Abstract: A system for reforming a fuel may include a first sensor configured to measure an operating parameter of an engine. The operating parameter may correlate to a NOx emission level of the engine. The system may also include a controller in communication with the sensor and a reformer. The controller may be configured to determine a target NOx emission level for the engine. The controller may be also configured to determine a target value of the operating parameter corresponding to the target NOx emission level. The controller may be further configured to control the reformer to reform at least a portion of the fuel based on a difference between the measured value and the target value of the operating parameter.

Abstract: A system for reforming a fuel may include a first sensor configured to measure an operating parameter of an engine. The operating parameter may correlate to a NOx emission level of the engine. The system may also include a controller in communication with the sensor and a reformer. The controller may be configured to determine a target NOx emission level for the engine. The controller may be also configured to determine a target value of the operating parameter corresponding to the target NOx emission level. The controller may be further configured to control the reformer to reform at least a portion of the fuel based on a difference between the measured value and the target value of the operating parameter.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for an engine is described. The fuel injection system includes a prechamber assembly mounted on a cylinder head of the engine. The prechamber assembly includes a prechamber located upstream of a combustion chamber of the engine and configured to receive air-fuel mixture. Further, the prechamber assembly includes a fuel injector to controllably supply fuel into the prechamber, where the supplied fuel mixes with the air-fuel mixture to form a homogeneous mixture of air and fuel at a predefined stoichiometric ratio. The prechamber assembly also includes a spark plug disposed at a downstream region of the prechamber, the downstream region being proximal to the combustion chamber of the engine. The fuel injection system also includes a controller operably coupled to the fuel injector, where the controller is configured to control the predefined stoichiometric ratio of air to fuel in in the prechamber.

Abstract: A prechamber assembly for an engine is disclosed. The prechamber assembly includes an air-fuel chamber and a prechamber in fluid communication with the air-fuel chamber via a conduit. The conduit includes a first end disposed in the air-fuel chamber and a second end disposed in the prechamber to allow premixed air-fuel mixture to flow from the air-fuel chamber to the prechamber. The prechamber is to receive a lean air-fuel mixture during a compression stroke of the engine. Further, the prechamber assembly also includes a valve disposed at the first end of the conduit, the valve configured to allow the premixed air-fuel mixture to flow from the air-fuel chamber to the prechamber. The premixed air-fuel mixture entering the prechamber mixes with the lean air-fuel mixture to form a stoichiometric ratio of a rich air-fuel mixture.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for an engine is disclosed. The fuel supply system includes a prechamber assembly in fluid communication with a fuel supply line having a first end and a second end. The prechamber assembly is enclosed within a cylinder head of the engine. The prechamber assembly further includes a pre-combustion chamber located upstream of a main combustion chamber. The pre-combustion chamber is adapted to supply fuel into the main combustion chamber. The prechamber assembly further includes a check valve that is located upstream of the pre-combustion chamber. The fuel supply system further includes a fuel injector that is adapted to fluidly communicate with the check valve of the prechamber assembly. The fuel injector is located upstream of the check valve and in fluid communication with the fuel supply line. The fuel supply system further includes a controller in electric communication with the fuel injector.

Abstract: A prechamber assembly for an engine is provided. The prechamber assembly includes a prechamber located upstream of a main combustion chamber and adapted to receive fuel from a fuel supply system of the engine. The prechamber includes a first portion, a taper portion, and a second portion. The prechamber assembly further includes a fuel injection member located downstream of the taper portion of the prechamber and fluidly connected to the second portion of the prechamber. The fuel injection member is inclined at an angle with respect to a central axis of the prechamber. The fuel injection member is in electric communication with a controller. The controller is configured to actuate the fuel injection member to supply the fuel into the second portion of the prechamber to provide rich mixing of the fuel with an air-fuel mixture received from the main combustion chamber during operation of the engine.

Abstract: A natural gas compression system is provided. The system may include a natural gas compressor configured to compress, and thereby pump, natural gas through a pipeline. The system may also include a natural gas burning engine, operatively coupled to the gas compressor, the engine being supplied with air by an induction system. The induction system may include a supercharger driven by the engine and configured to compress intake air and a turbocharger downstream from the supercharger and driven by exhaust gases produced by the engine. The induction system may also include a supercharger compressor bypass configured to selectively recirculate a portion of the compressed output of the supercharger upstream of the supercharger.

Abstract: A natural gas compression system is provided. The system may include a natural gas compressor configured to compress, and thereby pump, natural gas through a pipeline. The system may also include a natural gas burning engine, operatively coupled to the gas compressor, the engine being supplied with air by an induction system. The induction system may include a supercharger driven by the engine and configured to compress intake air and a turbocharger downstream from the supercharger and driven by exhaust gases produced by the engine. The induction system may also include a supercharger compressor bypass configured to selectively recirculate a portion of the compressed output of the supercharger upstream of the supercharger.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has at least one combustion chamber and a piston slidably disposed within the at least one combustion chamber. The piston is configured to reciprocate between a top-dead-center position and a bottom-dead-center position. The internal combustion engine also has an air supply in selective fluid communication with the at least one combustion chamber and a fuel supply in selective fluid communication with the at least one combustion chamber. The internal combustion engine further has a supply of non-combustible gas and at least one injector in fluid communication with the at least one combustion chamber and the supply of non-combustible gas. The at least one injector is configured to inject non-combustible gas from the supply into the at least one combustion chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a hydrogen enriched fuel to a combustion prechamber. The method and apparatus includes reforming a quantity of fuel to produce a hydrogen enriched fuel, delivering the reformed fuel to the combustion prechamber, and combining the hydrogen enriched fuel with a fuel/air mixture to less than stoichiometric.

Abstract: A system and method for injecting fuel is provided. The pressure of a flow of fuel is increased to a predetermined pressure. The temperature of the flow of fuel is increased to a predetermined temperature. A flow of intake air is directed into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The flow of intake air has a pressure lower than the pressure of the flow of fuel. An amount of the pressurized and heated fuel is injected into the flow of intake air to thereby decrease the pressure of the amount of fuel. The decrease in the pressure of the amount of fuel causes the amount of fuel to vaporize.

Abstract: A rapid compression device for use in initiating combustion within an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The rapid compression device employs a prechamber adapted to be in fluid communication with a main combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. A piston is provided within a cylinder of the prechamber and compresses natural gas therein to a degree sufficient to auto-ignite the gas when mixed with air. The auto-ignition of the gas and air mixture results in combustion gases which are communicated to the main combustion chamber for ignition of the air and gas mixture provided therein as well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for injecting pilot fuel in a combustion engine. The method and apparatus includes determining a load of the engine, determining a desired injection timing of the pilot fuel and a desired quantity of pilot fuel to be injected as a function of a desired homogeneous distribution of the pilot fuel based on the engine load, and adjusting the injection timing and quantity of the pilot fuel to the desired values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for injecting pilot fuel in a combustion engine. The method and apparatus includes determining a load of the engine, determining a desired injection timing of the pilot fuel and a desired quantity of pilot fuel to be injected as a function of a desired homogeneous distribution of the pilot fuel based on the engine load, and adjusting the injection timing and quantity of the pilot fuel to the desired values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a hydrogen enriched fuel to a combustion prechamber. The method and apparatus includes reforming a quantity of fuel to produce a hydrogen enriched fuel, delivering the reformed fuel to the combustion prechamber, and combining the hydrogen enriched fuel with a fuel/air mixture to less than stoichiometric.

Abstract: A rapid compression device for use in initiating combustion within an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The rapid compression device employs a prechamber adapted to be in fluid communication with a main combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. A piston is provided within a cylinder of the prechamber and compresses natural gas therein to a degree sufficient to auto-ignite the gas when mixed with air. The auto-ignition of the gas and air mixture results in combustion gases which are communicated to the main combustion chamber for ignition of the air and gas mixture provided therein as well.

Abstract: A method of controlling detonation in an internal combustion engine is provided with the steps of: combusting a fuel and air mixture within a combustion cylinder; sensing a plurality of pressures at discrete points in time within the combustion cylinder; determining a pressure profile of the plurality of pressures; detecting detonation within the combustion cylinder; and acting upon the detonation, dependent upon where said detonation occurs on the pressure profile.

Abstract: A method of controlling detonation in an internal combustion engine is provided with the steps of: combusting a fuel and air mixture within a combustion cylinder; sensing a plurality of pressures at discrete points in time within the combustion cylinder; determining a pressure profile of the plurality of pressures; detecting detonation within the combustion cylinder; and acting upon the detonation, dependent upon where said detonation occurs on the pressure profile.

Abstract: A Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engine and operating method having ignition timing controlled on a cycle to cycle basis by adding to a primary fuel, which is typically greater than 95% and is a gas such as natural gas with a relatively slow burn rate, varying amounts of high cetane number fuel, typically diesel fuel, before or early in the compression stroke. The amount of high cetane fuel that is injected depends on engine speed and load, and is selected to insure that combustion is phased properly with crankshaft position. The ignition delay is thus controlled substantially independently of the burn duration, which is controlled by varying the amount of Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) in conjunction with the air to fuel ratio so as to maintain a near constant crank angle burn duration over a wide range of engine speeds.

Abstract: A method of controlling generation of nitrogen oxides in an internal combustion engine is provided with the steps of: combusting a fuel and air mixture within a combustion cylinder; determining a pressure in the combustion cylinder and a position of a piston within the combustion cylinder; calculating an amount of nitrogen oxides generated with the combusting step, dependent upon the determining step; storing a history of the calculated amount of nitrogen oxides in a memory device; and controlling an output action, dependent upon the calculated amount of nitrogen oxides, the stored history of nitrogen oxides and a threshold value of the nitrogen oxides.