Caterpillar Inc.

Yongli Qi

Kenth I Svensson

Xinyu Ge

Jonathan William Anders

Chad Palmer Koci

Glen Clifford Martin

Eric Donald Wiebrecht

Operating an engine system includes calculating a crank angle timing term corresponding to an in-cylinder temperature sufficient for autoignition of a first fuel injected at a first injection location. Operating an engine system further includes calculating, based on the crank angle timing term, at least one of an injection amount or an injection duration, to increase the in-cylinder temperature sufficiently via burning of the first fuel to ignite a second fuel injected into a mixture of the first fuel and pressurized intake air. The first fuel may include a blend of dimethyl ether (DME), methanol (MeOH), and water. Based on expected progression of in-cylinder temperatures, and fuel injection amount and/or duration based thereon, desirable controllability of combustion phasing and/or other combustion properties may be realized.

Dual fuel operating strategy for engine based on expected in-cylinder temperature progression

Operating an engine system includes autoigniting a first fuel including a plurality of liquid fuels premixed with air, to trigger ignition of a direct-injected main fuel in a first engine cycle, and receiving data indicative of an undesired heat release of combustion of the first fuel. The undesired heat release may include an undesired heat release rate (HRR) modality such as a multistage combustion. Relative amounts of the plurality of the liquid fuels are varied and admitted to the cylinder in a second engine cycle, and the first fuel having the varied relative amounts autoignited to trigger ignition of the direct-injected main fuel in the second engine cycle. The undesired heat release can be limited in the second engine cycle based on the varied relative amounts of the liquid fuels. The first fuel may include a blend of dimethyl ether (DME), methanol (MeOH), and water. The direct-injected main fuel may include MeOH and water. Related apparatus and control logic is also disclosed.

Dual fuel engine operating method and control strategy for optimized heat release

A fuel injector assembly for an engine. The engine includes a cylinder head defining a through-hole. The fuel injector assembly includes an insert, having a first end and a second end, configured to be received within the through-hole and coupled to the cylinder head. The insert defines a bore extending from the first end to the second end. The fuel injector assembly further includes a fuel injector including a plurality of orifices, received within the bore of the insert; and a duct structure including a plurality of ducts, coupled to the insert such that the plurality of ducts align with the plurality of orifices to at least partially receive one or more fuel jets from the plurality of orifices of the fuel injector.

Fuel injector assembly having duct structure

A system having an engine is provided. The system includes a high pressure (HP) turbocharger and a low pressure (LP) turbocharger connected in series with each other. The system also includes a first valve assembly configured to selectively bypass at least a portion of the exhaust from the engine to the LP turbocharger. The system also includes a storage tank configured to store a pressurized fluid and configured to be in fluid communication with the HP turbocharger and the LP turbocharger. The system further includes a second valve assembly in fluid communication with the storage tank, the HP turbocharger and the LP turbocharger. The system also includes a controller operatively coupled to the first valve assembly and the second valve assembly. The controller is configured to selectively operate the first valve assembly and the second valve assembly based on a change in a load requirement on the engine.

Turbocharger system for an engine

A duct structure for a fuel injector assembly of an engine includes a first ring structure, a plurality of ducts, a plurality of posts, and an engagement structure. The fuel injector assembly includes a fuel injector having a plurality of orifices to discharge fuel. The first ring structure is configured to be coupled to a cylinder head of the engine, and defines a central axis. The ducts are circularly arrayed around the central axis, and are configured to provide passages to the fuel discharged from the fuel injector. The posts connect the ducts to the first ring structure. Further, the engagement structure is configured to engage with the fuel injector to align the ducts with the orifices such that each of the plurality of ducts is configured to receive fuel discharged from a corresponding one of the plurality of orifices.

Duct structure for fuel injector assembly

A thermal management system for an aftertreatment system includes an air pump and a compressed air rail. The compressed air rail is fluidly connected with the air pump. The thermal management system further includes a first valve located between the compressed air rail and an exhaust outlet pathway. The first valve is configured to selective supply air to the aftertreatment system of the engine. The thermal management system further includes a heater located between the compressed air rail and the first valve. The heater is configured to heat the air before supplying air to the aftertreatment system of the engine.

Thermal management system for aftertreatment system

An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system includes an EGR duct configured to effect fluid communication between an exhaust duct and an intake duct of an internal combustion engine; a heat exchanger having a first flow passage and a second flow passage, the first flow passage being in fluid communication with the EGR duct, the second flow passage being configured to receive a heat transfer medium from a heat transfer medium source; an upstream purge valve in fluid communication with the second flow passage of the heat exchanger, and configured to effect selective fluid communication between a purge fluid source and the second flow passage of the heat exchanger; and a controller operatively coupled to the upstream purge valve. The controller is configured to purge the second flow passage of the heat exchanger by opening the upstream purge valve.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Yongli Qi