Radical Ignition Pre-Chamber for Lean Engine Combustion Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal combustion engines suffer from lower combustion stability, higher pollutant emissions, and greater fuel consumption, failing to meet emission standards and degrading operational stability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The use of a radical chemicals generator (RCG) to induce enhanced radical ignition (ERI) in internal combustion engines, which produces a quenched hot jet of partial combustion products rich in reactive radicals to initiate combustion in the main combustion chamber, enhancing combustion efficiency and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional internal combustion engines are used, then engine operation is maintained, but combustion stability is low and pollutant emissions are high
Solution Approach 1:
The RCG generates reactive chemical species (radicals, excited molecules) in advance within a pre-chamber before they are introduced into the main combustion chamber. This preliminary generation of active combustion initiators improves combustion stability and reduces emissions by ensuring complete and controlled combustion of the fuel-air mixture.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If emissions reduction technologies are added to existing engines, then emission limits are met, but engine operational stability degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The RCG acts as an intermediary device between the fuel supply and the main combustion chamber. It pre-processes the fuel-air mixture by generating reactive species that facilitate more complete and stable combustion, thereby reducing emissions without degrading operational stability. The RCG mediates the combustion process to achieve both emission compliance and stable operation.
3Use of energy by moving object
If legacy engine design is used, then engine structure is simple, but fuel consumption is high and efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion system is segmented into two distinct chambers: a pre-chamber (RCG) for generating reactive chemical species and a main combustion chamber for complete combustion. This segmentation allows the RCG to pre-process the fuel-air mixture, improving fuel efficiency and thermal efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple overall engine structure through modular integration.
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
ERI reduces emissions and fuel consumption while improving engine reliability and thermal efficiency, extending lean-combustion limits, and meeting emission standards.
Implementation Method 1
The RCG can produce a quenched hot jet of partial combustion products containing a high concentration of highly reactive radicals and intermediate species
Implementation Method 2
a quenching system configured to: quench the flame of combustion products to produce a jet of partial combustion products containing radical species
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods described herein provide one or more radical chemicals generators (RCGs) and/or mini-chambers (M-Cs) that can be used to provide enhanced radical ignition (ERI) in an internal combustion engine. RCGs as described herein can include quenching systems (QSs) that can be configured to quench a flame of combustion products to produce a jet of partial combustion products containing radical species (RS). The jet of partial combustion products can be injected to a main combustion chamber (MCC) of an engine to induce ERI. ERI can proceed under leaner fuel conditions and lower temperatures compared to those needed for conventional thermally induced, fuel oxidation chain initiation reaction processes.