Honeywell International Inc.
Method for controlling an inlet-adjustment mechanism for a turbocharger compressor

Abstract:

A method for controlling an inlet-adjustment mechanism in an air inlet for a compressor so as to switch the mechanism between open and closed positions for adjusting a flow area of the inlet. The method includes an algorithm for determining when the inlet-adjustment mechanism is in a failure mode. In accordance with the method, when the operating point on the compressor map is on the high-flow side of a threshold line at which the inlet-adjustment mechanism is switched from one position to the other, a measured speed or pressure ratio is compared to a theoretical value for the speed or pressure ratio based on a compressor map for the open position of the mechanism. If the measured value differs from the theoretical value by more than a predetermined tolerance, a failure mode is indicated.