SUPERCHARGED INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

• US 20060144046A1
• Filed: 01/02/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jan Vetrovec
• Original Assignee: Jan Vetrovec
• Inventors: Vetrovec, Jan
• Granted Patent: US 7,076,952 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/605.100
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 21/00 Engines characterised by air-storage chambers
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 33/32 Engines with pumps other than of reciprocating-piston type with crankcase pumps F02B33/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 33/40 of non-positive-displacement type
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 33/44 Passages conducting the charge from the pump to the engine inlet, e.g. reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/04 Engines with exhaust drive and other drive of pumps, e.g. with exhaust-driven pump and mechanically-driven second pump
• CPC Class Codes: F04F 5/18 for compressing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A supercharged internal combustion engine system wherein the supercharger assembly includes an ejector pump driven by high-pressure air for pumping intake air into engine combustion chamber. Included are means for sensing engine power demand and controlling the supercharging action. A compressor and an air tank for providing high-pressure air for driving the ejector pump are also disclosed. During periods of natural aspiration the ejector pump can be by-passed to reduce flow impedance. The ejector pump can use a driving nozzle with a fixed throat or a variable throat, or a lobed nozzle. Effective supercharging is achieved even at low engine speeds. One of the objects of the invention is to obtain more power from small displacement ICE and thus providing automotive vehicles with sufficient acceleration in addition to good fuel economy.

Claims

1. A supercharged internal combustion engine system comprising:

an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an ejector pump for supercharging said ICE;

said internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber and an intake passage;

said intake passage being fluidly coupled to said combustion chamber and configured for flowing intake air thereinto;

said ejector pump having at least one supersonic driving nozzle, a suction port, and a discharge port;

said driving nozzle being fluidly coupled to a source of high-pressure air;

said suction port being fluidly coupled to a source of intake air;

said discharge port being fluidly coupled to said intake passage.

2. An ICE system as in claim 1 wherein said ICE is chosen from the group consisting of a compression ignition engine, carbureted spark ignition engine and fuel injected spark ignition engine.

3. An ICE system as in claim 1 wherein said ICE is chosen from the group consisting of a reciprocating engine and a rotary engine.

4. An ICE system as in claim 1 further comprising a flow control means for regulating a mass flow rate of said high-pressure air through said driving nozzle.

5. An ICE system as in claim 4 wherein said flow control means is chosen from the group consisting of a valve, control valve, modulated poppet-type valve, proportional solenoid valve, pressure regulator, and a variable area nozzle.

6. An ICE system as in claim 1 wherein said driving nozzle is a variable area nozzle configured for regulating a mass flow rate of said high-pressure air therethrough.

7. An ICE system as in claim 4 further comprising a control unit operatively coupled to said flow control means for regulating mass flow rate through said driving nozzle according to operating conditions of said ICE.

8. An ICE system as in claim 7, wherein said control unit is configured to increase said mass flow rate when engine rotational speed is less than a predetermined engine rotational speed value and engine output torque is more than a predetermined engine output torque value.

9. An ICE system as in claim 7, wherein said control unit is configured to decrease said mass flow rate when engine rotational speed is more than a predetermined engine rotational speed value and engine output torque is less than a predetermined engine output torque value.

10. An ICE system as in claim 7 wherein said control unit regulates said mass flow rate through said driving nozzle according to a combination of parameters chosen from the group consisting of engine output shaft torque, engine rotational speed, intake passage pressure, fuel flow rate, vehicle speed and position of accelerator pedal.

11. An ICE system as in claim 1 further comprising a transition duct and an intercooler;

wherein said transition duct fluidly couples said discharge port to said intake passage; and

said intercooler is located in said transition duct for cooling of intake air discharged by said ejector pump.

12. An ICE system as in claim 1 further comprising an ejector bypass duct and a bypass valve;

said ejector bypass duct having an inlet fluidly coupled to said suction port and an outlet fluidly coupled to said intake passage;

said bypass valve to control air flow through said bypass duct.

13. An ICE system as in claim 12 wherein said bypass valve is arranged to be closed when mass flow rate of said high-pressure air is more than a predetermined mass flow rate value and to be open when mass flow rate of said high-pressure air is less than a predetermined mass flow rate value.

14. An ICE system as in claim 12 wherein said bypass valve is arranged to be closed when the difference between the air pressure at said outlet and the air pressure at said inlet is more than a predetermined pressure value, and to be open when the difference between the air pressure at said outlet and the air pressure at said inlet is less than a predetermined pressure value.

15. An ICE system as in claim 12 wherein said bypass valve is chosen from the group consisting of an automatic check valve, actuated valve, butterfly valve.

17. An ICE system as in claim 1 wherein said source of high-pressure air comprises an air compressor.

18. An ICE system as in claim 1 wherein said source of high-pressure air comprises an air tank.

19. An ICE system as in claim 1 wherein said source of high-pressure air comprises an air compressor, air tank, and controls for maintaining the pressure of said high-pressure air inside said air tank within predetermined limits;

said air compressor having an inlet and outlet;

said air compressor inlet configured to admit atmospheric air;

said air compressor outlet fluidly coupled to said air tank;

said air tank fluidly coupled to said driving nozzle.

20. An ICE system as in claims 17 or 19 wherein said air compressor is chosen from the group consisting of a compressor driven by electric motor, engine driven compressor, engine driven compressor with an on/off clutch, piston compressor, positive displacement reciprocating compressor, vane compressor, scroll compressor and screw compressor.

21. An ICE system as in claim 1 wherein said source of intake air is chosen from the group consisting of atmospheric air, an engine-driven supercharger and a turbocharger.

22. An ICE system as in claim 1 wherein said suction port is fluidly coupled to an exhaust port of a supercharger chosen from the group consisting of an engine-driven supercharger and a turbocharger.

23. An ICE system as in claim 22 further comprising an intercooler disposed between said supercharger and said suction port.

24. An ICE system as in claim 1 further comprising a supercharger disposed between said discharge port of said ejector pump and said intake passage of said ICE;

said supercharger having a supercharger inlet and a supercharger outlet;

said supercharger inlet connected to said discharge port of said ejector pump;

said supercharger outlet connected to said intake passage of said ICE;

said supercharger chosen from the group consisting of an engine-driven supercharger, turbocharger and second-stage ejector pump.

25. An ICE system as in claim 24 further comprising an intercooler disposed between said supercharger and said intake passage.

26. An ICE system as in claim 1 further comprising an exhaust passage and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) conduit;

said exhaust passage fluidly coupled to said combustion chamber for passing combustion products therefrom;

said (EGR) conduit having an EGR inlet fluidly coupled to said exhaust passage and an EGR outlet fluidly coupled to said suction port of said ejector pump.

27. An ICE system as in claim 1 wherein said source of high-pressure air is at a pressure at least two times greater than the pressure at said suction port.

16. (canceled)

28. A supercharged internal combustion engine system comprising:

an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an ejector pump for supercharging said ICE;

said internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, an intake passage and an exhaust passage;

said intake passage fluidly coupled to said combustion chamber and configured for flowing intake air thereinto;

said exhaust passage fluidly coupled to said combustion chamber and configured for flowing exhaust gases therefrom;

said ejector pump having a suction chamber, a supersonic driving nozzle, and a diffuser duct;

said suction chamber fluidly coupled to a source of atmospheric air;

said diffuser duct having a first end and a second end;

said first end of said diffuser duct fluidly coupled to said suction chamber;

said second end of said diffuser duct fluidly coupled to said intake passage;

said driving nozzle fluidly coupled to a supply of high-pressure air and configured to direct a high velocity air jet into said first end of said diffuser duct.

29. A supercharged internal combustion engine system as in claim 28 further comprising a means for regulating flow of high-pressure air from said high-pressure air supply through said driving nozzle.

30. A supercharged internal combustion engine system as in claim 28 further comprising an exhaust passage for flowing combustion gases from said combustion chamber;

and an EGR conduit;

said EGR conduit having an EGR inlet and EGR outlet;

said EGR inlet fluidly coupled to said exhaust passage and said EGR outlet connected to said suction chamber for recirculation of a portion of exhaust gases.

31. A supercharged internal combustion engine system comprising:

(a) an internal combustion engine (ICE) having at least one combustion chamber, an intake passage, and an exhaust passage;

said intake passage configured for flowing intake air to said combustion chamber;

said exhaust passage configured for flowing combustion products from said combustion chamber;

said ICE is chosen from the group consisting of a compression ignition engine, carbureted spark ignition engine, fuel injected spark ignition engine, reciprocating engine and rotary engine;

(b) an ejector pump for supercharging said ICE;

said ejector pump having a driving nozzle, a suction port, and a discharge port;

said ejector pump configured to receive intake air through said suction port and discharge pressurized intake air through said discharge port;

i) said driving nozzle being fluidly coupled to a source of high-pressure air for admitting high-pressure air therefrom;

ii) said suction port being fluidly coupled to a source of said intake air to receive said intake air therefrom;

iii) said discharge port being fluidly coupled to said intake passage to discharge said pressurized intake air thereto;

(c) a means for sensing ICE power demand; and

(d) a flow control means for regulating a mass flow rate of said high-pressure air through said driving nozzle in accordance with ICE power demand.

32. An ICE system as in claim 31 wherein said flow control means is chosen from the group consisting of a valve, control valve, modulated poppet-type valve, proportional solenoid valve, pressure regulator, and a variable area nozzle.

33. An ICE system as in claim 32 further comprising a control unit operatively coupled to said flow control means for regulating mass flow rate through said driving nozzle based on operating conditions of said ICE to supercharge said ICE;

said control unit being configured to increase said mass flow rate when engine rotational speed is less than a predetermined engine rotational speed value and engine output torque is more than a predetermined engine output torque value, and to decrease said mass flow rate when engine rotational speed is more than a predetermined engine rotational speed value and engine output torque is less than a predetermined ICE output torque value.

34. An ICE system as in claim 31 further comprising a bypass duct arranged to bypass said ejector pump and a bypass valve disposed within said duct;

said bypass valve arranged to close when said driving nozzle admits said high-pressure air.

35. A supercharger assembly for an ICE comprising:

an ejector pump and a means for regulating mass flow of high-pressure air;

said ejector pump having a suction port fluidly connected to a supply of atmospheric air, a supersonic driving nozzle fluidly connected to a supply of high-pressure air, and a discharge port fluidly connected to an intake passage of an ICE;

said means for regulating mass flow of high-pressure air disposed between said supply of high-pressure air and said driving nozzle.

36. A supercharger assembly as in claim 35, further comprising a control unit configured to operatively control said means for regulating mass flow of said high-pressure air;

said control unit configured for sensing ICE rotational speed and at least one parameter chosen from the group consisting of accelerator pedal position, ICE fuel flow, and ICE output torque.

37. A supercharger assembly as in claim 35, wherein said means for regulating mass flow of said high-pressure air are chosen from the group consisting of a pressure regulator, flow control valve, valve, and variable area nozzle.

38. A supercharger assembly as in claim 35, further comprising an air compressor for providing said high-pressure air to said driving nozzle.

39. A supercharger assembly as in claim 38, wherein said compressor is selected for the group consisting of a piston compressor, vane compressor, scroll compressor, and screw compressor.

40. A supercharger assembly as in claim 38, wherein the source of motive power for said compressor is selected from the group consisting of said ICE and electric motor.

41. A supercharger assembly as in claim 38, further comprising an aftercooler for removing heat from said high-pressure air generated by said compressor.

42. A supercharger assembly as in claim 35, further comprising an air tank for storing said high-pressure air.

43. A supercharger assembly as in claim 36, further comprising an intercooler for removing heat from air discharged by said ejector pump.

44. (canceled)

45. (canceled)

46. A method for supercharging an ICE comprising the steps of:

providing an ICE having a combustion chamber;

providing an intake passage for flowing intake air into said combustion chamber;

providing an ejector pump having a suction port, driving nozzle, and a discharge port;

providing an intake air supply;

providing a high-pressure air supply;

feeding high-pressure air from said high-pressure air supply into said driving nozzle;

producing a supersonic flow through said nozzle;

producing a pumping action in said ejector;

admitting intake air from said intake air supply into said suction port;

pumping said intake air with said ejector pump; and

feeding air discharged from said discharge port into said intake passage to supercharge said combustion chamber.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said intake air supply is chosen from the group consisting of atmospheric air, an engine-driven supercharger and a turbocharger.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein said suction port is fluidly coupled to an exhaust port of a supercharger chosen from the group consisting of an engine-driven supercharger and a turbocharger.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein said step of feeding intake air into said intake passage further includes cooling said intake air by an intercooler.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein said step of feeding intake air into said intake passage includes further pressurizing said intake air in a second stage supercharger.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein said step of providing high-pressure air supply includes compressing atmospheric air in a compressor.

52. (canceled)

53. A method for operating a supercharged ICE comprising the steps of:

providing an ICE having a combustion chamber and an intake passage for flowing intake air thereto;

providing an ejector pump having a suction port, driving nozzle, and a discharge port;

operating said ICE;

providing an intake air supply;

providing a high-pressure air supply;

sensing ICE output power demand;

determining appropriate flow rate of high-pressure air for feeding into said driving nozzle;

feeding high-pressure air from said high-pressure air source at a predetermined flow rate into said driving nozzle to produce pumping action within said ejector pump;

admitting intake air from said intake air supply into said suction port;

pumping said intake air with said ejector pump;

feeding air discharged from said discharge port into said intake passage to supercharge said combustion chamber.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said step of sensing ICE power demand includes reading at least one of the sensors chosen from the group consisting an ICE output shaft torque, engine speed, intake port pressure, fuel flow rate, position of accelerator pedal, and vehicle speed.

55. A method for operating a supercharged ICE comprising the steps of:

providing an ICE having a combustion chamber and an intake port for flowing intake air thereto;

providing an ejector pump having a suction port, driving nozzle and a discharge port;

operating said ICE;

providing an intake air supply;

providing a high-pressure air supply with air pressure value p₁;

sensing ICE output power demand;

determining appropriate flow rate of high-pressure air for feeding into said driving port;

flowing high-pressure air from said high-pressure air source through said driving nozzle to form a high-velocity jet;

drawing a second air stream into said suction port at pressure value p₂;

mixing said high-velocity jet and said second stream to form a third stream at pressure value p₃ wherein pressure value p₃ is higher than pressure value p₂ and smaller than pressure value p₁; and

feeding said third stream from said discharge port to said combustion chamber.