Fuel Injector Using Vapour Explosion for Long Throw
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mass ejection devices, such as fuel injectors and gas turbine reigniters, face challenges in efficiently ejecting liquid and vapor over long distances with high speed and control, often requiring complex and costly mechanisms prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus utilizing a vapour explosion process in an ejection chamber, where a heating element increases the pressure of a liquid above its boiling point, causing a rapid release of liquid and vapor through a narrow exit valve, achieving a longer throw and facilitating vaporization for efficient combustion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional electro-mechanical nozzles with pre-pressurised fuel are used, then a finely atomised spray can be produced, but the system becomes costly and complex with many working parts prone to error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex electro-mechanical nozzle assembly, needle valve, and electromagnetic coil from the system. Instead, it uses a simple heated chamber where fuel is vaporized and ejected through a small aperture, achieving fine atomization without the complex moving parts and control mechanisms of conventional injectors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical electro-mechanical injection system with a thermal field-based system. Instead of using electromagnetic coils to lift needles and mechanical valves to control fuel flow, the invention uses heating elements to vaporize fuel and thermal pressure to eject it, substituting mechanical control with thermal field control
2Length of moving object
If high injection pressures are used to achieve long throw distance, then the spray can travel further, but the system requires more complex high-pressure components and consumes more energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the fuel from liquid to vapor phase through heating. This phase change allows the fuel to be ejected at lower pressures while achieving the same or greater throw distance, as vapor expands and propels itself through the aperture without requiring high external pressure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of fuel from liquid to vapor within the heated chamber. The vaporized fuel creates internal pressure that drives ejection through the aperture, eliminating the need for high external injection pressures while achieving long throw distance and fine atomization
3Loss of time
If electro-magnetic coils and needle valves are used for controlled fuel release, then precise timing control is achieved, but the system becomes more costly and prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical timing control mechanisms (electromagnetic coils, needle valves, seal lifting) with thermal field-based control. Fuel injection timing is controlled by heating element activation and thermal pressure buildup, which are more reliable and have fewer failure points than mechanical moving parts and seals
Solution Approach 2:
The heated chamber system is self-regulating through thermal pressure buildup. Once the heating element activates, the fuel automatically vaporizes and ejects when sufficient thermal pressure is reached, eliminating the need for external electromagnetic control signals and mechanical valve actuation, thereby reducing complexity and improving reliability
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 vapour explosion process enables a throw of liquid and vapor 200 to 300 times the chamber length, reducing the need for high injection pressures, simplifying the system, and enhancing fuel ignition and combustion efficiency with a more rapid and controlled fuel injection.
Implementation Method 1
A heating element increases the pressure of a liquid above its boiling point
Implementation Method 2
causing a rapid release of liquid and vapor through a narrow exit valve, achieving a longer throw and facilitating vaporization
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus are disclosed for ejecting material. The apparatus comprising an ejection chamber arranged to hold a portion of a selected liquid, an inlet valve arranged to selectively open to thereby transfer liquid into said ejection chamber and an exit valve arranged to selectively open to eject material from said ejection chamber.