Ether Fumigation for Diesel Engine Emissions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diesel engines face challenges in reducing nitrogen oxide and carbon black emissions while operating with low cetane number fuels, requiring additional ignition aids and complex logistic systems, and existing emission reduction methods are costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A self-igniting internal combustion engine with ether fumigation of the combustion air, using an alkanol fuel delivery system, exhaust gas heat exchanger, and catalyst to convert alkanol fuels into ethers, which are then mixed with recirculated exhaust gas and injected into the combustion chamber, eliminating the need for additional ignition aids and reducing emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If oxygen-containing fuels with low cetane numbers (methanol, ethanol, n-butanol) are used, then carbon black emissions are reduced, but additional ignition aids and complex logistic systems are required
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel system is segmented into two separate tanks: one for alkanol fuel and one for diesel fuel. The alkanol fuel is used exclusively for ether fumigation (injection into the intake air), while diesel fuel is used for direct injection into the combustion chamber. This segmentation allows each fuel type to serve its optimal function without requiring complex logistic integration
Solution Approach 2:
Ether acts as an intermediary substance that bridges the gap between alkanol fuel and diesel combustion. The alkanol is converted to ether through dehydration in a catalyst, and this ether then serves as the actual combustion fuel in the diesel engine, eliminating the need for complex logistic systems while maintaining low emissions
2Object-generated harmful factors
If selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with aqueous urea solution is used, then nitrogen oxide emissions are substantially reduced, but additional tank and operating substance consumption are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the engine's own exhaust gas to provide the necessary conditions for ether formation and combustion. The exhaust gas heats the alkanol fuel in the heat exchanger and provides the thermal environment for the catalyst to convert alkanol to ether, eliminating the need for external urea solutions and additional chemical substances
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the chemical composition of the intake air by adding ether vapor through fumigation. This parameter change in the combustion mixture allows for reduced nitrogen oxide formation at the source, eliminating the need for post-combustion treatment systems like SCR
3Object-generated harmful factors
If cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is used, then nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced, but high charge pressures and complex charging systems are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful hot exhaust gas into a beneficial heating source. The exhaust gas heats the alkanol fuel in the heat exchanger to enable vaporization and ether formation, turning what would normally be a waste heat problem into a useful thermal resource that simplifies the overall system
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
The engine achieves significant reduction in nitrogen oxide and carbon black emissions while adhering to strict exhaust gas standards without additional operating substances, maintaining conventional logistic systems, and reducing production and operating costs.
Implementation Method 1
an exhaust gas heat exchanger for cooling a portion of the exhaust gas arising during the firing of the internal combustion engine and for evaporating the alkanol fuel fed while absorbing thermal energy
Implementation Method 2
an exhaust gas heat exchanger for cooling a portion of the exhaust gas arising during the firing of the internal combustion engine and for evaporating the alkanol fuel fed while absorbing thermal energy
Implementation Method 3
a catalyst for dehydrating the evaporated alkanol fuel to form ether
Implementation Method 4
a catalyst for dehydrating the evaporated alkanol fuel to form ether and water vapour
Implementation Method 5
a portion of the fuel required to fire the internal combustion engine can be fed by means of the ether fumigation of the combustion air, while mixing in the exhaust gas cooled in the exhaust gas heat exchanger, to the combustion chamber
Implementation Method 6
firing the internal combustion engine by combusting the combustion mixture in the combustion chamber
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a self-igniting internal combustion engine (10) with ether fumigation of the combustion air for vehicles, wherein to provide for ether fumigation, a feed means (1, 2, 3) is provided for an alkanol fuel in the flow direction, an exhaust gas heat exchanger (4) is provided for cooling a portion of the exhaust gas arising from the firing of the internal combustion engine (10) and for vaporizing the alkanol fuel fed while at the same time absorbing the thermal energy to be dissipated during cooling of the exhaust gas, and a catalyst (5) is provided for dehydrating the evaporated alkanol fuel to form ether, and wherein the feed means (1, 2, 3), the exhaust gas heat exchanger (4) and the catalyst (5) are connected to the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine (10) and adapted in such a way that a portion of the fuel required to fire the internal combustion engine (10) can be fed to the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine (10) by way of the ether fumigation of the combustion air while mixing in the exhaust gas cooled in the exhaust gas heat exchanger (4). The invention further relates to a method for ether fumigation of the combustion air in a self-igniting internal combustion engine for vehicles.