US 11,768,128 B2 · Neutronic engine

Abstract

An internal combustion engine for neutron diffraction analysis is provided. The engine includes an elongated piston chamber formed from an aluminum alloy to ensure maximum neutron visibility into the combustion chamber. An elongated piston assembly reciprocates within the elongated piston chamber, the piston assembly including an upper piston joined to a lower piston. The upper piston and the lower piston are hollow, thereby reducing the reciprocating mass and increasing neutron access to the combustion chamber. The upper piston is lubricated with a neutron-transparent fluorocarbon lubricant such as perfluoropolyether (PFPE), while the lower piston and the crankcase are lubricated with hydrocarbon lubricant. The engine enables 3D and time-resolved measurements of strain, stress, and temperature, as well as phase transformation, texture, and microstructure.

Claims47

Dependent claims

A reciprocating internal combustion engine to be coupled to a motoring dynamometer, the engine comprising:

a cylinder head comprising a valve train;
a cylinder coupled with the cylinder head, wherein the cylinder is axially elongated and comprises a first cylinder portion adjacent to the cylinder head and a second cylinder portion distal from the cylinder head, such that, during operation of the engine, the first cylinder portion is lubricated using a neutron-transparent fluorocarbon lubricant and the second cylinder portion is lubricated using a hydrocarbon lubricant;
a piston disposed within the cylinder to form, along with the head and the first cylinder portion, a combustion chamber;
a crankshaft operatively coupled with the piston and the motoring dynamometer;
and
a rotary encoder operatively coupled with the crankshaft and the valve train.

3 more elements

A reciprocating internal combustion engine to be coupled to a motoring dynamometer, the engine comprising:

a cylinder head comprising a valve train;
a cylinder coupled with the cylinder head, wherein the cylinder is axially elongated and comprises a first cylinder portion adjacent to the cylinder head and a second cylinder portion distal from the cylinder head, such that, during operation of the engine, the first cylinder portion is lubricated using a fluorocarbon lubricant and the second cylinder portion is lubricated using a hydrocarbon lubricant;
a piston disposed within the cylinder to form, along with the head and the first cylinder portion, a combustion chamber;
a crankshaft operatively coupled with the piston and the motoring dynamometer;
and
a rotary encoder operatively coupled with the crankshaft and the valve train,
wherein the piston comprises a first piston portion, a second piston portion, and a third piston portion, the second piston portion being sandwiched between the first and third piston portions, wherein the second piston portion comprises first sealing rings which are disposed adjacent to the first piston portion to seal against bore of the second cylinder portion to ensure that fluorocarbon lubricant from the first piston portion cannot travel to the third piston portion.

4 more elements

A system comprising:

a reciprocating internal combustion engine, the engine including:
a cylinder head comprising a valve train,
a cylinder coupled with the cylinder head, wherein the cylinder is axially elongated and comprises a first cylinder portion adjacent to the cylinder head and a second cylinder portion distal from the cylinder head, such that, during operation of the engine, the first cylinder portion is lubricated using a fluorocarbon lubricant and the second cylinder portion is lubricated using a hydrocarbon lubricant,
a piston disposed within the cylinder to form, along with the head and the first cylinder portion, a combustion chamber,
a crankshaft operatively coupled with the piston and a motoring dynamometer, and
a rotary encoder operatively coupled with the crankshaft and the valve train;
a cradle defining a rotation axis within a plane parallel to the ground;
and
fixturing configured to:
mount the engine within the cradle, and
align the engine within the cradle such that the piston is to reciprocate co-linearly with a rotation axis, wherein the cradle is configured to rotate the fixtured engine about the rotation axis,
wherein the cradle is transversely sized and configured to fit, with the engine installed, along a 45° plane between neutron collimators and slits of an incident neutron beam, such that the cylinder's axis is aligned with a first scattering vector Q1, allowing for strain vector ci to be in the direction of piston travel regardless of the current rotation of the engine about the cylinder axis.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Neutronic engine

Life of this patent

Neutronic engine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims47