Dual-Fuel Engine Intake Phase Conversion to Reduce Fuel Slip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual fuel engines face inefficiencies due to gaseous fuel 'slip' through open exhaust valves, leading to reduced engine efficiency and increased emissions, and existing control strategies for multi-fuel engines are complex and require manual fuel property input, lacking accuracy.
Innovation Solution
An intake system that converts pressurized liquid fuel to gaseous fuel using intake air for cooling and phase change, integrated with an AI-controlled ECM for optimized fuel delivery, including a compressor and refrigeration cycle for enhanced performance and emissions reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If gaseous fuel is used in dual fuel engines, then fuel cost is reduced and emissions are lowered, but fuel slip through open exhaust valves increases leading to reduced engine efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical state of the fuel from gaseous to liquid form by increasing pressure and decreasing temperature. This parameter change allows the fuel to be properly injected and combusted without slipping through open exhaust valves, thereby resolving the contradiction between reducing fuel slip and maintaining engine efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of the fuel from liquid to gaseous state during combustion. The fuel is stored and injected in liquid form under pressure, then vaporizes in the combustion chamber. This phase transition enables controlled fuel delivery while preventing slip, improving both energy utilization and engine efficiency.
2Productivity
If complex control strategies are used for multi-fuel engines, then fuel delivery can be optimized, but system complexity increases and manual fuel property input is required
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically adapts to different fuel types and properties without requiring manual input. It self-calibrates by monitoring engine parameters and adjusting fuel delivery accordingly, eliminating the need for operators to manually enter fuel properties while maintaining optimized performance across different fuel types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor engine operation and automatically adjust fuel delivery parameters. This closed-loop control eliminates the need for complex pre-programming and manual adjustments, simplifying the system while maintaining optimal fuel delivery across varying operating conditions.
3Productivity
If pressurized liquid fuel is converted to gaseous fuel using intake air, then air density increases and engine performance improves, but the refrigeration cycle requires additional system components
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigeration cycle components serve dual purposes: they cool the fuel during phase transition and also cool the intake air to increase density. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate cooling systems, offsetting the added complexity by eliminating or reducing other system components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fuel cooling function with the intake air cooling function into a single integrated refrigeration cycle system. By combining these two cooling functions, the system reduces overall complexity compared to having separate systems for fuel management and air intake cooling.
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
Improves engine performance by increasing air density and reducing emissions, while simplifying fuel control and adapting to fuel quality changes, enhancing efficiency and reducing throttle positions.
Implementation Method 1
The pressurized liquid fuel is changed in phase and expanded by addition of heat or forcing the liquid through a metering/expansion orifice and reducing the pressure
Implementation Method 2
The incoming air is cooled by the phase changed fuel to increase air density of the air being drawn into the engine
Implementation Method 3
The pressurized liquid fuel is changed in phase and expanded by addition of heat or forcing the liquid through a metering/expansion orifice and reducing the pressure to cause cooling
Data Source
AI summary
The invention involves a system and method for providing a liquid fuel or a liquid and gaseous fuel to a diesel cycle or Otto cycle engine for operation of the engine. The system includes a primary electronic control module (ECM) which monitors engine sensors and contains least one three-dimensional (3D) fuel map for the liquid fuel and one for gaseous fuel. A gaseous fuel injection assembly is provided for the injection of the gaseous fuel to the engine. The gaseous fuel is transported on the vehicle in a liquid form and converted to a gaseous fuel via a fuel phase converter utilizing the air being drawn into the engine by the combustion process. The liquid fuel is warmed while the incoming air is cooled to increase air density of the air being drawn into the engine, thereby increasing engine performance and lowering the emissions output of the engine.