Exhaust Valve Transient Control for Diesel Engine Load Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large diesel engines face challenges in maintaining efficient, economical, and low-emission operation during sudden and frequent load changes, such as those encountered in heavy seas or maneuvering operations, due to difficulties in controlling the air-fuel ratio and meeting stringent exhaust gas limits.

Innovation Solution

A method that adjusts the transient closing angle of the exhaust valve and limits the amount of gas introduced into the cylinder, supplemented by additional liquid fuel, to maintain an optimal air-fuel mixture and compensate for variations in boost pressure, allowing continued operation in gas mode without knocking or misfiring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If the engine operates in gas mode during sudden and frequent load changes, then emissions compliance is improved, but control stability deteriorates due to difficulty in maintaining optimal air-fuel ratio

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveemissionsVSAvoidair-fuel ratio control
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust valve closing angle is made dynamically adjustable based on instantaneous load conditions. The control system continuously monitors load changes and adjusts the closing angle in real-time to maintain optimal air-fuel ratio during transient operations, enabling stable gas mode operation even during sudden load changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operating parameters of the exhaust valve (closing angle) in response to varying load conditions. By adjusting the closing angle parameter, the system optimizes the air-fuel mixture composition dynamically, ensuring both emissions compliance and control stability during transient operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the exhaust valve closing angle is adjusted to maintain optimal air-fuel ratio, then combustion stability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion stabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor instantaneous load conditions and automatically adjust the exhaust valve closing angle accordingly. This closed-loop control maintains optimal combustion stability without requiring complex manual intervention or overly complicated control architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the amount of gas introduced into the cylinder is limited, then knocking combustion is prevented, but power output decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveknocking preventionVSAvoidengine power output
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the gas quantity parameter introduced into the cylinder based on instantaneous load conditions. By dynamically adjusting this parameter along with the exhaust valve closing angle, the system prevents knocking combustion while minimizing power loss during transient operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 approach enables reliable, efficient, and environmentally friendly operation of dual-fuel large diesel engines during load changes, ensuring the air-fuel mixture remains within optimal limits, reducing engine speed fluctuations, and maintaining compliance with emissions regulations.

Implementation Method 1

determining a transient closing angle for the exhaust valve, at which the exhaust valve closes during a working cycle of the large diesel engine, by means of which the amount of air compressed in the cylinder can be influenced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

the scavenging or charge air is usually provided by a turbocharger, which generates a scavenging or charge air pressure that depends on the engine load

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3095993B1Method for operating a large diesel engine, use of this method and large diesel engine
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 WINGD AG
  • EP3095993B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3095993B1 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP3095993B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for operating a large diesel engine is proposed, which is operable at least in a gas mode in which a gas is introduced as fuel into a cylinder (21) and discharged through an exhaust valve (24) after combustion. During operation in gas mode (10), a state of strong load changes is detected (13), and the large diesel engine is then operated in a transient mode comprising the following steps: - determining a dwell angle for closing the exhaust valve in gas mode, - determining a correction value for the dwell angle (14), - determining a transient dwell angle (14) by relating the dwell angle to the correction value, - closing the exhaust valve at the transient dwell angle (15). Furthermore, a large diesel engine operated according to such a method is proposed.