Abstract: A method of controlling the amount of fuel delivered to an engine having at least one dedicated EGR cylinder. The method is typically performed on an engine cycle-by-cycle basis. A fueling control unit receives, from the engine's main control unit, fueling requirement data representing a current fueling requirement suitable for the main cylinders. The fueling control unit then calculates a current amount of fuel to be delivered to the dedicated EGR cylinder as a function of the number of dedicated EGR cylinders, the number of main cylinders, the current equivalence ratio for the dedicated EGR cylinder, and the fueling requirement data. With the amounts of fuel for both the dedicated EGR cylinder and the main cylinders now having been determined, the fueling control unit generates appropriate control signals to the cylinder fuel delivery mechanisms.

Abstract: A method of using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in an internal combustion engine. At least two of the cylinders are “dual exhaust-ported cylinders” having two exhaust ports. For each of these cylinders, one of the exhaust ports is connected to the EGR loop and the other of the exhaust ports is connected to the main exhaust line. These cylinders are controlled such that one exhaust port is open and the other exhaust port is closed during each engine cycle, and are operated, on a cycle-by-cycle basis so that all of the exhaust produced by a cylinder may be delivered to the EGR loop at any cycle. The number of cylinders operating as EGR cylinders per engine cycle is in response to a desired EGR rate.

Abstract: A method for improving ignition of a spark ignited internal combustion engine by controlling the composition of recirculated exhaust gas. It is assumed that the engine has a spark ignition system and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) loop such that at least one of the combustion cylinders is an EGR cylinder that generates an EGR stream carried by the EGR loop. Thus, the combustion charge is a mixture of air, fuel and recirculated exhaust. A first step is receiving combustibility data representing the current ignitability of the charge. It is then determined whether the energy of the ignition system is sufficient to ignite the charge. If not, the amount of hydrogen in the EGR stream is increased, which increases the ignitability of the charge.

Abstract: A microcontroller having data acquisition and actuation capabilities is provided for appliance power consumption, water flow, lumens and other measurable aspects of appliance operation. Operation of the appliance is monitored to mitigate abnormal operation.

Abstract: An igniter system for measuring gas velocity and/or gas composition within the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The igniter has an insulator body and conductive shell around the top portion of the insulator body, configured so that the igniter can be installed in place of a conventional spark plug. The igniter has two pairs of electrodes, each pair of electrodes providing a spark gap and operable to generate a spark within the combustion chamber. An activation and measurement unit is operable to generate a sustained arc in each spark gap, and to measure the voltage, current and capacitance in a measurement circuit associated with each spark gap. From various electrical measurements, the velocity and composition of the gas in the combustion chamber can be determined.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for an internal combustion engine having dedicated EGR and operating at a net stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. In such engines, one or more cylinders is operable as a dedicated EGR cylinder, such that all of the exhaust produced by the dedicated EGR cylinder(s) may be directed back to the intake manifold. Because the engine's exhaust is net stoichiometric, its exhaust aftertreatment system has a three-way catalyst. An EGR loop is configured to recirculate EGR from the dedicated EGR cylinder(s) to the engine's intake manifold. A diversion line, modulated with a valve, connects the EGR loop to the exhaust aftertreatment system, thereby allowing adjustment of the relative amounts of EGR to be recirculated and to be provided to the exhaust system.

Abstract: Various methods and systems may be used to provide recirculated engine exhaust to an engine of a hybrid powertrain. It is assumed that the engine is equipped with a dedicated EGR loop. At least one cylinder is operated as a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cylinder, such that all exhaust of that cylinder is recirculated to the fresh air intake of the engine via the EGR loop. One or more cylinders are operated as main cylinders, such that exhaust from those cylinders exits the engine to the atmosphere. The engine itself is operable for at least part of its operation in a decoupled mode in which the dedicated EGR cylinder is mechanically decoupled from the engine crankshaft. During this decoupled mode, the dedicated EGR cylinder powers a generator. The main cylinders are operable exclusively to provide power to the crankshaft.

Abstract: Various methods and systems may be used to provide recirculated engine exhaust to an engine of a hybrid powertrain. It is assumed that the engine is equipped with a dedicated EGR loop. At least one cylinder is operated as a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cylinder, such that all exhaust of that cylinder is recirculated to the fresh air intake of the engine via the EGR loop. One or more cylinders are operated as main cylinders, such that exhaust from those cylinders exits the engine to the atmosphere. The engine itself is operable for at least part of its operation in a decoupled mode in which the dedicated EGR cylinder is mechanically decoupled from the engine crankshaft. During this decoupled mode, the dedicated EGR cylinder powers a generator. The main cylinders are operable exclusively to provide power to the crankshaft.

Abstract: A dual EGR loop exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for an internal combustion engine. The engine has both a dedicated EGR loop and a low pressure EGR loop. This means that one or more engine cylinders is operable as a dedicated EGR cylinder, such that all of its exhaust is recirculated via the dedicated EGR loop. The other cylinders are operable as main cylinders having two intake ports, such that each main cylinder may receive a mixture of fresh air and dedicated EGR through one intake port and a mixture of fresh air and low pressure EGR through the other intake port. A control unit controls this dual loop EGR system to either provide EGR only from the dedicated EGR loop or to also provide additional EGR from the low pressure EGR loop.

Abstract: A method of controlling the amount of fuel delivered to an engine having at least one dedicated EGR cylinder. The method is typically performed on an engine cycle-by-cycle basis. A fueling control unit receives, from the engine's main control unit, fueling requirement data representing a current fueling requirement suitable for the main cylinders. The fueling control unit then calculates a current amount of fuel to be delivered to the dedicated EGR cylinder as a function of the number of dedicated EGR cylinders, the number of main cylinders, the current equivalence ratio for the dedicated EGR cylinder, and the fueling requirement data. With the amounts of fuel for both the dedicated EGR cylinder and the main cylinders now having been determined, the fueling control unit generates appropriate control signals to the cylinder fuel delivery mechanisms.

Abstract: A method of decreasing the light-off time of a catalytic exhaust aftertreatment device, using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in a turbocharged internal combustion engine. The engine has at least one “dedicated EGR cylinder”, whose entire exhaust is recirculated back to all the engine cylinders. The dedicated EGR cylinder(s) may be operated to produce a differently compositioned exhaust gas than the other cylinders. During light-off, EGR gas is optimized for heat, diverted from the EGR loop and routed to a point directly upstream the aftertreatment device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods, apparatuses and systems to manage exhaust gas expelled from cylinders of an internal combustion engine. An exemplary system may comprise at least one cylinder of the engine configured to operate as a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cylinder, and wherein substantially all exhaust gas expelled from the dedicated EGR cylinder is recirculated to an intake system of the engine. In one embodiment, the system may include a flow restrictor configured and arranged to restrict a flow of the recirculated exhaust gas to the dedicated EGR cylinder without restricting a flow of the recirculated exhaust gas to the remaining cylinders of the engine. In another embodiment, exhaust gas may be expelled from the dedicated EGR cylinder in pulsations, and the intake system may be configured to reduce an amplitude of the pulsations of the exhaust gas expelled from the dedicated EGR cylinder.

Abstract: A method of improving the combustion of a spark-ignition internal combustion engine. Such engines have at least one cylinder, each cylinder having a compression chamber and operated such that an air-fuel mixture introduced into the combustion chamber is ignited to cause a combustion event. An antenna is placed within the combustion chamber, and is used to apply electromagnetic energy to the combustion.

Abstract: An integrated water-gas-shift (WGS) and emissions control device (ECD) catalyst for treating exhaust from an internal combustion engine. The engine is assumed to have an EGR loop, such that exhaust is recirculated back to the engine's intake. A WGS catalyst on the EGR loop, for conditioning the EGR flow, is integrated with a catalyzed ECD on the main exhaust line, for reducing pollutant emissions.

Abstract: A method using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in an internal combustion engine. The engine has at least one “dedicated EGR cylinder”, whose entire exhaust is recirculated back to all the engine cylinders. The dedicated EGR cylinder is operated at a rich air-fuel ratio, and the other cylinders are operated stoichiometrically so that a conventional three way catalyst may be used to treat the exhaust. A fuel injector is used to inject fuel into the combustion chamber of the dedicated EGR cylinder after initiation of the main combustion event. This post injection method overcomes flammability limits of a dedicated EGR cylinder, and increases the hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) in its exhaust.

Abstract: A dual EGR loop exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for an internal combustion engine. The engine has both a dedicated EGR loop and a low pressure EGR loop. This means that one or more engine cylinders is operable as a dedicated EGR cylinder, such that all of its exhaust is recirculated via the dedicated EGR loop. The other cylinders are operable as main cylinders having two intake ports, such that each main cylinder may receive a mixture of fresh air and dedicated EGR through one intake port and a mixture of fresh air and low pressure EGR through the other intake port. A control unit controls this dual loop EGR system to either provide EGR only from the dedicated EGR loop or to also provide additional EGR from the low pressure EGR loop.

Abstract: A method for improving ignition of a spark ignited internal combustion engine by controlling the composition of recirculated exhaust gas. It is assumed that the engine has a spark ignition system and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) loop such that at least one of the combustion cylinders is an EGR cylinder that generates an EGR stream carried by the EGR loop. Thus, the combustion charge is a mixture of air, fuel and recirculated exhaust. A first step is receiving combustibility data representing the current ignitability of the charge. It is then determined whether the energy of the ignition system is sufficient to ignite the charge. If not, the amount of hydrogen in the EGR stream is increased, which increases the ignitability of the charge.

Abstract: A method of using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in an internal combustion engine. At least two of the cylinders are “dual exhaust-ported cylinders” having two exhaust ports. For each of these cylinders, one of the exhaust ports is connected to the EGR loop and the other of the exhaust ports is connected to the main exhaust line. These cylinders are controlled such that one exhaust port is open and the other exhaust port is closed during each engine cycle, and are operated, on a cycle-by-cycle basis so that all of the exhaust produced by a cylinder may be delivered to the EGR loop at any cycle. The number of cylinders operating as EGR cylinders per engine cycle is in response to a desired EGR rate.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling recirculated exhaust gas composition and quantity provided to an internal combustion engine, which has one or more separately controllable combustion cylinders, a main exhaust line and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) loop. A first exhaust valve is connected to the main exhaust line, and a second exhaust valve is connected to the EGR loop. The operation of the exhaust valves is controlled such that exhaust does not flow through both exhaust valves at the same time. Control of the exhaust valves is coordinated with the main fueling event used to control the exhaust composition exiting each valve for every cylinder on every cycle. During each engine cycle, a post-combustion fuel injection event is also used to add fuel to the exhaust in-cylinder, which flows only through the second (EGR) exhaust valve.

Abstract: A method of decreasing the light-off time of a catalytic exhaust aftertreatment device, using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in a turbocharged internal combustion engine. The engine has at least one “dedicated EGR cylinder”, whose entire exhaust is recirculated back to all the engine cylinders. The dedicated EGR cylinder(s) may be operated to produce a differently compositioned exhaust gas than the other cylinders. During light-off, EGR gas is optimized for heat, diverted from the EGR loop and routed to a point directly upstream the aftertreatment device.