DE102006058285A1 - Pressure chamber, especially a motor combustion chamber, has a transparent ring-shaped mantle section tensed by fluid pressure for visual monitoring of combustion and chemical reactions - Google Patents

Abstract

The pressure chamber (10), forming a combustion chamber (12) has a ring-shaped and optically transparent mantle zone (26), tensed by fluid pressure against the chamber head (16) and/or other mantle zones (18). The transparent section is of glass and especially a mineral or quartz glass. The conditions within the chamber are monitored by a camera (30) through the transparent section.

Description

The The invention relates to a pressure chamber having the features of the preamble of claim 1 and a method for optical monitoring a pressure chamber or a combustion chamber with the features of the preamble of the independent Method claim.

For the optimization of high pressure processes is in many cases one optical monitoring unavoidable. This concerns in particular the optimization of engine combustion processes and chemical reactions necessary for monitoring and control optically accessible must be made. The optical monitoring However, this is made more difficult by the fact that the running under high pressure Processes usually in a pressure vessel or in a combustion chamber occur. To the sizing and strength of the pressure vessel and combustion chambers High demands are made, as these are due to the inside prevailing high pressure forces be charged significantly.

State of the art

In order to make a high-pressure process optically accessible, at least part of the wall of the pressure vessel or combustion chamber must be made of an optically permeable medium. This creates a so-called "optically accessible pressure vessel" or an "optically accessible combustion chamber". For this purpose, mostly quartz glass is used, which consists of the purest silicon dioxide. Such a window arrangement on a combustion chamber wall is, for example, from the DE 43 20 943 A1 out.

An internal combustion engine with transparent cylinder jacket continues to go out of the GB 1 345 279 A out. In order to ensure an undisturbed view of the moving piston and the combustion processes, the internal combustion engine has no conventional piston lubrication, but is based in its other construction on known constructions. A metallic cylinder head is bolted to the crankcase via a plurality of threaded bolts, whereby the transparent cylindrical glass shell is braced at the same time.

There the temperature expansion of the engine components made of steel many times (about 20 times) higher is required as that of quartz glass the construction of the optically transparent engine parts the different Extensions taken into account because of the otherwise occurring temperature stresses in the voltage-sensitive glass cause problems can.

One Another practical problem is the deposition of combustion residues all surfaces the combustion chambers, making the transparent section a very short time Have coating that reduces the optical quality and other observations impossible power. From a certain degree of contamination of the glass must be Try to break and clean the glass for transparency restore.

task

One The first object of the present invention is a pressure chamber to disposal to provide, at the different temperature expansion behavior different wall components lead to no problems.

One Another object of the invention is cleaning times of Pressure and combustion chambers in the interest of shortest possible interruptions of test procedures largely to minimize.

These Objects of the invention are achieved with the objects of the independent claims. Features of advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the respective dependent ones Claims.

A Pressure chamber with the features of claim 1, which has a cladding region and a head region clamped pressure-tight with the jacket region is characterized in that at least a first Section of the shell region by means of fluid pressure against the Head area and / or against other portions of the shell area is tense. In this way, on the one hand a defined pre clamping pressure guaranteed be upright and broad in all operating conditions can be kept constant. On the other hand, this can cause temperature fluctuations and different temperature expansion behavior respectively different be compensated with each other strained materials.

Of the fluid-pressure clamped first portion of the shell region can in particular a ring-shaped Be section of the hollow cylindrical shell area. The Pressure chamber according to the invention can thus largely every conceivable embodiment of a pressure chamber, a combustion chamber, an engine combustion chamber o. The like. Be, the Wall or chamber components made of different materials can, the u. U. strongly different expansion coefficients with temperature fluctuations can have.

The pressure chamber according to the invention has particular advantages, in particular, when the fluidically clamped first jacket region section at least partially optically transparent. Mineral glass sections or glass rings are used in particular for such optically transparent wall components of pressure chambers or combustion chambers, so that the fluidically strained first jacket region section comprises glass, in particular mineral glass or quartz glass, or completely made of mineral glass or quartz glass consists.

In so-called transparent engines, in which parts of a cylinder jacket surface are formed of glass, cylinder head and cylinder jacket are usually screwed by means of steel screws with the motor housing. The different thermal expansions of the steel screws and the quartz glass (α _steel = 21 · α _{quartz glass} ) lead to fluctuating bolt _preload forces, which are directly dependent on the operating temperature. The preload forces are highest at low temperatures (eg room temperature) and decrease with increasing operating temperature. The bolt preload is to be selected during assembly so that even at high operating temperatures, the reduced by different thermal expansion preload force is sufficient to seal the combustion chamber. The no longer influenceable in operation of the engine screw biasing force leads at low operating temperature to high axial pressure force on the cylinder surface, which is at least partially formed in a transparent motor by a glass ring. In the pressure chamber according to the invention, the glass ring is no longer clamped over the conventional clamping screws with the cylinder head, but via a fluidically generated biasing pressure. The tension can in turn take place against the cylinder head, but is decoupled from the mechanical bias of conventional cylinder head tension screws.

Around To realize this, can be provided, for example, that the fluidic clamped first jacket portion or the glass ring on a further or second, linearly displaceable portion of the jacket region is applied. This further or second displaceable section of the Mantle region according to the invention with fluidic Pressure actuated and linearly displaceable in the direction of the head area. The second section of the jacket region can in particular in an internal combustion engine be a part of the cylinder, the glass ring against the cylinder head braced.

A further embodiment the invention provides that displaceable away from the head area second portion of the jacket portion of the braced against the head area first section of the jacket area is accessible from the inside. In particular, can be provided that displaced from the head area displaceable second portion of the jacket portion of the braced against the head area first portion of the jacket region is detachable and removable. Around clean the glass ring of combustion residues on its combustion chamber side surface to be able to with the present invention is an access between glass ring and cylinder head or created between glass ring and cylinder jacket, without disassembling the cylinder head or parts of the engine have to. While at the conventional one Transparent motors for Such cleaning of the engine partially dismantled and in the Assembly elaborate must be adjusted in the pressure chamber according to the invention by simple Lowering the fluid pressure created access to the glass ring or These are removed from the engine.

According to one preferred embodiment of Invention, the pressure chamber forms a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, wherein the head portion comprises a cylinder head, the first shell portion portion an optically transparent Window below the cylinder head and the fluidic actuated second jacket portion portion a part of a cylinder jacket forms. In such an application of the invention will its advantages especially clear, as in conventional Transparent engines, the motor combustion so far not yet at high combustion chamber pressures can be examined because the capacity of the quartz glass is not sufficient. Therefore, you can the known transparent engines so far optically only in the partial load range to be examined. The investigation of the full load range, at high Combustion chamber pressures, was previously due to the limited strength or strength of the quartz glass not yet possible. The load capacity of the glass through the combustion chamber pressure was the bolt preload forces significantly reduced. The cleaning of the glass also required usual Transparent motors an elaborate Disassembly of the cylinder head and the entire periphery (intake and exhaust) exhaust ports, Measuring technology, fuel supply, etc.) or the lowering of the cylinder jacket with each subsequent complex Adjustment of the bolt preload. This made the experimental procedures long interrupted, with an undesirable cooling of the engine was made.

These disadvantages can now all be satisfactorily eliminated with the device according to the invention, since the fluidic biasing pressure can be maintained even with temperature and pressure changes of the pressure chamber or in the combustion chamber and in particular can be kept substantially constant. When lowering the cylinder jacket, on which the glass ring rests, the glass ring can either be cleaned from the inside or removed from its support surface. The subsequent adjustment is preferably carried out by a corresponding fit and by the pressure with adjustable fluidic pressure so that constant installation conditions and pressure values for the sensitive glass ring can be ensured under all operating conditions.

A Preferred embodiment of the invention may provide that the first Mantle area section over Intermediate discs even with thermal expansion between play second jacket area section and head area remains clamped. These Intermediate discs can For example. Made of suitable plastic such as PTFE o. The like. Exist, the in itself expanding metal parts for provide a backlash-free clamping of the glass ring.

When Pressure fluid is, for example, gas in question, especially air. Optional the pressurized fluid may also be a liquid be, wherein the pressure fluid optionally also for the removal of undesirably high Temperature peaks can provide, which act on the cylinder jacket. By clever arrangement of cooling channels can the pressure fluid, for example. at the same time as cooling liquid act.

For the optical transparent areas of the combustion chamber may preferably be mineral glass, in particular quartz glass are used, since this material is favorable optical Properties and at the same time the required mechanical strength values and having sufficient temperature resistance. The optical transparent area of the pressure chamber can optionally be used as a circumferential ring the combustion chamber surface be educated. Alternatively, the transparent area may be only partial Cover the combustion chamber or the pressure chamber and, for example. As a window be formed in a metallic ring.

One The third object of the invention is a method for monitoring to provide pressure and combustion chambers over a longer period of time preferably trouble-free and can proceed under largely constant experimental conditions.

This Objective is achieved with the subject of the independent method claim. The inventive method for optical monitoring a pressure chamber or a combustion chamber, which has a jacket area and a head region clamped pressure-tight with the jacket region includes, and the one window arrangement in or on a jacket area portion having an optically transparent region, the inner Surface one Part of the combustion chamber wall forms, provides that at least a first Section of the shell region by means of fluid pressure against the Head area and / or against other portions of the shell area is strained. The further or second jacket region section can be linear against the head area by fluidic pressurization be moved. This has the advantage that the first jacket area section in a linearly pushed away from the head area second jacket portion of accessible inside and / or removable. As a result, the first jacket region section, the especially a glass ring can be easily accessible and can be removed for cleaning or maintenance purposes.

The Biasing force in the inventive arrangement or in the method according to the invention is adjusted by the pressure of the pressure fluid. Basically as pressurized fluid any suitable liquid used, for example, a suitable hydraulic oil. A pressure reducing valve can in conjunction with a pressure accumulator in the hydraulics for a constant and independent of the operating temperature oil pressure and thus for a constant Preload force on the glass ring and also for the seal between glass ring and cylinder head worry. Thus, the axial load of the glass minimized by the preload force at all operating temperatures. The glass ring can, in contrast to a highly tempered glass ring, higher Combustion chamber pressures withstand.

through a hydraulic valve, the oil or the pressure fluid are discharged from the pressure chamber, whereby the moving part of the cylinder jacket is driven down and access to the glass room for the cleaning releases. By applying the hydraulic cylinder with pressurized oil the movable part of the cylinder jacket moved up again. The interrupted for cleaning engine trial can already after very short interruption time and without major delays due to a biasing force setting to be continued.

The Device and method allow the investigation of motor combustion processes at higher Combustion chamber pressures than before, because the formation of axial temperature stresses in the glass ring be prevented as far as possible. Furthermore, cleaning times can be reduced become. In addition, a damage of the glass due to too high biasing forces improper installation prevented. As with conventional Transparent engines more expensive glasses with improper installation destroyed were, can the costs are reduced by the invention.

The present invention is basically applicable in all fields of optical observation, monitoring and analysis of processes that occur at high pressures. In this context, it should be mentioned that the invention is not only for the observation of combustion processes in combustion chambers of internal combustion engines is suitable, but generally for making optically accessible high-pressure processes in pressure chambers of various designs. While a typical combustion chamber diameter may have a value of approx. 100 mm, higher combustion chamber pressures can also be achieved with significantly smaller pressure chambers due to the better controllable glass properties. Furthermore, a halving of the inner diameter of the pressure chamber to be observed to about 50 mm with an approximate halving of the load on the mechanical parts by the combustion chamber pressure, in particular the transparent walls of the pressure chamber, go along. The main effect of reducing the pressure chamber is the reduction of the load on the glass by the internal pressure. A side effect is the increase in the permissible load capacity of the glass, which is based inter alia on the lower probability of defects and microstructural defects with smaller sizes.

Clear smaller pressure chambers can For example, in the chemical process technology used. The Invention leaves Not only with rings and windows made of glass materials but also with components made of other materials that but are preferably optically transparent. Optionally, the Shape of the optically permeable Components also differ from the example mentioned ring shape.

embodiment

The Invention will be described below with reference to preferred embodiments explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Same Parts in the figures are basically denoted by like reference numerals and therefore become partial not explained several times. It should also be emphasized at this point that the following described embodiment for understanding should contribute to the invention, but not limiting for the inventive concept understand is.

1 shows a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a pressure chamber according to the invention.

2 shows a schematic sectional view of a variant of the arrangement according to the invention in ready state.

3 shows a schematic sectional view of the variant according to 2 in a maintenance state.

The schematic sectional view of 1 shows a pressure chamber 10 the example of a combustion chamber 12 an internal combustion engine, which has a jacket area 14 and a pressure-resistant with the jacket area 14 strained head area 16 having. According to the present invention, a shell portion portion 18 by fluidic pressure against the head area 16 braced. In the embodiment shown, which is essentially a known combustion chamber 12 Refers and also uses its designations, forms the lower portion of Man telbereich 14 a part of the cylinder 20 , which opens at the bottom in a crankcase of an engine block (not shown). The fluidic pressure against the head area 16 strained jacket area section 18 forms in the illustrated embodiment, the upper part of the cylinder 20 , the following also as a movable part of the cylinder jacket or as a liner 22 referred to as. This liner 22 usually consists of metal, for example. Of cast iron or a light metal alloy. However, it can also be made of a suitable steel alloy and possibly with cooling channels (not shown) to be provided for heat dissipation of the heat of combustion.

Between the jacket area section 18 or the liner 22 and the head area 16 , which simplifies below as a cylinder head 24 is designated, is an annular portion 26 of the shell portion arranged by means of the liner 22 from below against the cylinder head 24 is tense. The annular section 26 is also referred to in this specification as "first cladding region portion" 26, while the liner 22 in this context as another or as "second jacket area section" 18 referred to as. The annular section 26 can according to the present invention, in particular as a transparent ring or as a glass ring 28 be formed, whereby a so-called. Transparent motor is formed, the combustion processes can be observed from the outside, eg. By means of a in 1 indicated camera 30 ,

Between cylinders 20 and liners 22 is a pressure reservoir 32 formed with pressurized fluid 34 from a storage reservoir can be acted upon, wherein the pressure of the pressurized fluid is adjustable so that the liner 22 and the glass ring 28 with defined and constant pressure against the cylinder head 24 are pressed and braced.

In a first, simplest variant of the pressure chamber according to the invention 10 is the liner 22 as well as the glass ring 28 only against the cylinder head 24 strained, due to the bottom of the liner 22 acting fluid pressure under all operating conditions and even with changing temperatures and combustion chamber pressures can be kept constant. Especially for the pressure-sensitive glass ring 28 can on This way defined and constant pressure values are guaranteed, so that no mechanical damage is to be feared. Whereas in conventional transparent engines the cylinder head braces the cylinder jacket together with the glass ring seated thereon so that the prestressing force for the cylinder head and the glass ring is reduced with increasing temperature expansions, the pressure chamber according to the invention can be used with the fluidic or hydraulic pressure chamber according to the invention Biasing pressure, the biasing force for the braced parts are kept substantially constant, even if high combustion chamber pressures and high combustion temperatures occur.

Based on 2 and 3 a particularly preferred variant of the pressure chamber according to the invention and a method for greatly simplified maintenance of the transparent parts will be described. It shows the 2 in a schematic sectional view of the arrangement according to the invention in ready state, while the schematic sectional view of 3 the variant according to 2 clarified in a maintenance condition.

As already on the basis of 1 clarifies, is the glass ring 28 between cylinder liner 22 and cylinder head 24 braced as long as the pressure reservoir 32 between lower paragraph 36 the liner 22 and the corresponding paragraph 38 of the cylinder 20 with the pressurized fluid 34 is subjected to a defined pressure. In this operational state, the combustion chamber can be operated and the combustion processes taking place from the outside through the transparent glass ring 28 to be watched.

Additional discs 40 and 42 serve for better centering of the glass ring 28 as well as its reliable fixation even with different thermal expansions of the glass ring 28 and the adjacent components, namely cylinder head 24 above and cylinder liner 22 below the glass ring 28 , The upper disc 40 is in a corresponding annular recess in the cylinder head 24 inserted and can be there additionally fixed if necessary. The lower disc 42 can be of the same size and dimensions as the top disc 40 be. It lies in a correspondingly fitting receptacle on the upper end face of the cylinder liner 22 and can also be fixed there additionally. As material for the discs 40 and 42 For example, PTFE or another suitable plastic that is sufficiently temperature and pressure resistant to meet the intended use is suitable. As the metallic parts 24 and 22 expand significantly more strongly than the glass ring when the temperature rises 28 , this could be loose, what through the slices 40 and 42 reliably prevented. In addition, the discs can 40 and 42 serve as a sealing discs, since the direct material pairing glass-metal carries the risk of showing leaks during prolonged operation.

With a relaxed pressure reservoir 32 corresponding 3 is the running as a linear sliding cylinder liner 22 shifted downwards, whereby the resting on the upper face glass ring 28 from the cylinder head 24 is disconnected. The glass ring 28 is now accessible from the inside and can be cleaned. However, it can also be easily removed from the engine so that it can be cleaned even more effectively. This can be done in a very short time, so that the transparent engine hardly cools. In addition, the test series are interrupted only briefly during such a cleaning process.

To the glass ring 28 after lowering the liner 22 can be easily removed from its place at any time, are the cylinder studs 44 with which the cylinder head 24 rigid with the cylinder 20 or screwed to the engine block, expediently sufficiently spaced, as determined by the 2 and 3 is merely indicated.

The other parts in the 2 and 3 below the cylinder liner 22 are arranged, provide an optional existing mirror assembly 46 which does not necessarily have to be present and which is not directly related to the present invention. Such mirror arrangements are known from the prior art, for example from the document WO 95/00833 A , so that a more detailed explanation can be omitted here.

The in the foregoing description, drawings and claims Features of the invention can both individually and in any combination for the realization the invention in its various embodiments of importance be. The invention is not limited to the above embodiments limited. Much more is a variety of variants and modifications conceivable by the idea according to the invention Use and therefore also fall within the scope of protection.

10

pressure chamber

12

combustion chamber

14

cladding region

16

head area

18

Cladding region section

20

cylinder

22

liner

24

cylinder head

26

annular section

28

glass ring

30

camera

32

pressure reservoir

34

pressure fluid

36

paragraph

38

paragraph

40

upper disc

42

lower disc

44

Cylinder studs

46

mirror arrangement

Claims (17)

Pressure chamber which comprises a jacket region and a head region clamped in a pressure-tight manner to the jacket region, characterized in that at least one first section (FIG. 26 ) of the jacket area by means of fluidic pressure against the head area ( 16 ) and / or against other sections ( 18 ) of the jacket region is braced. Pressure chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that the first section clamped by fluid pressure ( 26 ) of the cladding region is an annular portion of the hollow cylindrical shaped cladding region. Pressure chamber according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fluidically tensioned first jacket region portion ( 26 ) is at least partially optically transparent. Pressure chamber according to claim 3, characterized in that the fluidically clamped first jacket region portion ( 26 ) Glass, in particular mineral glass or quartz glass. Pressure chamber according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluidically clamped first jacket region portion ( 26 ) at a further or second, linearly displaceable section ( 18 ) of the jacket area. Pressure chamber according to claim 5, characterized in that the further or second displaceable section ( 18 ) of the jacket region can be actuated with fluidic pressure and linearly in the direction of the head region ( 16 ) is displaceable. Pressure chamber according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at the head area ( 16 ) Removable second section ( 18 ) of the jacket area of the head area ( 16 ) tense first section ( 26 ) of the jacket area is accessible from the inside. Pressure chamber according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that at the head area ( 16 ) Removable second section ( 18 ) of the jacket area of the head area ( 16 ) tense first section ( 26 ) of the jacket region is detachable and removable. Pressure chamber according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure chamber ( 10 ) a combustion chamber ( 12 ), wherein the head region ( 16 ) a cylinder head ( 24 ), the first cladding region portion ( 26 ) an optically transmissive window ( 28 ) below the cylinder head ( 24 ) and the fluid-actuatable second jacket region section (FIG. 18 ) forms part of a cylinder jacket. Pressure chamber according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluidic preload pressure even with temperature and pressure changes in the pressure chamber ( 10 ) or in the combustion chamber ( 12 ), in particular, remains largely constant. Pressure chamber according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first jacket region section ( 26 ) via washers ( 40 . 42 ) even with thermal expansions clearance between the second cladding region portion ( 18 ) and header ( 16 ) remains clamped. Pressure chamber according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressurized fluid ( 34 ) is a gas, in particular air. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the pressurized fluid ( 34 ) is a liquid. A method for optical monitoring of a pressure chamber or a combustion chamber, which comprises a jacket region and a head region clamped in a pressure-tight manner to the jacket region, and which has a window arrangement in or on a jacket region section with an optically transparent region whose inner surface forms part of the combustion chamber wall, characterized in that at least a first section ( 26 ) of the jacket area by means of fluidic pressure against the head area ( 16 ) and / or against other sections ( 18 ) of the jacket area is clamped. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that the fluidic biasing pressure even with temperature and pressure changes in the pressure chamber ( 10 ) or in the combustion chamber ( 12 ), in particular, remains largely constant. Method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the further or second jacket region section ( 18 ) by fluidic pressure applied linearly against the head area ( 16 ) can be moved. Method according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the first jacket region portion ( 26 ) at linear from the head area ( 16 ) pushed away second jacket region portion ( 18 ) is accessible from inside and / or removed.