Internal Combustion Engine Pre-Chamber Gas Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spark-ignition internal combustion engines with gas feeding systems, such as those using CNG or methane, face inefficiencies in gas consumption and operational performance, particularly when trying to optimize engine efficiency, minimize fuel consumption, and reduce exhaust emissions.
Innovation Solution
The engine employs an auxiliary gas injector and spark plug arrangement with a combustion pre-chamber, where the auxiliary gas injector injects gas into the pre-chamber during the intake or compression stage, creating a rich air-fuel mixture that ignites and propagates to the main combustion chamber, while the main injector provides a poor air-fuel mixture to minimize fuel consumption, with the electronic control unit managing gas pressure levels based on engine conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gas is injected into the combustion pre-chamber to create a rich air-fuel mixture for efficient combustion, then operational efficiency is improved, but gas consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion system is divided into two separate injection paths: main gas injectors that deliver a poor air-fuel mixture to the combustion chamber, and auxiliary gas injectors that deliver a rich air-fuel mixture to the combustion pre-chamber. This segmentation allows the rich mixture to be used only where it is most effective for ignition and initial combustion, rather than throughout the entire combustion chamber, thereby improving operational efficiency while minimizing overall gas consumption.
2Productivity
If the combustion pre-chamber is used to propagate combustion to the main combustion chamber, then combustion efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary gas injectors are integrated into the existing gas feeding system and communicate with the same distribution manifold as the main gas injectors. The combustion pre-chamber is incorporated within the existing cylinder head structure. This merging approach allows the system to benefit from pre-chamber combustion efficiency while utilizing existing infrastructure, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If the electronic control unit controls gas pressure regulation based on operating conditions, then fuel consumption is minimized, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic control unit receives signals from sensors that monitor operating conditions such as engine load, temperature, and pressure. Based on this feedback information, the control unit dynamically adjusts the opening timing and duration of both main and auxiliary gas injectors, as well as the gas pressure regulation valve, to optimize the air-fuel mixture and minimize fuel consumption under varying operating conditions.
4Productivity
If auxiliary gas injectors are added to the system, then gas injection optimization is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary gas injectors use the same basic injector design and communication infrastructure (distribution manifold) as the main gas injectors. This universal approach allows the system to implement optimized gas injection into the pre-chamber while using standardized components, thereby improving gas injection optimization without proportionally increasing manufacturing complexity.
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 achieves low gas consumption and high operational efficiency by optimizing gas injection and scavenging in the pre-chamber, allowing for standard injector use and easy modification to conventional cylinder heads, while minimizing fuel consumption and reducing emissions.
Implementation Method 1
the auxiliary gas injector injects gas into the pre-chamber during the intake or compression stage
Implementation Method 2
creating a rich air-fuel mixture that ignites and propagates to the main combustion chamber
Implementation Method 3
the combustion propagates to the main combustion chamber
Implementation Method 4
the electronic control unit managing gas pressure levels based on engine conditions
Data Source
AI summary
An engine is equipped with a gas feeding system, including main gas injectors each associated with an intake duct of a respective engine cylinder, a gas distribution manifold communicating with said main injectors, a gas tank, connected to the manifold, where pressurized gas is accumulated, a controlled pressure valve interposed between the tank and manifold, and a control unit for controlling the pressure valve to establish a gas pressure in the manifold. A spark plug of each cylinder is mounted within a support body that defines a combustion pre-chamber and a channel for auxiliary gas injection within the pre-chamber, communicating with a respective auxiliary gas injector. The auxiliary gas injectors are in communication with the manifold, downstream of the pressure valve. In the channel, a non-return valve and a restricted passage are provided in series, providing for passage of gas flow proportional to a volume of the pre-chamber.