Bimodal Engine Cylinder for Onboard Natural Gas Compression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The limited availability of compressed natural gas refueling infrastructure hinders the widespread adoption of natural gas-powered vehicles, as operators often need to travel long distances to refuel, limiting their use to fixed routes or central locations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a reciprocating internal combustion engine with bimodal cylinders to compress natural gas onboard a vehicle, employing a check valve system to control flow and pressure, allowing for multiple compression stages and minimizing additional clearance volume, thereby enabling efficient gas compression and storage for use as fuel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If natural gas-powered vehicles are deployed without onboard compression capability, then vehicle operation is simplified, but refueling infrastructure availability becomes limited and refueling time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The internal combustion engine is designed to perform dual functions: power generation during normal vehicle operation and gas compression during refueling. The engine can switch between these modes by reconfiguring the cylinders, eliminating the need for separate compression equipment and allowing the vehicle to compress its own fuel onboard, thereby reducing dependency on external refueling infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle performs its own refueling by using the engine to compress ambient natural gas into the onboard storage tank. This self-service capability allows the vehicle to refuel at any location with natural gas supply, eliminating the need for dedicated compressed natural gas refueling stations and significantly reducing refueling time
2Productivity
If multiple compression stages are implemented in the engine cylinders, then compression ratio and efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engine cylinders serve dual purposes as both power generation chambers and compression stages. During compression mode, the cylinders function as compression stages with integrated check valves, eliminating the need for separate compression equipment and reducing overall system complexity while achieving high compression ratios through multi-stage compression
Solution Approach 2:
The compression system is merged with the existing engine structure, using the same cylinders, pistons, and crankshaft for both power generation and gas compression. The check valve system is integrated into the cylinder head, combining multiple functions into unified components rather than adding separate systems
3Manufacturing precision
If check valve systems are used to control gas flow between cylinders, then compression ratio control is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The check valves are integrated directly into the cylinder head structure, merging the flow control function with the existing engine components. This integration reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies manufacturing while maintaining precise control over gas flow and compression ratio
Solution Approach 2:
The check valve system operates automatically based on pressure differentials between cylinders, controlling gas flow without requiring external actuation or complex control systems. The valves self-regulate the compression process by opening and closing based on natural pressure gradients, eliminating the need for additional control mechanisms
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 allows for efficient compression and storage of natural gas onboard vehicles, reducing refueling time and energy consumption, while maintaining a high compression ratio, thus addressing the infrastructure limitations and enhancing the usability of natural gas-powered vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a piston configured to travel in a cylinder and to compress gas in the cylinder in multiple compression stages
Implementation Method 2
flow of the gas between the outlet of the first cylinder and the inlet of the second cylinder may be controlled, e.g., utilizing a check valve system to regulate flow in response to pressure differentials within the cylinders
Data Source
AI summary
This application concerns systems and methods for compressing natural gas with an internal combustion engine. In a representative embodiment, a method is featured which includes placing a first cylinder of an internal combustion engine in a compressor mode, and compressing a gas within the first cylinder, using the cylinder as a reciprocating compressor. In some embodiments a compression check valve system is used to regulate pressure and flow within cylinders of the engine during a compression process.