Injector Needle Guide Sealing for Alternative Fuel Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of alternative fuels in marine engines poses safety risks due to their toxicity and flammability, necessitating improved injection systems to prevent leakage of these substances.
Innovation Solution
An injection system with a needle guide surface of specific length and a control fluid with higher viscosity than the fuel, ensuring the control fluid fills an annular gap to prevent fuel leakage and safely manage the injection process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If alternative fuels (methanol, ammonia, hydrogen) are used to reduce emissions and promote sustainability, then environmental compatibility is improved, but safety risks increase due to toxicity and flammability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control fluid as an intermediary substance that fills the annular gap between the needle guide surface and injection needle. This control fluid acts as a barrier preventing direct contact between the alternative fuel and the external environment, thereby mitigating safety risks while allowing the use of environmentally friendly fuels
2Productivity
If a traditional common-rail injection system is used, then injection performance is achieved, but fuel leakage risk increases due to the annular gap between needle guide surface and injection needle
Solution Approach 1:
The control fluid serves as a mediator that occupies the annular gap space, preventing fuel from leaking through this gap while allowing the injection needle to move freely for fuel injection control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the fluid in the annular gap from low-viscosity fuel to high-viscosity control fluid. This parameter change ensures the control fluid remains in the gap and effectively blocks fuel leakage
Data Source
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AI summary
Injection system (10), comprising an injector (12) including an injector needle (30) and a needle guide surface (34) that guides a movement of the injector needle (30) along a longitudinal axis (X) between a closed position and an open position and vice versa, wherein the needle guide surface (34) has a length (L0) equal to or greater than a minimum length (L0,min) calculated so as to prevent fuel leakage through the needle guide surface (34).