conditions T.sub.a, p.sub.a and .sub.a, and the working parameters of the turbocharger 15 and the charge air cooler 19 a mass flow rate of condensate, i.e. an amount of condensed water per time interval, is generated. The condensate is removed from the turbocharged engine arrangement 100 via a water catcher 32. It is possible using thermodynamic relations to calculate the temperature T.sub.c, the pressure p.sub.c and the humidity .sub.c of the cooled down charged air in the third duct 20 guiding a third gas stream 21 from the charge air cooler 19 to the combustion chamber 10. The second sensor 23 measures the humidity .sub.1 of the charge air in the third gas stream 21 flowing from the charge air cooler 19 to the combustion chamber 10. Furthermore, sensor 23 measures the temperature T.sub.1 and the pressure p.sub.1 of the charge air flowing from the charge air cooler 19 to the combustion chamber 10. This allows for an additional crosscheck between the calculated values of temperature T.sub.c, pressure p.sub.c and humidity .sub.c and the measured values of temperature T.sub.1, pressure p.sub.1 and humidity .sub.1. For the calculation and crosscheck of the temperature T.sub.c, pressure p.sub.c and humidity .sub.c, sensors 22 and 23 transmit the measured values via transmitting means 26 to a processing unit 27, which calculates the temperature T.sub.c, the pressure p.sub.c and the humidity .sub.c of the charge air of the third gas stream 21 flowing from the charge air cooler 19 to the combustion chamber 10. The charge air flows as the third gas stream 21 into the combustion chamber 10 of turbocharged engine arrangement 100 to scavenge the combustion chamber 10 from combustion products or remnants of the previous combustion cycle and to charge the combustion chamber 10 with charge air for the next compression and ignition cycle. Then fuel is injected into the combustion chamber 10 and the fuel air mixture self-ignites. A third sensor 24 measures liner temperature T.sub.L of the liner internal surface 28 of the combustion chamber 10. Furthermore, sensor 24 measures the pressure p.sub.2 in the combustion chamber 10. Alternatively, the pressure p inside the combustion chamber 10 may also be calculated via the known compression ratio of the turbocharged engine arrangement 100. Third sensor 24 transmits the measured values of a liner temperature T.sub.L and pressure p.sub.2 in combustion chamber 10 to the processing unit 27, which calculates the humidity .sub.2 adjacent to the liner internal surface 28 based on the measured temperature T.sub.1 of the third gas stream 21, the measured pressure p.sub.1 of the third gas stream, the measured humidity .sub.1 of the charge air in the third gas stream 21 and the liner temperature T.sub.L and the pressure p.sub.2 in the combustion chamber 10. When the calculated humidity .sub.2 adjacent to the liner internal surface 28 in the combustion chamber 10 exceeds a predetermined value, for example =75%, the processing unit 27 transmits a signal to a notification means 29 via transmitting means 30. The notification means 29 is configured as a display showing the risk of corrosion of components of the combustion chamber 10 and, alternatively or additionally, the calculated value of the humidity .sub.2 adjacent to the liner internal surface 28.

(9) An operator or operating person operating the turbocharged engine arrangement 100 may decide based on the indicated risk of corrosion of the components of the combustion chamber 10 and/or the displayed values of the calculated humidity whether to adjust operating parameters of the turbocharged engine arrangement 100.

(10) Further shown in FIG. 3 is an exhaust gas boiler 31, which is a heat exchanger to convert the combustion heat in the exhaust gases into electric energy.

(11) FIG. 4 shows a method for indicating a risk of corrosion or scuffing of components of a combustion chamber of a turbocharged engine arrangement 100, in particular for vessels, wherein the turbocharged engine arrangement 100 comprises a turbocharger 15 and a charge gas cooler as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

(12) In the turbocharged engine arrangement 100 a first gas stream 13 of an ambient gas enters into the turbocharger 15, a second gas stream 18 of charge gas flows from the turbocharger 15 to the charge gas cooler 19a, the second gas stream 18 of charge gas enters into the charge gas cooler 19a and a third gas stream 21 of charge gas flows from the charge gas cooler 19a to the combustion chamber 10. Furthermore, the third gas stream 21 of charge gas enters into the combustion chamber 10.

(13) The method comprises in a first step S1 the step of measuring parameters, wherein the measured parameters comprise at least one gas temperature, at least one gas pressure, a first water content of the charge gas of the third gas stream and a liner temperature of a liner 25 of the combustion chamber 10. The measured gas temperature may be the temperature T.sub.a of the first gas stream 13 of ambient gas. The at least one gas pressure may be the pressure p.sub.a of the first gas stream 13 of ambient gas. In addition the water content .sub.a of the first gas stream 13 of ambient gas may be measured.

(14) In a second step S2 a second water content .sub.2 of a gas in the combustion chamber 10 is determined, in particular calculated, based on the measured parameters.

(15) In a third step S3 the determined second water content .sub.2 is indicated as an indicator of the risk of corrosion or scuffing of components of the combustion chamber 10.

(16) Alternatively or additionally to step S3 in step S4 the determined second water content .sub.2 is compared with at least one predetermined value and the risk of corrosion of components or scuffing of the combustion chamber 10 is indicated when the determined second water content .sub.2 is higher or equal than the at least one predetermined value.

(17) Still further in addition or as an alternative to steps S3 and S4 in step S5 an operating parameter of the turbocharged engine arrangement 100 is adjusted. The operating parameter may be the liner temperature T.sub.L, which may be adjusted by adjusting the temperature of cooling fluid of a liner cooling system.