Single Cylinder Air Compression with Multi-Stage Tank Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air hybrid engines have limitations in compressing air due to maximum pressure constraints, leading to inefficient energy storage and regenerative braking, and require complex camless valvetrain control for optimal operation.
Innovation Solution
A single stage, double tank air compression method that uses a plurality of air tanks, where air is compressed in one stage with a single cylinder, and transferred between low and high-pressure tanks to achieve higher pressures and efficiency, with the option to implement in air hybrid engines and reciprocating compressors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If double stage compression is used to achieve higher working pressure, then the working pressure is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase due to requiring minimum two cylinders
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the compression process by dividing the air storage system into multiple tanks (first air tank, second air tank, third air tank) instead of using multiple cylinders. Each tank serves a specific pressure level, allowing the system to achieve multi-stage compression效果 with a single cylinder that reciprocates between different tank configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The single cylinder is designed to perform multiple functions: it can compress air from atmospheric pressure to intermediate pressure when connected to the first air tank, and compress from intermediate to high pressure when connected to the second air tank. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate cylinders for each compression stage.
2Stress or pressure
If double stage compression is used to achieve higher working pressure, then the working pressure is improved, but the energy loss increases due to higher piston cylinder friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the compression workload across different pressure stages by using multiple air tanks at different pressure levels. The single cylinder operates more efficiently by compressing air in staged increments rather than attempting single-stage high-pressure compression, reducing the frictional energy loss per cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The first air tank acts as an intermediary storage between atmospheric pressure and the second air tank at higher pressure. This intermediate pressure stage reduces the compression ratio required in each individual compression cycle, thereby reducing the energy loss from piston-cylinder friction.
3Device complexity
If single stage compression is used to simplify the design, then the device complexity is reduced, but the working pressure is limited to under 150 psi
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses segmentation of the air storage system into multiple tanks at different pressure levels to enable a single cylinder to achieve high working pressures that would normally require multi-stage compression with multiple cylinders.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding complexity in the spatial dimension (multiple cylinders), the patent adds complexity in the pressure dimension by creating multiple air tanks at different pressure levels. This dimensional shift allows a single cylinder to achieve high working pressures through staged compression into different pressure zones.
4Device complexity
If air hybrid engine uses single tank compression to reduce complexity, then the device complexity is reduced, but the energy storage efficiency during braking is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The air storage system is segmented into multiple tanks (first, second, and third air tanks) that can be selectively connected to the cylinder. During regenerative braking, this segmentation allows for more efficient energy capture by directing compressed air into appropriate pressure-level tanks, maximizing the use of kinetic energy that would otherwise be lost.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically connects and disconnects different air tanks to the cylinder based on operating conditions. During braking, the dynamic configuration optimizes energy storage by utilizing the pressure differential between tanks, thereby improving energy capture efficiency compared to a static single-tank system.
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 method enhances air pressure storage, increases energy capture during braking, and reduces energy consumption while simplifying the compressor design by eliminating the need for additional cylinders and mechanical linkages, achieving higher efficiency and pressure with fewer parts.
Implementation Method 1
compressing the air in the cylinder to a pressure higher than a maximum allowable storage pressure of the air tank along an adiabatic compression line
Implementation Method 2
The air hybrid engine absorbs a vehicle's kinetic energy while braking and stores it in the form of compressed air to a storage tank
Data Source
AI summary
In a traditional hybrid air engine it is complicated to adjust valve timing to compensate for different engine operating modes. Provided is an air compression method and apparatus. The air compression method can be carried out in a single stage with a plurality of air tanks (61, 63) coupled to a compressor (51). The compressor (51) may be a cylinder Air is added to the compressor (51) at atmospheric pressure. Pressurized air is then added to the compressor (51) from a low pressure air tank (61). The compressor (51) compresses the air and transfers a portion of it to a high pressure air tank (63). The remaining portion of the compressed air is transferred to the low pressure air tank (61) for use in the next compression cycle A cam shaft (27) having a two stroke cam (93) and a four stroke cam (95) for each intake valve (59) and exhaust valve (55, 57) is provided to control valve timing during different operating modes.