Method for generating a homogeneous mixture for auto-ignition internal combustion engines and for controlling the combustion process

A method for generating a homogeneous mixture for an auto-ignition internal combustion engine and for controlling a combustion process, the internal combustion engine including an injection system and at least one cylinder/piston unit connected to an intake device and having a combustion space, the combustion process including a four-stroke process, which includes an intake stroke, a compression stroke, a working stroke and an exhaust stroke, wherein the compression stroke includes an isentropic compression, the method comprising the steps of:

• one of recirculating hot exhaust gas from a previous combustion cycle into one of the combustion space and the intake device and retaining hot exhaust gas in one of the combustion space and the intake device;
• injecting fuel by the injection system into the one of the recirculated hot exhaust gas and the retained hot exhaust gas to generate a homogeneous fuel/air mixture;
• cooling the homogenized fuel/air mixture by at least one of expansion cooling in the respective cylinder/piston unit, isentropic compression in the respective cylinder/piston unit, expansion cooling of fuel/air mixture homogenized in at least one further cylinder/piston unit, external cooling of a fuel/air mixture homogenized in at least one further cylinder/piston unit;
• and
• recirculating the cooled fuel/air mixture into the intake device.

A method for generating a homogeneous mixture for an auto-ignition internal combustion engine and for controlling a combustion process, the internal combustion engine including an injection system and at least one cylinder/piston unit connected to an intake device and having a combustion space, the method comprising the steps of:

• one of recirculating hot exhaust gas from a previous combustion cycle into one of the combustion space and the intake device and retaining hot exhaust gas in one of the combustion space and the intake device;
• injecting fuel by the injection system into the one of the recirculated hot exhaust gas and the retained hot exhaust gas to generate a homogeneous fuel/air mixture;
• cooling the homogenized fuel/air mixture by at least one of expansion cooling in the respective cylinder/piston unit, isentropic compression in the respective cylinder/piston unit, expansion cooling of fuel/air mixture homogenized in at least one further cylinder/piston unit, external cooling of a fuel/air mixture homogenized in at least one further cylinder/piston unit;
• and
• recirculating the cooled fuel/air mixture into the intake device.

A method for generating a homogeneous mixture for an auto-ignition internal combustion engine and for controlling a combustion process, the internal combustion engine including an injection system and at least one cylinder/piston unit connected to an intake device and having a combustion space, the combustion process including a four-stroke process, which includes an intake stroke, a compression stroke, a working stroke and an exhaust stroke, the method comprising the steps of:

• one of recirculating hot exhaust gas from a previous combustion cycle into one of the combustion space and the intake device and retaining hot exhaust gas in one of the combustion space and the intake device;
• injecting fuel by the injection system into the one of the recirculated hot exhaust gas and the retained hot exhaust gas to generate a homogeneous fuel/air mixture;
• cooling the homogenized fuel/air mixture by at least one of expansion cooling in the respective cylinder/piston unit, isentropic compression in the respective cylinder/piston unit, expansion cooling of fuel/air mixture homogenized in at least one further cylinder/piston unit, external cooling of a fuel/air mixture homogenized in at least one further cylinder/piston unit;
• and
• recirculating the cooled fuel/air mixture into the intake device;
• wherein the internal combustion engine includes an inlet valve, the expansion cooling being performed in accordance with one of a late inlet valve opening and an early inlet valve closing.