US 9,038,578 B2 · Unit for simulating the pressure and temperature conditions of the air drawn in by a reciprocating internal combustion engine

Abstract

The invention relates to a unit for simulating the pressure and temperature conditions of an air flow drawn in by a reciprocating internal combustion engine (1) at a height above sea level, corresponding to the operating height of said reciprocating internal combustion engine (1). According to the invention, the unit comprises at least: (a) a radial inward-flow turbine (2) for expanding an air flow towards the pressure and temperature of the air drawn in by the reciprocating internal combustion engine; (b) a first container (4) and (c) a second container (5) connected to the first container (4) by means of at least a connection pipe (7) in order to balance the pressure between the two containers; (d) a centrifugal compressor (3); and (e) a vacuum pump (6) for maintaining a pressure equal to the pressure of the air flow drawn in by the reciprocating internal combustion engine (1). The invention also relates to the use of said unit for simulating the pressure and temperature conditions of the air drawn in by a reciprocating internal combustion engine.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A unit for simulating the pressure and temperature conditions of an airflow drawn in by a reciprocating internal combustion engine at a height above sea level corresponding to the operating height of said reciprocating internal combustion engine, where said unit comprises at least the following equipment:

(a) a radial inward-flow turbine for expanding an airflow from an initial state of pressure p0 and temperature T0 to a second state of pressure p1 and temperature T1, where p0 and T0 correspond to the pressure and temperature of the atmosphere A1 in which the reciprocating internal combustion engine is located and where p1 and T1 correspond to the pressure and temperature of the airflow drawn in by the reciprocating internal combustion engine;
(b) a first container located after the radial inward-flow turbine and at the inlet of the reciprocating internal combustion engine for providing said airflow thereto at a pressure p1 and a temperature T1;
(c) a second container located at the outlet of the reciprocating internal combustion engine and connected to the first container through at least a connection pipe in order to balance the pressure between both containers;
(d) a centrifugal compressor attached by its shaft to the radial inward-flow turbine, the assembly forming a system known as a turbine generator;
(e) a vacuum pump located after the second container for maintaining a pressure equal to the pressure of the airflow drawn in by the reciprocating internal combustion engine.

2 more elements

A method for simulating the pressure and temperature conditions of an airflow drawn in by a reciprocating internal combustion engine at a height above sea level corresponding to the operating height of said reciprocating engine, where said method is characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

(a) expanding an airflow from an initial state of pressure p0 and temperature T0 to a second state of pressure p1 and temperature T1 in a radial inward-flow turbine connected to a centrifugal compressor forming an assembly known as a turbine generator, where p0 and T0 correspond to the pressure and temperature of the atmosphere A1 in which the reciprocating internal combustion engine is located and where p1 and T1 correspond to the pressure and temperature of the airflow drawn in by the reciprocating internal combustion engine;
(b) sending said airflow at a pressure p1 and a temperature T1 to at least a first container from where the airflow is drawn in by the reciprocating internal combustion engine;
(c) discharging the exhaust gases of the reciprocating internal combustion engine into at least a second container, from where a flow of said exhaust gases is suctioned by means of a vacuum pump for maintaining a pressure p2 equal to the pressure of the airflow drawn in by the reciprocating internal combustion engine,
(d) discharging an airflow coming from the centrifugal compressor into the atmosphere A1 through a back pressure valve.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Unit for simulating the pressure and temperature conditions of the air drawn in by a reciprocating internal combustion engine

Life of this patent

Unit for simulating the pressure and temperature conditions of the air drawn in by a reciprocating internal combustion engine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23