Southwest Research Institute

Vandyne Superturbo, Inc.

Christopher James Chadwell

Charles Edward Roberts, Jr

Terrence F Alger, Iii

Shinhyuk Joo

Riccardo Meldolesi

Yilun Luo

Jared William Brown

Rudolf Hermann Stanglmaier

Ed VanDyne

Junmin Wang

Raphael Gukelberger

Terrence Francis Alger, Ii

Darius Mehta

Ryan C Roecker

Lee Gene Dodge

Daniel William Stewart

Scott R Hotz

Thomas E Briggs, Jr

Jean-Pierre Pirault

Bradley Denton

Volker Schumacher

A cylinder head is disclosed herein to allow for temperature control of exhaust gases exiting from an associated exhaust manifold. The cylinder head includes a combustion section that defines a plurality of combustion chambers and an exhaust manifold coupled to the combustion section. The combustion section fluidly couples to exhaust inlets defined by the exhaust manifold. The exhaust manifold includes at least one exhaust passageway in fluid communication with the exhaust inlets and in fluid communication with an exhaust outlet to receive combustion gases from the combustion section and output the same via the exhaust outlet. The exhaust manifold further includes at least one coolant passageway that at least partially surrounds the at least one exhaust passageway to pass coolant therethrough in order to draw and reject heat from exhaust gases.

Cylinder head with integrated cooling circuit for use in internal combustion engines

An internal combustion engine having two 'banks' of cylinders, the 'banks' being defined by cross-connection to different turbochargers. The exhaust from one bank of cylinders goes to a first turbocharger, and the exhaust from the other bank of cylinders goes to a second turbocharger. However, the compressed air delivered from the turbochargers is cross-connected to the cylinder banks. This allows a cylinder bank to be boosted with a turbocharger whose compressed air output does not necessarily match the exhaust energy of that cylinder bank.

Internal combustion engine with cross-boosting turbochargers

A system and method for generating microwaves for microwave enhanced combustion (MEC) input to an MEC antenna of an internal combustion engine. The system uses a directional coupler to deliver the MEC input signal to the MEC antenna and to receive a reflected power signal from the MEC antenna. A first feedback path determines a desired frequency, based on the reflected power and using an impedance-matching controller that matches the reflected power to a desired frequency value. A second feedback path determines a power correction term. An open loop path determines a feedforward power term, as well as timing, for the MEC input signal, based on various engine conditions. The feedforward power term is corrected with the power correction term.

Microwave enhanced combustion with dynamic frequency, power, and timing control and with power sensor for power feedback

A cooling system and method of using a cooling system for an engine equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. A pump provides pressure for circulating liquid through the cooling system. The cooling system has two loops: an engine cooling loop and an EGR cooling loop. The engine cooling loop cools the engine in a conventional manner. The EGR cooling loop goes first to an EGR cooler and next to an oil cooler. The heat exchange at the EGR cooler results in warmed coolant being delivered to the oil cooler, where it warms engine oil. Warm-up time for engine oil is thereby decreased.

System and method to decrease warmup time of coolant and engine oil in engine equipped with cooled EGR

A method of controlling fuel injection to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine, the engine having exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) from at least one dedicated EGR (D-EGR) cylinder, with the other cylinders being main cylinders. The D-EGR cylinder is run at a richer equivalence ratio than the main cylinders, with the goal of providing increased H2 and CO in the recirculated exhaust. The rich limit of the D-EGR cylinder is maximized by dividing the fuel injection into multiple fuel injection events, with each fuel injection event occurring during the intake valve lift period of the engine cycle.

Internal combustion engine having dedicated EGR cylinder(s) with split fuel injection timing

A method of providing exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) to an air-boosted internal combustion engine. The engine has both a high pressure EGR loop and a low pressure EGR loop. Each EGR loop has a valve that controls the amount of EGR that is delivered to the engine intake from that loop. During low-speed engine conditions, more EGR is delivered to the engine intake from the low pressure EGR loop than from the high pressure EGR loop. During high-speed engine conditions, more EGR is delivered to the engine intake from the high pressure EGR loop than from the low pressure EGR loop.

Dual path (low pressure loop and high pressure loop) EGR for improved air boosting efficiency

A diesel engine exhaust aftertreatment system and method of use. The system and method combine the attributes of lean or stoichiometric operation, using multiple LNTs (lean NOx traps) with one being capable of acting both as a lean NOx trap and a three-way catalyst. The engine is operated with lean air-to-fuel ratios during times that LNT treatment can efficiently reduce NOx from the exhaust gas. During times that lean NOx treatment is ineffective, the diesel engine is operated at or near a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, so that three-way catalyst treatment can be used.

Diesel engine exhaust aftertreatment system and method of operation

Disclosed is a control system and method for controlling a superturbocharged engine system in various operation modes. Throttle control mode may idle the superturbocharger during low and medium engine loads, so that boost is not created in the intake manifold. During high engine load conditions (open throttle), boosting occurs in response to the driver, operator, or control system requesting increased engine loads. For transient control mode, the control system may respond to transient conditions in response to engine speed and load so that the engine does not bog down or overcome vehicle traction limits. The control system may also predict future operating points.

Superturbocharger control systems

A method of controlling homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion timing and pressure rise rate. A constant volume air pump, such as a supercharger, is equipped to provide a variable amount of fresh air to a turbocharger. The also turbocharger drives a high pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) loop. The fresh air intake and the EGR ratio are independently controlled. This combination of hardware allows for good control of combustion timing by providing for EGR variations without undue effect from varying oxygen concentration. Additionally, by adjusting the EGR ratio, the pressure rise rate during combustion can be controlled to reduce combustion noise.

HCCI combustion timing control with decoupled control of in-cylinder air/EGR mass and oxygen concentration

A hydraulic variable compression ratio (VCR) piston for use in an internal combustion engine. The piston is a two-part piston, in which a gudgeon pin carrier slides within an outer sleeve. A variable volume upper chamber is formed between the top of the gudgeon pin carrier and the end of the outer sleeve. When the upper chamber fills with oil, its volume increases, and the overall piston geometry is longer. This reduces the piston clearance in the cylinder and increases cylinder pressure. At a given maximum cylinder pressure or at a given rate of increase of cylinder pressure, oil from the upper chamber is relieved by using a rate-sensitive pressure relief valve.

Variable compression ratio piston with rate-sensitive response

When operating in a homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion mode, an in-cylinder condition guided fueling function and a dedicated exhaust burner disposed in an exhaust gas recirculation system of the engine are used to burn excess oxygen in recirculated exhaust gas and to achieve fast and smooth engine response during transient operation.

Apparatus and method for controlling transient operation of an engine operating in a homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion mode

A method for controlling the temperature and/or space velocity of exhaust gas provides control of the maximum temperature of the exhaust gas to prevent thermal damage to the Diesel engine components and associated aftertreatment devices during regeneration of the aftertreatment devices. The method includes controlling intake and/or exhaust valve opening timing and duration, either singly or in combination with selective individual cylinder cutout, in response to sensed engine operating parameters.

Method for controlling exhaust gas temperature and space velocity during regeneration to protect temperature sensitive diesel engine components and aftertreatment devices

The flame propagation rate resulting from a combustion event in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is controlled by modulation of the heat transfer from the combustion flame to the combustion chamber walls. In one embodiment, heat transfer from the combustion flame to the combustion chamber walls is mechanically modulated by a movable member that is inserted into, or withdrawn from, the combustion chamber thereby changing the shape of the combustion chamber and the combustion chamber wall surface area. In another embodiment, heat transfer from the combustion flame to the combustion chamber walls is modulated by cooling the surface of a portion of the combustion chamber wall that is in close proximity to the area of the combustion chamber where flame speed control is desired.

Growing community of inventors

San Antonio, TX, United States of America

Christopher James Chadwell