Abstract: Systems and methods regarding a ducted fuel injection (DFI) combustion system for an internal combustion engine can control an injection timing of a fuel injector to output fuel injections through at least one duct and into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. The injection timing can include one or more pilot injections according to a predetermined range before top dead center (BTDC) for a combustion cycle; and a main injection into the combustion chamber for the combustion cycle after all of the one or more pilot injections. A first amount of the fuel injected for the main injection can be greater than a second amount of fuel injected for the one or more pilot injections. The predetermined range before top dead center (BTDC) of the one or more pilot injections can be from 85 to 40 degrees BTDC.

Abstract: Systems and methods regarding a ducted fuel injection (DFI) combustion system for an internal combustion engine can control an injection timing of a fuel injector to output fuel injections through at least one duct and into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. The injection timing can include one or more pilot injections according to a predetermined range before top dead center (BTDC) for a combustion cycle; and a main injection into the combustion chamber for the combustion cycle after all of the one or more pilot injections. A first amount of the fuel injected for the main injection can be greater than a second amount of fuel injected for the one or more pilot injections. The predetermined range before top dead center (BTDC) of the one or more pilot injections can be from 85 to 40 degrees BTDC.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes operating at least one cylinder pre-chamber in a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion mode by providing an air/fuel mixture in the pre-chamber that is fluidly connected to the at least one engine cylinder, creating H and OH radicals in the pre-chamber to achieve an ignition in the at least one pre-chamber, determining whether an ignition timing is advanced or delayed relative to a desired timing, and delaying the ignition when the ignition is advanced relative to the desired timing by cooling the pre-chamber and the at least one engine cylinder.

Abstract: A sparkplug assembly having a prechamber volume is operatively associated with the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine such that the prechamber volume is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. To purge exhaust gasses from the prechamber volume prior to ignition, the sparkplug assembly is operatively associated with a high-pressure air/fuel source that directs a pressurized air/fuel purge charge to the prechamber volume. The pressurized air/fuel purge charge may be at stoichiometric conditions. The high-pressure air/fuel source is configured to direct the pressurized air/fuel purge charge during at least a portion of the compression stroke to maintain a largely stoichiometric mixture of air and fuel in the prechamber volume.

Abstract: A sparkplug assembly having a prechamber volume is operatively associated with the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine such that the prechamber volume is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. To purge exhaust gasses from the prechamber volume prior to ignition, the sparkplug assembly is operatively associated with a high-pressure air/fuel source that directs a pressurized air/fuel purge charge to the prechamber volume. The pressurized air/fuel purge charge may be at stoichiometric conditions. The high-pressure air/fuel source is configured to direct the pressurized air/fuel purge charge during at least a portion of the compression stroke to maintain a largely stoichiometric mixture of air and fuel in the prechamber volume.

Abstract: An engine includes a main combustion chamber; an intake duct configured to provide a lean fuel-oxidizer mixture to the main combustion chamber; a pre-chamber in fluid communication with the main combustion chamber, the pre-chamber including an ignition energy source operatively coupled to the pre-chamber, and a heating element in thermal communication with the pre-chamber; and a controller operatively coupled to the ignition energy source and the heating element. The controller is configured to initiate combustion of the lean fuel-oxidizer mixture in the main combustion chamber by activating the ignition energy source, and heat fuel and oxidizer in the pre-chamber via the heating element to a temperature sufficient to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the pre-chamber.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes operating at least one cylinder pre-chamber in a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion mode by providing an air/fuel mixture in the pre-chamber that is fluidly connected to the at least one engine cylinder, creating H and OH radicals in the pre-chamber to achieve an ignition in the at least one pre-chamber, determining whether an ignition timing is advanced or delayed relative to a desired timing, and delaying the ignition when the ignition is advanced relative to the desired timing by cooling the pre-chamber and the at least one engine cylinder.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a pre-chamber assembly including a wall having an internal surface opposite an external surface, the internal surface of the wall defining a combustion pre-chamber and at least one orifice extending to an aperture through the external surface of the wall; a block having an internal surface defining a bore therein; a piston disposed within the bore and configured for reciprocal translation within the bore, the piston, the bore, and the external surface of the wall at least partly defining a main combustion chamber, and the combustion pre-chamber being in fluid communication with the main combustion chamber via the at least one orifice; an energy source operatively coupled to the combustion pre-chamber; and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve fluidly coupled to the combustion pre-chamber and an exhaust conduit of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A nozzle for a prechamber assembly of an engine includes a hollow nozzle body having an outer surface, defining first and second outer openings, and an inner surface, defining an interior chamber and first and second inner openings. The nozzle body defines first and second orifices in communication with the interior chamber. The first orifice extends in a first orifice configuration between the first outer opening and inner opening and defines a first entry path projection extending from the first inner opening into the interior chamber. The second orifice extends in a second orifice configuration between the second outer opening and inner opening and defines a second entry path projection extending from the second inner opening into the interior chamber. The first and second entry path projections intersect at an impingement region in the interior chamber, which is radially offset from a central longitudinal axis of the nozzle.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a pre-chamber assembly including a wall having an internal surface opposite an external surface, the internal surface of the wall defining a combustion pre-chamber and at least one orifice extending to an aperture through the external surface of the wall; a block having an internal surface defining a bore therein; a piston disposed within the bore and configured for reciprocal translation within the bore, the piston, the bore, and the external surface of the wall at least partly defining a main combustion chamber, and the combustion pre-chamber being in fluid communication with the main combustion chamber via the at least one orifice; an energy source operatively coupled to the combustion pre-chamber; and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve fluidly coupled to the combustion pre-chamber and an exhaust conduit of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a pre-chamber assembly including a wall having an internal surface opposite an external surface, the internal surface of the wall defining a combustion pre-chamber and at least one orifice extending to an aperture through the external surface of the wall; a block having an internal surface defining a bore therein; a piston disposed within the bore and configured for reciprocal translation within the bore, the piston, the bore, and the external surface of the wall at least partly defining a main combustion chamber, and the combustion pre-chamber being in fluid communication with the main combustion chamber via the at least one orifice; an energy source operatively coupled to the combustion pre-chamber; and a controller operatively coupled to the energy source.

Abstract: A lean-burn engine may comprise a combustion chamber, an intake manifold configured to provide a lean fuel/air mixture to the combustion chamber, and a pre-chamber in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. The pre-chamber may include a spark igniter configured to initiate combustion of the lean fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber, and a heating element contained in the pre-chamber. The heating element may be configured to heat the pre-chamber to a temperature sufficient to allow the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from fuel and air in the pre-chamber.

Abstract: A nozzle for a prechamber assembly of an engine includes a hollow nozzle body having an outer surface, defining first and second outer openings, and an inner surface, defining an interior chamber and first and second inner openings. The nozzle body defines first and second orifices in communication with the interior chamber. The first orifice extends in a first orifice configuration between the first outer opening and inner opening and defines a first entry path projection extending from the first inner opening into the interior chamber. The second orifice extends in a second orifice configuration between the second outer opening and inner opening and defines a second entry path projection extending from the second inner opening into the interior chamber. The first and second entry path projections intersect at an impingement region in the interior chamber, which is radially offset from a central longitudinal axis of the nozzle.

Abstract: An engine includes a main combustion chamber; an intake duct configured to provide a lean fuel-oxidizer mixture to the main combustion chamber; a pre-chamber in fluid communication with the main combustion chamber, the pre-chamber including an ignition energy source operatively coupled to the pre-chamber, and a heating element in thermal communication with the pre-chamber; and a controller operatively coupled to the ignition energy source and the heating element. The controller is configured to initiate combustion of the lean fuel-oxidizer mixture in the main combustion chamber by activating the ignition energy source, and heat fuel and oxidizer in the pre-chamber via the heating element to a temperature sufficient to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the pre-chamber.

Abstract: A lean-burn engine may comprise a combustion chamber, an intake manifold configured to provide a lean fuel/air mixture to the combustion chamber, and a pre-chamber in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. The pre-chamber may include a spark igniter configured to initiate combustion of the lean fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber, and a heating element contained in the pre-chamber. The heating element may be configured to heat the pre-chamber to a temperature sufficient to allow the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from fuel and air in the pre-chamber.

Abstract: An Instant Messaging security system that encrypts Instant Messages sent by a Instant Messaging user to an Instant Messaging server by intercepting the messages, negotiating a preferred security algorithm and forwarding the encrypted messages to the server. The security system intercepts and decrypts encrypted messages sent by the server to the user. The security system is able to determine whether a receiving user is equipped with a similar security system without prior knowledge of network addresses, configuration or capability. The security system is transparent to the Instant Message service provider and may provide one or more indicators to users that messages are encrypted during forwarding.

Abstract: An Instant Messaging security system that encrypts Instant Messages sent by a Instant Messaging user to an Instant Messaging server by intercepting the messages, negotiating a preferred security algorithm and forwarding the encrypted messages to the server. The security system intercepts and decrypts encrypted messages sent by the server to the user. The security system is able to determine whether a receiving user is equipped with a similar security system without prior knowledge of network addresses, configuration or capability. The security system is transparent to the Instant Message service provider and may provide one or more indicators to users that messages are encrypted during forwarding.

Abstract: A turbo-charged internal combustion cylinder assembly includes a combustion chamber which may be communicably connected to a compressor via an intake port through an intake manifold and aftercooler so the compressor may provide pre-combustion gases to the combustion chamber when the intake valve is open. An exhaust port communicably connects the combustion chamber to an exhaust manifold. An exhaust valve may open to exhaust post-combustion gases to the exhaust manifold while an intake valve is substantially closed, and the exhaust valve may open to admit post-combustion gases to the combustion chamber while the intake valve is substantially open and an exhaust port pressure in the exhaust port is higher than a combustion chamber pressure in the combustion chamber. A fuel injector may admit fuel to the combustion chamber.