Engine system

Abstract

To provide an engine system capable of decomposing peroxide into water and oxygen immediately before injection.SOLUTION: An engine system includes an engine, a supply source of peroxide, and an injection nozzle connected to the supply source and including injection port to intake air of the engine. The injection nozzle includes: a cavity accommodating the peroxide received from the supply source; a valve opening / closing the cavity; and a catalyst provided downstream of the cavity in a flow of the peroxide and decomposing the peroxide into water and oxygen.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an engine system.

Background Art

[0002] In an engine, water may be sprayed into fuel in order to improve combustion. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a diesel engine that adds vapor into a cylinder simultaneously with fuel injection only within a holding time from the start of acceleration. In this diesel engine, fuel and vapor are injected from an integrated valve. This valve includes a vapor flow path provided concentrically around the fuel flow path. Fuel and vapor are injected from the same hole at a constant ratio. The vapor flow path is connected to a source of a peroxide solution via a vapor injection pipe. The vapor injection pipe includes a heater that heats the peroxide solution and a catalyst that decomposes the heated peroxide solution into oxygen and water vapor. Therefore, oxygen-containing vapor including oxygen and water vapor is supplied to the valve.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In Patent Document 1, water is supplied to the valve in the form of oxygen-containing vapor including oxygen and water vapor. This oxygen-containing vapor may separate into water and oxygen while not in use. In this case, there is a possibility that water and oxygen that are not sufficiently mixed are injected.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an engine system that can decompose a peroxide into water and oxygen immediately before injection.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An engine system according to one aspect of the present invention includes an engine, a source of peroxide, an injection nozzle connected to the source and including an injection port to the intake air of the engine, and is provided with The injection nozzle includes a cavity for containing peroxide received from the source, a valve for opening and closing the cavity, a catalyst provided downstream of the cavity in the flow of the peroxide for decomposing the peroxide into water and oxygen, and includes Look, the catalyst is provided at a position that does not face the cavity when the cavity is closed, within the region downstream of the cavity. .

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the peroxide solution can be decomposed into water and oxygen immediately before injection.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 8

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Specific dimensions, materials, numerical values, etc. shown in such embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted. Further, elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an engine system 100 according to an embodiment. The engine system (which may also be simply referred to as "system" in the present disclosure) 100 is applied to a vehicle 500 such as, for example, a HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a gasoline vehicle, or a diesel vehicle. The system 100 includes an engine 10.

[0011] In the present embodiment, the engine 10 is a gasoline engine. In other embodiments, the engine 10 may be a diesel engine, an alcohol engine, or the like. The engine 10 has a cylinder 11 and a piston 12. The piston 12 reciprocates within the cylinder 11. The combustion chamber 13 is defined by the cylinder 11 and the piston 12. The piston 12 is connected to the crankshaft 18 by a connecting rod 14.

[0012] In the engine 10 as described above, in the combustion chamber 13, a mixture of air and fuel is combusted, whereby the piston 12 reciprocates within the cylinder 11. The linear motion of the piston 12 is transmitted to the crankshaft 18 by the connecting rod 14 and converted into the rotational motion of the crankshaft 18. For better understanding, only one set of the cylinder 11 and the piston 12 is shown in FIG. 1, but the engine 10 may have a plurality of sets of the cylinder 11 and the piston 12.

[0013] The engine 10 has an intake port 15 and an exhaust port 16. An intake valve 15a is provided at the intake port 15, and an exhaust valve 16a is provided at the exhaust port 16. The operation of each of the intake valve 15a and the exhaust valve 16a is controlled by, for example, a camshaft (not shown). The camshaft is rotated by a crankshaft 18 via, for example, a rotating belt or the like.

[0014] The engine 10 has a fuel injector 17. The injector 17 is provided in the combustion chamber 13, and fuel is injected from the injector 17 into the combustion chamber 13 (so-called direct injection type). In other embodiments, the engine 10 may be a premixed combustion type. The injector 17 is communicably connected to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 50. For example, the ECU 50 controls the injection amount of fuel from the injector 17 by controlling the lift of the needle valve of the injector 17.

[0015] The engine 10 has a spark plug P. The spark plug P is provided in the combustion chamber 13 and ignites the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber 13. The spark plug P is communicably connected to the ECU 50. The ECU 50 controls the operation of the spark plug P.

[0016] The intake port 15 is connected to the intake pipe 2 via an intake manifold M1. Components such as an air cleaner (not shown) are provided in the intake pipe 2, and the air that has passed through these components is supplied to the combustion chamber 13 through the intake port 15.

[0017] A throttle valve V1 is provided in the intake pipe 2. The throttle valve V1 adjusts the flow rate of the air flowing through the intake pipe 2. The throttle valve V1 is communicably connected to the ECU 50. The ECU 50 controls the intake air amount by controlling the throttle valve V1.

[0018] In the intake pipe 2, an injection nozzle 4 is provided downstream of the throttle valve V1. The injection nozzle 4 is connected to a tank (source) 5 that stores peroxide. In this embodiment, the tank 5 stores hydrogen peroxide solution as the peroxide. The system 100 includes a pump 6 for sending the peroxide in the tank 5 to the injection nozzle 4.

[0019] The injection nozzle 4 decomposes the peroxide received from the tank 5 into water and oxygen, and injects the water and oxygen into the intake air in the intake pipe 2. The injection nozzle 4 will be described in detail later. The injection nozzle 4 and the pump 6 are communicably connected to the ECU 50. For example, the ECU 50 controls the injection amount of water and oxygen by controlling at least one of the injection nozzle 4 or the pump 6.

[0020] An O2 sensor S1 is provided in a branch pipe 21 that connects the intake manifold M1 and the intake port 15. The O2 sensor S1 measures the oxygen concentration in the intake air flowing through the branch pipe 21. The O2 sensor S1 is communicably connected to the ECU 50. For example, the ECU 50 controls at least one of the injection nozzle 4 or the pump 6 based on the oxygen concentration measured by the O2 sensor S1.

[0021] The exhaust port 16 is connected to the exhaust pipe 3 via the exhaust manifold M2.

[0022] The system 100 includes an ECU (control device) 50. The ECU 50 includes one or more processors 51 (e.g., a CPU, etc.), one or more storage media 52 (e.g., a ROM and a RAM, etc.), and one or more connectors 53. The ECU 50 may further include other components. The components of the ECU 50 are communicably connected to each other by a bus. The storage media 52 stores one or more programs executed by the processor 51. The programs include instructions for the processor 51. The operation of the ECU 50 is realized by the processor 51 executing the instructions stored in the storage media 52. The ECU 50 is communicably connected to the components of the system 100 via the connector 53.

[0023] Next, the injection nozzle 4 will be described in detail.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the injection nozzle 4 including the plunger 8 in the closed position P1. Further, FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the injection nozzle 4 including the plunger 8 in the open position P2. For better understanding, in FIGS. 2 and 3, only a part of the injection nozzle 4, that is, the part including the injection port 73 is shown. For example, the injection nozzle 4 may be different from a general fuel injector in that it includes a catalyst 9 and a heater H to be described later, and the other structures of the injection nozzle 4 may be the same as or similar to those of a general fuel injector. Referring to FIG. 2, the injection nozzle 4 includes a sleeve 7 and a plunger 8.

[0025] The sleeve 7 includes an inner wall 71, a first valve seat surface 72, and an injection port 73.

[0026] The inner wall 71 has, for example, a cylindrical shape. In the present embodiment, the central axis direction, the radial direction, and the circumferential direction of the inner wall 71 can be simply referred to as the central axis direction, the radial direction, and the circumferential direction, respectively, unless otherwise indicated. The inner wall 71 is formed to be spaced apart from the end face 74 of the sleeve 7 in the central axis direction.

[0027] The first valve seat surface 72 is formed continuously with the inner wall 71 in the central axis direction. For example, the first valve seat surface 72 has a frustum shape and tapers toward the end face 74. For example, the first valve seat surface 72 has an outermost diameter that is substantially the same as or smaller than the diameter of the inner wall 71. In the central axis direction, the first valve seat surface 72 extends to a position in front of the end face 74.

[0028] The injection port 73 is formed continuously with the first valve seat surface 72 in the central axis direction. For example, the injection port 73 has a cylindrical shape and extends to the end face 74. The injection port 73 opens to the end face 74. For example, the injection port 73 has the same diameter as the innermost diameter of the first valve seat surface 72.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2 and shows a cross-section of the injection port 73. In the present embodiment, the injection port 73 includes one through-hole 73a.

[0030] Returning to FIG. 2, the plunger 8 is accommodated in the sleeve 7 and moves in the central axis direction within the sleeve 7. The plunger 8 has a generally cylindrical shape and is arranged concentrically with the inner wall 71 of the sleeve 7. The plunger 8 includes a second valve seat surface 81 and a shaft 82 in order from the end face 74 of the sleeve 7 closer in the central axis direction.

[0031] The second valve seat surface 81 contacts the first valve seat surface 72 of the sleeve 7 in the closed position P1. The second valve seat surface 81 has a shape complementary to the first valve seat surface 72. For example, the second valve seat surface 81 has a conical shape that can be fitted to the first valve seat surface 72. The second valve seat surface 81 has an outermost diameter smaller than the diameter of the inner wall 71 of the sleeve 7. In the closed position P1, the second valve seat surface 81 seals the first valve seat surface 72 and closes the cavity C described later. Therefore, the first valve seat surface 72 and the second valve seat surface 81 function as a valve for opening and closing the cavity C.

[0032] The shaft 82 is formed continuously with the second valve seat surface 81 in the central axis direction. For example, the shaft 82 has a cylindrical shape. The shaft 82 has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the inner wall 71 of the sleeve 7.

[0033] A cavity C is defined between the inner wall 71 of the sleeve 7 and the shaft 82 of the plunger 8. The cavity C communicates with the tank 5 and accommodates the peroxide received from the tank 5.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 3, the plunger 8 is moved in the central axis direction to the open position P2 by an actuator (not shown) such as a solenoid or a motor so that the second valve seat surface 81 is separated from the first valve seat surface 72. In the open position P2, the second valve seat surface 81 is separated from the first valve seat surface 72, opening the cavity C. Therefore, the peroxide in the cavity C flows toward the injection port 73 through the gap 75 between the first valve seat surface 72 and the second valve seat surface 81. The actuator is communicably connected to the ECU 50. The ECU 50 controls the operation of the plunger 8, that is, the operation of the valve.

[0035] Such an injection nozzle 4 includes a catalyst 9 downstream of the cavity C in the flow of peroxide. The catalyst 9 decomposes peroxide into water and oxygen. The catalyst 9 may be, for example, manganese oxide.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the catalyst 9 is provided on the first valve seat surface 72, the injection port 73, and the second valve seat surface 81. Note that the catalyst 9 is not provided at a position facing the cavity C when the cavity C is closed, that is, when the plunger 8 is in the closed position P1. That is, the catalyst 9 is provided at a position that does not face the cavity C when the cavity C is closed in the region downstream of the cavity C. For example, the catalyst 9 is not provided at a position close to the cavity C on the first valve seat surface 72 and the second valve seat surface 81.

[0037] In other embodiments, the catalyst 9 may be provided on at least one of the first valve seat surface 72, the injection port 73, and the second valve seat surface 81. Also, the catalyst 9 may be provided over the entire surface or only in a partial region of at least one of the first valve seat surface 72, the injection port 73, or the second valve seat surface 81 as long as the catalyst 9 does not face the cavity C in the closed position P1.

[0038] The catalyst 9 is provided on the first valve seat surface 72, the injection port 73, and the second valve seat surface 81, for example, by applying a mixture with a binder and then fixing it by firing.

[0039] The injection nozzle 4 includes a heater H. The heater H is configured to heat the catalyst 9. For example, the heater H may be attached to the outer surface of the sleeve 7 in the vicinity of the catalyst 9. The heater H can be various heaters such as, for example, a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater. The heater H is communicably connected to the ECU 50. The ECU 50 controls the operation of the heater H so as to heat the catalyst 9 to a temperature that promotes the decomposition of peroxides.

[0040] Subsequently, the operation of the injection nozzle 4 will be described.

[0041] When the plunger 8 is in the closed position P1, the cavity C is closed and contains the peroxide from the tank 5. In this position, the catalyst 9 does not contact the peroxide and does not decompose the peroxide.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 3, when the actuator moves the plunger 8 to the open position P2 based on a command from the ECU 50, a gap 75 is formed between the first valve seat surface 72 and the second valve seat surface 81, and the peroxide flows toward the injection port 73 by the pressure from the pump 6.

[0043] While passing through the gap 75 and the injection port 73, the peroxide contacts the catalyst 9. Therefore, the peroxide is decomposed into water and oxygen by the catalyst 9. Further, since the catalyst 9 is heated to an appropriate temperature by the heater H, the decomposition of the peroxide is promoted. Immediately after the decomposition, the gas G containing water and oxygen is injected (sprayed) into the intake air in the intake pipe 2 from the injection port 73. Therefore, the gas G containing sufficiently mixed water and oxygen is injected into the intake air. The intake air of the engine 10 is cooled by the water from the injection nozzle 4.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 1, the intake air containing water and oxygen from the injection nozzle 4 flows into the combustion chamber 13 and is mixed with the fuel from the injector 17. The air-fuel mixture is burned in the combustion chamber 13. As described above, since the intake air is cooled by the water from the injection nozzle 4, the combustion temperature can be reduced. Therefore, the combustion efficiency can be improved and knocking can be suppressed. Also, since oxygen is added from the injection nozzle 4 to the intake air, the pressure of the intake air can be increased. Therefore, the combustion efficiency can also be improved from this aspect.

[0045] As described above, the system 100 according to the embodiment includes the engine 10, the peroxide tank 5, and the injection nozzle 4 connected to the tank 5 and including the injection port 73 for the intake air of the engine 10. The injection nozzle 4 includes a cavity C for storing the peroxide received from the tank 5, a first valve seat surface 72 and a second valve seat surface 81 for opening and closing the cavity, and a catalyst 9 provided downstream of the cavity C in the flow of the peroxide and for decomposing the peroxide into water and oxygen. According to this configuration, while the cavity C is closed, the catalyst 9 does not contact the peroxide and does not decompose the peroxide. When the cavity C opens, the peroxide contacts the catalyst 9 downstream of the cavity C and is decomposed into water and oxygen by the catalyst 9. Immediately after the decomposition, the water and oxygen are injected (sprayed) from the injection port 73. Therefore, according to the system 100, the peroxide solution can be decomposed into water and oxygen immediately before injection.

[0046] Also, in the system 100, the injection nozzle 4 includes a heater H for heating the catalyst 9. Therefore, according to the system 100, the decomposition of the peroxide can be promoted.

[0047] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an injection nozzle 4A according to another embodiment, showing a cross-section at a position along line IV-IV in FIG. 2. That is, FIG. 5 is comparable to FIG. 4. The injection nozzle 4A is different from the above-described injection nozzle 4 in that the injection port 73 includes a plurality of through-holes 73b. Other configurations of the injection nozzle 4A may be the same as those of the injection nozzle 4. In the present embodiment, the injection port 73 includes six through-holes 73b. However, the number of the through-holes 73b is not limited to this, and the injection port 73 may include a plurality of through-holes 73b other than six.

[0048] The injection nozzle 4A according to this embodiment has the same effects as the above-described injection nozzle 4. Further, the injection nozzle 4A includes a plurality of through-holes 73b at the position where the catalyst 9 is provided. Therefore, the contact area between the peroxide and the catalyst 9 can be increased. Thus, the decomposition of the peroxide can be promoted.

[0049] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an injection nozzle 4B according to still another embodiment, showing a cross-section at a position along line IV-IV in FIG. 2. That is, FIG. 6 is comparable to FIG. 4. The injection nozzle 4B is different from the above-described injection nozzle 4 in that a mesh 76 is included in the injection port 73. Other configurations of the injection nozzle 4B may be the same as those of the injection nozzle 4. The mesh 76 is formed to include the catalyst 9. The mesh 76 includes a plurality of through-holes 76a.

[0050] The injection nozzle 4B according to this embodiment has the same effects as the above-described injection nozzle 4. Further, the injection nozzle 4B includes a plurality of through-holes 76a at the position where the catalyst 9 is provided. Therefore, the contact area between the peroxide and the catalyst 9 can be increased. Thus, the decomposition of the peroxide can be promoted.

[0051] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an injection nozzle 4C according to still another embodiment, showing a cross-section at a position along line IV-IV in FIG. 2. That is, FIG. 7 is comparable to FIG. 4. The injection nozzle 4C is different from the above-described injection nozzle 4 in that a plurality of protrusions 73c are included in the injection port 73. Other configurations of the injection nozzle 4C may be the same as those of the injection nozzle 4. The protrusion 73c contains a catalyst 9. In this embodiment, the injection nozzle 4C includes five protrusions 73c. However, the number of the protrusions 73c is not limited to this, and the injection nozzle 4C may include a plurality of protrusions 73c other than five. In this embodiment, each protrusion 73c has a triangular cross-section, and the injection port 73 has a star-shaped cross-section. For example, the protrusion 73c is integrally formed with the sleeve 7. For example, the star-shaped cross-section of the injection port 73 may be twisted in the circumferential direction along the central axis direction. A pair of consecutive protrusions 73c define a groove therebetween. Therefore, from another viewpoint, the injection nozzle 4C includes a plurality of grooves at positions where the catalyst 9 is provided.

[0052] The injection nozzle 4C according to this embodiment has the same effect as the above-described injection nozzle 4. Further, the injection nozzle 4C includes a plurality of protrusions 73c at positions where the catalyst 9 is provided. Therefore, the contact area between the peroxide and the catalyst 9 can be increased. Thus, the decomposition of the peroxide can be promoted.

[0053] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an injection nozzle 4D according to still another embodiment, showing a cross-section at a position along line IV-IV in FIG. 2. That is, FIG. 8 is comparable to FIG. 4. The injection nozzle 4D is different from the above-described injection nozzle 4 in that it includes a plurality of protrusions 73d in the injection port 73. Other configurations of the injection nozzle 4D may be the same as those of the injection nozzle 4. The protrusion 73d contains the catalyst 9. In this embodiment, the injection nozzle 4D includes eight protrusions 73d. However, the number of protrusions 73d is not limited to this, and the injection nozzle 4D may include a plurality of protrusions 73d other than eight. In this embodiment, each protrusion 73d has a square cross-section. For example, the protrusion 73d is integrally formed with the sleeve 7. For example, the cross-section of the injection port 73 may be twisted in the circumferential direction along the central axis direction. A pair of consecutive protrusions 73d define a groove therebetween. Therefore, from another viewpoint, the injection nozzle 4D includes a plurality of grooves at positions where the catalyst 9 is provided.

[0054] The injection nozzle 4D according to this embodiment has the same effects as the above-described injection nozzle 4. Further, the injection nozzle 4D includes a plurality of protrusions 73d at positions where the catalyst 9 is provided. Therefore, the contact area between the peroxide and the catalyst 9 can be increased. Thus, the decomposition of the peroxide can be promoted.

[0055] As described above, the embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. It is obvious that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modification examples or correction examples within the scope described in the claims, and it is naturally understood that they also belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0056] For example, in the above-described embodiment, a single injection nozzle 4 is provided in the intake pipe 2 upstream of the intake manifold M1. However, in other embodiments, the injection nozzle 4 may be provided in each branch pipe 21 of a plurality of cylinders.

[0057] Further, in still other embodiments, the injection nozzle 4 may be provided at a position where water and oxygen can be directly injected into the intake air in each combustion chamber 13, such as each cylinder head.

[0058] Also, in the above embodiment, an O2 sensor S1 is provided in the branch pipe 21. In other embodiments, for example, if the injection amounts of water and oxygen from the injection nozzle 4 can be sufficiently controlled by an O2 sensor generally provided in the exhaust pipe 3, the O2 sensor S1 in the branch pipe 21 may be omitted.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0059] 4 Injection nozzle 4A Injection nozzle 4B Injection nozzle 4C Injection nozzle 4D Injection nozzle 5 Tank (source of peroxide) 9 Catalyst 10 Engine 72 First valve seat surface (valve) 73 Injection port 73b Through hole 73c Projection 73d Projection 76a Through hole 81 Second valve seat surface (valve) 100 Engine system C Cavity H Heater

Claims

1. An engine, a source of peroxide, an injection nozzle connected to the source and including an injection port to the intake air of the engine, comprising: the injection nozzle includes a cavity for containing the peroxide received from the source, a valve for opening and closing the cavity, a catalyst provided downstream of the cavity in the flow of the peroxide for decomposing the peroxide into water and oxygen, including: the catalyst is provided at a position that does not face the cavity when the cavity is closed among the regions downstream of the cavity, an engine system.

2. The injection nozzle includes a plurality of holes at the position where the catalyst is provided. The engine system according to Claim 1.

3. The injection nozzle includes a plurality of protrusions or grooves at the position where the catalyst is provided. The engine system according to Claim 1.

4. The injection nozzle includes a heater for heating the catalyst. The engine system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.

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