Dynamic charge compression ignition engine with multiple aftertreatment systems
AssigneeTula Technology, Inc.
InventorsElliot A. ORTIZ-SOTO, Matthew A. YOUNKINS
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods, devices, controllers, and algorithms are described for operating an internal combustion engine wherein at least some firing opportunities utilize low temperature gasoline combustion (LTGC). Other firing opportunities may be skipped or utilize some other type of combustion, such as spark ignition. The nature of any particular firing opportunity is dynamically determined during engine operation, often on a firing opportunity by firing opportunity basis. Firings that utilize LTGC produce little, if any, nitrous oxides in the exhaust stream and thus, in some implementations, may require no aftertreatment system to remove them from the exhaust stream.
Claims39
A method of operating an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- operating an internal combustion engine by selectively firing or skipping working cycles of working chambers of the internal combustion engine;
- and
- for the fired working cycles, selectively firing the working chambers using a stoichiometric air-fuel mixture during some working cycles and using a lean air-fuel mixture during other working cycles.
A method of controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of working chambers, comprising:
- operating the internal combustion engine in a mode wherein one or more working cycles of the plurality of working chambers are either selectively fired or skipped;
- and
- for working chambers that are fired during some working cycles, operating the working chambers in one of the following:
- a Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) mode;
- a Gasoline Direct Compression Ignition (GDCI) mode;
- a Spark Assisted Compression Ignition Mode (SACI) mode;
- or
- a Dynamic Charge Compression Ignition (DCCI) mode.
A method of controlling operation of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of working chambers, comprising:
- operating the internal combustion engine in a mode wherein working cycles of the plurality of working chambers are selectively either fired or skipped;
- and
- for a working chamber that is fired during a working cycle, operating the working chamber during the fired working cycle by:
- providing a lean air-fuel mixture in the working chamber;
- compressing the lean air-fuel mixture in the working chamber;
- causing a triggered combustion event within the working chamber while the air-fuel mixture is compressed within the working chamber;
- and
- combusting the compressed lean air-fuel mixture within the working chamber in response to the triggered combustion event.
The method of 30, wherein causing the triggered combustion event within the working chamber further comprises:
- direct injecting fuel into the working chamber;
- using a spark to ignite the direct injected fuel.
The method of 30, further comprising:
- ascertaining a torque load for the working chamber;
- determining if the ascertained torque load is within a torque range for combustion of the lean air-fuel mixture;
- and
- introducing the lean air-fuel mixture into the working chamber;
- and
- combusting the lean air-fuel mixture in the working chamber during the working cycle.
The method of 30, further comprising:
- ascertaining a torque load for a select working cycle of a select working chamber;
- determining if the ascertained torque load is outside of a torque range for the lean air-fuel mixture;
- and
- if the ascertained torque is outside the torque range, introducing a stoichiometric air-fuel mixture into the select working chamber;
- and
- combusting the stoichiometric air-fuel mixture in the select working chamber during the select working cycle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.