A spark plug for an automotive internal combustion engine providing improved ignition even when carbon is deposited on the insulator of the plug. A rich fuel-air ratio causes carbon to be deposited on spark plug insulators, thereby decreasing its effective insulation. By limiting the geometrical dimension of the plug's center electrode, ground electrode, and insulator the problem of carbon build-up is overcome. The sizes of these elements have certain allowable ranges that enhance the igniting effect of the plug.

Spark plug for internal combustion engine

A compressed-air energy storage system according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a reversible mechanism to compress and expand air, one or more compressed air storage tanks, a control system, one or more heat exchangers, and, in certain embodiments of the invention, a motor-generator. The reversible air compressor-expander uses mechanical power to compress air (when it is acting as a compressor) and converts the energy stored in compressed air to mechanical power (when it is acting as an expander). In certain embodiments, the compressor-expander comprises one or more stages, each stage consisting of pressure vessel (the “pressure cell”) partially filled with water or other liquid. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel communicates with one or more cylinder devices to exchange air and liquid with the cylinder chamber(s) thereof. Suitable valving allows air to enter and leave the pressure cell and cylinder device, if present, under electronic control.

Compressed air energy storage system utilizing two-phase flow to facilitate heat exchange

The present disclosure is directed to integrated injector/igniters providing efficient injection, ignition, and complete combustion of various types of fuels. One example of such an injectors/igniter can include a body having a base portion opposite a nozzle portion, and a fuel passageway extending from the base portion to the nozzle portion. A force generator and a first valve are carried by the base portion. The first valve is movable in response to actuation from the force generator to move between closed and open positions. The injector/igniter also includes a second valve at the nozzle portion that is deformable in response to pressure in the fuel passageway to deform between a closed position and an open position.

Integrated fuel injectors and igniters and associated methods of use and manufacture

A system for safe storage and efficient utilization of a variety of fuel selections that range in composition and phase from cryogenic mixtures of solids and liquids to elevated temperature gases is provided for unique applications with various types of heat engines and fuel cells including hybridized combinations.

Multifuel storage, metering and ignition system

The invention relates to a diesel internal combustion engine with an exhaust treatment device for the reduction of nitrogen oxides and with a fuel injection system comprising a high-pressure pump and at least one solenoid valve-controlled injection nozzle. The injection nozzle is actuated by an electronic control unit and is intended both for the primary injection, provided for the combustion, and for the additional injection, influencing the effectiveness of the exhaust treatment device. The fuel injection nozzle provided for the primary injection also provides for the secondary injection. The secondary injection takes place as a supplementary injection at the earliest in the region of the end phase of the combustion after the ignition top dead center.

Air-compressing fuel-injection internal-combustion engine with an exhaust treatment device for reduction of nitrogen oxides

A low pollution internal combustion engine is disclosed in which a predetermined portion of a stratified charge is initially pre-formed in the part of the manifold which supplies the predetermined charge portion to the cylinder, said predetermined charge portion being composed of fuel-air mixture diluted by exhaust gas and pre-formed when the intake valve for the cylinder is in the closed condition, and subsequently being introduced together with the remaining portion of the stratified charge, when the intake valve is opened during the intake stroke of the engine.

Exhaust gas recirculation pre-stratified charge

Combustion control in a spark ignited internal combustion engine for inhibition of incipient detonation, or knock, is provided by the addition of exhaust gases or other diluent gases to the intake manifold of the engine prior to opening of the intake valve. The addition of this diluent gas causes a prestratification of the charge entering the combustion chamber of the engine. Upon compression and ignition of the charge, the diluent gas inhibits spontaneous combustion of the portions of the charge furthest away from the site of ignition of the charge, thereby preventing one cause of incipient detonation. This combustion control may be used with turbocharged and supercharged engines, as well as with naturally aspirated internal combustion engines, and allows the engine to operate on much lower octane fuel than would be possible without prestratification.

Combustion control by prestratification

Combustion means are provided for burning in a low-pollution manner the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine operable in the fuel-rich mode. In order to effect complete combustion of the hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide components without the formation of undesirable oxides of nitrogen, the combustion of the fuel-rich exhaust gases is effected by burner means operable at one atmosphere and between about 2500* Rankine to about 3300* Rankine. Combustion air is supplied to the burner by an air motor of the piston-cylinder type which may be driven by the crankshaft of the engine. Heat exchanger means may be provided for converting the heat of the burner flame to useful mechanical energy that is returned as driving power to the engine. One or more of the cylinders of the engine may constitute the air cylinder means for supplying combustion air to the burner, as well as the means for returning power from the burner to the output shaft of the engine.

Combustion means for a low-pollution engine

Method and apparatus for reducing the nitrogen oxide component from the oxygen-poor combustion products of a hydrocarbon fuel combustion device, which product would ordinarily contain an undesirable excess quantity of oxides of nitrogen. The method and apparatus include the means for associating gaseous hydrocarbon compounds in said products of combustion at a sufficiently high temperature in a related selected contained volume such that a degree of acceleration of the reduction of oxides of nitrogen is obtained so that the NO is reduced to an acceptable level within a selected reaction time related to said volume which reaction time, volume and temperature are reasonably associated with or present within said combustion device.

Method and means for reducing pollutants from the exhaust of hydrocarbon fuel combustion means

An anti-pollution piston construction is disclosed containing at least one storage chamber having inlet orifices contained in the periphery of the cylindrical side wall of the piston adjacent the imperforate piston end wall, said storage chamber being adapted to receive unburnt hydrocarbons during the compression stroke of the engine. During the expansion stroke following ignition, the unburnt hydrocarbons are returned to the cylinder chamber for mixing with the combustion gases to reduce the oxides of nitrogen having an excess concentration relative to an equilibrium value which is a function of the temperature, pressure and composition parameters of the combustion gases. The unburnt hydrocarbons in the storage chamber are returned in a manner that displaces unburnt hydrocarbons from the relatively cold wall of the cylinder which further aids the reduction of the oxides of nitrogen. In one embodiment, a plurality of radially arranged circumferentially spaced storage chambers are provided in the cylindrical side wall of the piston. In another embodiment, a centrally arranged storage chamber is provided which communicates with the cylinder chamber via radially arranged circumferentially spaced passages having orifices in the periphery of the piston.

Jr. Edwin L. Resler

Papers

Exhaust gas recirculation pre-stratified charge

Combustion control by prestratification

Combustion means for a low-pollution engine

Method and means for reducing pollutants from the exhaust of hydrocarbon fuel combustion means

Anti-pollution piston construction