Low-emission internal combustion engine
AssigneeCollier Technologies, Inc.
InventorR. Kirk Collier, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of operating an internal combustion engine under high charge dilution conditions using a hydrogen-rich fuel is disclosed. The high charge dilution conditions are attained by diluting the hydrogen-rich fuel with gases such as excess air or recycled exhaust gas. The mixture to be charged to the combustion chamber is thoroughly mixed before it is introduced into the combustion chamber while the combustion chamber maintains a substantially quiescent state such that the charge mixture is introduced with an angular momentum lower than that of a typical low emission engine. The result is an internal combustion engine with both high efficiency and low emissions, particularly, low NOx emissions.
Claims20
A method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising:
- providing a substantially homogeneous mixture comprising hydrogen and air;
- introducing the mixture into a substantially quiescent combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine with a substantially low angular momentum such that the mixture is kept substantially homogeneous;
- and
- combusting the mixture within the combustion chamber.
A method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising:
- providing a gaseous fuel comprising hydrogen;
- mixing the gaseous fuel with air and a recycled exhaust gas stream to form an air-fuel mixture;
- introducing the air-fuel mixture into a substantially quiescent combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine with a substantially low angular momentum such that the air-fuel mixture is kept substantially homogeneous;
- combusting the air-fuel mixture within the combustion chamber to form an exhaust gas stream;
- and
- using a portion of the exhaust gas stream as the recycled exhaust gas.
An internal combustion engine comprising:
- a source of hydrogen as a fuel for the internal combustion engine;
- a mixer adapted to homogeneously mix the fuel, air, and a recycled exhaust gas stream and produce an air-fuel mixture;
- at least one combustion chamber adapted to receive the air-fuel mixture, burn the fuel, and produce an exhaust gas stream;
- an intake manifold adapted to deliver the air-fuel mixture to the combustion chamber, wherein the intake manifold and combustion chamber maintain a substantially low angular momentum for the air-fuel mixture within the combustion chamber that the air-fuel mixture remains homogeneously mixed;
- an exhaust gas line for removing exhaust gas stream from the combustion chamber and recycling at least a portion of the exhaust gas stream to the mixer as the recycled exhaust gas stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.