Gas-Liquid Separator Positioning for Blowby Gas Freezing Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal combustion engines with gas-liquid separators face clogging due to freezing of moisture in low ambient temperatures, which requires increasing the size of the head cover to mitigate this issue.
Innovation Solution
Positioning the gas-liquid separator adjacent to the exhaust system within the head cover, allowing it to receive heat and prevent freezing without enlarging the head cover, by strategically placing it near the turbine and catalytic converter in a V-type engine configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gas-liquid separator is positioned inside the head cover with a gap to the head cover wall, then the influence of ambient air on the gas-liquid separator is minimized, but the size of the head cover increases
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust manifold acts as an intermediary heat source between the engine and the gas-liquid separator. By positioning the separator adjacent to the exhaust manifold, the hot exhaust gases transfer thermal energy to the separator, preventing moisture freezing without requiring additional space or active heating systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The hot exhaust gases, which would otherwise be a source of thermal energy waste, are utilized to prevent freezing in the gas-liquid separator. The thermal energy that would be lost through the exhaust system is converted into a beneficial heating source for the separator, eliminating the need for additional insulation space.
2Temperature
If the gas-liquid separator is positioned close to the exhaust system, then the temperature of the separator is raised to prevent freezing, but the space arrangement in the head cover becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The gas-liquid separator is merged with the existing exhaust system layout by positioning it adjacent to the exhaust manifold. This integration utilizes the natural thermal field of the exhaust system and eliminates the need for separate heating mechanisms or complex insulation arrangements, simplifying the overall spatial design.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating effect is applied locally to the gas-liquid separator by positioning it specifically adjacent to the hot exhaust manifold. This localized thermal exposure ensures the separator maintains sufficient temperature to prevent freezing, while other parts of the head cover can be designed with different thermal characteristics, optimizing the overall design.
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
Prevents clogging of the gas-liquid separator due to freezing without increasing the head cover size, ensuring efficient operation even at low ambient temperatures by maintaining a higher temperature within the separator.
Implementation Method 1
the temperature of the gas-liquid separator is raised owing to the heat received from the exhaust system
Implementation Method 2
the temperature of the blowby gas entering the gas-liquid separator is raised owing to the heat received from the exhaust system
Data Source
AI summary
An internal combustion engine (1) includes an internal combustion engine main body (20), a head cover (11, 15) attached to an upper end part of the internal combustion engine main body, and an exhaust system (34) connected to the internal combustion engine main body, and a gas-liquid separator (45, 60) for blowby gas provided in the head cover. A part of the exhaust system is positioned adjacent to the internal combustion engine main body in a first direction (X) along a cylinder row, and the gas-liquid separator is positioned in the head cover so as to be offset in the first direction.