Injector Working Chamber Freezing Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engine water injection systems face the risk of freezing and subsequent damage when parked at low ambient temperatures, as existing solutions like thermostatically controlled valves and draining mechanisms are complex and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The method involves partially filling the injector's working chamber with a gas mixture when the engine is switched off, allowing the gas to displace water and provide space for expansion without excessive force, and using a feed pump to drain water back to the reservoir, supported by a compression stroke to ensure sufficient displacement and prevent frost damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermostatically controlled valves are provided to empty water-carrying branches when temperature falls below predetermined value, then protection against freezing is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful water from the working chamber of the injector by introducing a gas mixture that displaces the water through a return line back to the reservoir. This eliminates the need for complex thermostatically controlled valves and draining mechanisms, achieving freezing protection through a simpler passive displacement mechanism.
2Reliability
If separate valves are provided to empty water-carrying branches, then protection against freezing is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by utilizing the engine's own compression stroke to automatically introduce the gas mixture into the working chamber, which then passively displaces water through the return line to the reservoir. This eliminates the need for separate draining valves and manual intervention, achieving freezing protection through the system's inherent operational cycles.
3Reliability
If water is completely removed from working chamber, then freezing protection is improved, but loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a recovery mechanism where water displaced from the working chamber by the gas mixture flows through a return line back to the reservoir. This allows the water to be recovered and reused, preventing substance loss while still achieving sufficient freezing protection through partial displacement (15-50% of working chamber volume).
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 method effectively prevents frost damage to the injector by allowing water to expand without force and ensures efficient drainage of water from the working chamber, maintaining system integrity and performance.
Implementation Method 1
at least part of the water present in the working chamber of the injector flows through Gas mixture flowing from one of the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine into the working space is displaced
Implementation Method 2
This provides sufficient space in the workspace for freezing water to expand into without excessive force being exerted on the workspace boundaries
Implementation Method 3
there is preferably a backflow option, so that water can flow back from the working chamber in the direction of a reservoir, and the valve to the combustion chamber is open
Data Source
AI summary
The system has an injector (14) comprising a workspace (18) containing filled-water in normal operation. The workspace is in flow connection to a valve (16) of the injector. The valve releases or closes a flow connection from the workspace to an injection region (12). The workspace is partially filled with gaseous mixture when an internal combustion engine is switched off. A return flow option from the working chamber to a reservoir (22) and the valve is opened to the injection region when the internal combustion engine is switched off. An independent claim is also included for a method for operating an injection system.