Injector-Igniter Varnish Removal via Current Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Alternative fuels such as natural gas and landfill-derived fuels cause chemical and physical property variability, leading to engine deposits, fouling, and acidification, which compromise the performance and longevity of internal combustion engine components.

Innovation Solution

Implementing methods to monitor and control the current across injector-igniter electrodes, performing cleaning cycles by injecting oxidants or hydrogen, and using coolant to prevent and remove varnish and deposit buildup, including ionization and Lorentz thrusting to dislodge deposits from combustion chamber surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If alternative fuels are used to reduce emissions and operating costs, then fuel economy and environmental performance are improved, but engine deposits and component fouling increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel economyVSAvoidengine deposits

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection by monitoring electrode current to identify deposit buildup trends before they cause severe fouling. Cleaning cycles are initiated proactively based on current threshold comparisons, preventing severe deposit accumulation that would compromise engine performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the harmful effect of alternative fuel contaminants into a beneficial monitoring signal. Deposit precursors that would normally cause fouling are instead used as indicators to trigger cleaning cycles, transforming a harmful byproduct into a useful detection mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If cleaning cycles are performed frequently to remove deposits, then component reliability is improved, but energy consumption and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic cleaning cycles triggered by monitoring electrode current across combustion events. Rather than continuous cleaning, the system performs discrete cleaning operations at intervals determined by deposit accumulation rates, optimizing the balance between reliability maintenance and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from electrode current monitoring to dynamically determine when cleaning is necessary. The controller compares measured current against thresholds and adjusts cleaning cycle frequency based on actual deposit accumulation, preventing both over-cleaning (waste of energy) and under-cleaning (reliability loss)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Effectively prevents and removes varnish and deposits from injector-igniter components, maintaining engine performance and extending component lifespan by regularly cleaning combustion chamber surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

The cleaning cycle may further comprise ionizing the oxidant with a first polarity and ionizing the oxidant a second time with a second polarity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonization: Ionisation

Implementation Method 2

In a further embodiment, the cleaning cycle comprises ionizing hydrogen donors and allowing the resulting ionized hydrogen donors to dislodge deposits from combustion chamber surfaces via Lorentz force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLorentz force: Lorentz Force

Data Source

PatentUS8673084B1Methods for varnish removal and prevention in an internal combustion engine

Publication Date: 2014.03.18 ADVANCED GREEN INNOVATIONS LLC

AI summary

Methods for removing and preventing the buildup of unwanted deposits and varnishes on combustion chamber surfaces, particularly injector-igniter components that are exposed to combustion events. A method of removing deposits from an injector-igniter comprises monitoring the current across a pair of electrodes in the injector-igniter, comparing the current with a predetermined threshold level, and performing a cleaning cycle if the current exceeds the threshold level. The cleaning cycle may comprise injecting oxidant through the injector-igniter and into the combustion chamber. The cleaning cycle may further comprise ionizing the oxidant with an electrical discharge having a first polarity and ionizing the oxidant a second time with an electrical discharge having a second polarity. In other cases the cleaning cycle comprises injecting hydrogen through the injector-igniter and into the combustion chamber. In still other cases the cleaning cycle may comprise injecting coolant onto the electrodes.