Patent ID: 7100375

Claim:
System for limiting turbocharger rotational speed, comprising: a turbocharger having a compressor defining a compressor outlet fluidly coupled to an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine and a compressor inlet, and having a turbine defining an exhaust gas inlet fluidly coupled to an exhaust manifold of the engine and an exhaust gas outlet; a first pressure sensor producing a first pressure signal indicative of pressure at the compressor inlet; a first temperature sensor producing a first temperature signal indicative of temperature at the compressor inlet; means for determining an operating condition other than the pressure and the temperature at the compressor inlet, and producing a corresponding operating condition indicator; a control mechanism for controlling a swallowing capacity or efficiency of the turbine; and a control computer determining a maximum compressor outlet pressure value as a function of the first pressure signal, the first temperature signal, the operating condition indicator and a maximum turbocharger speed value, and controlling the control mechanism 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.