Method and system for controlling diesel engine emissions by fuel blending
AssigneeClear Torque, LLC
InventorDaniel W. Sonnek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for controlling diesel engine emissions include blending diesel with ethanol to provide reduced NOx emissions generated from a combustion reaction in an internal combustion engine. The system and method incorporate a feedback system that monitors the NOx levels in the exhaust system and adjusts the flow of ethanol and fuel automatically, thereby maintaining the overall efficiency and performance of the engine system while reducing operation costs and significantly lowering the NOx emissions generated from the combustion of the fuel blend in the engine.
Claims19
A system for controlling nitrogen oxide (NOx) production in an engine, the system comprising:
- a first control module connected to a first fuel pump that is configured to route diesel from a first fuel tank into an engine cylinder;
- a second control module connected to a second fuel pump that is configured to route ethanol from a second fuel tank into the engine cylinder producing a mixture comprising the diesel and ethanol in the engine cylinder;
- and
- an exhaust system comprising a first NOx sensor positioned at an outlet of the engine cylinder, a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) pump positioned downstream of the first NOx sensor, and a second NOx sensor positioned downstream of the DEF pump;
- wherein the ethanol has a concentration in a range from about 140 proof to about 190 proof;
- and
- when the system is operating, the mixture combusts in the engine cylinder to produce exhaust gas comprising NOx, and the exhaust gas routes from the engine cylinder through the exhaust system, wherein the DEF pump provides a vaporized DEF stream to the exhaust gas.
A method of controlling nitrogen oxide (NOx) production in an engine, the method comprising:
- routing diesel from a first fuel tank to an engine cylinder;
- routing ethanol from a second fuel tank to the engine cylinder to produce a diesel-ethanol mixture in the engine cylinder;
- and
- combusting the diesel-ethanol mixture in the engine cylinder in presence of atmospheric air to produce exhaust gas comprising NOx;
- wherein the ethanol has a concentration in a range from about 140 proof to about 190 proof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.