INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES INTEGRATED WITH HEAT RECUPERATORS

摘要

More than 60 % of the heating value of the fuel consumed in the usual internal combustion engines is wasted past remedy. The present invention, which is applicable in combination with any type of internal combustion engine, is devised to reduce the heat losses and to improve the efficiency of the thermodynamic cycles by making practicable an increase of the compression ratio, while suppressing knocking. Besides, a reduction in the emission of pollutants is achieved. The invention embodies apparatus to generate superheated steam, comprising a water preheater, a forced - circulation steam generator, a steam separator, a steam superheater which forms the actual jacketed cooling system of the engine, and a feasibly complete thermal insulation system. Said apparatus is integrated with the internal combustion engine, its steam generating constituent parts being arranged in countercurrent to the flow of the combustion products generated by the engine's process. The superheated pressure steam is utilized as motive power for an injector-compressor serving to pre-com-press the combustion air for compression-ignition or other fuel injection engines, or to supercharge the air-fuel mixture in the case of carburetor engines. In all cases, the compressed gaseous intake, incorporating the injected superheated steam, enters the engine's working space with increased enthalpy. If superheated steam is produced in excess of the demand of the compressor, it will be fed directly into the working space with appropriate timing. The invention offers the convenience of reducing the usual heat losses to the only heat being rejected with the cooled exhaust gases.