Abstract:
A method for introducing a gaseous fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine comprising forming a non-ignitable mixture of the gaseous fuel and a gas comprising oxygen in a predefined mixture mass ratio within a predetermined range of tolerance having a pressure suitable for directly introducing the non-ignitable mixture into the combustion chamber during at least the compression stroke; and introducing the non-ignitable mixture directly into the combustion chamber.
Abstract:
In adapting an internal combustion engine to be fuelled with a gaseous fuel it is preferable that both changes to the engine and cross-talk of gaseous fuel between respective intake ports are reduced when adding a port fuel injection system. A port injection apparatus is provided for introducing a gaseous fuel into an intake port of an internal combustion engine that comprises an intake manifold having a distribution chamber that fluidly connects an air intake to the intake port. The port injection apparatus comprises a bore in the intake manifold. An injection tube mounted in the bore extends across the distribution chamber toward the intake port. The injection tube comprises an inlet disposed near the bore and an outlet associated with the intake port. A valve is fluidly connected to receive gaseous fuel from a gaseous fuel supply and to introduce gaseous fuel into the inlet of the injection tube.
Abstract:
A fuel injection valve is provided for injecting a fuel into the combustion chamber or into the injection port of an internal combustion engine, the valve being actuated by an actuator assembly that comprises a small displacement actuator and a large displacement actuator. The method comprises commanding the small displacement actuator to move the valve member to a first open position corresponding to a first flow area and commanding the large displacement actuator to move the valve member to a second open position corresponding to a second flow area that is larger than the first flow area such that the ratio between the second flow area and the first flow area is at least 15:1. The fuel injection valve can also be operated to alternatively inject two different fuels, one of the fuels being a gaseous fuel and the other one being a liquid fuel.
Abstract:
In a gaseous-fuelled stoichiometric compression ignition internal combustion engine, a pilot fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber to help initiate a multi-point ignition. The engine provides performance improvements approaching those of high pressure direct injection engines but with less complexity because the gaseous fuel is introduced into the intake air subsystem at relatively low pressure and as a result of the stoichiometric combustion, the low oxygen content in the combustion products exiting the combustion chamber allows the use of a three-way catalyst instead of other after treatment arrangements normally associated with conventional compression ignition engines that require the addition of a reductant.
Abstract:
Advantages such as reduced emissions of NOx can be achieved if engines are fuelled with mixtures of gaseous fuels such as hydrogen and natural gas. It is also desirable to store the gaseous fuels separately so that the fuel mixture ratio can be changed responsive to engine operating conditions. However, compared to liquid fuels, a problem with storing gaseous fuels is that they generally require larger storage volumes to hold an equivalent amount of fuel on an energy basis. There are also obstacles to storing some gaseous fuels such as hydrogen in liquefied form because of the energy required to liquefy them and the extremely low temperatures needed to store such gaseous fuels in liquefied form. The invention relates to an apparatus for increasing the storage density of gaseous fuels such as hydrogen by storing them in gaseous form at high pressures and at sub-ambient temperatures. An apparatus is provided for separately storing a first gaseous fuel and a second gaseous fuel. A first vessel defines a first thermally insulated space for holding the first gaseous fuel in a liquefied form. A second thermally insulated space that can hold the second fuel is disposed within the first vessel. The second thermally insulated space is separated from the first thermally insulated space by a thermally conductive fluid barrier. The second gaseous fuel liquefies at a lower temperature than the first gaseous fuel, whereby the second gaseous fuel can be stored within the second thermally insulated space in a gaseous form at a sub-ambient temperature.
Abstract:
Premixed engines have ignition issues when engine speed and load are below a predetermined range. An ignition apparatus for igniting a premixed charge in a gaseous-fuelled internal combustion engine comprises an ignition device associated with a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. There is at least one of a dilutant injector for introducing a diluting agent that forms a stratified charge around the ignition device and an enrichment injector for introducing gaseous fuel that forms a stratified charge around the ignition device. An electronic controller is operatively connected with the ignition device and the at least one of the dilutant injector and the enrichment injector and programed to at least one of actuate the dilutant injector to introduce the diluting agent when the ignition device decreases a local air-fuel equivalence ratio around the ignition device below a predetermined threshold; and actuate the enrichment injector to introduce the gaseous fuel to decrease the local air- fuel equivalence ratio when engine load and engine speed are below a predetermined threshold engine load and speed range and when the ignition device does not affect the local air-fuel equivalence around the ignition device.
Abstract:
A method for operating a gaseous-fuelled internal combustion engine by directly injecting the gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber is disclosed wherein the gaseous fuel is injected at injection pressures higher than 300 bar and the pressure ratio between the gaseous fuel injection pressure and the peak cylinder pressure is between 1.6: 1 and 3: 1, and preferably between 2.5: 1 to 2.8: 1. The injection pressure is selected to be between 300 and 540 bar and preferably between 300 bar and 440 bar. The injection pressure can be selected based on a preferred range for the pressure ratio.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for in situ operating an internal combustion engine comprising determining at least one combustion characteristic for a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, comprising an actual heat release signal for the combustion chamber; and inputting the actual heat release signal into a diagnostic logic tree for diagnosing changes in combustion characteristics due to at least one of: a malfunctioning fuel injector, a start of combustion timing error; and a change in fuel quality; and performing a mitigation technique to compensate for the changes in combustion characteristics.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for igniting a gaseous fuel directly introduced into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine comprises steps of heating a space near a fuel injector nozzle; introducing a pilot amount of the gaseous fuel in the combustion chamber during a first stage injection event; controlling residency of the pilot amount in the space such that a temperature of the pilot amount increases to an auto-ignition temperature of the gaseous fuel whereby ignition occurs; introducing a main amount of the gaseous fuel during a second stage injection event after the first stage injection event; and using heat from combustion of the pilot amount to ignite the main amount.
Abstract:
A fuel injection valve is provided for co-injecting a liquid and a gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. A solid needle regulates the injection of liquid and gaseous fuels from a cavity in the fuel injection valve into the combustion chamber when the needle is lifted to its open position. In preferred embodiments, liquid fuel is metered and pressurized in an intensifier's cylinder provided within the valve body and the liquid fuel is delivered through a restricted flow passage into the cavity where it mixes with the gaseous fuel. The restricted flow passage can be formed by a small passage formed in the valve body or an annular passage between the needle and the valve body.