Four-Way Valve Mixing Unit for Engine Cylinder Group Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy-duty vehicle internal combustion engines face challenges in maintaining efficient exhaust aftertreatment system operation at low load or cold conditions, as existing solutions to increase exhaust gas temperature, such as deactivating engine cylinders, complicate the engine structure and reduce free space, leading to inefficiencies in emission reduction.
Innovation Solution
An internal combustion engine system with a four-way valve mixing unit that controls the flow of fresh air and exhaust gas, allowing for a regeneration operating mode where only one group of cylinders receives exhaust gas, maintaining a simple engine structure and efficient emission reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If cylinders are deactivated to increase exhaust gas temperature, then emission reduction efficiency is improved, but engine structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engine's cylinder group is segmented into two distinct subgroups (first group and second group), each with separate intake and exhaust manifolds. This segmentation enables independent control of exhaust gas flow paths, allowing selective activation/deactivation of cylinder groups without requiring complex individual cylinder control mechanisms, thus improving emission reduction efficiency while managing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust manifold is designed with multi-functionality to serve dual purposes: it acts as both an exhaust gas collection component and an EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) supply component. The manifold includes a first outlet for exhaust gases and a second outlet for EGR gases, enabling the same structural element to support multiple functions including emission control and temperature management without adding significant structural complexity.
2Temperature
If cylinders are deactivated to increase exhaust gas temperature, then exhaust gas temperature is improved, but free space around engine decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust manifold incorporates a three-dimensional internal chamber structure with strategically positioned outlets (first outlet and second outlet) that utilize spatial dimensionality to separate exhaust gas flow paths. This dimensional approach allows multiple functional outlets to be arranged in different spatial locations, optimizing exhaust gas temperature while maintaining compact engine packaging and preserving free space around the engine.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If exhaust gas recirculation is increased to improve emission reduction, then nitrogen oxide reduction is improved, but exhaust gas temperature may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust manifold provides differentiated local quality by offering distinct outlet paths: a first outlet for high-temperature exhaust gases and a second outlet for EGR gases. This local differentiation allows the system to deliver high-temperature exhaust to maintain aftertreatment efficiency while simultaneously providing controlled EGR recirculation for nitrogen oxide reduction, resolving the temperature-emission trade-off through spatially differentiated gas flow paths.
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 system effectively increases exhaust gas temperature during regeneration mode, ensuring efficient operation of the exhaust aftertreatment system while maintaining a compact engine design, thus achieving better emission reduction without the complexity of prior solutions.
Implementation Method 1
the internal chamber having a first portion in fluid communication with the first inlet and the first outlet of the four-way valve and a second portion in fluid communication with the second inlet and the second outlet of the four-way valve
Implementation Method 2
the central opening being selectively closed by a closure element
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4a
Figure 4b~4c
AI summary
The invention relates to an internal combustion engine system (100), comprising : - an internal combustion engine (2) comprising a cylinder block (3) housing a plurality of cylinders (4), a first intake manifold (6a) connected to a first group of cylinders (4a), a second distinct intake manifold (6b) connected to a second group of cylinders (4b) and a first, respectively a second, exhaust manifold (8a, 8b) for receiving the exhaust gas emitted from the first, respectively the second, group of cylinders (4a, 4b); - an air inlet line (10); - an EGR line (20) connected to the first and second exhaust manifolds (8a, 8b); wherein the internal combustion engine system is operable in at least two operating modes, respectively a normal operating mode in which all cylinders are supplied with fuel and a regeneration operating mode, in which the cylinders of the first group of cylinders (4a) are no longer supplied with fuel, characterized in that: - the system also includes a mixing unit (30) comprising a four-way valve, said four-way valve (30) having a first inlet (31) connected to the EGR line (20), a second inlet (32) connected to the air inlet line (10), a first outlet (33) connected to the first intake manifold (6a) and a second outlet (34) connected to the second intake manifold (6b); - the four-way valve is designed so that, in said normal operating mode, the intake gases supplied to the first intake manifold (6a) and to the second intake manifold (6b) have approximately the same proportion of exhaust gas and so that, in said regeneration operating mode, the intake gas supplied to the first intake manifold (6a) only includes exhaust gas.