5230 results about "Internal combustion engine cooling" patented technology

A variety of methods and arrangements for improving the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines are described. Generally, selected combustion events are skipped during operation of the internal combustion engine so that other working cycles can operate at a better thermodynamic efficiency. In one aspect of the invention, an engine is controlled to operate in a variable displacement mode. In the variable displacement mode, fuel is not delivered to the working chambers (e.g. cylinders) during selected “skipped” working cycles. During active (“non-skipped”) working cycles, a maximum (e.g., unthrottled) amount of air and an optimized amount of fuel is delivered to the relevant working chambers so that the fired working chambers can operate at efficiencies closer to their optimal efficiency. A controller is used to dynamically determine the chamber firings required to provide the engine torque based on the engine's current operational state and conditions. The chamber firings may be sequenced in real time or in near real time in a manner that helps reduce undesirable vibrations of the engine.

An unmanned air vehicle is provided, which includes an airframe and a parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system mounted on the airframe. The parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. A hybrid controller is configured to control both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. A propeller is connected to a mechanical link. The mechanical link couples the internal combustion engine and the electric motor to the propeller to drive the propeller. An alternate unmanned air vehicle includes a second propeller driven by the electric motor. In this alternate unmanned air vehicle, the internal combustion engine is decoupled from the electric motor.

The present invention provides systems and methods to improve the performance and emission control of internal combustion engines equipped with nitrogen oxides storage-reduction (“NSR”) emission control systems. The system generally includes a NSR catalyst, a fuel processor located upstream of the NSR catalyst, and at least one fuel injection port. The fuel processor converts a fuel into a reducing gas mixture comprising CO and H₂. The reducing gas mixture is then fed into the NSR catalyst, where it regenerates the NSR adsorbent, reduces the NO_x to nitrogen, and optionally periodically desulfates the NSR catalyst. The fuel processor generally includes one or more catalysts, which facilitate reactions such as combustion, partial oxidation, and/or reforming and help consume excess oxygen present in an engine exhaust stream. The methods of the present invention provide for NSR catalyst adsorbent regeneration using pulsed fuel flow. Control strategies are also provided.

A separator for separating oil mist from the crankcase ventilation gas of an internal combustion engine, especially of a motor vehicle. The separator includes a gas purification chamber inside which a rotatably mounted centrifugal rotor is arranged. The gas purification chamber has a crude gas inlet, a pure gas outlet, and an oil outlet. The crankcase ventilation gas can be conducted into a radially internal zone of the centrifugal rotor via the crude gas inlet, while pure gas that is liberated from oil mist can be discharged from the gas purification chamber via the pure gas outlet, and oil separated from the gas can be discharged from the gas purification chamber via the oil outlet. The separator further includes a rotary drive for the centrifugal rotor. The rotary drive is disposed in a drive chamber of the separator, can be operated using pressurized lubrication oil of the internal combustion engine, and is connected to the centrifugal rotor by means of a shaft extending from the drive chamber into the gas purification chamber, from which the drive chamber is separated. The rotary drive is formed by at least one thrust nozzle which is connected to the shaft and to which the pressurized lubrication oil of the internal combustion engine can be fed. The separator includes at least one part of a base that forms the separation between the gas purification chamber and the drive chamber and extends into the drive chamber, the part of the base being fitted with a seat for a bearing of the shaft. The bearing is located at a distance from the centrifugal rotor.

A hybrid engine having a gas turbine engine and an internal combustion engine, both engines driving a common drive shaft. The compressor delivers compressed air to the combustor and to an inlet of the internal combustion engine, the compressed air picks up heat from the internal combustion engine either from the combustion process or through a heat exchanger, and is delivered to the combustor. When the gas turbine engine is not operating by burning fuel, the heated compressed air from the internal combustion engine is used to maintain the shaft speed sufficient for starting the gas turbine engine without the need to bring the turbine engine up to speed prior to ignition. The apparatus and process of the present invention provides a hybrid engine that is light weight, fuel efficient, and with enough available power for high powered situations.

An internal combustion engine system includes an intake manifold, a combustion chamber, an exhaust manifold and exhaust gas recirculation apparatus for recirculating a portion of the exhausted gases from the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold. An estimate intake manifold oxygen concentration is determined from the air fraction within the intake manifold which is determined from an engine system model that provides interdependent air mass fractions at various locations within the engine system.

A system for retrofitting an internal combustion engine to use a proportion of hydrogen gas and existing fossil fuel is disclosed. The system is comprised of a source of hydrogen gas and means for delivering hydrogen gas to the combustion chamber of the engine. The engine operating parameters are adjusted and the delivery of hydrogen is controlled to provide selective introduction of hydrogen gas throughout the engine's operating cycle. The source of hydrogen gas can comprise an onboard hydrogen reformer, or hydrogen and carbon monoxide can be reformed inside the cylinder from an on board carrier of hydrogen. A single point injector placed at the intake manifold in close proximity to the engine intake valve can be used to mix the hydrogen gas to the air/fossil fuel mixture or sequential injectors can deliver hydrogen in close proximity to each engine intake valve, or directly into each cylinder.

A static mixer for an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine with which at least two different fluid streams are mixed almost homogeneously after a short mixing distance, and with which back-flow effects and pressure losses are avoided, to the greatest possible extent. Due to the placement of flow guide devices, the inclined front sections of which are disposed alternately facing in different directions, and by the configuration and placement of the fluid passage spaces, which are delimited by guide elements, intensive and homogeneous mixing of two different fluid streams is achieved, while avoiding turbulent flows and pressure losses. Mixing of the fluid streams is supported by guide vanes that are disposed on the flow guide elements in the front region of the central center element, and on a frame that delimits the inclined sections of the flow guide elements.

The exhaust gas of internal combustion engines operated with a predominantly stoichiometric air/fuel mixture contains, as well as the gaseous hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxide (NO_x) pollutants, also ultrafine particulates. The introduction of the EU-5 exhaust gas standard in Europe in 2010 will for the first time impose a legal limit to these particulate emissions for gasoline vehicles. Future exhaust gas cleaning concepts for these vehicles must include devices for removing these particulates.

A catalytically active particulate filter, an exhaust gas cleaning system and a process for cleaning the exhaust gases of predominantly stoichiometrically operated internal combustion engines are presented, which are suitable, as well as the gaseous CO, HC and NO_x pollutants, also for removing particulates from the exhaust gas. The particulate filter comprises a filter body and a catalytically active coating consisting of two layers. Both layers contain alumina. The first layer contains palladium. The second layer contains rhodium. The latter is disposed above the first layer.

A fuel system is provided for generating hydrogen and oxygen for use in an internal combustion engine to improve combustion efficiency, horsepower, and torque and to decrease emissions. The fuel system has at least one electrolysis cell for generating hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of an aqueous solution, a power source for providing electrical power to the electrolysis cell, and a heating and cooling system for maintaining the temperature of the electrolysis cell in a desired range to obtain the desired quantities of hydrogen and oxygen for operation of the internal combustion engine. The invention also includes an electrode array of a plurality of spaced apart electrodes for use in this fuel system and a nonconductive support connected to each of the electrodes to hold the electrodes in place, while leaving adequate room around the electrodes to allow free flow of the aqueous solution between the electrodes. High purity electrolyte and substantially non-reactive electrodes result in improved electrolysis.

A piston compression system converts energy from a conventional combustion cycle engine driving a piston to displace a working gas for flow through a turbine for output power. The working gas is derived by diverting a portion of the charge during combustion at near peak combustion pressure (PCP) into a closed working volume. The working gas is maintained at high pressure within the working volume. The working volume has a first displacement compartment and a second displacement compartment, a supply manifold connected for receiving pressurized working gas alternately from the first and second compartments and connected to an inlet of the turbine, and a return manifold connected to an outlet of the turbine and alternately returning working gas to the second and first compartments. The engine is configured with first and second pistons housed in first and second combustion cylinders respectively powering a first displacing surface for displacement of working gas in the first compartment and a second displacing surface for displacement of working gas in the second compartment.

Temperature control systems and methods can be designed for controlling the interior climate of a vehicle or other the climate of another desired region. The temperature control system for a vehicle can have a thermoelectric system providing heating and/or cooling, including supplemental heating and/or cooling. The thermoelectric system can transfer thermal energy between a working fluid, such as liquid coolant, and comfort air upon application of electric current of a selected polarity. The thermoelectric system can supplement or replace the heat provided from an internal combustion engine or other primary heat source. The thermoelectric system can also supplement or replace cold energy provided from a compressor-based refrigeration system or other primary cold energy source.

Temperature control systems and methods can be designed for controlling the interior climate of a vehicle or other the climate of another desired region. The temperature control system for a vehicle can have a thermoelectric system providing heating and/or cooling, including supplemental heating and/or cooling. The thermoelectric system can transfer thermal energy between a working fluid, such as liquid coolant, and comfort air upon application of electric current of a selected polarity. The thermoelectric system can supplement or replace the heat provided from an internal combustion engine or other primary heat source. The thermoelectric system can also supplement or replace cold energy provided from a compressor-based refrigeration system or other primary cold energy source.

An exhaust emission control system of a hybrid car capable of relieving a load upon an engine fuel injection device by eliminating a use of sub-injection and recovering from S-poisoning as well as purifying an exhaust gas even by eliminating the use of sub-injection. The exhaust emission control system of an internal combustion engine, used for the hybrid car traveled by two types of power sources of a diesel engine and an electric motor, includes a combustion heater as separate body from the engine, a catalyst, provided in an exhaust passageway, for purifying an engine exhaust gas, a combustion gas passageway through which a combustion gas emitted from the combustion heater flows toward the catalyst, and a three-way valve for introducing the combustion gas to the catalyst via the combustion gas passageway or an EGR passageway when the diesel engine is in a stop state and when the electric motor is in a driving state.