Reverse-rotating Electric Supercharger for Intake Air Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for heating engine intake air, such as resistive elements in air intake pipes, are expensive and intrusive, and conventional electric superchargers are limited in their ability to efficiently heat air during engine warm-up, leading to prolonged pollutant emission.
Innovation Solution
An electric supercharger with a compressor wheel that can operate in a reverse direction to heat intake air, maintaining air flow and compression while providing a higher temperature rise than conventional operation, allowing for pre-heating before engine start, during engine warm-up, and for after-treatment processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If resistive elements are placed in air intake pipes to heat intake air, then heating effectiveness is improved, but system cost and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The supercharger serves dual functions: it both compresses air for engine intake and heats the air through its compression process. The system uses its own operational energy to achieve the heating function without requiring separate resistive heating elements, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining heating effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The supercharger is transformed from a single-function device (air compression only) to a multi-functional device that simultaneously performs air compression and air heating. This eliminates the need for separate heating components and reduces overall system complexity
2Quantity of substance
If conventional electric supercharger operates in charging configuration to supply air charge, then engine air supply is improved, but intake air heating effect is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The supercharger operates in reverse configuration where the compressor wheel rotates in the opposite direction to conventional operation. This inversion changes the airflow pattern and compression characteristics, creating a stronger heating effect through increased compression ratio and altered flow dynamics, while still maintaining adequate air supply to the engine
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
The reverse operation of the electric supercharger effectively shortens engine warm-up time, reduces pollutant emissions, and supports higher exhaust temperatures for after-treatment processes like DPF regeneration, while maintaining efficient air supply capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
when the compressor wheel is run in reverse, air is still drawn through the supercharger (i.e. from inlet to outlet in the same direction as when the wheel is run in a forwards direction) and this air is still compressed and is therefore heated
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of heating the intake air of an engine using an electric supercharger, the supercharger comprising a compressor wheel and an electric drive assembly for rotating the compressor wheel; wherein the supercharger is arranged to operate in a charging configuration in which the compressor wheel is rotated in a first direction such that the engine is supplied with an air charge, and characterised in that the method of heating the intake air comprises the step of operating the supercharger in a second configuration, in which second configuration the compressor wheel is rotated in a reverse direction, opposite to the first direction.