Oxygen enrichment of fuels
First Claim
1. A method of operating a diesel or spark ignition engine, comprising the steps of enriching the combustion air supply with oxygen while at the same time adjusting the fuel injection or ignition timing of the engine sufficiently to compensate for the earlier (and improved) combustion caused by the increased oxygen content in the combustion air.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of operating a diesel or spark ignition engine which includes enriching the combustion air supply with oxygen while simultaneously adjusting the fuel injection or ignition timing of the engine to compensate for advanced combustion caused by an increased oxygen content in the conbustion air. Oxygen producing means such as an oxygen generating membrane can eliminate the requirement for, or significantly reduce the size of, an intercooler which is normally installed between a turbocharger and the air/fuel inlet of an engine. Oxygen enrichment of the combustion air permits combustion of otherwise unsuitable or difficult to combust fuels such as residual or heavy fuel oils, alcohol and alcohol blends, seed oil and blends of light gas oils and residual or heavy fuel oils.
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Citations
13 Claims
- 1. A method of operating a diesel or spark ignition engine, comprising the steps of enriching the combustion air supply with oxygen while at the same time adjusting the fuel injection or ignition timing of the engine sufficiently to compensate for the earlier (and improved) combustion caused by the increased oxygen content in the combustion air.
- 7. A system for improving fuel combustion comprising an air inlet leading to a turbocharger (3) having a compressor (4), oxygen producing means (6) connected to said compressor (4), and preferably to the inlet thereof, and to the air/fuel inlet (7) of an engine (1), characterized in that said oxygen producing means (6) replaces or significantly reduces the size of an intercooler normally installed between the turbocharger (3) and the air/fuel inlet (7) to the engine (1).
- 11. A method of operating an engine comprising the step of enriching otherwise unsuitable or difficult to combust fuels with oxygen to such an extent as to increase the ability of the fuel to oxidise and therefore render it suitable for combustion in an engine otherwise unsuited for said fuels.
Specification