Bent Intake Pipe Vortex Mixing for EGR Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal combustion engines with Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) systems face fluctuations in combustion noise due to variations in the volume of EGR gas supplied to each cylinder, leading to inconsistent combustion.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a bent section in the intake pipe with a throttle valve and an EGR pipe, generating two vortex currents that ensure even mixing of EGR gas with intake gas, reducing volume variations and stabilizing combustion across cylinders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If EGR gas is drawn into the center of the swirl stream formed by intake gas, then EGR gas mixing is achieved, but the mixing ratio varies between center and outer periphery regions causing volume variation among cylinders
Solution Approach 1:
The bent section of the intake pipe is designed to generate two separate vortex currents that rotate in opposite directions. These two vortex currents segment the EGR gas distribution, with one vortex drawing EGR gas from one side and the other vortex drawing from the opposite side, ensuring balanced distribution to all cylinders
Solution Approach 2:
The bent section creates asymmetric flow patterns through its curved geometry, generating vortex currents that compensate for the natural asymmetry in swirl stream distribution. The asymmetric bent design ensures that EGR gas is drawn evenly from both inner and outer periphery regions of the swirl stream
2Device complexity
If a simple mixing chamber design is used, then device complexity is reduced, but EGR gas volume variation among cylinders increases causing combustion noise fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The bent section utilizes curved geometry with a specific radius of curvature to generate vortex currents. The curved surface design creates rotational flow patterns that enhance EGR gas mixing without requiring additional complex mechanical components, achieving both simplicity and effectiveness
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 configuration effectively mixes EGR gas with intake gas, resulting in constant combustion across all cylinders, thereby suppressing fluctuations in combustion noise and improving engine performance.
Implementation Method 1
generating two vortex currents that ensure even mixing of EGR gas with intake gas
Data Source
AI summary
A bent section (71) is provided. An intake gas outlet (71B) downstream of the bent section (71) is connected to an intake manifold (11C). A throttle valve (47A) is disposed in the vicinity of and upstream of an intake gas inlet (71A) upstream of the bent section (71). An EGR pipe (13) is connected to the bent section (71). A rotation shaft (48) of the throttle valve (47A) is provided so as to be perpendicular to a first plane (75) including an inlet side intake pipe axis (72A) passing through the intake gas inlet (71A) and an outlet side intake pipe axis (72B) passing through the intake gas outlet (71B). An outer surface, which is intersected by the first plane (75), of the bent section (71) is formed to include a first sidewall surface (73A) extending in parallel to the inlet side intake pipe axis (72A) toward a bent side, a second sidewall surface (73B) extending in parallel to the outlet side intake pipe axis (72B) toward the bent side, and an outer curved surface (73C) having a predetermined radius of curvature configured to connect bent side ends of the first sidewall surface (73A) and the second sidewall surface (73B).