Parallel Valve Fuel Injection System for Precise Flow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel injection systems for internal combustion piston engines face challenges in achieving precise control over fluid flow rates, leading to compromised performance across varying engine loads, particularly in multi-fuel engines switching between gas and liquid fuels.

Innovation Solution

A fuel injection system utilizing multiple parallel valve units with distinct operational positions and removable restriction elements to control fuel flow rates, allowing for precise rate shaping and improved control performance by adjusting valve unit combinations and timing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single fuel admission valve is used to handle the whole load range, then the device complexity is reduced, but the control precision deteriorates due to compromised dimensioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of valve unitsVSAvoidflow rate control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The single fuel admission valve is segmented into multiple parallel valve units (at least two), where each valve unit can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows precise control of fuel flow rates by selectively opening individual valve units or combinations thereof, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and control precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the injection duration is increased to handle higher load, then the power output is improved, but the flow pattern varies in undesired manner

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower outputVSAvoidflow pattern stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Different valve units are equipped with different restriction elements that create distinct flow characteristics for each valve unit. This local quality differentiation allows the system to maintain stable and desirable flow patterns across various load conditions by selecting appropriate valve unit combinations, rather than relying solely on varying injection duration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If a dual fuel engine switches between gas and liquid fuel, then the versatility is improved, but the control reliability deteriorates due to different fuel properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel type flexibilityVSAvoidcontrol system reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts to different fuel types (gas or liquid) by adjusting which valve units are activated and their opening degrees. The control system selects appropriate valve unit combinations based on the detected fuel type, maintaining reliable control despite different fuel properties such as viscosity and flow characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2724016B1Fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine and method of operating a fuel injection system in an internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2015.10.21 WARTSILA FINLAND OY
  • EP2724016B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2724016B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2724016B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Invention relates to a fuel injection system for an internal combustion piston engine (100,) comprising a fuel source (134,234), which is arranged connection with a fuel admission port (121,221) which is arranged to deliver the fuel to be combusted in the internal combustion piston engine in intermittent manner, which fuel injection system comprises at least one fluid flow control device arranged to control the flow of fuel into the fuel admission port (121,221). The at least one fluid flow control device (22) comprises at least two parallel valve units (22.1 ... 22.N) each having two operational positions.