Compressed air intake engine inlet booster

An inlet fluid booster system for an internal combustion engine having engine cylinders, the inlet fluid booster system comprising:

• an annular inlet fluid booster being disposed within an air intake system of an engine, the inlet fluid booster having a plurality of nozzles disposed on about an inner periphery of the annular inlet fluid booster;
• and
• a compressed fluid supply source in fluid communication with the inlet fluid booster injector;
• wherein the compressed fluid is selectively introduced from the annular inlet fluid booster with a velocity vector at least partially towards the engine cylinders.

An inlet fluid booster system for an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine having an air inlet passage in upstream fluid communication from an intake manifold, where the intake manifold is upstream of engine cylinders, comprising:

• at least one compressed fluid supply source;
• a fluid booster in fluid communication with the compressed fluid supply source, the at least one fluid booster disposed upstream of the intake manifold and downstream of an exhaust gas recirculation valve, the fluid booster being disposed in fluid communication with the intake manifold;
• at least one control valve upstream of the at least one fluid booster for selectively permitting the flow of compressed fluid from the compressed fluid supply source to the at least one fluid booster;
• wherein the selective introduction of compressed fluid from the fluid booster draws an increased flow of boost air and recirculated exhaust gas through the air inlet passage to the intake manifold.

A method of increasing air flow to an internal combustion engine having an air inlet passage in fluid connection with engine cylinders, the method comprising the steps of:

• fluidly connecting a compressed fluid supply source that supplies compressed auxiliary fluid to an inlet fluid booster in an intake passage upstream of the engine cylinders;
• determining an amount of air passing through the air inlet passage;
• selectively delivering the compressed auxiliary fluid to the inlet fluid booster in the an intake passage upstream of the engine cylinders when the amount of air is below a predefined threshold;
• and
• drawing boost air and exhaust gas recirculation through the air inlet passage when the compressed auxiliary fluid is delivered to the inlet fluid booster upstream of the engine cylinders.

A method of operating an inlet fluid booster in an intake system of an internal combustion engine comprising:

• determining a difference between air flow conditions within an air intake system and a stored minimum air flow based upon existing engine operating conditions;
• comparing the difference between air flow conditions within the air intake system and the stored minimum air flow based upon existing engine operating conditions to first threshold value and a second threshold value;
• initiating fluid flow from an inlet fluid booster when an outcome of the comparing the difference between air flow conditions within the air intake system and the stored minimum air flow based upon existing engine operating conditions is less than the first threshold value;
• and
• deactivating fluid flow from the inlet fluid booster when an outcome of the comparing the difference between air flow conditions within the air intake system and the stored minimum air flow based upon existing engine operating conditions is greater than the second threshold value.