WO2016092520A1

WO2016092520A1 - Device for igniting fuel and injecting a thermally expandable liquid in an engine combustion chamber

Info

Publication number: WO2016092520A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/059550
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adalberto Gabriel DIAZ TORRES; Carolina Maria RIVERA BUSTAMANTE
Original assignee: Universidad Eafit
Priority date: 2014-12-11
Filing date: 2015-12-11
Publication date: 2016-06-16

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for injecting a thermally expandable liquid and generating a spark inside an engine combustion chamber, the device comprising: a mechanism for injecting the thermally expandable liquid; a spark-generation system; and a body. The mechanism for injecting the thermally expandable liquid comprises: a plurality of channels operatively connected for the inflow and outflow of the thermally expandable liquid; a supporting member moveable by the action of a solenoid; a needle which enables the thermally expandable liquid to be injected through the outlet for the thermally expandable liquid and which is operationally coupled to the moveable supporting member; and a booster piston moveable by the action of the combustion gases that enter through a combustion gas intake channel, the booster piston generating pressure in the thermally expandable liquid for the injection of the liquid when the needle allows the outflow of the thermally expandable liquid. The spark-generation system comprises electrodes for generating the spark inside the engine. The body contains the mechanism for injecting the thermally expandable liquid and the system for generating the spark. The body has an upper section, a central section, and a lower section by means of which the device is coupled to the engine by screwing. The device is controlled by an engine control unit that supplies the electricity necessary to generate the spark and inject the thermally expandable liquid.

Description

DEVICE FOR IGNITION OF FUEL AND INJECTION OF A LIQUID EXPANDABLE THERMALLY IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER OF A MOTOR

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the devices for the ignition of fuel in internal combustion engines, by means of an electric spark, and the increase in pressure in the combustion chamber, by the addition of fluids during the explosion of the fuel.

Description of the state of the art

The Otto cycle combustion engines require a spark plug to generate the spark inside the chamber, causing the ignition of the fuel just before the piston reaches the Upper Dead Point (hereinafter PMS). During combustion a chemical oxidation reaction of exothermic characteristics is generated. This reaction results in the molecular division of the fuel; at the same time that mechanical and thermal energy is released. The mechanical energy is evidenced in the movement of the engine parts, product of the pressure acting on the piston head. The thermal energy dissipates in heat transferred through the walls of the combustion chamber, causing an increase in engine temperature, and in the hot gases that are expelled into the environment by means of the exhaust pipe. That is, the thermal energy produced by combustion, dissipated in hot gases, is not conventionally used and is considered a waste of the combustion process.

Patent documents US20100077986A1 and US4018192A refer to inventions that take advantage of the thermal energy generated in the combustion process. These inventions inject water into the combustion chamber, which evaporates by increasing the pressure inside the combustion chamber and consequently increasing the mechanical energy. US20100077986A1 discloses a spark plug that injects water into the combustion chamber, additionally generates an electric arc that causes ignition of the mixture of air and fuel. The spark plug has a water injection control system which controls the engine temperature, water tank level, fuel injection time and duration, and spark plug ignition time. When the engine temperature exceeds 48.9 ° C, the water injection system is activated, which happens when the spark occurs. The amount of water injected is determined by the engine temperature and the amount of fuel injected. The water supply is done by means of a pump which must inject water at pressures higher than l, 03MPa. The water is heated as it passes through the exosto and enters the combustion chamber in a gaseous state. Water injected in a gaseous state increases the pressure inside the chamber and pushes the piston head with greater force generating greater torque. When water is injected, the percentage of fuel injected is reduced since the percentage of water injected replaces the amount of fuel injected by the same percentage, that is, instead of injecting 100% fuel, 50% fuel is injected and 50% of water. The more gasoline injected and the higher the engine temperature, the more water is required. The ratio of injected water is 1 to 1 with respect to the fuel injected.

Patent US4018192A refers to a system consisting of a water injector and a spark plug that are coupled by means of an adapter to the combustion chamber of the engine. The adapter has an internal chamber which, by means of the pressure from the combustion chamber, displaces a piston inside the water injector, which drives the water supply to the combustion chamber. Water is supplied at a pressure higher than that of combustion gases by a pump external to the water injector. Water injection is carried out just before the piston reaches the PMS, thus preventing the injection of water from interfering with the combustion process of the air-gasoline mixture. The coupling of the combustion chamber adapter has the same dimensions as that used by conventional spark plugs. The US4018192A patent has an adapter that allows the assembly of the water injector and the spark plug, which implies modification of the engine since this device requires more space for its arrangement in the combustion engine.

The previous inventions require the use of an external pump that allows the pressure inside the combustion chamber to be exceeded and in this way to inject water into the chamber. The implementation of external pumps that help to overcome the pressure inside the combustion chamber so that water injection into the chamber is possible makes additional assemblies and power circuits required for said pump.

The injection of water into the chamber just after the burning of the fuel / air mixture requires a pressure greater than that present in the combustion chamber, such that said pressure present in the combustion chamber is not a impediment to the injection of water into it. However, it is important not to have a considerable volume of combustion gases to activate water injection, as well as to use additional electrical assemblies for water injection, such as the use of solenoids.

Brief description of the figures

FIG. 1, corresponds to an embodiment of the invention in which the three sections of the device are distinguished.

FIG. 2, corresponds to a scheme of an embodiment of the invention in which some components of the device are schematized, such as those comprising the spark generation system and others, contained in the body of the device. FIG. 3, corresponds to an approach to the central section of the body of the device of the invention, a section that contains some components of the thermally expandable liquid injection mechanism.

Brief Description of the Invention

The present invention corresponds to a device which fulfills the function of a spark plug (by generating a spark inside the combustion chamber by means of an electric discharge) and thermally expandable liquid injector (hereinafter LET) inside the combustion chamber. The device is controlled by an ECU, which supplies the electrical power necessary to generate the spark and inject the LET

The device comprises a mechanism for the injection of LET, a system for generating spark and a body. The body contains the mechanism for the injection of LET and the system for the generation of spark. The body has an upper section, a central section and a lower section through which the device is coupled to the motor by thread

The spark generation system comprises electrodes for generating the spark inside the engine. One electrode is embedded in the lower section of the body, and the other electrode is operatively connected to a terminal where the ECU is connected.

The mechanism for the injection of LET comprises a channel for entering the LET into the device, a flue gas inlet channel and an LET output channel connected to a chamber. Inside the chamber are a movable support and a booster piston. The booster piston is operatively arranged to be displaced by the combustion gases that enter through the LET inlet channel and transfer the pressure exerted by the gases in it, to the LET. A needle is attached to the movable support that enables or disables the output of LET. The movable support is attracted by a solenoid operatively arranged for it, a solenoid that is connected to the ECU. Detailed description of the invention

The present invention corresponds to a device which fulfills the function of a spark plug and LET injector. The spark plug function is fulfilled by generating a spark inside the combustion chamber by means of an electric shock. The injector function is fulfilled by injecting LET into the combustion chamber.

For the understanding of the present invention, LET means any thermally expandable liquid, verb and grace, water and alcohol.

The device is controlled by an ECU (Engine Control Unit). The ECU supplies the electrical power necessary to generate the spark and inject the LET. The ECU used to control the device is the ECU that the internal combustion engines bring to the factory and to which the engine spark plugs are connected.

The device comprises:

- a mechanism for injection of LET;

- a system for spark generation; Y

- a body, in which the mechanism for LET injection and the spark generation system are contained.

Referring to Fig. 1, the body comprises an upper section (18), a central section (19) and a lower section (20). Through the lower section (20) of the body, the device is coupled to the engine. The coupling must be such that it allows the spark and the LET injected by the device in the combustion chamber. Preferably, and referring to Fig. 1, the coupling of the device to the motor is made by threading, that is why the lower section (20) comprises a thread (4).

In order to facilitate the coupling of the device to the motor, optionally and referring to Fig. 2, in the central section (19) of the body, a nut (3) is arranged. Through the nut (3) mechanical action can be exerted to couple the device to the motor, using tools such as wrenches, socket wrench, tweezers, among others.

In one embodiment of the invention (not illustrated), the nut (3) is arranged in the upper section (18) of the body.

In the upper section (18) of the body, referring to Fig. 2, some components of the spark generation system are arranged. The arrangement of the components of the spark generation system is described below. The spark generation system comprises a terminal (1), a central electrode (7) and an external electrode (17). The ends of the central electrode (7) and the external electrode (17) are operatively arranged in the lower section (20) of the body in order to generate the spark inside the combustion chamber. The terminal (1) is operatively arranged in the upper section (18) or in the central section (19), preferably in the upper section (18); the ECU is connected to terminal (1). The central electrode (7) is connected to the terminal (1), in such a way that it transmits the electric current supplied by the ECU to the terminal (1) to the lower section (20) where the electric spark is generated with the external electrode (17 ). The operating arrangement between the central electrode (7) and the external electrode (17) is such that it generates a potential differential that achieves a threshold that breaks the dielectric of the air-fuel mixture present inside the combustion bed generating a current arc between the central electrode (7) and the external electrode (17) and consequently generating the spark.

Referring to Fig. 2:

- the terminal (1) is arranged in the upper section (18),

- the central electrode (7) extends from the terminal (1) to the lower section (20) through the center of the device and through the central section (19), and

- the external electrode (17) is operatively recessed to the thread (4), and operatively arranged with the central electrode (10) to generate the spark. Referring to Fig. 2, the spark generation system comprises an electrical insulator (2). Along the path of the central electrode (7) in the body, the electrical insulator (2) contains the central electrode (7), isolating the central electrode (7) from the rest of the components of the device. The mechanism for injection of LET is comprised of a rod! (5) through which water enters the inside of the device, a LET outlet channel (16) through which the LET is injected into the engine's combustion chamber, at least one needle (14) coupled to a movable support (11), a solenoid (8) operatively arranged to attract the movable support (11) and operatively connected to the terminal (1), a flue gas inlet channel (15), a booster piston (13) movable by the combustion gases that enter through the flue gas inlet channel (15) and a unidirectional valve (6) arranged along the channel (5). The needle (14) closes the LET output through the LET output channel (16). The LET that enters through the channel (5) is arranged in a chamber (10) located inside the device, where the movable support (11) is located and connected to the LET output channel (16). When the combustion gases enter through the flue gas inlet channel (15), given the pressure with which they enter they move the movable support (11), therefore pressure is generated in the LET arranged in the chamber (10), during this displacement the solenoid (8) attracts the movable support (11) and therefore the needle (14) enabling the output of LET through the output channel of LET (16). When the pressure of the LET provided in the chamber (10) is fed, it cannot exit through the channel (5) since the unidirectional valve (6) does not allow it. Once the combustion gases stop exerting pressure on the booster piston (13), it returns to its normal position due to the action exerted by the spring (9), which is operatively arranged in the chamber (10) to exert such action. Once the solenoid (8) stops attracting the movable support (11), the movable support (11) returns to its normal position by the action exerted by the spring (12), which is operatively arranged inside of! device to perform such action.

Referring to Fig. 2 and 3, the channel (5) is located in the central section (19). The channel (5) is connected to the chamber (10), which is located in the central section (19) inside the body. The unidirectional valve (6) is located at the connection point between the channel (5) the camera (10). In this mode the unidirectional valve (6) is a gate that pivots in order to interrupt the flow from the channel (5) to the chamber (10), or allow it. At the opposite end of the chamber (10) to the end where the channel (5) is connected to the chamber (10), the flue gas inlet channel (15) and the LET outlet channel (16) are connected . The flue gas inlet channel (15) and the LET outlet channel (16) extend from the chamber (10) to the lower section (20), so that they communicate with the interior of the chamber of engine combustion Inside the chamber (10) the booster piston (13) and the movable support (11) are arranged. The booster piston (13) is arranged in such a way that in its normal position, the booster piston (13) has contact with the connection point between the flue gas inlet channel (15) and the chamber (10). The spring (9) which is arranged inside the chamber (10) in such a way that it keeps the booster piston (13) in its normal position. When the combustion gases enter through the flue gas inlet channel (15), given the pressure with which the combustion gases enter, they move the booster piston (13), and this in turn increases the pressure of the contained LET in the camera (10). The dimensional adjustment between the booster piston (13) and the walls of the chamber (10) with which the booster piston (13) has contact when it travels is such that it avoids the passage of LET between them and therefore the volume described by the booster piston (13) when moving is not filled with LET. The needle (14) is operationally coupled to the movable support (11). The needle (14) extends to the LET output channel (16), and in its normal position keeps this exit closed. The movable support (11) is arranged inside the chamber (10). The solenoid (8) is arranged in the central section (19), which is connected to the terminal (1). When the solenoid (8) is energized, the movable support (11) is attracted by moving it, and therefore the needle (14) is moved allowing the passage of LET from the chamber (10) into the combustion chamber through the LET outlet channel (16). Once the solenoid (8) is de-energized, the movable support (11) returns to its normal position by the action of the spring (12), which is operationally arranged inside the chamber (10). When the movable support (11) is returned to its normal position, the needle (14) closes the LET output channel (16). When the pressure of the flue gas decreases, the spring (9) returns to the booster piston (13) to its normal position It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the modalities described and illustrated, and the person skilled in the art will understand that numerous variations and modifications can be made that do not depart from the spirit of the invention, which is only defined by The following claims.

Claims

1. A device for the injection of LET and generating a spark inside a combustion chamber of an engine comprising:

- a mechanism for the injection of LET, which comprises a plurality of channels operatively connected for the entry and exit of the LET, a support movable by the action of a solenoid, a needle that enables the injection of the LET by the output of LET and Operationally coupled to the movable support, and a booster piston movable by the action of the combustion gases that enter through a flue gas inlet channel, the booster piston generates pressure to the LET for the injection of the LET when the needle enables the exit of LET;

- a system for generating spark inside the motor by means of electrodes, and;

- a body containing the mechanism for the injection of LET and the spark generation system, and having an upper section, a central section and a lower section through which the device is coupled to the engine by thread; where the device is controlled by an ECU, which supplies the electrical power necessary to generate the spark and inject the LET.

2. The device claimed in claim 1, wherein a nut is arranged in the central section of the body to exert mechanical action to attach device to the motor.

3. The device claimed in claim 1, wherein a nut is arranged in the upper section of the body to exert mechanical action to attach device to the motor.

4. The device claimed in claim 1, wherein the spark generation system comprises:

- a terminal operatively arranged in the upper section, and connected to the ECU;

- a central electrode, which is connected to the terminal and extends from the upper section to the lower section;

- an external electro, which is operatively arranged in the lower section; where the central electrode and the external electrode are operatively arranged to generate a potential differential and therefore the spark inside the motor.

5. The device claimed in claim 1, wherein the spark generation system comprises:

- a terminal operatively arranged in the central section, and connected to the ECU;

- a central electrode, which is connected to the terminal and extends from the central section to the lower section;

6. The device claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the channel through which the LET enters, the LET output channel, and the flue gas inlet channel are connected to a chamber.

7. The device claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that the booster piston and the movable support are located inside the chamber, so that in its normal position the booster piston has contact with the connection point between the inlet channel of combustion gases and the chamber, and in the normal position of the movable support the needle keeps the LET outlet closed.

8. The device claimed in Claim 7, characterized in that the movable support and the booster piston are held in their normal positions by springs supported on the walls of the chamber.

The device claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the pressure exerted by the combustion gases on the booster piston, the booster piston transfers it to the LET present in the chamber.

10. The device claimed in claim 6, comprising a unidirectional valve disposed along the channel through which the LET enters.