Piston Protrusion Deflection Edge Flame Plume Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current combustion engine designs face challenges in optimizing flame plume progression, leading to increased soot, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbon emissions, as well as nitrogen oxide emissions, due to inefficient flame redirection and stagnation zones, which are difficult to control effectively.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a piston with a combustion chamber featuring protrusions with a specific shape, including a deflection edge and curvilinear side and top sections, to minimize flow losses and enhance flame plume control, redirecting the flame towards the center axis with minimal interaction and kinetic energy loss, thereby promoting soot oxidation and reducing emissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If protrusions with smooth form are used to preserve kinetic energy in flame plume, then kinetic energy loss is minimized, but flame plume control and progress are not optimally influenced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekinetic energy lossVSAvoidflame plume control

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusion is designed with different surface characteristics in different regions: the main body has a smooth form to preserve kinetic energy, while the top section includes a specific geometric feature (deflection edge or angled surface) to locally influence flame plume direction and control progress toward the center axis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusion employs curvilinear surfaces and optimized geometric shapes to guide the flame plume flow smoothly while maintaining kinetic energy. The curved transition sections and specific angular features at the top create controlled flow patterns that redirect the flame toward the piston center axis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Productivity

If flame plume is redirected towards center axis with minimal interaction, then combustion efficiency is improved, but stagnation zones may form at top of protrusion causing flow losses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidflow losses

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusion geometry is designed in advance to preemptively redirect the flame plume away from the top surface, preventing stagnation zone formation before it occurs. The deflection edge or angled top section proactively guides the flow along a controlled path toward the center axis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusion incorporates specific geometric parameters including separation angles between 90-160 degrees and deflection angles between -30 to +30 degrees to optimize flow separation and redirection, minimizing stagnation while maintaining combustion efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of time

If combustion process is shortened to reduce emissions, then fuel consumption decreases, but complete oxidation of soot and unburnt fuel may not be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustion durationVSAvoidemissions

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusion creates periodic flow patterns and turbulence in the flame plume, enhancing mixing and oxidation rates. This allows more complete combustion to occur within a shorter time frame by intensifying the chemical reaction process rather than simply reducing duration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 design enhances combustion efficiency, reduces soot, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbon emissions, and increases the robustness of flame plume control, leading to improved engine performance and fuel economy by utilizing more kinetic energy for oxidation, thus shortening the combustion process and decreasing fuel consumption.

Implementation Method 1

protrusions protruding into the combustion chamber and having a smooth form adapted for preserving kinetic energy in a flame plume and for redirecting circumferential flame progress mainly towards a center axis of the piston

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow redirection:

Implementation Method 2

the fuel/cylinder gas mixture is ignited by compression heat generated in the cylinder

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 3

soot particles can both be formed and subsequently oxidized into carbon dioxide (C02)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 4

If the formed soot particles can be brought together with oxidizing substances such as oxygen atoms (0), oxygen molecules (02), hydroxide (OH) at sufficiently high temperature for a good oxidation rate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal oxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS9027529B2Piston positioned for reciprocal movement in a combustion engine cylinder

Publication Date: 2015.05.12 VOLVO TRUCK CORP

AI summary

A piston is arranged for reciprocal movement in a combustion engine cylinder. Protrusions are or a ridge is arranged half way between flame plume impingement areas in a plane perpendicular to the reciprocal movement and protrude to the combustion chamber having a smooth form adapted for preserving kinetic energy in a flame plume. The protrusion or ridge includes a left side flank, a top section and a right side flank, and a transition section between each of the side flanks and the top section, the transition section including a deflection edge in order to minimize flow losses.