Accumulator Device for Engine Ignition Delay Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engines using gaseous fuels face challenges in optimizing energy efficiency and reducing ignition delay due to the time it takes for the air-fuel mixture to reach the engine, especially when transitioning from shutdown to startup, which affects the engine's efficiency and emissions.
Innovation Solution
A fuel delivery system incorporating an accumulator tank directly coupled with the engine's intake, a turbocharger, and a controller that manages the air-fuel mixture, allowing for storage and quick release of the mixture during engine startup, reducing the delay by pre-delivering the air-fuel mixture before ignition and refilling during shutdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the air-fuel mixture is delivered through conventional fuel delivery system, then the system structure is simple, but the ignition delay increases and energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The accumulator pre-delivers the air-fuel mixture to the intake manifold before engine startup, so that when ignition is commanded, the mixture is already positioned and ready for immediate combustion. This preliminary positioning action eliminates the delay that would otherwise occur during startup.
Solution Approach 2:
The accumulator acts as an intermediary storage device between the fuel source and the engine intake. It buffers the air-fuel mixture delivery, decoupling the fuel supply timing from the ignition timing, thereby reducing ignition delay without requiring direct continuous supply from the fuel source.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the air-fuel mixture is pre-delivered to reduce ignition delay, then energy efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases due to accumulator and control system
Solution Approach 1:
The controller automatically manages the accumulator filling and discharge operations based on engine operating conditions. The system self-regulates the air-fuel mixture delivery timing and quantity, eliminating the need for manual intervention while optimizing energy efficiency across different operating modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the amount of air-fuel mixture stored in the accumulator and the timing of its release based on engine load, speed, and operating mode. By changing these parameters adaptively, the system optimizes energy efficiency for each specific operating condition while managing the complexity through controlled variability.
3Productivity
If the accumulator stores air-fuel mixture for quick release, then ignition delay reduces, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The accumulator serves multiple functions: storing air-fuel mixture, regulating delivery timing, and smoothing pressure fluctuations. By designing a single component to perform multiple functions, the system achieves rapid startup capability without proportionally increasing manufacturing complexity, as the same hardware provides several benefits.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the ignition delay and enhances energy efficiency by ensuring a consistent and rapid supply of the air-fuel mixture, improving engine performance and reducing emissions by optimizing the fuel delivery process.
Implementation Method 1
The accumulator may be a hermetically sealed chamber. The gaseous fuel may be liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), hydrogen gas, natural gas, biogas, or another gas.
Data Source
AI summary
An engine includes an intake, an air-fuel path coupled to the intake, an accumulator configured coupled to the air-fuel path and configured to store an air-fuel mixture, and at least one valve configured to selectively provide the air-fuel mixture from the engine to the accumulator at a first time and store the air-fuel mixture within the accumulator at a second time. A controller may be configured to provide commands to the at least one valve. The plurality of commands may include an open command to release air and fuel mixture from the accumulator and a close command to store air and fuel mixture in the accumulator.