Dual-Fuel Injection Layout for Variable Hydromethane Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The diffusion of hydromethane in automotive systems is poor due to inconsistent hydrogen percentages and incompatibility with liquefied methane, making it difficult to predict capillary diffusion, and the integration of hydrogen into existing methane gas networks is uncertain.
Innovation Solution
A dual-injector system on board vehicles injects methane and hydrogen separately into a common channel, creating a hydromethane mixture directly for combustion, with adjustable ratios based on engine conditions and fuel availability, using separate tanks and controlled by an ECU.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hydromethane is distributed through methane gas networks with added hydrogen, then hydrogen can be conveyed from production to use points, but the hydrogen percentage becomes inconsistent and diffusion remains poor
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the storage and injection of hydrogen and methane into independent channels, with each fuel having its own injector and control system. This allows precise control of each component's delivery while maintaining overall mixture flexibility, resolving the contradiction between distribution adaptability and composition consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection system dynamically adjusts the hydrogen and methane injection ratios based on real-time engine operating conditions through electronic control. This dynamic adjustment capability ensures consistent mixture composition despite varying demand, while maintaining the adaptability to distribute different fuel types through the same infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hydrogen is injected into liquefied methane, then hydromethane mixture could be created, but the different liquefaction temperatures make mixing impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses completely separate injection channels and timing for hydrogen and methane, eliminating any attempt to mix them in liquid form. Each fuel is injected as a gas into the combustion chamber through its own dedicated injector, bypassing the temperature compatibility issue entirely.
3Productivity
If separate tanks and dual injectors are used for hydrogen and methane, then combustion efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the control of hydrogen and methane injection into a single integrated electronic control unit that manages both injectors based on engine conditions. This consolidation of control functions reduces operational complexity despite the physical separation of storage tanks and injectors, maintaining high combustion efficiency through coordinated fuel delivery.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If hydrogen percentage is increased to improve combustion efficiency, then CO2 equivalent and NOx emissions reduce, but system reliability decreases due to network incompatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the hydrogen injection amount based on real-time monitoring of network compatibility conditions and engine requirements. This allows the system to maximize emissions reduction benefits when conditions permit while automatically reducing hydrogen content when network compatibility becomes an issue, maintaining reliability while minimizing harmful emissions.
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 system ensures efficient combustion by varying hydrogen and methane ratios dynamically, simplifying assembly and reducing system dimensions while improving engine performance and emissions.
Implementation Method 1
the two species of methane and hydrogen are stored separately on board the vehicle using separate accumulation tanks... the two injectors are associated together so as to inject the respective species into a common injection channel
Implementation Method 2
the ratio between methane and hydrogen has varied over time as a function of some factors: Operating point of the engine, Ambient temperature and/or engine coolant temperature, Characteristics of methane, Fuel levels in methane and hydrogen tanks
Data Source
AI summary
A methane and hydrogen injection device is provided. The methane and hydrogen injection device includes a first methane injector, a second hydrogen injector, a single common injection pipe. The injectors are associated together so as to produce a mixture of methane and hydrogen with a variable concentration ratio, and the common injection duct is shaped to be operatively connected to an intake manifold of a spark-ignition internal combustion engine.