Apparatus and method for operating an internal combustion engine to reduce free oxygen contained within engine exhaust gas
AssigneePrecision Drilling Technology Services Group Inc.
InventorRoss Michael Krill
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine to reduce the presence of free oxygen in the exhaust gas of the engine. The method and apparatus provides for the internal combustion engine to be operated with a fuel-to-air ratio in excess of the stoichiometic ratio such that the exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine is devoid or substantially devoid of all free oxygen and excess unburned hydrocarbon fuel is expelled with the exhaust gas from the engine.
Claims19
A method of controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine to reduce the presence of free oxygen in the exhaust gas of the engine, the method comprising operating the internal combustion engine with a fuel-to-air ratio in excess of the stoichiometic ratio such that the exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine is devoid or substantially devoid of all free oxygen and excess unburned hydrocarbon fuel is expelled with the exhaust gas from the engine.
An apparatus for controlling the performance and operation of an internal combustion engine to reduce the presence of free oxygen within the exhaust of the engine, the apparatus comprising a fuel-to-air ratio controller, said fuel-to-air ratio controller regulating the fuel-to-air mixture within the intake of the internal combustion engine such that the fuel-to-air ratio is maintained in excess of the stoichiometic ratio with the exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine devoid or substantially devoid of all free oxygen and excess unburned hydrocarbon fuel expelled with the exhaust gas from the engine.
A method for providing a stream of substantially oxygen free gas for use as a drilling fluid in the underground drilling of a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of;
- (i) operating an internal combustion engine with a fuel-to-air ratio in excess of the stoichiometic ratio such that the exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine is devoid or substantially devoid of all free oxygen content;
- (ii) collecting the exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine and directing the exhaust gas to a compression stage where the exhaust gas is compressed to a desired pressure;
- and,
- (iii) directing said pressurized exhaust gas that is devoid or substantially devoid of any free oxygen content to the wellbore for use in the drilling process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.