Gas engine heat pump and method of operating the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas engine heat pumps face challenges in reducing nitrogen oxide production, as current nitrogen oxide reduction technologies are inefficient when oxygen is present in exhaust gases and require additional weighty and voluminous liquid urea storage and spray systems.
Innovation Solution
A gas engine heat pump system that compresses and stores exhaust gases in a buffer tank, allowing them to be reintroduced into the engine's intake manifold or directly into the cylinder, along with a controller managing the operation of an exhaust gas valve and spray nozzle based on sensor data to lower combustion temperatures and reduce nitrogen oxide production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is used to reduce nitrogen oxides, then nitrogen oxide reduction is achieved, but the system requires additional devices (liquid urea storage container and spray device) that increase weight and volume
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the engine's own exhaust gas as the reductant for NOx reduction, eliminating the need for external urea storage and spray systems. The exhaust gas recirculation system allows the engine to self-regulate NOx emissions using its own byproduct, achieving self-service emission control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts harmful exhaust gases (containing CO, HC, and other hydrocarbons) into a beneficial reductant for NOx reduction. By recirculating exhaust gas to the intake manifold, these previously harmful emissions become the active ingredient for reducing NOx, turning a waste product into a useful resource.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If liquid urea is sprayed onto the exhaust pipe for nitrogen oxide reduction, then ammonia is produced as a reductant, but the system requires continuous filling and additional storage infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates all external storage and spray infrastructure by using the engine's own exhaust gas composition (CO, HC, hydrocarbons) as the reductant source. No external urea storage containers, spray devices, or continuous filling systems are needed - the engine itself provides all necessary components for NOx reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts the necessary reductant components (CO, HC, hydrocarbons) directly from the engine's exhaust gas stream, eliminating the need to introduce external chemical additives. This extraction approach simplifies the system by removing all associated storage and delivery infrastructure.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If exhaust gas is recirculated to lower combustion temperature, then nitrogen oxide production is reduced, but the system requires an exhaust gas compressor and buffer tank
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust gas compressor serves multiple functions: it pressurizes exhaust gas for recirculation to the intake manifold, maintains buffer tank pressure, and enables the exhaust gas to be injected at optimal timing and pressure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, simplifying the overall system despite the added complexity of exhaust gas recirculation.
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 effectively reduces nitrogen oxide production by lowering combustion temperatures within the engine cylinder, eliminating the need for additional storage and spray systems, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and reducing emissions.
Implementation Method 1
an exhaust gas compressor for compressing exhaust gases coming from the engine
Implementation Method 2
an exhaust gas spray nozzle for spraying the exhaust gases stored in the buffer tank into a cylinder of the engine
Implementation Method 3
an engine for burning a mixture of air and fuel
Data Source
AI summary
A gas engine heat pump and a method of operating the same are provided. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the gas engine heat pump includes: an engine for burning a mixture of air and fuel; an exhaust gas compressor for compressing exhaust gases coming from the engine; a buffer tank for storing the exhaust gases compressed by the exhaust gas compressor; an exhaust gas valve disposed between the buffer tank and an intake manifold of the engine; an exhaust gas spray nozzle for spraying the exhaust gases stored in the buffer tank into a cylinder of the engine; an exhaust gas sensor for acquiring information on the exhaust gases coming from the engine; and a controller, wherein the controller controls the operation of at least one of the exhaust gas valve and the exhaust gas spray nozzle, based on the information on the exhaust gases acquired by the exhaust gas sensor. Other various embodiments are possible.