Dual Injection Valves for Engine Load Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large reciprocating engines face challenges with smoke formation at low loads due to suboptimal fuel injector performance, which is often optimized for high loads, leading to higher fuel consumption and increased emissions.

Innovation Solution

A fuel injection system with a high pressure fuel pump, separate fuel injection units for each cylinder, including a switch valve and control valve that allow for flexible fuel injection timing and valve selection based on engine load, reducing emissions and fuel consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fuel injectors are optimized for high loads, then high load performance is improved, but low load performance deteriorates leading to smoke formation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh load performanceVSAvoid smoke formation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between a first fuel injection valve optimized for high loads and a second fuel injection valve optimized for low loads based on engine operating conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain optimal injection performance across the entire operating range, preventing smoke formation at low loads while preserving high load capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes key parameters including injection timing, injection duration, and fuel pressure by selecting different injection valves and controlling their operation. The control unit adjusts these parameters based on load conditions, enabling the first valve to operate at high loads and the second valve at low loads, thereby resolving the contradiction between high load performance and low load emissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If injector performance at low loads is improved, then smoke formation is reduced, but fuel consumption at high loads increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improve smoke formationVSAvoidfuel consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically selects which injection valve to use based on engine load. At low loads, the second injection valve is activated to reduce smoke formation. At high loads, the system switches to the first injection valve which is optimized for high performance and fuel efficiency. This dynamic switching ensures that each valve operates in its optimal range, preventing both smoke formation and excessive fuel consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The fuel injection system is segmented into two separate injection valves with different optimization characteristics. The first valve is segmented for high load operation with higher fuel injection capacity, while the second valve is segmented for low load operation with lower capacity. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific operating range without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If a single fuel injection valve is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different operating conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinjection system structureVSAvoidoperating range flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates dynamic switching capability through a switch valve that can redirect fuel flow to either the first or second injection valve based on operating conditions. This dynamic element adds adaptability while maintaining relatively simple system architecture. The control unit monitors engine load and automatically selects the appropriate valve, providing high adaptability without requiring complex manual intervention or overly complicated mechanical structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The fuel injection system achieves multi-functionality by incorporating two injection valves that can serve different operating conditions within a single integrated system. The first valve handles high load conditions while the second valve handles low load conditions. This universal design allows one system to perform multiple functions across the entire operating range, effectively replacing what would otherwise require two separate systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2805041B1Fuel injection system
Publication Date: 2016.06.08 WARTSILA FINLAND OY
  • EP2805041B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2805041B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A fuel injection system (1) comprising two injection valves (4, 5) for each cylinder, a switch valve (12) and a control valve (19). The switch valve (12) has a first position, where flow communication between the control valve (19) and the first fuel injection valve (4) is open and flow communication between the control valve (19) and the second fuel injection valve (5) is closed, and a second position, where flow communication between the control valve (19) and the second fuel injection valve (5) is open and flow communication between the control valve (19) and the first fuel injection valve (4) is closed. The control valve (19) has a first position, where flow communication between the pressure accumulator (6) and the switch valve (12) is open and flow communication between a drain line (20) and the switch valve (12) is closed, and a second position, where flow communication between the drain line (20) and the switch valve (12) is open and flow communication be- tween the pressure accumulator (6) and the switch valve (12) is closed.