Internal Combustion Engine Oxygen Separator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engines face inefficiencies due to air dilution, leading to unwanted oxides of nitrogen and increased volumetric flow, which affects engine design and operation, and reduces fuel economy.
Innovation Solution
A power system using an internal combustion engine that injects a charge of fuel, concentrated oxygen, and water in multiple pulses, with an oxygen separator employing a yttrium stabilized zirconia membrane with a synthesized double perovskite nanofiber coating to separate oxygen from air, allowing for precise control of oxygen-fuel ratios and improved combustion efficiency, and a two-stroke cycle for reduced volumetric flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If air is used as the oxidizer source in internal combustion engines, then the system does not require carrying fuel oxidizer, but the oxidizer is diluted with nitrogen resulting in unwanted oxides of nitrogen and increased volumetric flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the useful component (oxygen) from air by using an oxygen separation device, removing nitrogen and other unwanted constituents. This allows concentrated oxygen to be supplied to the engine without the dilution problems of using ambient air, thereby eliminating oxides of nitrogen formation while maintaining oxidizer supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of the oxidizer from ambient air composition (approximately 21% oxygen) to concentrated oxygen (greater than 50% oxygen, preferably greater than 90%). This parameter change fundamentally alters the combustion process to eliminate harmful emissions while improving volumetric efficiency.
2Quantity of substance
If air is used as the oxidizer source, then no oxidizer needs to be carried, but large volumetric flow through the engine is required including substantial nonproductive air components
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen separation device extracts concentrated oxygen from air, removing the substantial nonproductive air components (nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide). This extraction provides high-concentration oxygen with significantly reduced volumetric flow requirements, improving engine productivity by eliminating the need to process large volumes of dilute air.
3Measurement precision
If concentrated oxygen is used in the combustion chamber, then oxygen-fuel ratios and combustion parameters can be precisely controlled, but the system requires an oxygen separation device and storage system
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen separation device is designed to be self-regulating, using the engine's own exhaust heat to drive the separation process. The system automatically adjusts oxygen delivery based on engine demand, eliminating the need for complex external control systems while maintaining precise oxygen-fuel ratio control.
4Productivity
If multiple pulse injections of fuel, oxygen, and water are used, then combustion efficiency and oxygen-fuel ratio control are improved, but the injection system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines fuel injection, oxygen injection, and water injection into a coordinated multi-pulse system that operates together to achieve superior combustion efficiency. The merging of these three injection functions allows precise control of combustion parameters while the system is managed by a single CPU control unit that coordinates all injections.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection system uses periodic multi-pulse injections of fuel, oxygen, and water during the combustion cycle. This periodic action with multiple pulses per cycle allows precise control of combustion timing and efficiency, breaking down the combustion process into controllable stages that optimize burn rates and oxygen-fuel ratios.
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 solution enhances engine efficiency, reduces air pollution, and increases fuel economy by enabling more complete combustion, controlled burn rates, and volumetric expansion, while avoiding the need for catalytic conversion of oxides of nitrogen.
Implementation Method 1
Ionic transport membranes form one category of such devices which are applicable for mobile and stationary use with an engine. The preferred embodiment employs a yttrium stabilized zirconia membrane coated with a synthesized double perovskite nanofiber catalyst.
Implementation Method 2
The case enclosing such a membrane is arranged in a heat transfer relationship with the engine exhaust and receives compressed air feed to maintain an appropriate environment for operation of the membrane.
Implementation Method 3
Such devices have the capability of producing oxygen with a purity of at least 99.94%. The source of concentrated oxygen includes an oxygen separator. The separator separates oxygen from other constituents of air.
Implementation Method 4
Power systems using internal combustion engines, particularly for powering vehicles and craft have mixed fuel with air containing oxygen drawn into variable volume cylinders for combustion.
Data Source
AI summary
A power system including a variable volume combustion chamber for a two-stroke engine having a controlled exhaust port, a fuel injector to the combustion chamber, an oxygen injector to the combustion chamber and a water injector to the combustion chamber. The fuel, oxygen and water injectors controlled by a CPU provide repeated serial pulses of fuel, oxygen and water to complete a charge. An ignition chamber receives a compressed charge then ignited by a spark plug to pass through a restricted port to the main combustion chamber. A source of pressurized concentrated oxygen to the oxygen injector is in a closed air separator having a ceramic membrane of yttrium stabilized zirconia with a synthesized double perovskite nanofiber catalyst coating.