Liquid Fuel Injector Cooling via Liquid Gaseous Fuel Injection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Direct injection internal combustion engines face overheating and damage issues with liquid fuel injectors when not in use during gaseous fuel operation, leading to temperature distortion and deposit accumulation.

Innovation Solution

A system that adapts a liquid fuel internal combustion engine to operate with gaseous fuel in both gas and liquid phases, using a gaseous fuel pump, injector, and reducer to supply gaseous fuel in liquid phase through liquid fuel injectors, maintaining engine efficiency and preventing overheating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the engine operates using only gaseous fuel in gas phase through gaseous fuel injectors, then the gaseous fuel can be effectively supplied to the engine, but the liquid fuel injectors overheat and accumulate deposits leading to damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegaseous fuel supply efficiencyVSAvoidliquid fuel injector durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful high temperature environment into a beneficial cooling mechanism by introducing gaseous fuel in liquid phase through the liquid fuel injectors. The liquid fuel absorbs heat from the overheated injector components during vaporization, transforming the thermal problem into a useful cooling effect that prevents deposit accumulation and injector damage while maintaining effective gaseous fuel supply

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

2Productivity

If liquid fuel injectors are not used during gaseous fuel operation, then gaseous fuel can be supplied efficiently, but the liquid fuel injectors overheat and become damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel supply efficiencyVSAvoidtemperature distortion and deposits
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention maintains continuous useful action by keeping the liquid fuel injectors operational during gaseous fuel mode. Instead of idle overheating, the injectors continuously receive and vaporize gaseous fuel in liquid phase, maintaining their cooling function and preventing thermal damage while ensuring efficient fuel supply to the engine

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a dual fuel system with separate injectors is implemented, then both liquid and gaseous fuel can be supplied, but the system complexity increases and liquid fuel injectors still overheat when not in use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedual fuel capabilityVSAvoidfuel system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies universality by making the liquid fuel injectors multi-functional. These injectors serve dual purposes: delivering liquid fuel during liquid fuel mode and delivering gaseous fuel in liquid phase during gaseous fuel mode. This eliminates the need for completely separate injection systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining dual fuel capability and preventing injector overheating

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution effectively cools liquid fuel injectors, prevents damage from overheating, and reduces sediment accumulation, ensuring reliable engine operation while allowing seamless switching between liquid and gaseous fuel modes without modifying the liquid fuel pump structure.

Implementation Method 1

a pump of gaseous fuel in liquid phase in fluid communication with the tank of gaseous fuel in liquid phase for pumping gaseous fuel in liquid phase from the tank

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPump: Pump

Implementation Method 2

a gaseous fuel reducer for bringing gaseous fuel from liquid phase into gas phase

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 3

the at least one liquid fuel injector for injecting liquid fuel directly into the at least one cylinder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInjector: Injector

Data Source

PatentEP3249206B1System for adapting an internal combustion engine to be powered by gaseous fuel in gas phase and by gaseous fuel in liquid phase
Publication Date: 2019.03.13 AC SA
  • EP3249206B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3249206B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3249206B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

System for adapting an internal combustion engine to be powered by gaseous fuel in gas phase and by gaseous fuel, an internal combustion engine arrangement comprising the system and a method for adapting an internal combustion liquid fuel engine to be powered by gaseous fuel in gas phase and gaseous fuel in liquid phase.