Combustion control via homogeneous combustion radical ignition (HCRI) or partial HCRI in cyclic IC engines

摘要

A process is provided for improving combustion control and fuel efficiency in rotary and reciprocating IC engines by enabling leaner combustion at higher compression ratios using less heat for ignition. Embodiments employ secondary chambers of minimal total volume within a cylinder periphery. These chambers communicate with a main chamber via conduits and enable a radical ignition (“RI”) species generation and supply process that starts in earlier cycles to be augmented and used in later cycles. Measures regulate the RI species generated and provided to the main chamber. These species alter dominant chain-initiation reactions of the combustion ignition mechanism. Also employed when preferable are fluids of higher heat of vaporization and volatility but lower ignitability than the fuel. This process improves combustion in radical ignition engines and radical augmented spark and compression ignition engines.

主权项

1. An engine that combusts a mixture of a fuel and air and that has combustion cycles, the engine comprising:
at least one combustion chamber that receives said mixture of said fuel and air for combustion thereof; means for providing said mixture of said fuel and air to said combustion chamber; at least one work-power producing component that moves responsive to said combustion; means for generating new radical ignition species using radical ignition species of said fuel and OH to impel OH-decomposition of said fuel, said OH-decomposition of said fuel starting in and continuing from a prior combustion cycle; and at least one regulator that selectively modulates said new radical ignition species for use in said combustion chamber for a combustion cycle occurring after said prior combustion cycle.