Microwave enhanced combustion with feedback frequency control for dynamic impedance matching
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorsTerrence F. Alger, II, Yilun Luo, Scott R. Hotz, Ronnie E. Randolph
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for generating microwaves for microwave enhanced combustion (MEC) input to an MEC antenna of an internal combustion engine. The system uses a directional coupler to deliver the MEC input signal to the MEC antenna and to receive a reflected power signal from the MEC antenna. A feedback path determines a desired frequency, based on the reflected power and using an impedance-matching controller that matches the reflected power to a desired frequency value. Additional inputs, such as various engine conditions, can also be used to determine the desired frequency.
Claims15
A system for generating microwaves for microwave enhanced combustion (MEC) input to an MEC antenna of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a microwave generator configured to generate an MEC input signal at different frequencies;
- a directional coupler for delivering the MEC input signal to the MEC antenna and for receiving a reflected power signal from the MEC antenna;
- a feedback path for determining desired frequency values, the feedback path comprising an impedance-matching controller;
- wherein the impedance-matching controller is configured to receive the reflected power signal and to match current reflected power values to a desired frequency value.
A system for generating microwaves for microwave enhanced combustion (MEC) input to an MEC antenna of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a microwave generator configured to generate an MEC input signal at different frequencies;
- a directional coupler for delivering the MEC input signal to the MEC antenna and for receiving a reflected power signal from the MEC antenna;
- a feedback path for determining frequency values, the feedback path comprising an impedance-matching controller;
- wherein the impedance-matching controller is configured to receive the reflected power signal and to match current reflected power values to a frequency correction value;
- a feedforward path for determining a feedforward frequency value;
- wherein the feedforward path comprises at least a frequency predictor that receives engine condition data and matches current engine condition values to a current feedforward frequency value;
- wherein the engine condition data comprises one of more of the following data:
- engine position or in-cylinder flow;
- and
- a desired frequency combiner for adding the frequency correction value to the feedforward frequency value to obtain the desired frequency.
A method of generating microwaves for microwave enhanced combustion (MEC) input to an MEC antenna of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- using a directional coupler to deliver an MEC input signal to the MEC antenna and to receive a reflected signal from the MEC antenna;
- delivering the reflected signal to an impedance-matching controller configured to match reflected power values to feedback frequency values;
- delivering a feedback frequency values as desired frequency values to a microwave generator;
- and
- using the microwave generator to generate the MEC input signal at each desired frequency value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.