DE4405769A1 - Method for operating an internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Abstract

In the method described, aspirated air is fed into at least one combustion chamber and the air is mixed with fuel to form a fuel/air mixture, the energy necessary to operate the engine being produced by burning the fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber at predetermined intervals and the gases produced by the combustion being exhausted from the combustion chamber. The method is characterized in that compounds with an open or closed clathrate structure, preferably fullerenes, fullerene derivatives, fullerites, heterofullerenes, heterofullerene derivatives, fullerene fragments and/or heterofullerene fragments, are added to the aspirated air and/or fuel/air mixture and/or exhaust gas. A method of this kind gives a low fuel comsumption and reduces pollutant emission.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a method for operating ben an internal combustion engine, in the sucked air at least one combustion chamber is fed, the sucked Air with fuel to form a fuel / air mixture is mixed, the drive energy for operating the internal combustion engine by burning the fuel / air mixed in the combustion chamber with a predetermined clock frequency generated by the combustion Exhaust gas is expelled.

In internal combustion engines is sought, on the one hand a ge struggling to realize fuel economy and on the other hand in any operating condition of the internal combustion engine a pos to ensure the lowest possible pollutant emissions. Gleichzei tig is the performance of the internal combustion engine in each Be still be sufficient.

State of the art

There are known as additives which are added to the fuel be set to operate an internal combustion engine improve. Exemplary here are anti-knock agents, anti preignition additives or additives for carburetor cleaning ge Nannt.

In US 5,234,474 is described, the fuel Fullerite or to add a mixture of fullerites, these Fullerite be added in such an amount that they to ensure a certain lubricating effect. This one with  The fullerites mixed fuel is for use in provided within a two-stroke internal combustion engine.

Presentation of the invention

The present invention is the technical problem or the object of a method for operating a To specify internal combustion engine of the type mentioned, the low fuel consumption and low pollution substance output while maintaining the highest possible Performance is possible and at the same time in a constructive way and Way can be realized easily and economically.

The inventive method is characterized by the features of An Claim 1 given. Advantageous embodiments and further education are the subject of the subclaims.

The inventive method is characterized accordingly characterized in that the sucked air and / or the force substance / air mixture and / or the exhaust open or closed cage molecules, preferably fullerenes, fullerene derivatives, Ful lerites, heterofullerenes, heterofullerene derivatives, fullerenes fragment and / or Heterofullerenfragmentderivate supplied become.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the delivery of the cage molecules depending on the operation characteristic values of the internal combustion engine, in particular temperature, Speed, throttle position and / or the signals of a in the exhaust stream catalyst device present, preferred with a lambda probe, controllable / is controllable. By the Control or regulation of the supply and dependence of Operating characteristics of the internal combustion engine, it is beispielswei It is possible to do this when the engine is warm and at low speeds pay no cage molecules, while while at high speeds or at full load a reinforced feed  he follows. In addition, the metered feed in the Cold start phase, which in terms of pollutant emissions at Most problematic is to be fed specifically, so that to achieve a reduction in pollutant emissions.

An essential idea of the present invention is combustion-promoting and / or exhaust gas-reducing additives in Ab dependence on the operating state of the internal combustion engine to lead. These additives may preferably cage molecules of above-mentioned Be kind.

Motor control variables can be used with the method according to the invention (eg fuel quantity / ignition point) compared to the state of Technology better on the targets "low consumption" and optimized "minimal pollutant emissions" because a additional control size is available. Especially before Partly the method according to the invention for the Insert concept of lean engine.

A preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention rens is characterized by the fact that the temperature of the supplied led cage molecules and / or the supplied fuel / Air mixture and / or the intake air in dependence the operating characteristics of the internal combustion engine is controllable. According to the invention may preferably in the cold start phase, the Tem temperature of the supplied cage molecules are increased, resulting in more favorable properties and lower pollutant emissions leads.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention The method is characterized in that the cage mole fed directly to the at least one combustion chamber become. Internal combustion engines usually have several Ver combustion chambers, which are essentially each by a Cylinder and a displaceable in the cylinder piston ge be formed. In this case, the addition is done cylindrically  tively. This has the advantage that each cylinder individually the optimal operating condition can be adjusted, wherein for optimal regulation or control of the use entspre chender cylinder-selective sensors is advantageous.

A further advantageous embodiment is characterized from that the cage molecules indirectly, d. h., preferably over an upstream antechamber, the at least one Burn be supplied. In the antechamber can for a intensive mixing or turbulence of the cage molecules with the fuel / air mixture are realized what a combustion-promoting effect.

The cage molecules can be in solid or gaseous state or added in a solvent in dissolved form become. In particular, the addition of the cage molecules is in the form an aerosol or in the form of a suspension possible.

A preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention rens is characterized by the fact that the cage molecules be knew fuel additives are added, their connection to the cage molecule preferably by attachment and / or doping tion and / or storage and / or admixture is given or chemically. As fuel additives Kings NEN known additives such as lead alkyls, aromatic amines or oxygen-containing compounds, esp especially methanol, ethanol, ether, etc. are formed. Darue In addition, phosphorus or boron compounds are used as additives into consideration. Finally, additives can still be used those that form or split off O and / or OH radicals particularly favorable in terms of avoiding the Bil tion of soot particles in the exhaust gas.

In order to optimize the combustion in the respective combustion chamber It is, according to another preferred Ausgestal tion of the method according to the invention possible, the cage mole  together with one or more of the additives mentioned timed in at least during a combustion cycle a predetermined, variable weight or volume amount respectively. An especially essential to the invention Ausführungsva variant of the method according to the invention, in which a Ab in Gas flow of the internal combustion engine existing Katalysatorein direction is characterized by the fact that the Exhaust gas exposed to the surface of the catalyst device is, wherein the catalyst device at least teilswei is provided with cage molecules that are capable of, the Exhaust components carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides de and / or soot particles to bind and / or split and / or to oxidize, preferably in the presence of a kata lysatormaterials.

To the method with respect to the control of the To optimize internal combustion engine, it has proved favorable exposed, an ion measurement in the combustion chamber and / or before and / or after the catalyst device in the Ab gas flow, with their measurement results for control the composition of the fuel / air mixture and / or the Dosage of the cage molecules can be used.

A special with regard to an optimal combustion process ders favorable embodiment of the method according to the invention Characterized by the fact that cyclically an arc generated outside the at least one combustion chamber is, which is substantially transverse to its longitudinal direction an opening is deflected into the combustion chamber, whereby in the combustion chamber a flame-like arc rich emerges. By training this flame-like Arc area will optimal ignition conditions inside ensured half of the combustion chamber. The diversion of the Arc can be done, for example, that transversely to the arc a pipe section on one side is or in addition the arc in an arcuate  Guiding device is generated, wherein the opening is preferred is arranged at the apex of the arch.

The regional deflection of the arc can also by means of magnetic or electrical forces.

According to another essential feature of the invention underlying invention, a method is used, in which dispensed with the use of a conventional ignition device is cyclically and at least one combustion chamber supplied with chemical ignition agent, preferably injected, whose addition amount / volume / time is preferably dependent Speed of the operating characteristics of the internal combustion engine takes place. This has the advantageous consequence that the combustion of Fuel / air mixture not only as usual at the Ignition device attaches, but wherever the chemi is injected igniter, which is preferred over at least one injector can be made so that a cone shaped injection area results. Is particularly advantageous the injection of the chemical ignition means designed so that Forms a kind of cone coat, so that an ignition in the region of the peripheral annular gap of the usual burn tion space with cylinder and piston takes place, which is special which has a favorable effect on pollutant emissions.

The ignition takes place in this method according to the invention similar to a method of a diesel engine machine, with the ignition means in the combustion chamber at the time the top dead center or shortly before preferably injected becomes. In this case, preferably a Hochdruckeinspritzeinrich be used, which has a small injection quantity and has a structurally simple structure.

Suitable chemical detonants are oxidants, which react violently with hydrocarbon or pyrotech niche substances that are at higher temperatures and the  Disassemble relaxation while injecting yourself.

Another inventive feature of the present invention Invention is characterized by the fact that egg on the use ner electrical ignition device is omitted and the Ver combustion in the at least one combustion chamber intermittently is initiated by an intense laser pulse in the combustion chamber is focused. The optical energy of La serimpulses is preferably between 0.1 watt seconds and one watt second, the duration of the laser pulse between 5 and 50 nanoseconds. If such a laser pulse in a Focused focus of a few microns in diameter, so a so-called optical breakdown occurs; d. H. the gas is ionized in the region of the focal point and ent there is a small plasma ball. In a fuel-air mixture This breakdown then conducts the combustion of the force fabric-air mixture. For operation of an internal combustion engine the laser pulse is in each case before the end of the intake stroke zugt shortly before or at top dead center of the piston movement he testifies.

The particular advantage of this feature of the invention is in that by the optical beam guidance the focus to each desired location of the combustion chamber can be placed without Metallic electrodes protrude into the combustion chamber, as in a conventional spark plug. Furthermore, it is easy to focus several beams into the combustion chamber, so that the combustion in the cylinder evenly and completely runs. The supply of the beam can via optical fibers he follow, so that the laser apparatus is not directly on Zylin derkopf must be appropriate.

Basically, all laser devices for optical ignition the fuel-air mixture suitable, the laser pulses in above energy range of about 0.1 watt seconds up to  one watt second and a period of about 5 to 50 nano generate seconds. In the current state of laser technology are in particular solid-state lasers with neodymium atoms in one Host material (for example yttrium-aluminum garnet - YAG -, or glass or yttrium lithium fluoride - YLF -) where in these lasers preferred with a diode laser in the near infrared spectral range around 800 nanometers wavelength radiates, be optically pumped. Achieve such systems Efficiencies in the conversion of electrical energy into optical energy of over 10%, so that, for example for a four-stroke internal combustion engine at 3600 revs per minute the following energy balance for the ignition system ge of a cylinder yields:

Ignition energy per ignition 0.3 watt seconds (Ws) number of revolutions 3600 revolutions / minute Number of ignitions per minute 1800 ignitions / minute Number of firings per second 30 ignitions / second Mean optical power of the laser 0.3 Ws × 30 / s = 9 watts efficiency 10 percent required electrical power 90 watts

Other embodiments and advantages of the invention will be apparent by the features further listed in the claims and by the embodiments given below. The features of the claims may be included in any manner as long as they are not obvious mutually exclusive.

Short description of the drawing

The invention as well as advantageous embodiments and Wei These will be described below with reference to the in Drawing illustrated examples described in more detail and he purifies. To be taken from the description and the drawing the characteristics can be individually for themselves or for several in be  Any combination can be applied according to the invention. It demonstrate:

Fig. 1 to 3 schematic representation of an internal combustion engine with a different supply of cage molecules,

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of an arc device with partially in a combustion chamber deflected arc and

Fig. 5 and 6 are schematic representation of two deflection variants of the arc.

Ways to carry out the invention

A schematically illustrated internal combustion engine 10 via intake 12, a fuel / air mixture leads supplied, which is ignited within the internal combustion engines in each case in a combustion chamber, not shown, and thereby displaceable within a cylinder IN ANY which piston downwards, wherein the displacement of the piston is converted by a crankshaft, not shown in a rotary motion. The resulting exhaust gas is discharged via exhaust pipes 14 out of the combustion chamber.

The intake pipes 12 is supplied via a schematically dargestell te mixture treatment device (carburetor) 16, a fuel / air mixture. In the collective exhaust pipe 14.1 , a catalyst device 18 is arranged, which causes a Redu cation of the pollutants present in the exhaust gas. Before and after the catalyst device 18 , a measuring line 20.1 , 20.2 is provided, the measuring signals with respect to the gas composition from a control device to a schematically illustrated Rege 22 passes. In response to the received signals, the control device 22 regulates the Kraftstoffauf preparation in the carburetor 16 via the line 24 , by ent speaking driving various variables.

The supply of fuel or air to the gasifier 16 is not shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

The preparation and supply of the fuel / air mixture can also be done alternatively cylindrically via the suction lines 28 . In the present case there are four cylinders, ie four combustion chambers.

The control device 22 also outputs its values to a cage molecule addition device 30 via a line 32 , which, according to FIG. 1, supplies molecules to the respective combustion chambers via the lines 32 of cage molecules. The cage molecule addition device 30 is also supplied with signals via a schematically represented line 34 , which characterize the operating characteristics of the internal combustion engine 10 . These parameters are evaluated and dependent on the addition time, the addition amount or the addition volume of the cage molecules is determined. This is done cylinder-specific in the present case.

The internal combustion engine 10 shown in FIGS . 2 and 3 differs substantially in the wiring be aptly the cage molecule-adding device 30th Same construction parts bear the same reference numerals and will not be explained again.

Referring to FIG. 2, the controller 22 outputs a signal via the control line 32 to the cage molecule Zugabeinrich tung 30, which the cage molecules as a function of loading operating characteristic values via a line 38 to the mixture preparation system 16 of the fuel engine 10 emits.

About the measuring line 34.1 is also the Regelseinrich device 22 with appropriate signals for the Betriebsskenngrö sizes of the engine applied.

The internal combustion engine 10 shown in FIG. 3 is similar to that shown in FIG . In contrast to the internal combustion engine 10 according to FIG. 1, however, here the cage molecules but the cage molecule supply means 30 are not added directly into the combustion chamber, but in special chambers before 40 , in which intensive mixing or Verwir belung with the supplied fuel / Air mixture takes place. Only then does the fuel / air mixture mixed with the cage molecules reach the actual combustion chamber.

In Fig. 4, the upper portion of a cylinder 50 of an internal combustion engine is schematically shown, in which a piston 52 is slidably mounted. The interior between Zylin derwandung and piston top forms the combustion chamber 54th In the upper apex region of the combustion chamber 54 , an opening 56 is present, to which a pipe section 58 connects. The pipe section 58 terminates in a right angle thereto arranged pipe portion 60 , at the front end of which in each case an electrode 62 is present. The electrodes 62 are driven via an RC element. The voltage supply is not shown explicitly. At the same time, a switching unit 68 is present, which opens ge in a predeterminable Taktfol and closes, wherein in the closed state infol the discharge of the capacitor C between the electrodes 62, an arc 64 is formed. Due to the molded pipe section 58 in the central region of the pipe portion 60 turbulence or deflection forces that cause the arc 64 is deflected in this area and down through the pipe section 48 through the combustion chamber 54 rebuffs, where it is a more or less flam like appearance. By forming this flame-shaped portion 66 , combustion in the combustion chamber 54 is promoted as a result of the increased surface area of the arc, which has a favorable effect on the fuel consumption and resulting pollutants.

In Fig. 5, a further variant of the arc guide is shown. Here the arc 70 produced between the electrodes 62 is arcuately guided from the outset, the opening tube section 72 being present in the region of the apex of the arc 70 and the arc being moved in the desired direction to the combustion chamber by the magnetic field of its own current.

In Fig. 6 is shown schematically that the deflection of the arc 64 generated between the electrodes 62 can also be generated by a magnetic force M.

The inventive method ensures a low Fuel consumption while reducing compliance the pollutant values in the exhaust gas. The inventive method is not limited to the addition of cage molecules. much more, the inventive method can be anywhere be set in the combustion-promoting and / or abgasmin depending additives depending on the operating condition of the Brenn be supplied to the engine.

In addition, there can be sufficient performance in every part Last range be maintained.

FIG. 7 schematically shows an optical laser ignition system with a light guide and a focusing optics for a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The laser device 80 consists of an Nd: YAG laser 82 having an optical switch 84 for generating the giant pulses of 5 to 50 nanoseconds duration, a diode laser 86 for optically pumping the Nd: YAG laser and a power supply and control unit 88 , the are connected via the electrical lines 90 , 92 to the diode laser 86 and to the optical switch 84 . The control unit is involved in the conventional engine control to specify the ignition timing and possibly also the ignition energy, which is not shown here. The diode laser pumps the Nd: YAG laser in continuous wave or pulsed with pulse, which can be one hundred to ten thousand times longer than the optical laser pulses.

The combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine is connected via a focusing device 96 and a light guide 94 connected to the laser device. The focusing device 96 can be screwed into the cylinder housing 50 like a conventional spark plug who the. It also includes optics for adjusting focus lens 98 to the light guide. In addition, a shutter 102 is required to prevent soiling of the optics. The focusing lens focuses the laser beam 104 into the focal point 106 , in which the ignition plasma is formed. As a result of the thus initiated combustion of the fuel-Luftgemi cal the piston 52 is moved downward and can give mechanical work to the - not shown here - crankshaft of the internal combustion engine.

Claims (22)

1. A method for operating an internal combustion engine, wherein the intake air is supplied to at least one combustion chamber,
the aspirated air is mixed with fuel to form a fuel / air mixture,
the drive energy for the operation of the internal combustion engine is generated by burning the fuel / air mixture in the combustion chamber with a predetermined clock frequency,
the exhaust gas formed by the combustion is expelled,
characterized in that the intake air and / or the fuel / air mixture and / or the exhaust gas molecules open or closed Käfigmole, preferably fullerenes, fullerene derivatives, fullerites, heterofullerenes, Heterofullerenderivate, Fullerenfrag ment and / or Heterofullerenfragmentderivate be supplied. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the feeding of the cage molecules depending on the Be operating characteristics of the internal combustion engine, in particular Tem temperature, speed, throttle position and / or the Signals of a catalyst present in the exhaust stream direction, preferably with a lambda probe, controllable / is controllable. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the temperature of the supplied cage molecules and / or the supplied fuel / air mixture and / or the ange sucked in air depending on the operating characteristics of the Internal combustion engine is controllable.   4. The method according to one or more of the preceding An claims, characterized in that the cage molecules directly to the at least one burn be supplied. 5. The method according to one or more of the preceding An claims, characterized in that the cage molecules indirectly, d. H. preferably via a upstream antechamber, the at least one ver combustion chamber are supplied. 6. The method according to one or more of the preceding An claims, characterized in that the cage molecules in solid or gaseous state or be added in a solvent in dissolved form. 7. The method according to one or more of the preceding An claims, characterized in that the cage molecules in the form of an aerosol or a Suspension are added. 8. The method according to one or more of the preceding An claims, characterized in that added to the cage molecules known fuel additives whose attachment to the cage molecule is preferred by Addition and / or doping and / or storage and / or admixture or by chemical means he follows.   9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the additives at least by lead alkyls, preferably tetra ethylene lead (TEL) and / or tetramethyl lead (TML) in particular especially in combination with organic halides, and / or aromatic amines and / or oxygen-containing Compounds, in particular methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, ether or ketone, or methyl tert-butyl ether (2-methyl-2-methoxypropane) are formed. 10. The method according to one or more of the preceding An claims, characterized in that the additives at least by organic phosphorus or Boron compounds are formed. 11. The method according to one or more of the preceding An claims, characterized in that the additives gebil at least by lubricating oil components be. 12. The method according to one or more of the preceding An claims, characterized in that the additives form or eliminate O- and / or OH-radicals th. 13. The method according to one or more of the preceding An claims, characterized in that the cage molecules together with one or more of the mentioned additives at least during a combustion timed in a presettable, variable Ge weight or volume can be supplied.   14. The method according to one or more of the preceding An claims, characterized in that the cage molecules together with one or more of the additives mentioned in the ignition range within the Burn be supplied. 15. The method according to one or more of the preceding An claims, characterized in that the aspirated air and / or the cage molecules and / or during its supply and / or the exhaust gas of a Corona discharge is suspended. 16. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, with at least one in the exhaust stream of the internal combustion engine catalyst device present, characterized in that the exhaust gas exposed surface of the Katalysatorein direction is at least partially see ver with cage molecules that are able to Exhaust gas components carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides (NO _x ) and / or soot particles to bind and / or split and / or to oxidize, preferably in the presence of a catalyst material. 17. The method according to one or more of the preceding An claims, characterized in that an ion measurement in the combustion chamber and / or before and / or after the catalyst device in the exhaust stream is made, the measurement results for the regulation of Composition of the fuel / air mixture used become.   18. The method according to one or more of the preceding An claims, characterized in that a sensor measurement, preferably cylinder-specific visibly the exhaust gas components according to claim 17 Runaway leads, whose output signals feeding the cage influence molecules. 19. Method, in particular according to one or more of the above standing claims, characterized in that a cyclic arc outside the at least one Combustion space is generated, the area in the we sentlichen transversely to its longitudinal direction through a Öff tion is deflected into the combustion chamber, whereby in Combustion chamber of a flame-like arc area wise arises. 20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that the deflection by magnetic forces takes place. 21. Method, in particular according to one or more of the above standing claims, characterized in that dispensed with the use of a conventional ignition device is cyclically and at least one combustion chamber chemical ignition agent is supplied, its addition quantity / volume / time preferably depending on Be operating characteristics of the internal combustion engine takes place. 22. The method according to one or more of the preceding An claims, characterized in that dispensed with the use of a conventional ignition device  is cyclically and at least one combustion chamber Laser pulse is supplied, the peak power one produces optical breakdown and the burning of the Fuel-air mixture initiates.