Air-fuel charge controller for a homogeneous-charge, compression-ignition engine

A homogeneous-charge, compression-ignition engine system having a gas charge intake manifold and an exhaust gas manifold, an engine having a gas charge combustion chamber, a gas charge intake in the combustion chamber communicating with the intake manifold, and an exhaust port in the combustion chamber communicating with the exhaust manifold;

• means for recovering thermal energy of exhaust gas and for transferring it to the gas charge in the intake manifold;
• and
• means for adjusting the rate of heat transfer from the exhaust manifold to the combustion chamber whereby timing of auto ignition of the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber is controlled during a combustion cycle;
• the means for recovering and transferring thermal energy comprising a heat tube with a heat input zone in thermal communication with the exhaust manifold and a heat outlet zone in thermal communication with the intake manifold.

A homogeneous-charge, compression-ignition engine system having a gas charge intake manifold and an exhaust gas manifold, an engine having an air-fuel combustion chamber, a gas charge intake manifold, a combustion chamber communicating with the intake manifold and an exhaust port in the combustion chamber communicating with the exhaust manifold;

• a split inlet port communicating with the intake manifold, the intake port having first and second flow passages, the first flow passage communicating directly with the intake manifold whereby unheated ambient air is distributed to the intake manifold;
• a heat exchanger communicating with the second flow passage and with the exhaust manifold, the second flow passage communicating with the intake manifold through the heat exchanger whereby air heated by exhaust gas is distributed to the intake manifold;
• and
• valve means for controlling the mass air ratio of heated air and unheated air delivered to the combustion chamber whereby the mass air ratio is adjusted to control the auto-ignition point in the combustion cycle and thereby establish optimum combustion efficiency.

A homogeneous-charge, compression-ignition engine system having a charge intake manifold and an exhaust gas manifold, an engine having a cylinder housing with engine coolant, an air-fuel combustion chamber, a charge intake port, a combustion chamber communicating with the intake manifold and an exhaust port in the combustion chamber communicating with the exhaust manifold;

• a split inlet port communicating with the intake manifold, the intake port having first and second flow passages, the first flow passage communicating directly with the intake manifold whereby unheated ambient air is distributed to the intake manifold;
• a first heat exchanger communicating with the second flow passage and with the exhaust manifold, the second flow passage communicating with the intake manifold through the first heat exchanger whereby air heated by exhaust gas is distributed to the intake manifold;
• a second heat exchanger communicating with the engine coolant and with the second flow passage through the first heat exchanger whereby thermal energy is transferred from the engine coolant to the intake manifold;
• and
• valve means for controlling the mass air ratio of heated air and unheated air delivered to the intake manifold whereby the mass air ratio is adjusted to establish the auto-ignition point in the combustion cycle and thereby establish optimum combustion efficiency.