Method and apparatus of fuelling an internal combustion engine with hydrogen and methane

Abstract

A gaseous-fuelled internal combustion engine and a method of operating same are provided for improving combustion stability and reducing emissions of NOx, PM, and unburned hydrocarbons. The method comprises fuelling an internal combustion engine with hydrogen and natural gas, which can be directly injected into the combustion chamber together or introduced separately. Of the total gaseous fuel delivered to the engine, at least 5% by volume at standard temperature and pressure is hydrogen. For at least one engine operating condition, the ratio of fuel rail pressure to peak in-cylinder pressure is at least 1.5: 1. The engine comprises a combustion chamber defined by a cylinder, a cylinder head, and a piston movable within the cylinder; and a fuel injection valve operable for introducing the gaseous fuel mixture directly into the combustion chamber, or two separate fuel injection valves for introducing the methane and hydrogen separately. An electronic controller is in communication with actuator(s) for the fuel injection valve(s) for controlling timing for operating the fuel injection valve(s). The engine has a compression ratio of at least 14:1.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a diesel cycle internal combustion engine that supplies hydrogen and methane as fuel to improve combustion stability and reduce nitrogen oxides (NO X ), methods and apparatus for emissions of unburned hydrocarbons and particulate matter (PM). Background of the invention [0002] Because gaseous fuels, such as natural gas, propane, hydrogen, and mixtures thereof, are cleaner fuels than liquid fuels, such as diesel, current attention has turned to developing fuels that can perform at a level that matches the power and performance that engine operators often expect from diesel engines. while burning such gaseous fuels. [0003] Natural gas fueled engines using lean burn spark ignition (LBSI) use relatively low pressure to introduce fuel into the intake manifold or intake port. To avoid engine knock caused by premature detonation of the fuel in the combustion chamber, such engines typically operate at a compression ratio of no hi...

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Problems solved by technology

Therefore, since NO must be reduced X , PM, and unburned hydrocarbons, so for direct injection engines fueled by natural gas, the higher PM emissions associated with late combustion timing actually limits how far fuel injection timing can be retarded

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