Pre-Chamber Hydrogen-Oxygen Injection Without Fuel Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenges of using gaseous hydrogen as pre-chamber combustion fuel in engines include hydrogen storage issues due to low volumetric energy density and potential leakage, as well as complex engine designs and high costs associated with active pre-chamber jet ignition systems.
Innovation Solution
Onboard water electrolysis is used to generate gaseous hydrogen and oxygen for pre-chamber combustion, eliminating the need for separate storage systems and addressing storage challenges, while enhancing jet quality through controlled mixture injection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gaseous hydrogen is used as pre-chamber combustion fuel, then high reactivity and fast burn rate are achieved, but hydrogen storage becomes problematic due to low volumetric energy density and potential leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of hydrogen from liquid to gas through controlled heating. Liquid hydrogen is stored in the pre-chamber and automatically vaporizes when heated by the spark plug or compression, providing gaseous hydrogen for combustion without requiring complex pressurization or storage systems. This resolves the contradiction by using phase change to deliver high-energy-density liquid storage while achieving gaseous-phase fast combustion.
2Reliability
If active pre-chamber jet ignition system is implemented, then jet ignition quality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-chamber is designed to automatically generate and inject hydrogen gas without external control systems. The liquid hydrogen stored in the pre-chamber self-vaporizes when heated, and the resulting pressure differential automatically drives the hydrogen through the nozzle into the main combustion chamber. This eliminates the need for electronic controllers, sensors, and complex delivery systems, achieving reliable jet ignition through passive physical processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex electronic control and delivery subsystems from traditional active pre-chamber systems. By removing these components and relying on passive liquid-to-gas phase transition and pressure-driven injection, the system achieves simple architecture while maintaining reliable jet ignition quality.
3Ease of manufacture
If liquid fuel is injected in pre-chamber, then fuel delivery is simplified, but atomization becomes difficult and fuel impingement on pre-chamber walls occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses phase transition to resolve the atomization problem. Instead of attempting to atomize liquid fuel in the pre-chamber, the system introduces liquid hydrogen that naturally vaporizes when heated. This phase change from liquid to gas occurs automatically, producing a homogeneous gaseous fuel mixture without requiring complex injection hardware or achieving precise atomization, thereby eliminating wall impingement issues.
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 approach improves jet ignition quality, reduces cycle-to-cycle variations, and enhances engine efficiency and fuel economy by utilizing hydrogen's high reactivity and diffusivity, even at high EGR ratios, without the need for complex storage systems.
Implementation Method 1
A pre-chamber injection system for an internal combustion engine may include an electrolyzer to convert liquid water from an onboard water tank into a gaseous hydrogen and oxygen mixture
Implementation Method 2
The spark plug may be at least partially disposed within the pre-chamber to introduce a spark to ignite the gaseous hydrogen and oxygen mixture
Implementation Method 3
The resulting gaseous hydrogen and oxygen mixture is injected into the pre-chamber by the gas injector. The spark plug may be at least partially disposed within the pre-chamber to introduce a spark to ignite the gaseous hydrogen and oxygen mixture
Data Source
AI summary
A pre-chamber combustion system is disclosed for use with an internal combustion engine. The system includes a pre-chamber fluidly connected to a main combustion chamber through at least one pre-chamber nozzle. An electrolyzer is configured to receive liquid water and generate gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen. The generated gases are directed into the pre-chamber, where they are ignited to initiate combustion. The resulting high-temperature combustion produces hot gas jets that are discharged into the main chamber to enhance ignition and combustion efficiency. The system enables on-demand production and combustion of hydrogen and oxygen without requiring external fuel sources, potentially improving engine performance and reducing emissions.