Direct-Injection Diesel Engine Dual-Angle Fuel Injection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Compression ignition engines with direct fuel injection face challenges in achieving homogeneous fuel mixtures, leading to high pollutant emissions and mechanical stress due to incomplete combustion and inefficient use of oxidizer, particularly at high loads.

Innovation Solution

The engine design incorporates a piston with a concave bowl and fuel injection system that projects fuel jets at two different angles, creating separate mixing zones within the combustion chamber, with the lower jet axis positioned between a toroidal volume and a stud, and the upper jet axis demarcated by inclined and convex surfaces, optimizing oxidizer utilization and minimizing jet overlap.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If traditional single-layer fuel injection is used, then the device complexity is low, but the fuel mixture homogeneity is poor leading to high pollutant emissions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepollutant emissionsVSAvoidinjection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel injection system is segmented into two distinct layers with different injection angles. The first layer uses a narrow injection angle (0°-30°) to target the toroidal volume near the piston bowl, while the second layer uses a wide injection angle (60°-90°) to distribute fuel across the combustion chamber. This segmentation allows each layer to serve a specific mixing function, improving overall fuel-oxidizer homogeneity and reducing pollutant emissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from single-plane injection to multi-dimensional injection by introducing vertical layering with different injection angles. The first layer injects fuel downward into the toroidal volume, while the second layer injects fuel outward at wider angles across the combustion chamber. This dimensional approach creates multiple mixing zones that improve fuel distribution and combustion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If fuel is confined in the piston bowl, then the mechanical strength of the piston is maintained, but the fuel mixture homogeneity is poor causing high richness zones

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh richness zonesVSAvoidpiston mechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The combustion chamber is segmented into two functional zones: a toroidal volume near the piston bowl for concentrated fuel injection, and a broader combustion chamber volume for oxidizer mixing. The first injection layer targets the toroidal volume to create a controlled fuel-rich zone for efficient combustion, while the second layer distributes fuel across the broader chamber to prevent excessive richness zones and improve overall mixture homogeneity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the combustion chamber are given different fuel concentrations through the two-layer injection system. The toroidal volume receives concentrated fuel injection from the first layer, creating optimal local conditions for combustion initiation, while the second layer provides broader distribution to ensure adequate fuel-oxidizer mixing in the surrounding combustion chamber volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If two-layer fuel injection with different angles is used, then the fuel mixture homogeneity is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel mixture homogeneityVSAvoidinjection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The two-layer injection system with different angles is merged into a single integrated injection device. The first layer uses a narrow injection angle (0°-30°) to target the toroidal volume, while the second layer uses a wide injection angle (60°-90°) to distribute fuel across the combustion chamber. By combining these two injection patterns in one device, the system achieves improved fuel-oxidizer mixing and reduced pollutant emissions without requiring multiple separate injection systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enhances combustion efficiency, reduces pollutant emissions, and distributes thermal load effectively, improving performance and consumption while maintaining mechanical strength across the engine's operating range.

Implementation Method 1

The invention relates to a combustion engine with direct fuel injection... injection means for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber... two separate mixing zones of the combustion chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 2

the fuel mixture (oxidant/fuel) in the combustion chamber to be as homogeneous as possible... separate mixing zones... into which the fuel jets of the lower layer are injected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 3

compression ignition engine... compression ignition direct injection internal combustion engine... piston sliding in this cylinder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 4

combustion chamber... combustion efficiency... combustion of this fuel mixture

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP3060774B1Direct-fuel-injection diesel engine and fuel injection method for such an engine
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 EUROCOPTER FRANCE SA
  • EP3060774B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3060774B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a direct-injection diesel engine, including at least one cylinder (10), a cylinder head (12) that supports fuel injection means (14), a piston (16) that slides in said cylinder, a combustion chamber (34) that is defined on one side by the upper surface (44) of the piston comprising a pintle (48) erecting in the direction of the cylinder head and arranged in the center of a concave bowl (46), said engine comprising injection means which spray fuel in at least two streams of fuel jets, having different stream angles (A1, A2), a lower stream (36) having a jet axis (C1) and an upper stream (38) having a jet axis (C2), in at least two mixing areas (Z1, Z2) of the combustion chamber. According to the invention, one of the areas comprises a toroidal volume (64) having a center (B) into which the fuel jets (40) of the lower stream are injected such that the axis (C1) of the lower stream jets is located between the center (B) and the pintle (48).