Engines Including Air-Separation Emissions Mitigation Systems and Methods for Operating the Same

A method for operating an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

• passing air to a separation unit;
• separating the air into a nitrogen-enriched air stream and an oxygen-enriched air stream with the separation unit, wherein the nitrogen-enriched air stream comprises a greater concentration of nitrogen than the oxygen-enriched air stream;
• passing the nitrogen-enriched air stream to a mixing chamber;
• mixing the nitrogen-enriched air stream with air within the mixing chamber to form a mixed stream;
• passing the mixed stream from the mixing chamber to a combustion chamber;
• passing a fuel to the combustion chamber;
• and
• combusting the fuel and the mixed stream within the combustion chamber.

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a combustion chamber;
• a separation unit in selective communication with the combustion chamber, the separation unit structurally configured to separate air into a nitrogen-enriched air stream and an oxygen-enriched air stream;
• a compressor in communication with the separation unit;
• a mixing chamber in communication with the separation unit and in selective communication with the compressor;
• an air valve in communication with the compressor, wherein the air valve is positionable between a bctwccn a closed position, in which the air valve restricts flow of an air stream from the compressor to the mixing chamber, and an open position, in which the air stream flows to the mixing chamber through the air valve;
• a nitrogen concentration sensor structurally configured to detect a nitrogen content in the nitrogen-enriched air stream;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the air valve and the nitrogen concentration sensor, the controller comprising a processor and a computer readable and executable instruction set, which when executed, causes the processor to:
• receive a signal from the nitrogen concentration sensor indicative of a detected nitrogen content in the nitrogen-enriched air stream;
• and
• direct the air valve to move between the closed position and the open position based at least in part on the signal from the nitrogen concentration sensor.