Intake air separation system for an internal combustion engine

An intake air separation system adapted for providing nitrogen enriched air for the combustion process within an internal combustion engine, said intake air separation system comprising:

• an intake air inlet adapted to receive said intake air used in the combustion process for said engine;
• an intake air separation device in flow communication with said intake air inlet and adapted for receiving said intake air used in the combustion process for said engine and separating said intake air into a flow of said oxygen enriched air and a flow of nitrogen enriched air;
• a permeate outlet in fluid communication with said intake air separation device and adapted to receive said flow of said oxygen enriched air;
• a retentate outlet in fluid communication with said intake air separation device and said intake manifold, said retentate outlet adapted to provide said flow of said nitrogen enriched air to said intake manifold for use in the combustion process;
• and
• a permeate air driver operatively associated with an exhaust system of said engine and placed in fluid communication with said permeate outlet, wherein said flow of oxygen enriched air is forcibly drawn to said permeate air driver via said permeate outlet, said permeate air driver being a venturi element placed in fluid communication with said permeate outlet and said exhaust system, said flow of oxygen enriched air being forcibly drawn to said venturi element via said permeate outlet.

An intake air separation system adapted for providing nitrogen enriched air for the combustion process within an internal combustion engine, said intake air separation system comprising:

• an intake air inlet adapted to receive said intake air used in the combustion process for said engine;
• an intake air separation device in flow communication with said intake air inlet and adapted for receiving said intake air used in the combustion process for said engine and separating said intake air into a flow of said oxygen enriched air and a flow of nitrogen enriched air;
• a permeate outlet in fluid communication with said intake air separation device and adapted to receive said flow of said oxygen enriched air;
• a retentate outlet in fluid communication with said intake air separation device and said intake manifold, said retentate outlet adapted to provide said flow of said nitrogen enriched air to said intake manifold for use in the combustion process;
• a permeate air driver operatively associated with an exhaust system of said engine and placed in fluid communication with said permeate outlet, wherein said flow of oxygen enriched air is forcibly drawn to said permeate air driver via said permeate outlet;
• and
• a purge air circuit disposed in fluid communication with said air separation device and adapted for providing a source of purge air to said intake air separation device to increase intake air separation.

A method of controlling the intake airflow in an internal combustion engine, said engine having an intake air system adapted for providing intake air to an intake manifold and one or more combustion chambers, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an exhaust gas turbocharger, said exhaust gas turbocharger including a first exhaust gas driven turbine, an intake air compressor and a permeate air compressor, said first exhaust gas driven turbine driving both said intake air compressor and said permeate air compressor;
• directing forcibly substantially all of said intake air to an intake air separating device using said intake air compressor;
• separating substantially all of said intake air into a flow of oxygen enriched air and a flow of nitrogen enriched air;
• directing forcibly said oxygen enriched air away from said intake air separating device via a first outlet with said permeate air compressor;
• and
• directing said nitrogen enriched air via a second outlet to said intake manifold.

A method of controlling the intake airflow in an internal combustion engine, said engine having an intake air system adapted for providing intake air to an intake manifold and one or more combustion chambers, said method comprising the steps of:

• directing substantially all of said intake air to an intake air separating device;
• separating substantially all of said intake air into a flow of oxygen enriched air and a flow of nitrogen enriched air;
• directing forcibly said oxygen enriched air away from said intake air separating device via a first outlet with a permeate air driver operatively associated with the exhaust system, the step of directing forcibly said oxygen enriched air away from said separating device with a permeate air driver further including creating a pressure gradient using a venturi element placed in the engine exhaust system and in fluid communication with said first outlet, said flow of oxygen enriched air thereby being forcibly drawn to said venturi element via said first outlet;
• and
• directing said nitrogen enriched air via a second outlet to said intake manifold.

A method of controlling the intake airflow in an internal combustion engine, said engine having an intake air system adapted for providing intake air to an intake manifold and one or more combustion chambers, said method comprising the steps of:

• directing substantially all of said intake air to an intake air separating device;
• directing a flow of purge air through said intake air separating device;
• separating substantially all of said intake air into a flow of oxygen enriched air and a flow of nitrogen enriched air;
• directing forcibly said oxygen enriched air away from said intake air separating device via a first outlet with a permeate air driver operatively associated with the exhaust system;
• and
• directing said nitrogen enriched air via a second outlet to said intake manifold.