System and method for cooling a combustion gas charge
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorsMary Cecelia Massey, Thomas Earl Boberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a system and method for cooling a combustion gas charge prior. The combustion gas charge may include compressed intake air, exhaust gas, or a mixture thereof. An evaporator is provided that may then receive a relatively high temperature combustion gas charge and discharge at a relatively lower temperature. The evaporator may be configured to operate with refrigeration cycle components and/or to receive a fluid below atmospheric pressure as the phase-change cooling medium.
Claims20
A method for cooling a combustion gas charge for combustion in an engine comprising:
- providing a refrigerant compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve in fluid communication with an evaporator, said evaporator receiving said combustion gas charge, said combustion gas charge comprising exhaust gas and compressed air, said exhaust gas and compressed air received separately by the evaporator;
- wherein aid exhaust gas and compressed air are mixed in the evaporator;
- circulating a refrigerant through said evaporator, wherein said refrigerant enters said evaporator in at least liquid form and exits said evaporator in a vapor form;
- and
- directing said combustion gas charge through said evaporator, wherein said combustion gas charge has a higher mean temperature upon entering said evaporator than upon exiting said evaporator.
A system for cooling a combustion gas charge for combustion in an engine comprising:
- a refrigerant compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve in fluid communication with an evaporator;
- said evaporator receiving said combustion gas charge having a mean temperature T1, said combustion gas charge comprising exhaust gas and compressed air, said exhaust gas and compressed air received separately by the evaporator, wherein aid exhaust gas and compressed air are mixed in the evaporator;
- and discharging said combustion gas charge from said evaporator having a mean temperature T1, wherein T1> T2;
- and
- said evaporator receiving and discharging a refrigerant, wherein said refrigerant enters said evaporator in at least liquid form and exits said evaporator in a vapor form.
An internal combustion engine comprising:
- a source of exhaust gas and a source of compressed air;
- a system for cooling a combustion gas charge comprising:
- a refrigerant compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve in fluid communication with an evaporator;
- said evaporator receiving said combustion gas charge having a mean temperature T1, said combustion gas charge comprising said exhaust gas and said compressed air (emphasis added), said exhaust gas and compressed air received separately by the evaporator;
- wherein aid exhaust qas and compressed air are mixed in the evaporator;
- and discharging said combustion gas charge from said evaporator having a mean temperature T2, wherein T1> T2;
- and
- said evaporator receiving and discharging a refrigerant, wherein said refrigerant enters said evaporator in at least liquid form and exits said evaporator in a vapor form.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.