Variable Volume Chamber Device Combustion Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engines face inefficiencies due to the constant reversing motion of pistons, which disrupt momentum, and require lubricants that lead to maintenance issues and emissions, while also struggling with combustion charge pressure and flame front propagation, leading to suboptimal fuel economy and emissions.
Innovation Solution
The use of interconnected pivoting vanes to define variable volume chambers for combustion and supercharging, eliminating the need for dedicated superchargers and lubricants, and enhancing combustion charge compression and flame front propagation, while capturing waste heat for power generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If piston type engines use variable volume combustion chambers to compress combustion charge, then combustion charge pressure increases, but momentum is lost due to constant reversing motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamically moving vanes that pivot to change the volume of the combustion chamber during rotation. This dynamic volume adjustment allows compression of the combustion charge while the engine maintains continuous rotational motion, avoiding the start-stop-reverse cycle of piston engines and preserving momentum.
Solution Approach 2:
The vanes perform periodic pivoting motions during each rotation cycle to create the necessary volume changes for compression. This periodic action occurs within a continuous rotational framework, maintaining forward momentum while achieving the compression needed for combustion charge pressure increase.
2Loss of energy
If rotary engines preserve momentum through fluid motion, then mechanical efficiency improves, but combustion charge compression capability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamically adjustable vane positions that pivot during rotation to create variable chamber volumes. This allows the rotary engine to maintain continuous fluid motion and momentum while achieving effective compression of the combustion charge through the changing chamber geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the volume parameter of the combustion chamber dynamically during rotation by pivoting the vanes. This parameter change enables compression of the combustion charge in a rotary configuration, combining the momentum preservation of rotary engines with the compression capability of piston engines.
3Quantity of substance
If dedicated superchargers are added to increase combustion charge pressure, then air mass in combustion chamber increases, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the combustion chamber serve multiple functions: it is both the combustion space and the compression mechanism. The same vanes that define the combustion chamber volume also perform the compression function that would otherwise require a separate supercharger, eliminating the need for dedicated supercharging components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the combustion chamber with the compression mechanism by using the movable vanes to perform both combustion containment and charge compression. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate superchargers or turbochargers, reducing device complexity and component count.
4Power
If piston engines use variable volume chambers for combustion, then power generation is achieved, but lubricants are required leading to maintenance issues and emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the lubrication function from the combustion system by using dry, self-lubricating vane materials and designs. This eliminates the need for liquid lubricants in the combustion chamber, preventing lubricant contamination of the combustion charge and subsequent harmful emissions from burnt oil.
Solution Approach 2:
The vanes are designed as simple, replaceable components made from materials that provide self-lubrication or can operate without traditional lubricants. This eliminates the need for complex lubrication systems and reduces maintenance requirements associated with lubricant management.
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 preserves momentum, improves combustion efficiency, reduces emissions, and enhances fuel economy by increasing combustion charge pressure and flame front propagation, while eliminating the need for external superchargers and lubricants, thus improving overall engine performance and reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
Piston type engines take advantage of a variable volume combustion chamber to further increase the pressure of a combustion charge by decreasing the volume of the chamber once it is loaded with the charge
Implementation Method 2
The motion of the engine pistons or the rotors may be used to intake or scavenge an air-fuel mixture or strictly air charge (in fuel injected engines) for combustion and expel spent exhaust gases in multicycle operations... it eliminates conservation of momentum, thereby reducing efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A variable volume chamber device is disclosed. The chambers may be defined by the space between four pivotally connected vanes contained within a housing. The vanes may be connected so as to create a sealed interior chamber that may be used as a combustion chamber in an internal combustion engine, or as a pumping chamber in a pump or compressor. The four-vane assembly may also form additional variable volume chambers between the vanes and a surrounding structure. The plurality of variable volume chambers may be interconnected to progressively act on a working fluid.