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: A fuel supply system for a reciprocating-piston engine includes a storage tank; a wall of the storage tank defining a first aperture and a second aperture therethrough; a first fuel injector fluidly coupled with the first aperture of the storage tank via a pressure control module and a first fuel injector supply conduit; a pump fluidly coupled with the second aperture of the storage tank; and a second fuel injector fluidly coupled with an outlet port of the pump via a second fuel injector supply conduit. The pressure control module is configured to maintain a pressure in the first fuel injector supply conduit within a pressure range that includes a pressure value that is less than a pressure inside the storage tank. The pump is configured to maintain a pressure inside the second fuel injector supply conduit that is greater than the pressure inside the first fuel injector supply conduit.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for a reciprocating-piston engine includes a storage tank; a wall of the storage tank defining a first aperture and a second aperture therethrough; a first fuel injector fluidly coupled with the first aperture of the storage tank via a pressure control module and a first fuel injector supply conduit; a pump fluidly coupled with the second aperture of the storage tank; and a second fuel injector fluidly coupled with an outlet port of the pump via a second fuel injector supply conduit. The pressure control module is configured to maintain a pressure in the first fuel injector supply conduit within a pressure range that includes a pressure value that is less than a pressure inside the storage tank. The pump is configured to maintain a pressure inside the second fuel injector supply conduit that is greater than the pressure inside the first fuel injector supply conduit.

Abstract: A nozzle for a prechamber assembly of an engine includes a nozzle body. The nozzle body is hollow and includes an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface defines an outer opening, and the inner surface defines an interior chamber and an inner opening. The nozzle body includes an orifice surface which defines an orifice passage extending between, and in communication with, the outer and inner openings. The orifice passage is in communication with the interior chamber via the inner opening. The orifice surface is continuously curved. The inner surface of the nozzle body can include a groove surface that is contiguous with the orifice surface. The groove surface defines an orifice groove in communication with the interior chamber and with the orifice passage.

Abstract: A component of a fuel combustion system of an engine includes a body with a knurled conduction surface. The body is hollow and defines a central longitudinal axis. The body includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and an orifice surface. The outer surface defines an outer opening. The inner surface defines an interior chamber and an inner opening. The orifice surface defines an orifice passage extending between, and in communication with, the outer opening and the inner opening. The orifice passage is in communication with the interior chamber via the inner opening. The outer surface includes the knurled conduction surface. The knurled conduction surface has a boundary surface and a plurality of protrusions that project outwardly from the boundary surface. At least a portion of the knurled conduction surface is axially aligned with the interior chamber along the central longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A nozzle for a prechamber assembly of an engine includes a nozzle body which is hollow and includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and an orifice surface. The outer surface defines an outer orifice opening, and the inner surface defines an interior chamber and an inner orifice opening. The orifice surface defines an orifice passage extending between, and in communication with, the outer orifice opening and the inner orifice opening. The orifice passage is in communication with the interior chamber via the inner orifice opening. The nozzle body includes a coolant surface which defines a coolant passage within the nozzle body. The coolant surface includes an orifice interface portion disposed adjacent the orifice surface such that the orifice surface and the orifice interface portion of the coolant surface are in heat-transferring relationship with each other.

Abstract: A nozzle for a prechamber assembly of an engine includes a hollow nozzle body which includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and an orifice surface. The outer surface defines an outer orifice opening and a coolant passage inlet opening. The inner surface defines an interior chamber and an inner orifice opening. The orifice surface defines an orifice passage extending between, and in communication with, the outer orifice opening and the inner orifice opening. The orifice passage is in communication with the interior chamber via the inner orifice opening. The orifice surface defines a coolant passage outlet opening which is in communication with the orifice passage. The nozzle body includes a coolant surface which defines a coolant passage within the nozzle body. The coolant passage extends between the coolant passage inlet opening and the coolant passage outlet opening and is in communication with the orifice passage.

Abstract: A nozzle for a prechamber assembly of an engine includes a nozzle body which is hollow and includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and an orifice surface. The outer surface defines an outer orifice opening, and the inner surface defines an interior chamber and an inner orifice opening. The orifice surface defines an orifice passage extending between, and in communication with, the outer orifice opening and the inner orifice opening. The orifice passage is in communication with the interior chamber via the inner orifice opening. The nozzle body includes a coolant surface which defines a coolant passage within the nozzle body. The coolant surface includes an orifice interface portion disposed adjacent the orifice surface such that the orifice surface and the orifice interface portion of the coolant surface are in heat-transferring relationship with each other.

Abstract: A nozzle for a prechamber assembly of an engine includes a nozzle body. The nozzle body is hollow and includes an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface defines an outer opening, and the inner surface defines an interior chamber and an inner opening. The nozzle body includes an orifice surface which defines an orifice passage extending between, and in communication with, the outer and inner openings. The orifice passage is in communication with the interior chamber via the inner opening. The orifice surface is continuously curved. The inner surface of the nozzle body can include a groove surface that is contiguous with the orifice surface. The groove surface defines an orifice groove in communication with the interior chamber and with the orifice passage.

Abstract: A component of a fuel combustion system of an engine includes a body with a knurled conduction surface. The body is hollow and defines a central longitudinal axis. The body includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and an orifice surface. The outer surface defines an outer opening. The inner surface defines an interior chamber and an inner opening. The orifice surface defines an orifice passage extending between, and in communication with, the outer opening and the inner opening. The orifice passage is in communication with the interior chamber via the inner opening. The outer surface includes the knurled conduction surface. The knurled conduction surface has a boundary surface and a plurality of protrusions that project outwardly from the boundary surface. At least a portion of the knurled conduction surface is axially aligned with the interior chamber along the central longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine include controlling a temperature of recirculated exhaust gas to achieve a predetermined recirculated exhaust gas temperature. A mixture of air and temperature-controlled recirculated exhaust gas are admitted in a combustion chamber and a gaseous fuel injector delivers gaseous fuel during an intake stroke. A diesel fuel injector is activated for a first time to deliver a pre-pilot diesel quantity directly into the combustion chamber at an early stage of a compression stroke, and is activated again for a second time to deliver a pilot diesel quantity directly into the combustion chamber at a later stage of the compression stroke. A total air/fuel ratio within the combustion chamber upon completion of the second diesel fuel injector activation is lean. The air/fuel mixture is combusted during a combustion stroke, and combustion products are removed during an exhaust stroke.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine uses fuels having different reactivities obtained from the same fuel source. A first fuel having a first reactivity is stored in a fuel reservoir. A portion of the first fuel is converted to a second fuel having a second reactivity. The first fuel is introduced into a combustion chamber having a piston moving in a cylinder at a first time when the piston is relatively closer to a bottom dead center (BDC) position and the second fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber at a second time when the piston is relatively further from the BDC position. In an aspect, the convertor may be adjustable to alter the reactivity of the second fuel. In an aspect, the convertor may use a processing fluid associated with the engine to convert the first fuel to the second fuel.

Abstract: A gaseous fuel internal combustion engine includes an engine housing defining at least one cylinder, and an intake housing defining an intake passage fluidly connecting with the at least one cylinder. The engine includes a gaseous fuel delivery mechanism coupled with the engine housing and a distributed ignition promoting mechanism having a bead presentation device extending into the intake passage and configured to present a liquid bead of distributed ignition promoting material therein such as engine lubricating oil. During operation, gases passing through the intake passage dislodge the liquid bead from the bead presentation device and carry the distributed ignition promoting material into the cylinder for distributively igniting therein a mixture containing a gaseous fuel, air and the distributed ignition promoting material.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine include controlling a temperature of recirculated exhaust gas to achieve a predetermined recirculated exhaust gas temperature. A mixture of air and temperature-controlled recirculated exhaust gas are admitted in a combustion chamber and a gaseous fuel injector delivers gaseous fuel during an intake stroke. A diesel fuel injector is activated for a first time to deliver a pre-pilot diesel quantity directly into the combustion chamber at an early stage of a compression stroke, and is activated again for a second time to deliver a pilot diesel quantity directly into the combustion chamber at a later stage of the compression stroke. A total air/fuel ratio within the combustion chamber upon completion of the second diesel fuel injector activation is lean. The air/fuel mixture is combusted during a combustion stroke, and combustion products are removed during an exhaust stroke.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a first fuel injector configured to inject a first fuel into an engine cylinder in response to a first injection signal, a second fuel injector configured to inject a second fuel into the engine cylinder in response to a second injection signal, and a third fuel injector configured to inject a third fuel into the engine cylinder in response to a third injection signal. The first, second and third fuels have different reactivities. An electronic controller provides, as appropriate, first, second and third injection signals using an engine speed and an engine load signals as primary control parameters such that the engine operates in at least two different combustion modes.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes at least one cylinder, an intake system, and an exhaust system. At least one engine cooler is disposed to cool intake air that enters or exits the at least one cylinder. A first fuel injector is disposed to inject a first fuel into the cylinder, and a second fuel injector is disposed to inject a second fuel into said cylinder. At least one intake valve of said cylinder is configured to open and close with a variable timing in accordance with a Miller thermodynamic cycle. An electronic controller is disposed to monitor and receive at least one input signal indicative of the operating conditions of the internal combustion engine, and adjust at least one of engine valve timing, operation of the first fuel injector, and operation of the second fuel injector in response to that signal.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine uses fuels having different reactivities obtained from the same fuel source. A first fuel having a first reactivity is stored in a fuel reservoir. A portion of the first fuel is converted to a second fuel having a second reactivity. The first fuel is introduced into a combustion chamber having a piston moving in a cylinder at a first time when the piston is relatively closer to a bottom dead center (BDC) position and the second fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber at a second time when the piston is relatively further from the BDC position. In an aspect, the convertor may be adjustable to alter the reactivity of the second fuel. In an aspect, the convertor may use a processing fluid associated with the engine to convert the first fuel to the second fuel.

Abstract: A system having an internal combustion engine connected to a driven device includes primary and secondary fuel supplies. A primary fuel supply sensor is configured to provide a primary fuel supply signal indicative of a rate of supply of a primary fuel to the engine through the primary fuel supply. A secondary fuel supply sensor is configured to provide a secondary fuel supply signal indicative of a rate of supply of a secondary fuel to the engine through the secondary fuel supply. A power output sensor measures a parameter indicative of a power output of the driven device and provides a power output signal. An electronic controller receives the primary and secondary fuel supply signals and the power output signal, and determines a characteristic of the secondary fuel based on the primary and secondary fuel supply signals and the power output signal.

Abstract: A gaseous fuel internal combustion engine includes an engine housing defining at least one cylinder, and an intake housing defining an intake passage fluidly connecting with the at least one cylinder. The engine includes a gaseous fuel delivery mechanism coupled with the engine housing and a distributed ignition promoting mechanism having a bead presentation device extending into the intake passage and configured to present a liquid bead of distributed ignition promoting material therein such as engine lubricating oil. During operation, gases passing through the intake passage dislodge the liquid bead from the bead presentation device and carry the distributed ignition promoting material into the cylinder for distributively igniting therein a mixture containing a gaseous fuel, air and the distributed ignition promoting material.