Abstract: An engine includes an engine block having a cylinder, a piston movably disposed in a main chamber of the cylinder, a prechamber adjacent to and in fluid communication with the main chamber via a prechamber nozzle, and a fuel injector in fluid communication with the main chamber, wherein the fuel injector has spray nozzles interfacing with the main chamber. The fuel injector and the prechamber are aligned such that a first nozzle of the spray nozzles is directed towards the prechamber nozzle.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward an engine system and a multi-mode combustion method for an internal combustion engine using hydrogen as a fuel. The engine system comprises a combustion system including a step-lipped piston bowl, a cover opposing the piston bowl, a hydrogen direct injector, and a radially asymmetrical pre-chamber partially opposite the lip of the piston bowl. The multi-mode combustion method includes injecting hydrogen and air a first time into the combustion system through the hydrogen direct injector, and jet igniting the fuel-air mixture in the combustion system. The injecting occurs during an intake stroke at low loads, and during a compression stroke at medium and high loads, Injecting hydrogen and air into the combustion system a second time via the hydrogen direct injector occurs either during or after jet-igniting, the hydrogen and air being at least partially ignited by compression.

Abstract: A purge system includes a prechamber in fluid communication with a main chamber of an engine cylinder, and a port divider having a dividing wall that creates a plurality of passages within an intake port of the main chamber. The purge system further includes an outer tube fixed between a first passage of the port divider and the prechamber, and an inner tube rotatable within the outer tube. The outer tube includes apertures along a wall of the outer tube that fluidly connect the outer tube with the first passage of the port divider and with the prechamber. The inner tube includes slots along a wall of the inner tube that to fluidly connect the first passage of the port divider and the prechamber when the slots align with the apertures.

Abstract: This disclosure presents, in one or more embodiments, an ignition device for a gasoline compression ignition engine. The ignition device includes a shuttle plunger with a gas chamber. The gas chamber is delimited by at least one sidewall of the shuttle plunger and captures exhaust gases. The ignition device also includes an electromagnetic coil that actuates the shuttle plunger in a first direction, a main body with a cavity containing the shuttle plunger and the electromagnetic coil, and a center electrode, fixed to the shuttle plunger, that ignites a fuel mixture.

Abstract: A combustion system includes a cylinder having a main chamber and a fuel injector positioned to inject fuel into the main chamber. A cylinder head is disposed at a top of the cylinder and forms an upper end of the main chamber. A prechamber adapter has a prechamber volume and a nozzle with a plurality of orifices for communication between the prechamber volume and an external environment. The prechamber adapter is threaded into a bore in the cylinder head and positioned to expose the nozzle to the main chamber. A spark plug is positioned within the prechamber adapter with a spark emitting end exposed to the prechamber volume. A piston movably disposed within the cylinder has a piston head forming a lower end of the main chamber. The piston head has a dome shape and a bowl formed in a top center of the dome shape.

Abstract: A system includes an engine having a main combustion chamber and a prechamber containing a spark plug. The prechamber is in fluid communication with the main combustion chamber through at least one orifice. An engine intake line provides intake air to the engine. An engine exhaust line receives exhaust gases from the engine. An exhaust gas recirculation line transports a portion of the exhaust gases from the engine exhaust line to the engine intake line, forming an exhaust gas recirculation loop through the engine. The system includes a reformer having a reactor containing a catalyst-coated substrate. The reformer generates a gaseous reformate from a fuel. The system includes a prechamber feed line to transport a stream of the gaseous reformate from the reformer to the prechamber.

Abstract: A system includes an engine having a main combustion chamber and a prechamber containing a spark plug. The prechamber is in fluid communication with the main combustion chamber through at least one orifice. An engine intake line provides intake air to the engine. An engine exhaust line receives exhaust gases from the engine. An exhaust gas recirculation line transports a portion of the exhaust gases from the engine exhaust line to the engine intake line, forming an exhaust gas recirculation loop through the engine. The system includes a reformer having a reactor containing a catalyst-coated substrate. The reformer generates a gaseous reformate from a fuel. The system includes a prechamber feed line to transport a stream of the gaseous reformate from the reformer to the prechamber.

Abstract: An active prechamber device may include a prechamber housing longitudinally aligned with a main axis. The active prechamber device may also include a prechamber nozzle forming a cap at an end of the prechamber housing. The prechamber nozzle and prechamber housing may define a prechamber space that extends along the main axis. The prechamber nozzle may have a plurality of orifices fluidly connected to the prechamber space. Additionally, a fuel injector may be in a linear arrangement with the prechamber housing along the main axis. The fuel injector may have a fuel injection nozzle positioned to spray a fuel into the prechamber space. An electrode arrangement may be formed within the prechamber space. The electrode arrangement may include an electrode shaft and an electrode ring. The electrode ring may circumscribe the electrode shaft to form a spark gap within the prechamber space.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a fuel injector, a piston chamber, a piston slidably disposed in the piston chamber having a piston crown along a top surface, a head assembly having at least one pre-chamber separate from the piston chamber and in fluid communication with the piston chamber via at least one connecting orifice, and an ignition device disposed in the pre-chamber for igniting a fuel air mixture within the pre-chamber, thereby producing an ignition jet being introduced into the piston chamber via the at least one connecting orifice to ignite a fuel/air mixture in the piston chamber. The fuel/air mixture is passively introduced into the at least one pre-chamber during at least a compression stroke of the piston.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for an engine is disclosed. The EGR system includes an EGR cooler that cools recirculated engine exhaust gas and is mounted between a valve cover and valve train of a cylinder head in the engine.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes a thermoelectric generator (TEG) layer that comprises a thermoelectric nanostructure. The system also includes a thermal conductance layer coupling the TEG layer to a catalytic converter and provides heat from an exhaust gas passing through the catalytic converter to the TEG layer. The system additionally includes a cooling layer coupled to the TEG layer opposite the thermal conductance layer that provides cooling to the TEG layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a combustion system for an engine is disclosed. The system includes a cylinder block that defines a cylinder bore and opposing pre-chambers located along a circumference of the cylinder bore. The system also includes a fuel injector located equidistant from the circumference of the cylinder bore that injects fuel in a direction perpendicular to a diameter of the cylinder bore. The system further includes spark plugs located within the pre-chambers that ignite at least a portion of the fuel from the fuel injector to direct ignition flames into the cylinder bore.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a vehicle engine having an EGR system where pairs of cylinders are directly connected to each other. For example, a first and second cylinder may be operably connected by a valve actuator where a high energy, blowdown exhaust gas from the first cylinder may flow through a first flow path directly from the first cylinder to the second cylinder. Likewise, during the firing stroke of the second cylinder, a high-energy, blowdown exhaust gas may flow from the second cylinder through a second flow path directly into the first cylinder. This arrangement may pair cylinders to take advantage of high-energy exhaust gas.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a fuel injector, a piston chamber, a piston slidably disposed in the piston chamber having a piston crown along a top surface, a head assembly having at least one pre-chamber separate from the piston chamber and in fluid communication with the piston chamber via at least one connecting orifice, and an ignition device disposed in the pre-chamber for igniting a fuel air mixture within the pre-chamber, thereby producing an ignition jet being introduced into the piston chamber via the at least one connecting orifice to ignite a fuel/air mixture in the piston chamber. The fuel/air mixture is passively introduced into the at least one pre-chamber during at least a compression stroke of the piston.

Abstract: According to the disclosed embodiments, a thermoelectric generator (TEG) insert is used for recovery of engine waste heat. The embodiments include an engine having an exhaust manifold outlet, and an exhaust pipe having an inlet and an outlet. The TEG insert, which is configured to convert heat from exhaust gas leaving the engine into electrical power, may be disposed between the exhaust manifold outlet of the engine and the inlet of the exhaust pipe. The location of the TEG insert may maximize the thermal conversion of heat to electricity. Further, the size of the TEG insert may be minimized through the use of a high-efficiency nano-material. As a result, overall fuel economy may be maximized, the size of ancillary components, e.g., alternator, coolant pump, oil pump, etc., may be reduced, and minimal engine design change may be required to accommodate the TEG insert described herein.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a combustion system for an engine is disclosed. The system includes a cylinder block that defines a cylinder bore and opposing pre-chambers located along a circumference of the cylinder bore. The system also includes a fuel injector located equidistant from the circumference of the cylinder bore that injects fuel in a direction perpendicular to a diameter of the cylinder bore. The system further includes a piston located within the cylinder bore that has a substantially conically shaped crown having fuel direction grooves that direct the fuel from the fuel injector towards the opposing pre-chambers.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a vehicle engine having an EGR system where pairs of cylinders are directly connected to each other. For example, a first and second cylinder may be operably connected by a valve actuator where a high energy, blowdown exhaust gas from the first cylinder may flow through a first flow path directly from the first cylinder to the second cylinder. Likewise, during the firing stroke of the second cylinder, a high-energy, blowdown exhaust gas may flow from the second cylinder through a second flow path directly into the first cylinder. This arrangement may pair cylinders to take advantage of high-energy exhaust gas.

Abstract: An energy storage advisement (ESA) controller assists with operation of a vehicle having a turbine for generating electricity from engine exhaust, a storage device for storing the electricity, and a compressor driven by the storage device for turbo charging the engine. The ESA controller includes a memory configured to store program instructions and a processor configured to execute the program instructions. The program instructions, when executed, are configured to: receive first data related to a pathway upon which the vehicle is travelling and second data related to vehicle dynamics; calculate a first and second control signals based on the first and second data, wherein the first control signal is for modifying operation of the turbine and the second control signal is for modifying operation of the compressor; and provide the control signals to a power distribution module for controlling the turbine and compressor for efficient operation of the engine.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes a thermoelectric generator (TEG) layer that comprises a thermoelectric nanostructure. The system also includes a thermal conductance layer coupling the TEG layer to a catalytic converter and provides heat from an exhaust gas passing through the catalytic converter to the TEG layer. The system additionally includes a cooling layer coupled to the TEG layer opposite the thermal conductance later that provides cooling to the TEG layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes a clamp that defines a substantially cylindrical aperture. One or more thermoelectric generator (TEG) layers are coupled to the clamp and receive heat from the clamp. The TEG layers may be formed using thermoelectric nanostructures. One or more heat sinks are also coupled to the one or more TEG layers that provide cooling to the TEG layers.