Westport Power Inc.

Westport Research Inc.

The University of British Columbia

Westport Fuel Systems Canada Inc.

Westport Power Inc. Et Al.

Philip G Hill

Guowei Li

Dehong Zhang

Mark E Dunn

Sandeep Munshi

K Bruce Hodgins

Jian Huang

Gordon P McTaggart-Cowan

Alain Michel Touchette

Brad Douville

Alan B Welch

Michael C Wickstone

Adrian J Post

Ning Wu

Patric Ouellette

Mark A Epp

Bronson D Patychuk

Ronald J Pierik

Gordon Mctaggart-Cowan

Samdeep Munshi

Mark Dunn

It is a challenge to reduce unburned hydrocarbon emissions for gaseous fuelled engines, especially at low engine load conditions, to meet demanding emission regulation targets. A method for reducing unburned hydrocarbon emissions in a lean-burn internal combustion engine that is fuelled with a gaseous fuel comprises adjusting the timing for closing of an intake valve as a function of engine operating conditions by one of advancing timing for closing of the intake valve and closing the intake valve earlier during an intake stroke; and retarding timing for closing of the intake valve and closing the intake valve later during a compression stroke. The volumetric efficiency of the internal combustion engine is reduced and unburned hydrocarbon emissions are maintained below a predetermined level.

Reducing unburned hydrocarbon emissions in gaseous fueled lean-burn engines

A method for introducing a gaseous fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine includes forming a non-ignitable mixture of the gaseous fuel and a gas including oxygen in a predefined mixture mass ratio within a predetermined range of tolerance having a pressure suitable for directly introducing the non-ignitable mixture into the combustion chamber during at least the compression stroke; and introducing the non-ignitable mixture directly into the combustion chamber.

Air-enriched gaseous fuel direct injection for an internal combustion engine

A dual fuel injection valve with concentric needles comprises an inner needle and an outer needle surrounding the inner needle, both needles being located inside the injection valve body. The valve is provided with a first set and a second set of orifices for separately injecting two different fuels directly into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The outer needle is fixed against rotation with respect to the injection valve body such that an interlace angle between the centerlines of the first series of orifices and second series of orifices is set at different predetermined angles to reduce methane emissions.

Dual fuel injection valve

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 method of operating an internal combustion engine employs exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in combination with directly injected gaseous fuels that are burned within the engine in a stratified combustion mode. An engine that employs EGR includes an injector adapted to provide a high pressure quantity of fuel into a combustion chamber within a given pressure range, at a given angle and through a nozzle hole size to help provide for EGR tolerance and, consequently, reduce emissions.

Exhaust gas recirculation methods and apparatus for reducing NOx emissions from internal combustion engines

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 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

This invention relates to a novel hydraulically actuated fuel injector for an internal combustion engine. More particularly, the application pertains to a hydraulically actuated gaseous injector for injecting main fuel and optional pilot fuel into an internal combustion engine at different times at controlled pressure. A hydraulically actuated fuel injector for a piston displacement engine comprising: (a) an injector which is actuated by an actuator means and injects fuel into the engine at predetermined times; (b) a means for introducing hydraulic oil into said injector; (c) means for pressurizing said hydraulic oil; (d) means for opening a fuel inlet means and injecting the fuel into the engine upon the pressure of the hydraulic oil reaching a predetermined level; and (e) a means for preventing the pressure of the hydraulic oil from rising above the predetermined level.

Hydraulically actuated gaseous or dual fuel injector

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for supplying high pressure gaseous fuel from a storage vessel to a vehicle's internal combustion engine. More particularly, the invention is a fuel supply system with three main components: the storage vessel; an intensifier; and, an accumulator vessel. Fuel passages connect each one of the components directly with the other two components. The intensifier has a plurality of compression chambers and one of the compression chambers can be by-passed when the intensifier is operating in a low capacity mode, depending upon the pressure in the storage vessel. The intensifier operates continuously. When no fuel compression is required, the intensifier runs in an idle mode with the respective inlets and outlets of the compression chambers connected by fuel passages, thus preventing any fuel compression. The loading to the intensifier actuating mechanism is balanced in all modes of operation.

Intensifier apparatus and method for supplying high pressure gaseous

This invention relates to a novel device for compressing and injecting gaseous fuel from a variable pressure gaseous fuel supply into a fuel receiving apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to an intensifier-injector which compresses and injects gaseous fuel from a variable pressure source into the cylinder of a positive displacement engine. An intensifier-injector for gaseous fuels in internal combustion engines comprising means which utilizes the compressed gas from the chamber of the internal combustion engine or compressed fluid or gas from an external compressor to drive an intensifier means which raises the pressure of fuel gas supplied to the internal combustion engine for rapid late-cycle injection into the cylinder of the internal combustion engine.

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Vancouver, Canada

Philip G Hill