Hydrogen-Fueled Engine Multi-Ignition Timing for Misfire Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hydrogen-containing gas fuel in internal combustion engines can cause damage due to misfires, as unburned fuel may ignite in the exhaust system, leading to pressure increases and potential damage to the exhaust and intake systems.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a control device to execute ignition operations at predetermined ignition timings, including a first-time ignition and subsequent ignition timings, to ensure complete combustion of the hydrogen-containing fuel, even in the event of a misfire.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If hydrogen-containing gas fuel is used to improve combustion efficiency, then combustion speed increases, but the risk of misfire-induced damage in the exhaust system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustion speedVSAvoidexhaust system damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by implementing a second ignition operation within the same combustion cycle before the exhaust stroke completes. This ensures that any unburned hydrogen-containing gas fuel is ignited and consumed before it can escape into the exhaust system, thereby preventing the harmful effect of exhaust system damage while maintaining the high combustion speed benefit of hydrogen fuel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If single ignition timing is used to simplify control, then device complexity decreases, but combustion completeness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveignition control complexityVSAvoidcombustion completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the ignition operation into two distinct timing points within one combustion cycle: a first ignition timing and a second ignition timing. This segmentation ensures more complete combustion of hydrogen-containing gas fuel, improving reliability without requiring complex additional hardware, as both ignitions are controlled by the existing ignition device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 prevents damage to the engine components by ensuring complete combustion of the hydrogen-containing fuel, reducing the risk of unburned fuel discharge and subsequent ignition in the exhaust system.

Implementation Method 1

an ignition device configured to ignite the gas fuel within the combustion chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

an ignition device configured to ignite the gas fuel within the combustion chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical discharge ignition: Electric Spark

Data Source

PatentUS12503992B2Internal combustion engine

Publication Date: 2025.12.23 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER LTD

AI summary

An internal combustion engine includes: a combustion chamber to which a gas fuel containing hydrogen is supplied; an ignition device configured to ignite the gas fuel within the combustion chamber; and a control device for controlling execution of an ignition operation of the ignition device at a predetermined ignition timing. The predetermined ignition timing includes a first-time ignition timing of one combustion cycle, at which the ignition operation is executed for a first time, and a subsequent ignition timing of the one combustion cycle, at which the ignition operation is executed subsequent to the first-time ignition timing.