Concentrated Oxygen Intake for Lower Nitrous Oxide in Engine Combustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional internal combustion engines produce undesirable nitrous oxides due to the reaction of nitrogen in ambient air with oxygen during combustion, limiting combustion efficiency and increasing pollution.
Innovation Solution
Use an oxygen concentrator to remove nitrogen from ambient air, producing concentrated oxygen gas that is supplied into the combustion chamber, enhancing combustion efficiency and reducing nitrous oxide formation by minimizing nitrogen presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If ambient air is used for combustion, then oxygen is available for combustion, but nitrogen reacts with oxygen to form nitrous oxides which are harmful pollutants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes nitrogen from ambient air using an oxygen concentrator device, leaving concentrated oxygen to be supplied to the combustion chamber. This extraction principle directly addresses the technical contradiction by eliminating the harmful nitrogen component while retaining the useful oxygen for combustion, thereby reducing nitrous oxide production without completely sacrificing combustion efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the composition parameter of the gas supplied to the combustion chamber from ambient air (approximately 21% oxygen, 79% nitrogen) to concentrated oxygen (greater than 50% oxygen). This parameter change in oxygen concentration fundamentally alters the combustion process, reducing nitrogen availability for harmful reactions while maintaining or improving combustion efficiency
2Productivity
If concentrated oxygen is supplied to the combustion chamber, then combustion efficiency increases, but the system complexity increases due to oxygen concentrator
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen concentrator is designed to operate autonomously by drawing ambient air and automatically separating oxygen from nitrogen without requiring external intervention. The system self-regulates the oxygen concentration and supply, reducing the need for complex external control mechanisms while maintaining high combustion efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The oxygen concentrator serves multiple functions: it acts as an air processor, oxygen generator, and combustion support system simultaneously. By consolidating these functions into a single device, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate systems for each function
3Object-generated harmful factors
If nitrogen is removed from air, then nitrous oxide formation is reduced, but oxygen concentration must be maintained requiring continuous processing
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen concentrator operates in periodic cycles of air intake, nitrogen removal, and oxygen delivery rather than continuous operation. This periodic action allows the system to process air in batches, reducing peak energy consumption while still maintaining adequate oxygen supply for combustion, thereby lowering overall energy usage compared to continuous processing
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
Significantly increases combustion efficiency and reduces pollution by minimizing nitrous oxide production, while eliminating the need for continuous oxygen replenishment and utilizing ambient air as the input source.
Implementation Method 1
an oxygen concentrator to remove nitrogen from the air to produce a concentrated oxygen gas
Implementation Method 2
combusting the concentrated oxygen gas and liquid fuel in the combustion chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for enhancing fuel combustion in an engine (which may be a standard gasoline engine, a diesel engine or a hydro-diesel engine) by using an oxygen concentrator to remove nitrogen from the air to produce a concentrated oxygen gas that is fed into a gas intake of the engine's combustion chamber. The concentrated oxygen gas and liquid fuel are combusted within the combustion chamber. In hydro-diesel embodiments, hydrogen gas is mixed into the liquid diesel fuel to form a homogeneous mixture of hydrogen gas and liquid diesel fuel entering the combustion chamber. Filler gases may also be added into the combustion chamber.