Dew Point-Controlled Liquid Injection for Engine NOx Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine systems are susceptible to water ingress, leading to corrosion and humidity-related issues that affect components and require complex aftertreatment systems to meet emissions regulations, which can be costly and impractical for retrofitting.
Innovation Solution
A liquid injection system that determines dew point temperature limits and condensation margins using existing sensors, controlling a water pump and injector valves to inject a fine mist of liquid into the combustion air, reducing NOx emissions without additional sensors or aftertreatment systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If liquid injection is used to reduce NOx emissions, then emissions compliance is improved, but risk of condensation and water ingress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates the dew point temperature limit before liquid injection begins and uses this pre-determined limit to control the injection process. By establishing the safety threshold in advance based on measured temperature, pressure, and humidity, the system can inject liquid to reduce NOx emissions while preventing condensation and water ingress.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors temperature, pressure, and humidity parameters, recalculates the dew point temperature limit in real-time, and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust liquid injection rates. This closed-loop control ensures emissions reduction while preventing condensation by responding to changing operating conditions.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If complex aftertreatment systems are added to meet emissions regulations, then emissions compliance is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing sensors already present in the engine to measure temperature, pressure, and humidity, eliminating the need for additional sensing equipment. The control unit processes these existing measurements to calculate dew point limits and control liquid injection, making the system self-sufficient without requiring complex external monitoring infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of the combustion air by injecting liquid (water or alternative fluids) directly into the intake manifold or combustion chamber. This parameter change approach achieves emissions reduction through fundamental combustion modification rather than adding complex aftertreatment hardware, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If liquid injection rate is increased to reduce emissions, then emissions reduction is improved, but risk of condensation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the liquid injection rate based on real-time calculation of the dew point temperature limit. As operating conditions change (temperature, pressure, humidity), the maximum safe injection rate is continuously updated, allowing the system to operate at high injection rates when safe and reduce injection when approaching condensation thresholds, optimizing both emissions reduction and condensation prevention.
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
Reduces NOx emissions by 5% to 40% while inhibiting condensation, making it suitable for retrofitting older engines to comply with emissions regulations without complex upgrades.
Implementation Method 1
inject a fine mist of liquid into the combustion air
Implementation Method 2
mixing
Implementation Method 3
determine a dew point temperature limit based on temperature information, humidity information, and pressure information
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods include processing circuits comprising one or more memory devices coupled to one or more processors, the one or more memory devices configured to store instructions thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to receive temperature information indicative of a temperature within an air intake, receive humidity information indicative of an inlet air humidity at the air intake, receive pressure information indicative of an air pressure within the air intake, determine a dew point temperature limit based on the temperature information, the humidity information, and the pressure information, determine an exhaust emissions output, determine a liquid flow rate based on the dew point temperature limit, the liquid flow rate reducing the exhaust emissions output, and control at least one of a pump or a valve to provide the liquid flow rate.