Westport Power Inc.

Westport Research Inc.

Ekona Power Inc.

Westport Fuel Systems Canada Inc.

Hpdi Technology Limited Partnership

Guowei Li

Philip G Hill

Dehong Zhang

Mark E Dunn

Alain M J Touchette

Kenneth William Kratschmar

David Kalu Mumford

Michael C Wickstone

Alan B Welch

Alain Michel Touchette

Christopher Edwin John Reid

Patric Ouellette

David Aaron Leboe

Ashish Singh

Gary Edward Schubak

Olivier Lebastard

Silviu Dumitrescu

Christopher J B Dicken

Shawn Dayupay Esquivel

David K Mumford

Christopher Dicken

Alain M Touchette

Mark Dunn

There is described a method of producing hydrogen and nitrogen using a feedstock gas reactor. Reaction of feedstock and combustion gases in the reactor produces hydrogen and nitrogen through pyrolysis of the feedstock gas. Parameters of the process may be adjusted to control the ratio of hydrogen to nitrogen that is produced such that it may be suitable, for example, for the synthesis of ammonia.

Methods of producing hydrogen and nitrogen using a feedstock gas reactor

An improved body defining a restricted fluid flow passage in a fuel supply system for delivering a gaseous fuel to an internal combustion engine. The body is formed for installation between and fluidly connecting a gaseous fuel supply conduit and a gaseous fuel flow passage that defines a predetermined volume between the restricted fluid flow passage and a nozzle chamber of a fuel injector from which the gaseous fuel is injected into the internal combustion engine. The restricted fluid flow passage has the smallest effective flow area between the gaseous fuel supply conduit and the nozzle chamber. The restricted fluid flow passage is located a predetermined distance from an injection valve seal within the fuel injector. The predetermined distance is calculated as a function of the speed of sound in the gaseous fuel and an opened time of the fuel injector.

Apparatus for reducing pressure pulsations in a gaseous fuelled internal combustion engine

This disclosure teaches a method of controlling a direct injection internal combustion engine and predicting the behavior of a direct injection internal combustion engine. An estimation of initial cylinder pressure, air flow and EGR flow (if applicable) is used to establish a system that provides engine behavior by integrating an injection module, combustion module and engine control module to provide data indicative of engine behavior such as brake torque and power, air flow, EGR flow, cylinder pressure, brake specific fuel consumption, start of combustion, heat release rate, turbo-charger speed and other variables. These values can then be used to adjust commanded variables such as start of injection, commanded pulse width, rail pressure to meet operator demand. Also the output data can be used as a tool to determine how a conceptualized engine design will behave. This is particularly useful for gaseous-fuelled internal combustion engines where cylinder pressure influences behavior of injected gases in light of the fact that rail pressure and cylinder pressure are, generally, of a similar magnitude.

Method for controlling combustion in an internal combustion engine and predicting performance and emissions

This disclosure teaches a method of controlling a direct injection internal combustion engine and predicting the behaviour of a direct injection internal combustion engine. An estimation of initial cylinder pressure, air flow and EGR flow (if applicable) is used to establish a system that provides engine behaviour by integrating an injection module, combustion module and engine control module to provide data indicative of engine behaviour such as brake torque and power, air flow, EGR flow, cylinder pressure, brake specific fuel consumption, start of combustion, heat release rate, turbo-charger speed and other variables. These values can then be used to adjust commanded variables such as start of injection, commanded pulse width, rail pressure to meet operator demand. Also the output data can be used as a tool to determine how a conceptualised engine design will behave. This is particularly useful for gaseous-fueled internal combustion engines where cylinder pressure influences behaviour of injected gases in light of the fact that rail pressure and cylinder pressure are, generally, of a similar magnitude.

A glow member, preferably in the shape of a ring, assists ignition and combustion of a fuel used in an internal combustion engine. A fuel injection valve injects a plurality of fuel jets directly into a combustion chamber during operation of the engine so that the fuel jets are aimed to the proximity of the glow member such that ignition of fuel in each fuel jet is assisted by the glow member. The glow member is made from high temperature materials and can include catalytic materials to further promote combustion. The glow member can be actively heated, for example by an electric current, in addition to being passively heated by the heat generated within the combustion chamber by the combustion of the fuel therein.

Glow ring ignition assist for internal combustion engine

An obstruction is employed in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The obstruction is located within the chamber to generate turbulence and break-up or disrupt the soot rich zone within a directly injected quantity of fuel that is burning. More specifically, a ring disrupts fuel jets directly injected into the combustion chamber that impact on or are influence by the ring. The ring can be suspended from the piston or from the fire deck. Post-type obstructions help generate turbulence and are also targeted at disrupting the soot rich zone of the burning fuel jets. A method involves disrupting the soot rich zone or reducing soot generated within the combustion chamber and increasing burn rate by impacting the fuel jets on an obstruction within the chamber.

Direct injection combustion chamber geometry

A method and apparatus create an environment within a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine suitable for auto-ignition and combustion of a fuel that will not otherwise auto-ignite. Under high-load conditions, a pilot quantity of the fuel is injected in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine during the compression stroke of the piston. The quantity and timing of the fuel are chosen to heat an intake charge within the combustion chamber to a temperature at or above the auto-ignition temperature of the fuel by the time required for a main injection of the fuel to drive the piston during the power stroke. Generally, auto-ignition temperatures should be reached at or near top dead center of the piston. An injector design delivers fuel in manner carried out by the method.

Control method and apparatus for gaseous fuelled internal combustion engine

A method and apparatus generate turbulence and impact on soot rich zone within a burning fuel jet within a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. A reservoir accumulates charge and projects the charge into a combustion chamber and into and around the burning fuel directly injected into the combustion chamber. A ring or the fire deck define one or more reservoirs with an orifice for accumulating, directing and ejecting the charge. The method and apparatus are particularly beneficial when employed with gaseous fuels.

Method of reducing particulates and enhancing burning rate within a combustion chamber

A gaseous and liquid fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine comprises an injection valve body that houses two separate concentric fuel injection valve assemblies. The first valve assembly is a pilot fuel needle valve assembly, which comprises a first needle movable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the body between an open and a closed position. The second valve assembly is a gaseous fuel needle valve assembly, which comprises a second needle movable in the direction of the longitudinal axis between an open and a closed position. The gaseous fuel needle valve assembly controls the injection of gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber through a plurality of gaseous fuel holes formed in a nozzle tip of the gaseous fuel needle valve assembly. At least one of the nozzle tips is rotatable to thereby change the position of the pilot fuel holes with respect to the gaseous fuel holes. The number of the plurality of pilot fuel holes is different from the number of the plurality of gaseous fuel holes.

Gaseous and liquid fuel injection valve with concentric needles

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Vancouver, Canada

Guowei Li