Abstract:
A compression ignition engine uses two or more fuel charges having two or more reactivities to control the timing and duration of combustion. In a preferred implementation, a lower-reactivity fuel charge is injected or otherwise introduced into the combustion chamber, preferably sufficiently early that it becomes at least substantially homogeneously dispersed within the chamber before a subsequent injection is made. One or more subsequent injections of higher-reactivity fuel charges are then made, and these preferably distribute the higher-reactivity matter within the lower- reactivity chamber space such that combustion begins in the higher-reactivity regions, and with the lower-reactivity regions following thereafter. By appropriately choosing the reactivities of the charges, their relative amounts, and their timing, combustion can be tailored to achieve optimal power output (and thus fuel efficiency), at controlled temperatures (and thus controlled NOx), and with controlled equivalence ratios (and thus controlled soot).
Abstract:
Piston face (104, 204, 304) and combustion chamber (18) designs for use particularly in HSDI (high speed direct injection) diesel engines include an open bowl (108, 208, 308) characterized by a large face perimeter region (106, 206, 306) on the piston face (104, 204, 304), and a bowl (18) defined by a first depressed region (112, 212, 312) gently sloping radially inwardly from the face perimeter region (106, 206, 306) and a second depressed region (116, 216, 316) sharply sloping radially inwardly from the first depressed region (112, 212, 312) to the bowl floor (120, 220, 320). Injection is preferably directed towards an intermediate edge which is well-defined between the first and second depressed regions, resulting in portions of the injected fuel plume being directed to both the squish regions and the portion of the bowl situated below the intermediate edge. The designs promote premixed or MK (Modulated Kinetics) combustion, with a concomitant reduction in soot and nitrous oxides (NOx) emissions while maintaining or enhancing brake specific fuel consumption.
Abstract:
A compression ignition engine uses two or more fuel charges having two or more reactivities to control the timing and duration of combustion. In a preferred implementation, a lower-reactivity fuel charge is injected or otherwise introduced into the combustion chamber, preferably sufficiently early that it becomes at least substantially homogeneously dispersed within the chamber before a subsequent injection is made. One or more subsequent injections of higher-reactivity fuel charges are then made, and these preferably distribute the higher-reactivity matter within the lower- reactivity chamber space such that combustion begins in the higher-reactivity regions, and with the lower-reactivity regions following thereafter. By appropriately choosing the reactivities of the charges, their relative amounts, and their timing, combustion can be tailored to achieve optimal power output (and thus fuel efficiency), at controlled temperatures (and thus controlled NOx), and with controlled equivalence ratios (and thus controlled soot).
Abstract:
A compression ignition (diesel) engine uses two or more fuel charges during a combustion cycle, with the fuel charges having two or more reactivities (e.g., different cetane numbers), in order to control the timing and duration of combustion. By appropriately choosing the reactivities of the charges, their relative amounts, and their timing, combustion can be tailored to achieve optimal power output (and thus fuel efficiency), at controlled temperatures (and thus controlled NOx), and with controlled equivalence ratios (and thus controlled soot). At low load and no load (idling) conditions, the aforementioned results are attained by restricting airflow to the combustion chamber during the intake stroke (as by throttling the incoming air at or prior to the combustion chamber's intake port) so that the cylinder air pressure is below ambient pressure at the start of the compression stroke.