Philip Morris USA Inc.

Chrysalis Technologies Incorporated

Tiax LLC

Westport Research Inc.

Philip Morris Products S.a.

John Paul Mello

Jan-Roger Linna

Peter Palmer

Stuart Bennett Sprague

Peter J Loftus

Roberto O Pellizzari

John Baron

Jan Roger Linna

Mimmo Elia

Suresh Sriramulu

Robert S Weber

Robert Owen Bowyer

Derek James Bezaire

Chad Smutzer

Richard Stobart

Bernard J Challen

Peter Loftus

Mimo Elia

A fuel injector for vaporizing a liquid fuel for use in an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector includes a plurality of capillary flow passages, each of the plurality of capillary flow passages having an inlet end and an outlet end; a heat source arranged along each of the plurality of capillary flow passages, the heat source operable to heat the liquid fuel in each of the plurality of capillary flow passages to a level sufficient to change at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state and deliver a stream of substantially vaporized fuel from each outlet end of the plurality of capillary flow passages; and a valve for metering substantially vaporized fuel to the internal combustion engine, the valve located proximate to each outlet end of the plurality of capillary flow passages. The fuel injector is effective in reducing cold-start and warm-up emissions of an internal combustion engine.

Multiple capillary fuel injector for an internal combustion engine

A fuel injector for delivering fuel to an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector includes a fuel injector housing, a system for metering vaporized fuel to the internal combustion engine, the system positioned within the fuel injector housing, and a system for delivering an atomized stream of liquid fuel to an internal combustion engine, the system positioned within the fuel injector housing, wherein the fuel injector is operable to transition from metering vaporized fuel to delivering an atomized stream of liquid fuel to an internal combustion engine. The system for metering vaporized fuel includes at least one capillary flow passage, the at least one capillary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end; a heat source arranged along the at least one capillary flow passage, the heat source operable to heat the liquid fuel in the at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to change from the liquid state to a vapor state and deliver a stream of vaporized fuel from the outlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage. The system for metering vaporized fuel further includes a valve for metering vaporized fuel located downstream to the outlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage. The fuel injector is effective in reducing cold-start and warm-up emissions of an internal combustion engine.

A fuel system for use in an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of fuel injectors, each injector including at least one capillary flow passage, the at least one capillary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end, a heat source arranged along the at least one capillary flow passage, the heat source operable to heat a liquid fuel in the at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to convert at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state, and a valve for metering fuel to the internal combustion engine, a controller to control the power supplied to the heat source of each of the plurality of fuel injectors to achieve a predetermined target temperature, a sensor for use in determining engine air flow and a sensor for measuring a value indicative of degree of engine warm-up of the internal combustion engine.

Fuel system for an internal combustion engine and method for controlling same

A method for controlling a fuel system of an internal combustion engine. The method is employed with a fuel system having a source of alcohol-containing liquid fuel, at least one fuel injector, a heat source for heating the liquid fuel in the at least one fuel injector, the heat source capable of heating the liquid fuel to a level sufficient to convert at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state and a metering valve operable to achieve a range of flow rates characterized by a valve open versus valve closed duty cycle. The method includes the steps of metering a predetermined amount of fuel based on engine operating conditions, controlling power supplied to the heat source of the at least one fuel injector to achieve a target temperature, determining alcohol concentration of the fuel and adjusting the power supplied to the heat source of the at least one fuel injector based on the alcohol concentration determination. A method of determining alcohol concentration and a fuel system for use in an alcohol fueled internal combustion engine is also provided.

Control method and apparatus for use in an alcohol fueled internal combustion engine

A fuel injector for vaporizing a liquid fuel for use in an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector includes at least one capillary flow passage, a heat source arranged along the at least one capillary flow passage, the heat source operable to heat the liquid fuel in the at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to change at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state and deliver a stream of substantially vaporized fuel from the outlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage; and a valve for metering fuel to the internal combustion engine, the valve located proximate to the outlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage, the valve including a low mass member for substantially occluding the stream of fuel to the internal combustion engine; wherein the low mass member for substantially occluding the stream of fuel to the internal combustion engine is formed of a material having low mass and or a low coefficient of thermal conductivity. The fuel injector is effective in reducing cold-start and warm-up emissions of an internal combustion engine.

Capillary fuel injector with metering valve for an internal combustion engine

An internal combustion engine and a method of operating same are provided with direct injection of gaseous fuel into a combustion chamber and an ignition assist apparatus disposed within the combustion chamber. An ignition assist apparatus disposed within the combustion chamber comprises an electric incandescent ignitor with a sleeve disposed around the ignitor and a catalytic alloy. The catalytic alloy comprises a first catalytic element with a greater affinity for oxygen than that of a second catalytic element, and the second catalytic element having a greater affinity for the fuel than that of the first catalytic element.

Direct injection gaseous fuel engine with ignition assist

A fuel injector for vaporizing a liquid fuel for use in an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector includes at least one capillary flow passage, the at least one capillary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end, a fluid control valve for placing the inlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage in fluid communication with the liquid fuel source and introducing the liquid fuel in a substantially liquid state, a heat source arranged along the at least one capillary flow passage, the heat source operable to heat the liquid fuel in the at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to change at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state and deliver a stream of substantially vaporized fuel from the outlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage and means for cleaning deposits formed during operation of the apparatus. The fuel injector is effective in reducing cold-start and warm-up emissions of an internal combustion engine. Efficient combustion is promoted by forming an aerosol of fine droplet size when the substantially vaporized fuel condenses in air.

Fuel injector for an internal combustion engine

A fuel system for use in an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of fuel injectors, each injector including at least one capillary flow passage, the at least one capillary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end, a heat source arranged along the at least one capillary flow passage, the heat source operable to heat a liquid fuel in the at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to convert at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state, and a valve for metering fuel to the internal combustion engine, a controller to control the power supplied to the heat source of each of the plurality of fuel injectors to achieve a predetermined target temperature, a sensor for use in determining engine air flow and a sensor for measuring a value indicative of degree of engine warm-up of the internal combustion engine. The fuel system of the present invention also provides fault detection capabilities with respect to malfunctions within the capillary flow passage.

Capillary heating control and fault detection system and methodology for fuel system in an internal combustion engine

A method of controlling combustion in an homogenous charge compression ignition engine through indirect mechanisms. The method utilizes a predictive model so that combustion can be controlled over a wide range of operating conditions while maintaining optimum operation with respect to efficiency and emissions. The methods include an adaptive aspect, which allows the predictive model to be updated if deemed necessary. Furthermore, the methods include a model with a plurality of control modes. A control mode can be chosen to optimize the engine for one of a plurality of output characteristics, including response time, efficiency, or emissions characteristics.

Method of controlling combustion in a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine

A fuel system for use in an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of fuel injectors, each injector including at least one capillary flow passage, the at least one capillary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end, a heat source arranged along the at least one capillary flow passage, the heat source operable to heat a liquid fuel in the at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to convert at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state, and a valve for metering fuel to the internal combustion engine, a controller to control the power supplied to the heat source of each of the plurality of fuel injectors to achieve a predetermined target temperature, a sensor for use in determining engine air flow and a sensor for measuring a value indicative of degree of engine warm-up of the internal combustion engine. According to a further aspect of the present invention, an initial liquid fuel pulse is purged from the fuel injector while the intake valve is in a substantially closed position so as to further minimize hydrocarbon emissions at startup.

System and methodology for purging fuel from a fuel injector during start-up

An apparatus and method for improving the transient response of a spark-ignited fuel-injected internal combustion engine is disclosed. This is accomplished by employing one or more novel capillary fuel injectors. These devices are port fuel injectors modified by inserting one or more relatively small diameter heated tubular capillaries between the fuel line and a conventional injector. Sufficient heating can be produced so that flash vaporization occurs as the fuel exits the injector. The heaters are turned on using control algorithms that can be based on exhaust gas oxygen concentration, load on the engine, and accelerator pedal position.

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Belmont, MA, United States of America

John Paul Mello