Intake air separation system for an internal combustion engine

摘要

A method and system for the intake air separation within an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The disclosed embodiments of the intake air separation system include an intake air inlet adapted to receive the intake air used in the combustion process for the engine and an intake air separation device in flow communication with the intake air inlet and adapted for separating the intake air into a flow of the oxygen enriched air and a flow of nitrogen enriched air. The intake air separation system further includes a first outlet in fluid communication with the intake air separation device and adapted to receive the flow of the oxygen enriched air as well as a second outlet also in fluid communication with the intake air separation device and adapted to provide the flow of nitrogen enriched air to the intake manifold for use in the combustion process. The intake air separation system also includes a permeate air driver in fluid communication with the intake air separation device and operatively associated with the engine exhaust system adapted for forcibly directing the flow of oxygen enriched air via the permeate outlet.