Fuel Bypass Path for Faster Gaseous Engine Startup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaseous-fueled engines experience prolonged start-up times due to incombustible fuel/air mixtures in the intake system, particularly in forced induction engines, which necessitate exhausting stale mixtures through engine cylinders, leading to inefficient startup and increased time to achieve steady operation.
Innovation Solution
A bypass system that allows the fuel/air mixture to bypass the charge air cooler during startup, utilizing a bypass line and valve to control the flow, enabling direct delivery to the intake manifold, thereby reducing the time required for engine startup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the fuel/air mixture is cooled via charge air cooler before being delivered to engine intake, then the fuel/air mixture temperature is reduced improving combustion efficiency, but the start-up time is prolonged due to incombustible stale mixture accumulation in the charge air cooler
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the charge air cooler into two separate paths: a first charge air cooler that cools the fuel/air mixture during normal operation, and a second charge air cooler that receives fresh air during start-up to avoid stale mixture accumulation. This segmentation allows the cooling function to be maintained while eliminating the start-up delay caused by stale mixture in the original cooler.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the problematic stale mixture accumulation issue from the main cooling path by introducing a separate start-up path. The second charge air cooler is specifically designed to handle start-up conditions, taking out the function of providing fresh, non-stale air during engine start-up while the first cooler continues its cooling function during normal operation.
2Loss of energy
If the backup generator is started only when main power source fails, then operational cost is reduced by avoiding constant running, but the start-up time increases requiring larger backup battery banks
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-cooling fresh air through the second charge air cooler during start-up, ensuring that the fuel/air mixture is ready for immediate combustion when the engine starts. This preliminary preparation of fresh, cool air eliminates the delay that would otherwise require larger battery banks, allowing fast start-up while maintaining the benefit of not constantly running the generator.
3Temperature
If the fuel/air mixture is delivered through the charge air cooler during start-up, then the mixture is cooled, but the incombustible contents must be exhausted through engine cylinders increasing start-up time
Solution Approach 1:
The second charge air cooler acts as an intermediary during start-up, providing a source of fresh, non-stale air that hasn't been contaminated by previous operation. This intermediary path allows the engine to start with clean, combustible mixture without having to exhaust stale contents through the cylinders, thereby improving start-up speed while still providing cooled air for efficient combustion.
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 bypass system facilitates rapid engine startup, allowing gaseous-fueled engines to reach normal operation within a predetermined time, enhancing the performance of backup generators by quickly restoring power to buildings.
Implementation Method 1
the charge air cooler is configured to reduce a temperature of the fuel/air mixture as the fuel/air mixture travels from an inlet to an outlet of the charge air cooler
Implementation Method 2
a compression device (i.e., a turbocharger) for compression. Because the compression device heats up the fuel/air mixture
Implementation Method 3
mixing gaseous-fuel and engine intake air to form a mixture at a fuel mixer
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a forced induction gaseous-fueled engine includes mixing gaseous-fuel and engine intake air to form a mixture at a fuel mixer. The method includes delivering the mixture to an intake manifold by at least partially bypassing a charge air cooler.