EP3658765A1

EP3658765A1 - Device for injecting water into an internal combustion engine

Info

Publication number: EP3658765A1
Application number: EP18737194.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jan Hodgson; Ewald Renner; Jörg Walter; Marc VÖLKER
Original assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
Current assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
Priority date: 2017-07-24
Filing date: 2018-06-27
Publication date: 2020-06-03
Also published as: US20200224609A1; CN110945229A; WO2019020304A1; DE102017212687A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for injecting water into a an internal combustion engine (2), said device comprising: a tank (5) for storing and providing water, at least one injector (6) for injecting the water into the internal combustion engine (2), which is connected to the tank (5), a control unit (10) for controlling the injector (6), and a decontamination unit comprising at least one element with a contact surface, which acts in a decontaminating manner when the surface comes into contact with the water, in order to provide decontaminated water for injection.

Description

Device for injecting water into an internal combustion engine

The invention relates to a device for injecting water into an internal combustion engine.

Due to increasing demands on reduced carbon dioxide emissions, internal combustion engines are increasingly being optimized with regard to their fuel consumption. However, known internal combustion engines can not be optimally operated in terms of consumption at operating points with high load, since the operation is limited by knock tendency and high exhaust gas temperatures. A possible measure to reduce the tendency to knock and to lower the exhaust gas temperatures is the injection of water. There are usually separate water injection systems available to allow the water injection. For example, e.g. from WO 2014/080266 A1 discloses a water injection system for an internal combustion engine with exhaust gas recirculation, in which the water is injected into the mass flow of the exhaust gas recirculation.

A problem with known water injection systems is a possible impairment of their function by contamination, which can be caused by contamination of the water used. These impurities promote the formation of algae and fungi as well as the growth of cyanobacteria, acetobacter or other microorganisms. The contamination or biocontamination arises in particular in the water tank with a longer standing medium. To avoid contamination or to remove existing contamination, known water injection systems use chemical products or coatings. However, this can lead to malfunction of the components to failure and to a blockage of filters, which are arranged in the water injection system. One object of the invention is therefore to counteract such a contamination of water otherwise. This object is achieved by claim 1, which provides a device for injecting water into an internal combustion engine under protection. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. An apparatus for injecting water into an internal combustion engine is proposed, comprising a tank for storage and provision of water,

at least one injector for injecting the water into the internal combustion engine, which is connected to the tank,

a control unit for controlling the injector and

a decontamination unit.

The decontamination unit has at least one element with a contact surface, which acts decontaminating to form a surface contact with the water to provide decontaminated water for injection.

The proposed water injection counteracts the initially mentioned contamination of the water, without having to resort to chemical additives. Rather, the decontamination effect described herein is based on the chemical properties and antibacterial effect of a contact surface-forming material, such as e.g. Silver that kills bacteria and fungi. It is well known that silver has an antibacterial effect in which the silver ions attach themselves to the bacteria and fungi, thus enhancing their respiration and breathing

Block metabolism. These die as a result.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the decontamination unit may comprise at least one element which is formed from a decontaminating material and thereby forms the contact surface.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the decontamination unit may additionally or alternatively be provided with at least one element with a conformation. Include tact surface, which is provided by a decontaminating material coating on a substrate.

The element may be formed as a plate and / or as a ring which forms the contact surface.

Additionally or alternatively, it is also possible to provide an element designed as a line or as a line section, which element forms the decontaminating contact surface.

Additionally or alternatively, it is also possible to provide an element designed as a line or as a line section, which element or element comprises a grid arranged transversely to the flow direction of the line or of the line section, which forms the decontaminating contact surface.

The decontamination unit may be e.g. comprise the aforementioned tank, which as such at least partially can form the contact surface. The tank itself can e.g. formed of plastic and on the water-facing side with e.g. be provided with a silver coating.

The decontamination unit may further alternatively or additionally comprise a delivery module for conveying the water, which forms the at least one contact surface. The delivery module comprises a pump stage and an electric motor driving the pump stage.

The decontamination unit can furthermore alternatively or additionally have at least one filter element which comprises a decontaminating filter material. According to another aspect of the present invention, the at least one contact surface may be configured to release a colloidal substance while forming surface contact with the water. Such a colloidal substance may be, for example, a very specific form of silver particles. This are very small particles of silver that are bound in water - not dissolved. In order to produce these smallest constituents, the silver is comminuted by various processes, for example in corresponding colloid mills or by chemical processes. Colloidal silver acts against bacteria or fungi.

To form the at least one contact surface while a use of the metals silver, copper and / or brass is proposed. Alternatively or additionally, other materials may be used which are suitable for the decontamination of water.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the previously proposed decontamination may be assisted by application of ultraviolet radiation. For this purpose, the decontamination unit may comprise at least one UV lamp for irradiating the water with UV light, which is controllable via the control unit. The UV lamp can be mounted at various points of the water injection device, such as in and / or outside of the tank.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like or functionally identical parts are designated by the same reference numerals. In the drawing

1 is a highly simplified schematic view of an internal combustion engine with a device for injecting water according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

2 is a simplified schematic view of the device according to the first embodiment,

3 shows a greatly simplified, schematic view of the device according to a second embodiment, and 4 shows a greatly simplified, schematic view of the device according to a third embodiment. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an apparatus 1 for injecting water into an internal combustion engine 2 according to a first embodiment will be described in detail. In particular, the internal combustion engine 2 is operated according to the Otto principle and with gasoline direct injection. In Fig. 1, the internal combustion engine 2 is shown schematically, which has a plurality of cylinders. The internal combustion engine 2 comprises per cylinder a combustion chamber 20 in which a piston 21 is movable back and forth. Furthermore, preferably the internal combustion engine 2 per cylinder has an inlet channel 22, via which air is supplied to the combustion chamber 20. Exhaust gas is discharged via an exhaust gas channel 23. For this purpose, an inlet valve 25 and the exhaust duct 23, an outlet valve 26 are arranged on the inlet channel 22.

The reference numeral 24 also designates a fuel injection valve.

At the inlet channel 22, a water injector 6 is further arranged, which injects water into the inlet channel 22 of the internal combustion engine 2 via a control unit 10. In this embodiment, a water injector 6 per cylinder is provided. alternative

can maximize for better treatment or to increase the per combustion cycle

injectable amount of water can be arranged one water injector per inlet valve.

2 shows the device 1 according to the invention for the injection of water. The water injection device 1 comprises a pumping element designed as a pump 3 and an electric drive 4 for driving the pump 3. Furthermore, a water tank 5 is provided, which is connected by a first line 7 to the pump 3. A second line 8 connects the pump 3 with a distributor 9 or a rail, to which a plurality of water injectors 6 is connected. For injecting water, the water is supplied from the water tank 5 through the pump 3 into the water injectors 6. For this, a condensate of an air conditioner 19 is preferably used, for which purpose the device 1 according to the invention for the injection of water has a filling line 11.

Alternatively or in addition to the condensate, deionized water can be conveyed from a refill tank (not shown) into the water tank 5. In the filling line 1 1, a first filter element 16 and in the first line 7, a second filter element 17 are arranged.

To set the desired system pressure in the manifold 9, a pressure regulator 15 is arranged in the form of a diaphragm in a return line 13, which connects the second line 8 with the water tank 5. Alternatively, the pressure regulator 15 may be formed as a check valve. For pressure control, a pressure sensor 14 is further provided in the second line 8.

The water tank 5 is shown in FIG. 2 with water at a maximum water level S. Within the water tank 5, a UV lamp 12 is arranged according to the invention. The UV lamp 12 is arranged to emit ultraviolet radiation and is transmitted via the control unit

10 is turned on to decontaminate the water in the water tank 5. The UV lamp 12 is turned on periodically at predetermined intervals in this embodiment. Alternatively, the UV lamp 12 can be operated permanently to ensure that no contamination occurs in the water tank 5.

Furthermore, the UV lamp 12 is arranged adjustable in the water tank 5. Thus, the UV lamp 12 can be positioned depending on the application so that an optimal decontamination of the water takes place.

Further, a level sensor 18 is provided in the device 1. The level sensor 18 is used to detect a water level of the water tank 5. The detected water level can be used to control the UV lamp 12. So For example, a time and / or the duration of the activation of the UV lamp 12 depending on the detected water level

be determined. In addition, the UV lamp 12 may be adjusted based on the detected water level such that the UV lamp 12 is e.g. is always below the current water level in the water tank 5.

By the UV lamp 12 is made possible that the water of the water injection device 1 is disinfected in an environmentally safe and simple manner. Thus, further obstruction of the filter elements 16, 17 can be avoided, resulting in that the required amount of water to be injected is available. Thus, a fail-safe function

the internal combustion engine 2 ensured.

3 shows a highly simplified view of the water injection device 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which some components of the device 1 are omitted. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 principle in that the UV lamp 12 is disposed in the water tank 5 above the maximum water level S. This arrangement offers the advantage of rapid and uniform irradiation of the water tank 5 located

Water. Since the UV lamp 12 is not sunk in the water, additional costs due to a complicated sealing of the UV lamp 12 can be avoided. Furthermore, the second filter element 17 is positioned below the maximum water level S. Thus, the second filter element 17 can be decontaminated by the UV lamp 12.

FIG. 4 shows a device 1 for injecting water according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Here is the UV lamp

12 arranged on the filling line 1 1. The filling line 1 1 connects the air conditioner 19, in particular an evaporator of the air conditioner 19, with the water tank 5. Furthermore, the UV lamp 12 is preferably arranged in the direction of the supply of water into the water tank 5 in front of the first filter element 16. The UV lamp 12 is turned on when water condensate from the air conditioner 19 is supplied to the water tank 5. Thus, a targeted decontamination of the water takes place, whereby a cost savings of operating costs is possible.

Although the water injection device 1 according to the described embodiments has only one UV lamp 12, it is possible within the scope of the invention to use a plurality of UV lamps which are in the lines 7, 8, 11 and 13 and in the water tank 5 can be arranged. This can ensure that the water to be injected is decontaminated at all times. This causes a fail-safe function of the internal combustion engine. 2

In addition or as an alternative to the UV irradiation described above, at least one of the elements of the previously described water injection devices may have, as part of a decontamination unit, a contact surface which acts decontaminating to form a surface contact with the water to provide decontaminated water for injection. For this purpose, the

Element be formed of a decontaminating material and thereby form the contact surface. Additionally or alternatively, the element may comprise a contact surface which may be provided by a decontaminating material coating on a substrate.

This type of decontamination also proceeds entirely without the aid of chemical additives. It is even advantageous over UV irradiation in that it does not promote embrittlement of plastic injection molded elements. Rather, this alternative decontamination effect is based on the chemical and antibacterial properties of a contact surface forming material, such as silver, which kills bacteria and fungi. According to a further embodiment, for example, the above-described lines 7, 8 and / or the tank 5 may be formed as part of a decontamination unit and provide the said contact surface for decontamination. Additionally or alternatively, for example, the lines 7, 8 in the interior include a transversely arranged to the flow direction grid, which forms the decontamination acting contact surface and is flowed around by the water. The tank 5 may for example be formed of plastic and be provided on the side facing the water, at least in sections, for example, with a silver coating to either form said contact surface or to form with.

The decontamination unit may further alternatively or additionally comprise the delivery module 3 for conveying the water, which forms the at least one contact surface and / or forms with. The delivery module comprises a pump stage and an electric motor driving the pump stage.

The decontamination unit may also alternatively or additionally thereto e.g. at least one of the filter elements 16, 17, which may comprise a decontaminating acting filter material, such as silver. To form the at least one contact surface is thereby a use of

Metals silver, copper and / or brass are proposed. Alternatively or additionally, other materials may be used which are suitable for the decontamination of water. These may also be metal alloys, such as silver and / or copper alloys.

In a further alternative embodiment, e.g. Within the tank 5, such a decontaminating element may be arranged approximately in the form of a plate and provide at least one contact surface which may be arranged to release a colloidal substance to form surface contact with the water. This may be e.g. around very small particles out

Act silver, which are bound in water - not dissolved. Such colloidal silver acts against bacteria and fungi. Although exemplary embodiments have been explained in the foregoing description, it should be understood that a variety of modifications are possible. It should also be noted that the exemplary embodiments are merely examples that are not intended to limit the scope, applications and construction in any way. Rather, by the preceding description, the expert is given a guide for the implementation of at least one exemplary embodiment, wherein various changes, in particular with regard to the function and arrangement of the described components, can be made without leaving the scope of protection as he is apparent from the claims and these equivalent combinations of features.

Claims

claims:

1 . Device for injecting water into an internal combustion engine (2), comprising: a tank (5) for storage and provision of water,

at least one injector (6) for injecting the water into the internal combustion engine (2), which is connected to the tank (5),

a control unit (10) for controlling the injector (6) and

a decontamination unit having at least one element with a contact surface which acts decontaminating to form surface contact with the water to provide decontaminated water for injection.

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the decontamination unit comprises at least one element which is formed from a decontaminating material and thereby forms the contact surface.

Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the decontamination unit comprises at least one element with a contact surface, which is provided by a decontaminating material coating on a carrier material.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the element is formed as a plate and / or as a ring which forms the contact surface.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the element is designed as a line or as a line section, which / which forms the decontamination acting contact surface.

6. Vornchtung according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the element is formed as a line or as a line section, which / comprises a transversely to the flow direction of the line or the line section arranged grid, which forms the decontamination-acting contact surface.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the decontamination unit comprises the tank (5), which forms as such at least partially the contact surface.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the decontamination unit comprises a delivery module for conveying the water, which forms the at least one contact surface.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the decontamination unit has at least one filter element (16) which comprises a decontaminating acting filter material.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one contact surface is adapted to release a colloidal substance to form the surface contact with the water.

1 1. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one contact surface silver, copper and / or brass.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the decontamination unit comprises at least one UV lamp for irradiating the water with UV light, which is controllable via the control unit (10) to assist the provision of decontaminated water.