Dual-Fuel Engine Pilot-Fuel Filtration for Injection Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual fuel engines using different fuel injection valves for diffusion and premixed combustion systems lack specific fuel paths designed for fuel purification, leading to suboptimal fuel injection and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
The engine incorporates separate fuel supply paths for gaseous and liquid fuels, including a pilot fuel supply path with a purification filter and a main fuel supply path, utilizing high-pressure pumps and filters to maintain fuel cleanliness and reduce maintenance frequency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the same fuel injection valve is used for both diffusion combustion system and premixed combustion system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the fuel injection performance deteriorates because the two systems have different purposes of fuel injection
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel injection system is segmented into two independent subsystems: a main fuel injection valve for diffusion combustion and a pilot fuel injection valve for premixed combustion. This segmentation allows each valve to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and injection performance.
2Reliability
If different fuel injection valves are used for diffusion combustion system and premixed combustion system, then the fuel injection performance is improved, but the device complexity increases and specific fuel paths designed for fuel purification are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel supply system is divided into separate main fuel supply path and pilot fuel supply path, with dedicated filtration and high-pressure generation for each. This segmentation enables optimized fuel purification for each injection system while maintaining overall system manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
A pilot fuel tank is introduced as an intermediary storage component between the liquid fuel tank and the pilot fuel injection valve. This intermediary allows for dedicated fuel purification and high-pressure generation specifically for the pilot injection system, improving performance without overly complicating the overall fuel supply architecture.
3Device complexity
If liquid fuel is stored in the liquid fuel tank and supplied directly to both injection valves, then the fuel supply path is simplified, but the fuel purification effectiveness deteriorates because injected fuel returns to the tank and mixes with stored fuel
Solution Approach 1:
The pilot fuel tank extracts and isolates the pilot fuel from the main liquid fuel tank after purification and high-pressure generation. This extraction prevents the returned pilot fuel from mixing with the stored liquid fuel in the main tank, maintaining fuel purification effectiveness while keeping the supply path structure manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards the returned pilot fuel from the combustion cycle and recycles it through the pilot fuel supply pump back to the pilot fuel tank for reuse, rather than allowing it to return to the main liquid fuel tank. This approach maintains fuel quality in both tanks while managing the fuel supply path efficiently.
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 ensures reliable ignition and reduces maintenance needs by purifying pilot fuel effectively, minimizing pipe length and pressure loss, and preventing clogging in the fuel injection system.
Implementation Method 1
The pilot fuel filter is disposed in an intermediate portion of the pilot fuel supply path
Implementation Method 2
The pilot fuel high-pressure pump is disposed in an intermediate portion of the pilot fuel supply path and sends, to the pilot fuel injection valve, pilot fuel that has passed through the pilot fuel filter
Implementation Method 3
The pilot fuel supply pump is disposed in an intermediate portion of the pilot fuel supply path and sends, to the pilot fuel filter, pilot fuel stored in the pilot fuel tank
Implementation Method 4
The engine body is configured to generate a driving force using supplied fuel
Data Source
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AI summary
An engine (100) is operable in a premixed combustion system and a diffusion combustion system. The engine (100) includes a main fuel injection valve (79), a pilot fuel injection valve (82), a liquid fuel tank (33), a main fuel supply path (121), a pilot fuel supply path (122), a pilot fuel filter (141), a pilot fuel high-pressure pump (56), a pilot fuel tank (171), and a pilot fuel supply pump (173). The pilot fuel tank (171) stores pilot fuel sent from the pilot fuel high-pressure pump (56) and not injected by the pilot fuel injection valve (82). This pilot fuel is sent to an automatic backwash filter (174) and a pilot fuel filter (141) while not passing through the liquid fuel tank (33).