Apparatus and method of improving volumetric efficiency in an internal combustion engine
AssigneeWestport Power Inc.
InventorFadi Kanafani
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Volumetric efficiency is reduced in a premixed gaseous fuel engine compared to a premixed liquid fuel engine. An improved method for operating an internal combustion engine and improving volumetric efficiency comprises storing a gaseous fuel in a liquid state; determining a load on the internal combustion engine as a function of engine operating conditions; determining a target temperature for the gaseous fuel that reduces the likelihood of pre-ignition and knock as a function of the load; and controlling the amount of heat transferred to the gaseous fuel to convert it to one of a gas state and a supercritical state, such that the gaseous fuel is introduced into the internal combustion engine at the target temperature.
Claims23
A method of operating an internal combustion engine and improving volumetric efficiency, said method comprising:
- storing a gaseous fuel in a liquid state;
- determining a load on said internal combustion engine as a function of engine operating conditions;
- determining a target temperature for said gaseous fuel that reduces the likelihood of pre-ignition and knock as a function of said load;
- and
- controlling the amount of heat transferred to said gaseous fuel to convert it to one of a gas state and a supercritical state, whereby said gaseous fuel is introduced into said internal combustion engine at said target temperature.
-11. (canceled)
An apparatus for operating an engine fuelled with a gaseous fuel comprising:
- a vessel for storing said gaseous fuel in a liquid state;
- a heat exchanging apparatus comprising a heat exchanger and a heat delivery apparatus, said heat exchanger converting said gaseous fuel from said vessel to one of a gas state and a supercritical state, said heat delivery apparatus supplying heat to said heat exchanger for said conversion;
- a temperature sensor emitting signals representative of gaseous fuel temperature downstream of said heat exchanger;
- a fuel injector for introducing said gaseous fuel from said heat exchanger into a cylinder of said engine;
- and
- a controller operatively connected with said heat delivery apparatus, said temperature sensor and said fuel injector and programmed to:
- determine a load on said engine as a function of engine operating conditions;
- determine a target temperature of said gaseous fuel downstream from said heat exchanging apparatus as a function of said load on said engine;
- determine actual gaseous fuel temperature downstream of said heat exchanging apparatus as a function of said signals emitted by said temperature sensor;
- and
- adjust an amount of heat delivered by said heat delivery apparatus to said heat exchanger such that said actual gaseous fuel temperature equals said target gaseous fuel temperature to within a predetermined range of tolerance.
(canceled)
-25. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.