Crankcase Ventilation Heated Inlet for Natural Gas Engines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crankcase ventilation systems for internal combustion engines using gaseous fuels like natural gas fail to effectively address corrosive fumes and inefficiencies in heating ambient air, leading to condensation and formation of harmful acids in cold environments.
Innovation Solution
A crankcase ventilation system that filters ambient air and heats it using a jacket heat exchanger, with the heated air being directed into the crankcase to purge blow-by gases, incorporating a shell and tube heat exchanger design that utilizes engine coolant for efficient heating and preventing acid formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If cold ambient air is used for crankcase ventilation, then the ventilation system can operate with simple components, but condensation forms in the crankcase combining with corrosive fumes to form harmful acids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by heating the ambient air before it enters the crankcase ventilation system. The heat exchanger pre-heats the incoming air using engine coolant, ensuring the air is already at a suitable temperature before contact with blow-by gases, thereby preventing condensation and acid formation beforehand rather than treating the problem after it occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the engine coolant as an intermediary medium to transfer heat from the engine to the ventilation air. The coolant serves as a heat carrier that indirectly heats the ambient air through the heat exchanger, avoiding direct contact between the heating source and the ventilation system while effectively raising the air temperature to prevent condensation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a separate heating system is added to warm the ambient air, then condensation and acid formation are prevented, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the engine coolant serve multiple functions: it continues to cool the engine through its normal cooling cycle while simultaneously heating the ventilation air through the heat exchanger. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate heating system, as the existing coolant system performs both cooling and heating tasks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the heating function into the existing cooling system by integrating a heat exchanger that utilizes the engine coolant. Instead of having separate cooling and heating systems, the design combines these functions into a single integrated system where the coolant loop serves dual purposes, reducing overall system complexity and component count
3Object-affected harmful factors
If ambient air is heated to prevent condensation, then harmful acid formation is prevented, but energy is consumed for heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the waste heat from the engine coolant into a useful resource for heating the ventilation air. Instead of dissipating the coolant's thermal energy unnecessarily, the system captures and utilizes this waste heat to warm the incoming ambient air, transforming what would be wasted energy into a beneficial heating source that prevents condensation and acid formation
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
Effectively purges corrosive fumes and prevents the formation of harmful acids in the crankcase by heating the ambient air to a suitable temperature, utilizing existing engine cooling systems for temperature control without the need for a separate heating system.
Implementation Method 1
heating the filtered ambient air by a jacket heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
The coolant may be flowed around the one or more tubes for heating the filtered ambient air
Data Source
AI summary
A method for ventilating a crankcase of an internal combustion engine using natural gas as a fuel source may include filtering ambient air through an air filter. The method may also include heating the filtered ambient air by a jacket heat exchanger. The method may further include directing the heated ambient air through an inlet of the crankcase to purge blow-by gases including natural gas from the crankcase.