Alkaline Liquid Cleaning System for Engine Intake Port Carbon Deposits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engine intake ports and valves often become contaminated with hard and soft carbon deposits due to inferior fuel quality and operational issues, leading to malfunctions and potentially requiring entire cylinder head replacement if not addressed.
Innovation Solution
A method and device using an alkaline liquid with a pH of 7 to 14, introduced and heated to dissolve and remove deposits, with a continuous rinsing circuit and mechanical support through pressure spraying, effectively cleaning hard-to-reach areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cleaning methods are used for intake ports and valves, then the cleaning process is simple, but the cleaning effectiveness is insufficient for hard-to-reach areas and carbon deposits
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is segmented into multiple functional probes: a first probe for injecting alkaline liquid, a second probe for sucking off contaminated liquid, and optional third/fourth probes for rinsing. This segmentation allows each probe to be optimized for its specific function and enables effective cleaning of hard-to-reach areas through coordinated multi-probe operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Alkaline liquid serves as an intermediary substance that chemically reacts with carbon deposits to dissolve and remove them. The liquid mediates between the cleaning system and the contaminants, enabling effective removal of deposits from complex cavity geometries without requiring direct mechanical contact.
2Reliability
If alkaline liquid is heated to increase cleaning effectiveness, then the cleaning power is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system recycles and reuses the alkaline liquid through a closed-loop circuit. The liquid is continuously pumped from the working area, filtered to remove dissolved carbon deposits, and reheated for reuse. This self-service approach reduces overall energy consumption compared to continuous fresh liquid supply and eliminates waste disposal requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers the alkaline liquid after use by filtering out carbon deposits and reheating it for repeated use. This recovery process eliminates the need to continuously discard and replace cleaning liquid, significantly reducing both material consumption and energy expenditure associated with heating fresh liquid.
3Quantity of substance
If continuous rinsing circuit is implemented, then the cleaning effectiveness is maintained with low liquid consumption, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The injection probe and suction probe are merged into a coordinated system that operates simultaneously or in sequence. The injection probe introduces alkaline liquid while the suction probe removes contaminated liquid, creating an efficient continuous circulation system that minimizes liquid consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The alkaline liquid is continuously circulated through the intake port cavity, constantly refreshing the cleaning action. The liquid is continuously pumped, filtered, reheated, and reinjected, ensuring that cleaning effectiveness is maintained over time without requiring large quantities of fresh liquid.
4Reliability
If lye and solvent are mixed in the cavity with heat generation, then the cleaning effect is significantly increased, but the temperature control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The alkaline liquid is preheated in an external heat exchanger before being introduced into the intake port cavity. This preliminary heating action allows for controlled temperature increase without the risks associated with uncontrolled exothermic reactions inside the cavity, while still achieving effective cleaning temperatures.
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
The method and device effectively remove carbon deposits from intake ports and valves, extending engine service life and preventing costly malfunctions by maintaining cleaning effectiveness with low liquid consumption.
Implementation Method 1
introducing an alkaline liquid into a cavity to be cleaned... the alkaline liquid has a pH of 7 to 14
Implementation Method 2
a lye in solid form and a solvent are mixed together and introduced into the cavity to be cleaned, so that the alkaline liquid is formed in the cavity to be cleaned by dissolving the lye in the solvent with heat generation
Implementation Method 3
the alkaline liquid to be sprayed under pressure against the walls and bottom of the cavity
Implementation Method 4
sucking off the alkaline liquid with the dirt components contained therein from the cavity
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3(a)~3(d)
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for cleaning coked cavities, in particular inlet channels (10) and valves (15) of an internal combustion engine (12), comprising the following steps: introducing an alkaline liquid into a cavity to be cleaned; heating the alkaline liquid; and extracting the alkaline liquid and the dirt particles contained therein by suction from the cavity. Said method can be carried out especially simply and effectively using a device comprising a first probe (21), which is provided at the leading end thereof with one or more nozzles (23) for injecting an alkaline liquid into the cavity to be cleaned and which is connected at the other end thereof to the delivery side (24) of a pump (25), wherein warmed alkaline liquid can be supplied to the intake side (26) of said pump. A second probe (22) is provided for extracting the alkaline fluid and the dirt particles contained therein by suction from the cavity.