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

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for adjusting the operation of a gasoline-fueled engine based on monitored conditions within a combustion chamber of the engine. In some cases, the system monitors regions within the combustion chamber, identifies or determines a satisfactory condition, and applies an ionization voltage to a fuel injector to initiate a combustion event during the satisfactory condition. In some cases, the system monitors the conditions within the combustion chamber, determines a monitored condition is associated with an adjustment, and adjusts a parameters of a combustion event in order to adjust ionization levels within a combustion chamber.

Adaptive control system for fuel injectors and igniters

A system including nanostructure arrays for converting carbon dioxide to an organic compound, e.g., methanol, which does so, for example, without any external electric energy. In one embodiment, the system for converting carbon dioxide to an organic compound includes an array of nanotubes, which include nanoparticles of an electron mediator, e.g. palladium, dispersed on a surface of the nanotubes, and an electrically conductive fluid. The array of nanotubes is at least partially immersed in the electrically conductive fluid. The system further includes a light source that irradiates the array of nanotubes, a source of carbon dioxide, and an inlet for delivering the carbon dioxide to the electrically conductive fluid whereat at least a portion of the carbon dioxide is converted to a different organic compound, such as methanol, via contact with an irradiated array of nanotubes. In one example, the array is an ordered array of titania nanotubes.

Systems including nanotubular arrays for converting carbon dioxide to an organic compound

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for chemically activating a fuel for injection and ignition in a combustion engine. In one aspect, a method to initiate combustion includes transforming an interim fuel substance into constituents including radicals, the interim fuel substance formed by a chemical conversion using a fuel, in which the interim fuel substance has a lower ignition energy than that of the fuel, injecting the constituents into a combustion chamber of an engine, and providing a gaseous fluid including oxidants in the combustion chamber to react with the constituents in a combustion reaction, in which the combustion reaction of the constituents occurs at a reduced energy than that of a combustion reaction of the fuel substance.

Chemical fuel conditioning and activation

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for injecting and igniting a fuel using corona discharge for combustion. In one aspect, a method to ignite a fuel in an engine includes injecting ionized fuel particles into a combustion chamber of an engine, and generating one or more corona discharges at a particular location within the combustion chamber to ignite the ionized fuel particles, in which the generating includes applying an electric field at electrodes configured at a port of the combustion chamber, the electric field applied at a frequency that does not produce an ion current or spark on or between the electrodes.

Fuel injection systems with enhanced corona burst

The present invention relates to an oxygenated fuel composition suitable for use in compression ignition internal combustion engines, equipped with inlet air heater, a catalytic alcohol dehydration equipment suitable for chemical equilibrium conversion of methanol and higher alcohol to their associated ether plus water. The generated fuels contain a synergetic combination of unconverted alcohol like methanol and ethanol and associated generated ether as dimethylether and diethylether and water. The generated fuel is injected as a liquid directly into the cylinders of the engine. The generated ether provides good ignition properties. The unconverted alcohol provides a stable single-phase fuel and the water results in a reduction in combustion temperature yielding very low concentration of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas. Another advantage associated with the obtained fuel compositions is very low formation of particulate matter. Experimental investigations have shown that high overall engine efficiency is obtained. The generated fuel compositions are used as main fuel for start and operation of the engine. Further the invention reduces the dependency of fossil liquid fuel as the alcohol feed used can be produced from natural gas and basically all carbon bearing substances like coal and renewable sources like wood.

Continuous dehydration of alcohol to ether and water used as fuel for diesel engines

FIELD: prepared liquid fuels. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to oxygen- containing fuel composition suitable for use in compression-ignition internal combustion engines equipped with air-intake heater, catalytic alcohol dehydration equipment suited to equilibrium chemical conversion of methanol containing up to 20% water and up to 20% ethanol or an higher alcohol. Prepared fuel contains combination of unreacted alcohol such as methanol and ethanol, dimethyl and diethyl ethers, and water. Fuel is injected in liquid state directly into engine cylinders. Ether ensures good ignition characteristics. Unreacted alcohol provides homogeneity of fuel and presence of water lowers combustion temperature, which results in very low concentrations of nitrogen oxides in exhaust gases. Another advantage provided by fuel compositions consists in a very low formation of solids. High performance of engine is achieved. Initial alcohol can be obtained from natural gas and generally from all carbon-containing substances such as coal and from reproducible resources such as wood. EFFECT: widened fuel resource. 5 cl, 2 dwg, 9 tbl, 6 ex

Lekhrmann Peter

Papers

Continuous dehydration of alcohol to ether and water used as fuel for diesel engines

Continuous dehydration of alcohol into ether and water for use as diesel engine fuel