Patent ID: 8499747

Claim:
A method for operating an internal combustion engine in the form of a spark-ignition engine ( 2 ), the internal combustion engine ( 2 ) having gas exchange valves ( 28 ), the method comprising: pre-compressing the air which is supplied to the combustion chambers ( 15 A- 15 D) of the internal combustion engine ( 2 ), direct injection of fuel into the combustion chambers ( 15 A- 15 D) of the internal combustion engine ( 2 ), adjusting valve overlap of the gas-exchange valves ( 28 ) corresponding to the load range in which the internal combustion engine ( 2 ) is operated, carrying out the pre-compression in a supercharging device in the form of an exhaust-gas turbocharger having a turbine ( 5 ) with variable turbine geometry (VTG), with the engine exhaust gas being supplied to the turbine ( 5 ) via separate spiral ducts ( 17 A, 18 A; 17 B, 18 B) of a multi-flow turbine housing ( 16 A; 16 B), and joining the separate turbine streams, which are formed by the separate spiral ducts ( 17 A, 18 A; 17 B, 18 B), at medium and/or high engine rotational speeds by opening a switching valve ( 19 ), whereby at least a portion of the joined turbine streams are supplied to the turbine ( 5 ).