Internal combustion engine

About: Internal combustion engine is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 130574 publications have been published within this topic receiving 1069616 citations. The topic is also known as: ICE.

Automotive Spark-Ignited Direct-Injection Gasoline Engines

Abstract: The development of four-stroke, spark-ignition engines that are designed to inject gasoline directly into the combustion chamber is an important worldwide initiative of the automotive industry. The thermodynamic potential of such engines for significantly enhanced fuel economy, transient response and cold-start hydrocarbon emission levels has led to a large number of research and development projects that have the goal of understanding, developing and optimizing gasoline direct-injection (GDI) combustion systems. The processes of fuel injection, spray atomization and vaporization, charge cooling, mixture preparation and the control of in-cylinder air motion are all being actively researched, and this work is reviewed in detail and analyzed. The new technologies such as high-pressure, common-rail, gasoline injection systems and swirl-atomizing gasoline fuel injectors are discussed in detail, as these technologies, along with computer control capabilities, have enabled the current new examination of an old objective; the direct-injection, stratified-charge (DISC), gasoline engine. The prior work on DISC engines that is relevant to current GDI engine development is also reviewed and discussed. The fuel economy and emission data for actual engine configurations are of significant importance to engine researchers and developers. These data have been obtained and assembled for all of the available GDI literature, and are reviewed and discussed in detail. The types of GDI engines are arranged in four classifications of decreasing complexity, and the advantages and disadvantages of each class are noted and explained. Emphasis is placed upon consensus trends and conclusions that are evident when taken as a whole. Thus the GDI researcher is informed regarding the degree to which engine volumetric efficiency and compression ratio can be increased under optimized conditions, and as to the extent to which unburned hydrocarbon (UBHC), NOx and particulate emissions can be minimized for specific combustion strategies. The critical area of GDI fuel injector deposits and the associated effect on spray geometry and engine performance degradation are reviewed, and important system guidelines for minimizing deposition rates and deposit effects are presented. The capabilities and limitations of emission control techniques and aftertreatment hardware are reviewed in depth, and areas of consensus on attaining European, Japanese and North American emission standards are compiled and discussed. All known research, prototype and production GDI engines worldwide are reviewed as to performance, emissions and fuel economy advantages, and for areas requiring further development. The engine schematics, control diagrams and specifications are compiled, and the emission control strategies are illustrated and discussed. The influence of lean-NOx catalysts on the development of late-injection, stratified-charge GDI engines is reviewed, and the relative merits of lean-burn, homogeneous, direct-injection engines as an option requiring less control complexity are analyzed. All current information in the literature is used as the basis for discussing the future development of automotive GDI engines.

Internal combustion powered tool

Abstract: An internal combustion powered tool, such as a nail or fastener driver, and a control system, spark source, and rotary valve for use in an internal combustion powered tool are disclosed. The tool may include, for example, a cylinder and a piston reciprocally moveable within the cylinder. A combustion chamber is defined at one end of the cylinder, with the piston comprising a portion of one end of the combustion chamber. The tool may have a fastener driver associated with the piston, and a magazine for feeding fasteners into registration with the driver. A fuel flow passageway extends between a fuel source and the combustion chamber, and a metering valve controls the flow of fuel to the combustion chamber. A spark source within the combustion chamber is provided for igniting the fuel, and an intake and exhaust valve that includes a pair of diametrically opposed apertures is provided. At least one fan external to the combustion chamber induces an intake of fresh air into the combustion chamber through one of the apertures and an exhaust of combustion products from the combustion chamber through the other aperture. Additional and alternative details and features are described in the disclosure.

Experimental and Theoretical Study of Nitric Oxide Formation in Internal Combustion Engines

Abstract: The nonequilibrium formation of nitric oxide within the internal combustion engine cylinder is examined. A thermodynamic model which predicts the properties of the burnt and unburnt gases during the combustion process is developed. A set of reactions which govern the formation of nitric oxide is proposed, and rate equations for nitric oxide concentrations as a function of time in the post-flame gases are derived. The results of time-resolved measurements carried out on a CFR engine are described, where emitted light intensities at wavelengths selected to record radiation from the CO + O and NO + O continua were used to determine the nitric oxide concentration. The comparison between theoretical and experimental results for fuel-lean mixtures confirms that the important features of the model presented are correct.

Batteries and Ultracapacitors for Electric, Hybrid, and Fuel Cell Vehicles

Abstract: The application of batteries and ultracapacitors in electric energy storage units for battery powered (EV) and charge sustaining and plug-in hybrid-electric (HEV and PHEV) vehicles have been studied in detail. The use of IC engines and hydrogen fuel cells as the primary energy converters for the hybrid vehicles was considered. The study focused on the use of lithium-ion batteries and carbon/carbon ultracapacitors as the energy storage technologies most likely to be used in future vehicles. The key findings of the study are as follows. 1) The energy density and power density characteristics of both battery and ultracapacitor technologies are sufficient for the design of attractive EVs, HEVs, and PHEVs. 2) Charge sustaining, engine powered hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) can be designed using either batteries or ultracapacitors with fuel economy improvements of 50% and greater. 3) Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) can be designed with effective all-electric ranges of 30-60 km using lithium-ion batteries that are relatively small. The effective fuel economy of the PHEVs can be very high (greater than 100 mpg) for long daily driving ranges (80-150 km) resulting in a large fraction (greater than 75%) of the energy to power the vehicle being grid electricity. 4) Mild hybrid-electric vehicles (MHEVs) can be designed using ultracapacitors having an energy storage capacity of 75-150 Wh. The fuel economy improvement with the ultracapacitors is 10%-15% higher than with the same weight of batteries due to the higher efficiency of the ultracapacitors and more efficient engine operation. 5) Hybrid-electric vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells can use either batteries or ultracapacitors for energy storage. Simulation results indicate the equivalent fuel economy of the fuel cell powered vehicles is 2-3 times higher than that of a gasoline fueled IC vehicle of the same weight and road load. Compared to an engine-powered HEV, the equivalent fuel economy of the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle would be 1.66-2.0 times higher