Patent ID: 7007472

Claim:
A method of limiting turbocharger rotational speed, the method comprising: determining an inlet pressure corresponding to pressure of air at an inlet defined by a compressor of the turbocharger; determining an inlet temperature corresponding to temperature of air at the inlet of the compressor; determining an operating condition other than the inlet pressure and inlet temperature; determining a maximum compressor outlet pressure value, corresponding to a maximum allowable pressure at an outlet defined by the compressor, as a function of the inlet pressure, the inlet temperature, the operating condition and a maximum allowable turbocharger speed value; and controlling a turbocharger swallowing capacity or efficiency control mechanism associated with a turbine defined by the turbocharger in a manner that limits compressor outlet pressure to the maximum compressor outlet pressure value to thereby limit rotational speed of the turbocharger to the maximum turbocharger speed value.