Crankcase Ventilation Filter for Water Injection Engine
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Water containing pollutants, particularly hydrocarbons, from internal combustion engines' crankcase ventilation systems cannot be reused or disposed of environmentally friendly due to contamination.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an activated charcoal filter in the crankcase ventilation device to filter out hydrocarbons from the blow-by mixture, allowing the water to be reused or discharged harmlessly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If water is injected into the cylinder to save fuel and increase power, then the cooling effect and power increase are achieved, but the water becomes contaminated with hydrocarbons and cannot be reused or disposed of environmentally
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a crankcase ventilation device as an intermediary system between the contaminated water source and the environment/reuse system. This device includes a separator that removes hydrocarbons from the water-vapor mixture, and a condenser that condenses the water vapor, enabling environmental disposal or reuse of cleaned water while maintaining the power-enhancing water injection function
2Stress or pressure
If the blow-by mixture with water vapor is discharged directly to atmosphere, then the crankcase pressure is relieved, but the water contains pollutants and causes environmental harm
Solution Approach 1:
The crankcase ventilation device serves as an intermediary between the crankcase and the environment, incorporating a separator and condenser that remove hydrocarbons and condense water vapor respectively, allowing pressure relief while producing clean water for environmental disposal or reuse
Solution Approach 2:
The separator extracts hydrocarbons from the water-vapor mixture, and the condenser extracts water vapor from the gas phase, leaving only cleaned gases to be discharged while recovering clean water separately for environmental disposal or reuse
3Quantity of substance
If the water vapor in the crankcase ventilation device is condensed to separate from gaseous components, then water recovery is achieved, but the recovered water contains hydrocarbons and cannot be reused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the treatment process into two distinct stages: first, a separator removes hydrocarbons from the water-vapor mixture before condensation; second, a condenser condenses the cleaned water vapor. This segmentation ensures that the recovered water is free from hydrocarbon contamination and suitable for reuse in the water injection 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
The activated charcoal filter effectively removes hydrocarbons from the water, enabling its safe reuse in the water injection system or environmentally friendly discharge, thus addressing the pollution issue.
Implementation Method 1
the hydrocarbons are filtered out of the water or blow-by mixture by the activated charcoal filter, since the hydrocarbons are deposited on the activated charcoal filter
Implementation Method 2
the water vapor in the crankcase ventilation device cools so that it liquefies and thereby separates from the gaseous components of the blow-by mixture
Data Source
AI summary
An internal combustion engine includes a crankcase and a cylinder head. The cylinder head and the crankcase delimit at least one cylinder in which a translationally moving piston is arranged. A water injection device injects water into the at least one cylinder. A crankcase ventilation device is fluidically connected to the crankcase. A blow-by mixture containing injection water can flow through the crankcase ventilation device. The crankcase ventilation device has an activated charcoal filter. The blow-by mixture containing the injection water can flow through the activated charcoal filter.