Engine Block-Mounted Air-Oil Separator for Crankcase Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine assemblies face challenges with blowby gases leaking into the crankcase volume, leading to increased packaging space requirements due to air-oil separators mounted in the cylinder head cover and issues with water vapor freezing in vent system passages at low temperatures.
Innovation Solution
An engine assembly with an air-oil separator mounted to the engine block, featuring a dual separation system where blowby gases are first separated by a primary air-oil separator and further processed by a secondary air-oil separator, with heating from engine cooling fluid to prevent water vapor freezing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air-oil separators are mounted within the cylinder head cover, then oil separation from blowby gasses is achieved, but the overall packaging space required for the engine assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air-oil separator is extracted from the cylinder head cover and relocated to be mounted directly on the engine block. This extraction removes the space-consuming cylinder head cover assembly from the ventilation path, thereby reducing the overall packaging space while maintaining the oil separation function through the repositioned separator.
2Reliability
If blowby gasses are vented through the PCV system, then blowby gasses are prevented from exiting to the atmosphere, but water vapor in the blowby gasses can freeze within the vent system passages at low operating temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the blowby gasses by directing engine cooling fluid through coolant passages that heat the gasses before they enter the air-oil separator and proceed through the vent system. This preliminary thermal treatment prevents water vapor freezing in advance, ensuring continuous operation even at low temperatures.
3Reliability
If a dual air-oil separator system is implemented, then oil separation effectiveness is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dual air-oil separator system merges the functions of two separators into a coordinated arrangement where the first separator handles initial oil removal and the second separator provides final polishing. By combining these stages and integrating them with the engine block mounting and coolant heating system, the overall complexity is managed while achieving enhanced separation effectiveness.
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 effectively separates oil from blowby gases, reduces packaging space, and prevents water vapor freezing, enhancing the engine's ventilation efficiency and operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
air-oil separator is configured to separate oil from blowby gasses flowing from the crankcase volume through the air-oil separator
Implementation Method 2
air-oil separator mounted in the engine block adjacent the crankcase volume to separate oil from the blowby gasses
Implementation Method 3
blowby gasses passing through the first air-oil separator are then heated by directing engine cooling fluid through a coolant passage in the engine block
Data Source
AI summary
An engine assembly includes an engine block at least partially defining a combustion chamber and a crankcase volume. The engine block defines an opening in fluid communication with the crankcase volume. An air-oil separator is mounted to the engine block at the opening and is configured to separate oil from blowby gasses flowing from the crankcase volume through the air-oil separator. A method of venting an engine crankcase volume is also included.