Abstract: Operating an internal combustion engine system includes feeding a stream of pressurized intake air to a plurality of cylinders in an engine for combustion with a methanol fuel. An engine parameter indicative of at least one of an exhaust NOx level or a change to the exhaust NOx level of the engine is monitored, and water injected into an intake conduit for the engine based on the monitored engine parameter to limit the exhaust NOx level of the engine. Related apparatus and control logic is disclosed.

Abstract: An engine component comprises one or more thermal barrier coatings applied to one or more areas of the engine component. The thermal barrier coatings reduce the temperature rate of change of the areas to which the thermal barrier coating is applied. Reducing the temperature rate of change can help reduce lattice structure damage caused by different temperatures in different areas of the engine component. The thermal barrier coating can be applied as a monolithic layer on a surface of the engine component or can be applied in different areas using patterns. The patterns allow for the tuning of the performance characteristics (temperature rate of change) of the areas of the engine component and can help reduce defect propagation, such as cracks, in the thermal barrier coating from one area of the thermal barrier coating to other areas of the thermal barrier coating.

Abstract: An engine component comprises one or more thermal barrier coatings applied to one or more areas of the engine component. The thermal barrier coatings reduce the temperature rate of change of the areas to which the thermal barrier coating is applied. Reducing the temperature rate of change can help reduce lattice structure damage caused by different temperatures in different areas of the engine component. The thermal barrier coating can be applied as a monolithic layer on a surface of the engine component or can be applied in different areas using patterns. The patterns allow for the tuning of the performance characteristics (temperature rate of change) of the areas of the engine component and can help reduce defect propagation, such as cracks, in the thermal barrier coating from one area of the thermal barrier coating to other areas of the thermal barrier coating.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a nozzle body having spray orifices formed therein each defining a spray orifice diameter dimension (d), and a plurality of spray ducts each in spray path alignment with one of the plurality of spray orifices and including a duct outlet defining a duct exit diameter dimension (D). Each of the spray ducts defines, together with the respective one of the spray orifices, a relative spray area reduction (SAR) at the duct outlet. The ratio of D/d is at least 14, and the SAR is 80% or greater. The configuration provides reduced soot production. Related methodology is disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a nozzle needle movable within an injector housing and including a flow guiding tip. The flow guiding tip includes an outer ramp surface, defining, in profile, a concave curve and a fuel trajectory line tangent to the concave curve and extending through a spray orifice inlet to direct fuel into the same. Related methodology is also disclosed.

Abstract: Operating an internal combustion engine system includes feeding a stream of pressurized intake air to a plurality of cylinders in an engine for combustion with a methanol fuel. An engine parameter indicative of at least one of an exhaust NOx level or a change to the exhaust NOx level of the engine is monitored, and water injected into an intake conduit for the engine based on the monitored engine parameter to limit the exhaust NOx level of the engine. Related apparatus and control logic is disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a nozzle body having spray orifices formed therein each defining a spray orifice diameter dimension (d), and a plurality of spray ducts each in spray path alignment with one of the plurality of spray orifices and including a duct outlet defining a duct exit diameter dimension (D). Each of the spray ducts defines, together with the respective one of the spray orifices, a relative spray area reduction (SAR) at the duct outlet. The ratio of D/d is at least 14, and the SAR is 80% or greater. The configuration provides reduced soot production. Related methodology is disclosed.

Abstract: A system may include a first methanol tank and a second methanol tank connected to the first tank. The system may include a first valve fluidly connected to the first methanol tank and the second methanol tank. The system may include a heat exchanger connected to the second methanol tank and a turbine of a turbocharger. The system may include a second valve fluidly connected to an intake system of an engine.

Abstract: A system may include a first methanol tank and a second methanol tank connected to the first tank. The system may include a first valve fluidly connected to the first methanol tank and the second methanol tank. The system may include a heat exchanger connected to the second methanol tank and a turbine of a turbocharger. The system may include a second valve fluidly connected to an intake system of an engine.

Abstract: Making a piston includes receiving a piston crown including a combustion face forming a combustion bowl. The piston includes a base material, and a thermal barrier coating (TBC) material forming at least a portion of the combustion face including a bowl edge. Making a piston further includes advancing a polishing tool into contact with the combustion face, spinning the polishing tool such that a positive piston profile is polished via contact with a negative tool profile, and removing some of the TBC material based on the spinning the polishing tool relative to the piston.

Abstract: An exhaust heater system includes an exhaust heater and an air supply tube disposed within the exhaust heater. Relatively hot exhaust gas from an engine is directed into the exhaust heater, whereby heat from the exhaust heats the interior of the air supply tube. The heat partially vaporizes liquid methanol injected into the air supply tube. To control the amount of heating, the exhaust can be directed to the air supply tube as well as an exhaust bypass, whereby exhaust directed to the exhaust bypass does not heat the interior of the air supply tube.

Abstract: A dual fuel system includes a liquid pilot fuel supply, a liquid main fuel supply, and a fuel injection apparatus. The dual fuel system further includes a fueling control unit coupled with a cylinder pressure sensor and a NOx sensor, and structured to vary, via outputting a fueling control command to a main fuel injection control valve, fuel delivery parameters each on the basis of at least one of a cylinder pressure parameter or a NOx parameter. The fueling control unit compensates via the varying fuel delivery parameters for a change to a liquid main fuel composition such as a change from a first alcohol fuel or blend to a second alcohol fuel or blend.

Abstract: A method of operating a dual fuel engine includes conveying intake air, and a first fuel as a vapor and as a liquid, into a combustion cylinder in an engine, and directly injecting a second fuel into the combustion cylinder to form a first combustion charge of the first fuel as a vapor and as a liquid, the second fuel, and intake air. The second fuel is ignited to initiate combustion of the first combustion charge. Operating the dual fuel engine further includes varying at least one of, a vapor proportion of the first fuel or a total proportion of the first fuel, in a subsequent combustion charge to mitigate undesired combustion. The first fuel can include a liquid alcohol fuel. The second fuel can include a liquid compression-ignition fuel. Related apparatus and control logic is also disclosed.

Abstract: A controller may obtain data indicative of heat release in a cylinder of an engine. The controller may determine that the data indicative of the heat release in the cylinder is indicative of clogging of one or more ducts of a duct structure of the engine. The controller may perform an operation to reduce the clogging of the one or more ducts based on the data indicative of the heat release in the cylinder being indicative of the clogging of the one or more ducts. The operation may include at least one of causing a pressure of fuel that is supplied to a fuel injector to increase or causing a peak temperature in the cylinder to increase.

Abstract: Operating an engine includes injecting a liquid alcohol fuel such as methanol into a stream of compressed intake air at an upstream injection location, and injecting the liquid fuel at a plurality of downstream injection locations into a plurality of streams of the compressed intake air from an intake manifold to combustion cylinders in the engine. A fueling control unit apportions a total injected quantity of the liquid fuel between the upstream injection location and the plurality of downstream injection locations based on a temperature parameter of the compressed intake air. The compressed intake air is combusted with the liquid fuel and a compression ignition pilot fuel in the plurality of combustion cylinders.

Abstract: A device that includes a conduit, a first window, a second window, a first catalyzed layer, a second catalyzed layer, an optical source, and an optical detector is disclosed. The conduit may be configured to receive an exhaust gas. The first catalyzed layer may be disposed on the first window and the second catalyzed layer may be disposed on the second window. The first catalyzed layer and the second catalyzed layer may be configured to cause a reaction with soot in the exhaust gas at an activation temperature to reduce accumulation of the soot on the first window and the second window. The optical source may be configured to emit a beam of light into the conduit through the first window. The optical detector may be configured to receive at least a portion of the beam of light through the second window.

Abstract: A combustion system for an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder wall; a cylinder head disposed at an end of the cylinder wall, an internal surface of the cylinder wall and the cylinder head defining a combustion chamber; a fuel injector having a discharge nozzle disposed within the combustion chamber and configured to discharge a fuel jet along a fuel jet axis; and a bluff body disposed within the combustion chamber, the fuel jet axis intersecting an exterior surface of the bluff body. The exterior surface defines a first aperture and a second aperture therethrough, and an interior surface of the bluff body defines a first flow passage extending from the first aperture to the second aperture. The first aperture faces away from the fuel jet axis and the second aperture faces away from the fuel injector along the fuel jet axis.

Abstract: An engine includes a cylinder liner and a piston movable within the cylinder liner, a crevice formed between a top land of the piston and the cylinder liner, and an oil entry clearance formed between a top ring of the piston and the cylinder liner. The engine also includes an abnormal combustion inhibitor having an oil recapture surface exposed to the crevice and oriented to limit migration of oil from the crevice toward a combustion chamber in the engine. The abnormal combustion inhibitor includes a groove structure having as a substrate at least one of the cylinder liner or the piston. Related methodology is also disclosed.

Abstract: An engine includes a cylinder liner and a piston movable within the cylinder liner, a crevice formed between a top land of the piston and the cylinder liner, and an oil entry clearance formed between a top ring of the piston and the cylinder liner. The engine also includes an abnormal combustion inhibitor having an oil recapture surface exposed to the crevice and oriented to limit migration of oil from the crevice toward a combustion chamber in the engine. The abnormal combustion inhibitor includes a groove structure having as a substrate at least one of the cylinder liner or the piston. Related methodology is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device that includes a window, a catalyzed layer, and a laser source is disclosed. The window may include a first surface and a second surface. The catalyzed layer may be disposed on the first surface of the window. The catalyzed layer may include a compound having a threshold transmittance, and be configured to cause a reaction with soot in one or more of a combustion chamber or a pre-combustion chamber of a combustion engine at an activation temperature to reduce accumulation of soot on the window. The laser source may be disposed relative to the second surface of the window, and configured to emit a laser beam through the window and the catalyzed layer. The laser beam may be configured to cause ignition of an intake charge of one or more of the combustion chamber or the pre-combustion chamber.