Gas Engine Dual Compressor Pre-Chamber Fuel Blending

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing internal combustion gas engines face challenges in achieving low NOx emissions without reducing available engine power, particularly in providing a rich gaseous fuel mixture to the pre-chamber while avoiding the energy consumption of a separate compressor for compressing the rich mixture.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of two compressors, one for compressing a rich gaseous fuel and air mixture and another for compressing a gaseous medium, with their outputs connected in parallel to a pressure reducer, allowing the blending of a lean gaseous fuel mixture for the combustion chamber while maintaining engine power by utilizing the work performed in the engine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a separate compressor is used to compress the rich gaseous fuel mixture for the pre-chamber, then the rich mixture can be provided to the pre-chamber, but engine power is reduced due to the energy consumption of the separate compressor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverich gaseous fuel mixture supply to pre-chamberVSAvoidengine power
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the function of compressing the rich gaseous fuel mixture into the main engine compression system. The engine's existing compressor compresses both the lean mixture for the combustion chamber and the rich mixture for the pre-chamber, eliminating the need for a separate compressor and thus avoiding the power loss that would result from adding another compressing device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The engine's compressor is designed to perform multiple functions: it compresses the lean gaseous fuel mixture for the combustion chamber and simultaneously compresses the rich gaseous fuel mixture for the pre-chamber. This multi-functionality allows the system to provide both required mixtures without requiring additional power-consuming components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Quantity of substance

If a separate compressor is installed to compress the rich gaseous fuel mixture, then the pre-chamber can receive the rich mixture, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverich gaseous fuel mixture supply to pre-chamberVSAvoidcompressor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the compression functions into a single compressor system that handles both the lean mixture for the combustion chamber and the rich mixture for the pre-chamber. This merging eliminates the need for a second separate compressor, thereby reducing the overall device complexity while maintaining the ability to supply rich mixture to the pre-chamber.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If the lean gaseous fuel mixture is compressed to high pressure for the combustion chamber, then combustion efficiency is improved, but the rich mixture compression requires additional energy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidenergy for mixture compression
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the compression of both lean and rich mixtures into a single compression process using the engine's existing compressor. By compressing both mixtures simultaneously in one system, the energy that would otherwise be required for a separate rich mixture compression process is avoided, thereby maintaining combustion efficiency without the additional energy penalty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 the provision of a rich gaseous fuel mixture to the pre-chamber for ignition and a lean mixture to the combustion chamber for low NOx combustion without the need for a dedicated compressor, thereby maintaining engine power and reducing NOx emissions.

Implementation Method 1

a first compressor (6) configured for compressing a gaseous fuel and air mixture

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

a second compressor (16) configured for compressing a gaseous medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 3

a pressure reducer (18). An outlet (20) of the first compressor (6) is arranged in parallel with an outlet (22) of the second compressor (16). The outlets (20, 22) are connected to the pressure reducer (18)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure reduction: Depressurisation

Implementation Method 4

a sparkplug (12) arranged in the pre-chamber (14). The at least one cylinder arrangement (4) comprises a pre-chamber (14) arranged in connection with the combustion chamber (8) and the sparkplug (12)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIgnition: Electric Spark

Implementation Method 5

the lean gaseous fuel mixture is conducted to the intake arrangement (10) of the internal combustion gas engine for low NOx combustion in the combustion chamber (8)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP3612726B1Gas engine, method for operating a gas engine and generator set
Publication Date: 2022.03.16 SCANIA CV AB
  • EP3612726B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3612726B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3612726B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Herein an internal combustion gas engine (2) is disclosed. The engine comprises a cylinder arrangement (4) and a first compressor (6) for compressing a gaseous fuel and air mixture. The at least one cylinder arrangement (4) forms a combustion chamber (8) and comprises an intake arrangement (10) for intake of charge gas, a sparkplug (12), and a pre-chamber (14). The engine (2) comprises a second compressor (16) for compressing a gaseous medium, and a pressure reducer (18). An outlet (20) of the first compressor (6) is arranged in parallel with an outlet (22) of the second compressor (16). The outlet (20) of the first compressor (6) is connected to the pre-chamber (14). The outlet (20) of the first compressor (6) and the outlet (22) of the second compressor (16) are connected to the pressure reducer (18). An outlet (24) of the pressure reducer (18) is connected to the intake arrangement (10).