Engine having prechamber ignition and method of controlling such an engine

An engine (1) comprising prechamber ignition, in particular a gas engine, comprising:

• a main combustion space (2) in a cylinder of the engine (1) for combusting an air-fuel mixture;
• and
• a prechamber (3) having an ignition device (4) projecting into it and a fuel injector (5) projecting into it, wherein
• the prechamber (3) has at least one transfer point (6) that fluidically connects the prechamber (3) to the main combustion space (2),
• the fuel injector (5) projecting into the prechamber (3) is the only fuel injector (5) via which fuel can be introduced into the associated main combustion space (2),
• the fuel is hydrogen or contains more than 70% molecular hydrogen as the main component or as an admixture, and
• a quotient of (i) volume of the main combustion space (2) at a top dead center of a piston therein, and (ii) volume of the prechamber (3), is between 0.6 and 3%, preferably between 0.75% and 2.8%, and most preferably between 0.9% and 2.7%.

An engine (1) comprising prechamber ignition, in particular a gas engine, comprising:

• a main combustion space (2) in a cylinder of the engine (1) for combusting an air-fuel mixture;
• and
• a prechamber (3) having an ignition device (4) projecting into it and a fuel injector (5) projecting into it, wherein
• the prechamber (3) has at least one transfer point (6) that fluidically connects the prechamber (3) to the main combustion space (2),
• the fuel injector (5) projecting into the prechamber (3) is the only fuel injector (5) via which fuel can be introduced into the associated main combustion space (2),
• the fuel is hydrogen or contains more than 70% molecular hydrogen as the main component or as an admixture, and
• a quotient of (i) volume of the main combustion space (2) at a top dead center of a piston therein, and (ii) total cross-section of transport ports, is between 12 and 90 meters, preferably between 16 and 80 meters, and most preferably between 14 and 60 meters.

A method of operating an engine (1) comprising prechamber ignition, in particular a gas engine, comprising the combination of:

• a main combustion space (2) in a cylinder of the engine (1) for combusting an air-fuel mixture;
• a prechamber (3);
• an ignition device (4) projecting into the prechamber;
• and
• consisting of a fuel injector (5) projecting into the prechamber (3),
• wherein the prechamber (3) has at least one transfer point (6) that fluidically connects the prechamber (3) to the main combustion space (2),
• comprising operating the engine with a fuel which is hydrogen or contains more than 70% molecular hydrogen as the main component or as an admixture, said fuel always having an ignition capability for lambda at or above 2.5 and particularly preferably an ignition capability for lambda equal to or above 3 and very particularly preferably an ignition capability for lambda equal to or above 5, and operating the engine such that a quotient of (i) volume of the main combustion space (2) at a top dead center of a piston therein and (ii) volume of the prechamber (3) is between 0.6 and 3%, preferably between 0.75% and 2.8%, and most preferably between 0.9% and 2.7%.

A method of operating an engine (1) comprising prechamber ignition, in particular a gas engine, comprising the combination of:

• a main combustion space (2) in a cylinder of the engine (1) for combusting an air-fuel mixture;
• a prechamber (3);
• an ignition device (4) projecting into the prechamber;
• and
• consisting of a fuel injector (5) projecting into the prechamber (3), wherein
• the prechamber (3) has at least one transfer point (6) that fluidically connects the prechamber (3) to the main combustion space (2),
• the engine is operated with a fuel which is hydrogen or contains more than 70% molecular hydrogen as the main component or as an admixture, said fuel always having an ignition capability for lambda at or above 2.5 and particularly preferably an ignition capability for lambda equal to or above 3 and very particularly preferably an ignition capability for lambda equal to or above 5.
• the method performs multi-stage charging of the air provided into the main combustion space (2),
• water is sprayed into the charge air path for cooling the charge air, and
• the water sprayed into the charge air path being a condensate from the exhaust gas.

A method of operating an engine (1) comprising prechamber ignition, in particular a gas engine, comprising the combination of:

• a main combustion space (2) in a cylinder of the engine (1) for combusting an air-fuel mixture;
• a prechamber (3);
• an ignition device (4) projecting into the prechamber;
• and
• consisting of a fuel injector (5) projecting into the prechamber (3), wherein
• the prechamber (3) has at least one transfer point (6) that fluidically connects the prechamber (3) to the main combustion space (2),
• the engine is operated with a fuel which is hydrogen or contains more than 70% molecular hydrogen as the main component or as an admixture, said fuel always having an ignition capability for lambda at or above 2.5 and particularly preferably an ignition capability for lambda equal to or above 3 and very particularly preferably an ignition capability for lambda equal to or above 5, and
• the engine is operated with a quotient of (i) volume of the main combustion space (2) at a top dead center of a piston therein, and (ii) total cross-section of transport ports between 12 and 90 meters, preferably between 16 and 80 meters, and most preferably between 14 and 60 meters.