In-cylinder air injection via dual-fuel injector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022018321-A1
Application number	US-202117490162-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 30, 2021
Priority date	Oct 31, 2016
Publication date	Jan 20, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fuel system is provided, comprising: a liquid fuel source; a gaseous fuel source; and a dual injector having a first flow path in flow communication with the liquid fuel source and a second flow path in flow communication with gaseous fuel source, and an outlet in flow communication with the first and second flow paths and positioned to directly inject liquid fuel from the first flow path and gaseous fuel from the second flow path into a combustion chamber of a cylinder of an engine.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A fueling system, comprising:
a pressurized air source; a liquid fuel source; a gaseous fuel source; a plurality of valves, each having a first input in flow communication with the pressurized air source, a second input in flow communication with the gaseous fuel source, and an output in flow communication with the first input when the valve is in an air source position and in flow communication with the second input when the valve is in a fuel source position; a plurality of dual injectors, each being coupled to a corresponding output of the plurality of valves and to the liquid fuel source, the plurality of dual injectors being mounted to directly inject liquid fuel from the liquid fuel source and one of pressurized air or gaseous fuel from the corresponding output of the plurality of valves into a corresponding plurality of combustion chambers of a plurality of engine cylinders; and a controller in communication with the plurality of dual injectors and the plurality of valves, the controller being configured to cause each of the plurality of valves to move between the air source position and the fuel source position, to control each of the dual injectors to inject pressurized air into a corresponding combustion chamber when the valve coupled to the dual injector is in the air source position and to control each of the dual injectors to inject gaseous fuel into the corresponding combustion chamber when the valve coupled to the dual injector is in the fuel source position.

2 . The fueling system of claim 1 , wherein the gaseous fuel is natural gas.

3 . A fueling system, comprising:
a valve having a first input in flow communication with a pressurized air source, a second input in flow communication with a gaseous fuel source, and an output in flow communication with the first input when the valve is in an air source position and in flow communication with the second input with the valve is in a fuel source position; a dual injector having a first flow path in flow communication with the output of the valve and a second flow path in flow communication with a liquid fuel source; and a controller in communication with the dual injector and the valve, the controller being configured to cause the valve to move between the air source position and the fuel source position, to control the dual injector, when the valve is in the air source position, to inject liquid fuel from the second flow path and pressurized air from the first flow path directly into a combustion chamber, and to control the dual injector, when the valve is in the fuel source position, to inject liquid fuel from the second flow path and gaseous fuel from the first flow path directly into the combustion chamber.

4 . The fueling system of claim 3 , wherein the gaseous fuel is natural gas.

5 . A fuel system, comprising:
a liquid fuel source; a gaseous fuel source; and a dual injector having a first flow path in flow communication with the liquid fuel source and a second flow path in flow communication with gaseous fuel source, and an outlet in flow communication with the first and second flow paths and positioned to directly inject liquid fuel from the first flow path and gaseous fuel from the second flow path into a combustion chamber of a cylinder of an engine.

6 . The fuel system of claim 5 , further comprising a pump having an inlet coupled to the liquid fuel source and an outlet coupled to the first flow path of the dual injector, the pump being configured to provide liquid fuel to the first flow path.

7 . The fuel system of claim 5 , wherein the engine is a spark-ignited engine, the liquid fuel is gasoline, and the gaseous fuel is hydrogen.

8 . The fuel system of claim 5 , wherein the engine is a compression-ignited engine, the liquid fuel is diesel, and the gaseous fuel is hydrogen.

9 . The fuel system of claim 5 , wherein the liquid fuel is one of ammonia, liquefied petroleum gas or liquefied natural gas, and the gaseous fuel is hydrogen.

10 . The fuel system of claim 5 , further comprising a valve coupled between the gaseous fuel source and a pressure regulator, the pressure regulator being in flow communication with the second flow path of the dual injector.

11 . The fuel system of claim 10 , further comprising a controller coupled to the dual injector and the valve to control injection of the liquid fuel and the gaseous fuel, wherein the gaseous fuel is fuel tank vapor and the controller is configured periodically activate the valve to cause the dual injector to inject the fuel tank vapors into the combustion chamber, thereby purging the fuel tank vapor.

12 . The fuel system of claim 5 , further comprising a controller coupled to the dual injector to control injection of the liquid fuel and the gaseous fuel.

13 . The fuel system of claim 12 , wherein in a first mode of operation, the controller causes the dual injector to simultaneously inject both the liquid fuel and the gaseous fuel directly into the combustion chamber.

14 . The fuel system of claim 12 , wherein in a second mode of operation, the controller causes the dual injector to inject multiple injections of one or both of the liquid fuel and/or the gaseous fuel during a single combustion cycle.

15 . The fuel system of claim 12 , wherein in a third mode of operation, the controller causes the dual injector to inject one of the liquid fuel or the gaseous fuel directly into the combustion chamber before injecting another of the liquid fuel or the gaseous fuel directly into the combustion chamber.

16 . The fuel system of claim 15 , wherein the one fuel is the gaseous fuel.

17 . The fuel system of claim 12 , wherein in a fourth mode of operation, the controller cases the dual injector to inject a first quantity of liquid fuel to act as an ignition source for a second quantity of gaseous fuel, the first quantity being smaller than the second quantity.

18 . The fuel system of claim 17 , wherein the liquid fuel is diesel and the gaseous fuel is hydrogen.

Assignees

• Cummins Inc

Inventors

• Kolhouse J Steven
• Perfetto Anthony Kyle

Classifications

• F02M67/02

  the gas being compressed air, e.g. compressed in pumps (arrangements or adaptations of such pumps F02B) · CPC title

• F02M43/02 Primary

  Pumps peculiar thereto · CPC title

• F02M43/04 Primary

  Injectors peculiar thereto · CPC title

• F02B1/10

  Methods of operating · CPC title

• F02B2201/064

  Liquid and gas · CPC title