Method of combustion for dual fuel engine

• US 5,271,357 A
• Filed: 01/24/1992
• Issued: 12/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Confer, Gregory L., Shen, Zujing, Hapeman, Martin J., Flynn, Paul L., Hsu, Bertrand D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Argenbright, Tony M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOLIS, ERICK R
• Application Number:
  US07/825,242
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 123/1 A, 123/23, 123/575, 123/27 GE, 123/299, 123/300, 123/304
• US Class Current: 123/23
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 23/0621 Squish flow
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 23/0663 having multiple injectors per combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 23/0696 W-piston bowl, i.e. the combustion space having a central projection pointing towards the cylinder head and the surrounding wall being inclined towards the cylinder wall
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 45/00 Engines characterised by operating on non-liquid fuels other than gas; Plants including such engines plants involving generation of gaseous fuel from solid fuel F02B43/08; engines convertible from gas to other fuel consumption F02B69/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/04 peculiar to engines working with solid fuels, e.g. pulverised coal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0657 Heavy or light fuel oils; Fuels characterised by their impurities such as sulfur content or differences in grade, e.g. for ships
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0689 for in-cylinder direct injection
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/081 Adjusting the fuel composition or mixing ratio; Transitioning from one fuel to the other
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 43/00 Fuel-injection apparatus operating simultaneously on two or more fuels, or on a liquid fuel and another liquid, e.g. the other liquid being an anti-knock additive
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

Apparatus and a method of introducing a primary fuel, which may be a coal water slutty, and a high combustion auxiliary fuel, which may be a conventional diesel oil, into an internal combustion diesel engine comprises detecting the load conditions of the engine, determining the amount of time prior to the top dead center position of the piston to inject the main fuel into the combustion chamber, and determining the relationship of the timing of the injection of the auxiliary fuel into the combustion chamber to achieve a predetermined specific fuel consumption, a predetermined combustion efficiency, and a predetermined peak cylinder firing pressure.

Claims

1. A method of introducing a low combustible main fuel and a high combustible auxiliary fuel into in an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder having a combustion chamber, the method comprising:

injecting the auxiliary fuel to start and to run the engine at idle until the engine achieves normal operating conditions; and

detecting the load conditions on the engine; and

,

at minimum load conditions, introducing the auxiliary fuel into the combustion chamber as a pilot fuel prior to introducing the main fuel into the combustion chamber;

at midrange load conditions, determining the amount of time required for a predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization of the main fuel under the load conditions;

introducing the main fuel into the combustion chamber sufficiently prior to the top dead center position of the piston to achieve the predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization; and

, delaying the introduction of the auxiliary fuel into the combustion chamber relative to the introduction at minimum load conditions for a predetermined amount of time so that the main fuel can be ignited and burn very fast to yield a predetermined high combustion rate and efficiency; and

at maximum load conditions, determining the amount of time required for a predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization of the main fuel;

introducing the main fuel sufficiently prior to the top dead center position of the piston to achieve the predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization; and

delaying the introduction of the auxiliary fuel into the combustion chamber until a predetermined amount of time after introduction of the main fuel has occurred so that the main fuel has evaporated and so that the main fuel will burn very fast to yield a predetermined high combustion rate and efficiency at a predetermined maximum cylinder pressure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the low combustible main fuel is a coal water slurry.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the high combustible auxiliary fuel is diesel oil.

4. A method of introducing a low combustible main fuel and a high combustible auxiliary fuel into an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder having a combustion chamber, the method comprising:

injecting the auxiliary fuel to start the engine and to run the engine at idle until the engine achieves normal operating conditions;

detecting the load conditions on the engine;

at minimum load conditions, introducing the auxiliary fuel into the combustion chamber as a pilot fuel prior to introducing the main fuel into the combustion chamber; and

at midrange load conditions, determining the amount of time required for a predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization of the main fuel under the load conditions;

introducing the main fuel into the combustion chamber sufficiently prior to the top dead center position of the piston to achieve the predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization; and

delaying the introduction of the auxiliary fuel into the combustion chamber relative to the introduction at minimum load conditions for a predetermined amount of time so that the main fuel can be ignited and burn very fast to yield a predetermined high combustion rate and efficiency.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the low combustible main fuel is a coal water slurry.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the high combustible auxiliary fuel is diesel oil.

7. A method of introducing a low combustible main fuel and a high combustible auxiliary fuel into an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder having a combustion chamber, the method comprising:

injecting the auxiliary fuel to start the engine and to run the engine at idle until the engine achieves normal operating conditions;

detecting the load conditions on the engine; and

at midrange load conditions, determining the amount of time required for a predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization of the main fuel under the load conditions;

introducing the main fuel into the combustion chamber sufficiently prior to the top dead center position of the piston to achieve the predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization; and

delaying the introduction of the auxiliary fuel into the combustion chamber relative to the introduction at minimum load conditions for a predetermined amount of time so that the main fuel can be ignited and burn very fast to yield a predetermined high combustion rate and efficiency.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the low combustible main fuel is a coal water slurry.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the high combustible auxiliary fuel is diesel oil.

10. A method of introducing a low combustible main fuel and a high combustible auxiliary fuel into an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder having a combustion chamber, the method comprising:

injecting the auxiliary fuel to start the engine and to run the engine at idle until the engine achieves normal operating conditions;

detecting the load conditions on the engine; and

at maximum load conditions, determining the amount of time required for a predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization of the main fuel;

introducing the main fuel sufficiently prior to the top dead center position of the piston to achieve the predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization; and

delaying the introduction of the auxiliary fuel into the combustion chamber until a predetermined amount of time after introduction of the main fuel has occurred so that the main fuel has evaporated and so that the main fuel will burn very fast to yield a predetermined high combustion rate and efficiency at a predetermined maximum cylinder pressure.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the low combustible main fuel is a coal water slurry.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the high combustible auxiliary fuel is diesel oil.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the coal water slurry comprises about 0.7% to about 2.5% ash by weight and about 46% to about 51% solid by weight.

14. A system for introducing a low combustible main fuel and a high combustible auxiliary fuel into in an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder having a combustion chamber, the system comprising:

means for injecting the auxiliary fuel to start and to run the engine at idle until the engine achieves normal operating conditions; and

means for detecting the load conditions on the engine;

means for introducing, at minimum load conditions, the auxiliary fuel into the combustion chamber as a pilot fuel prior to introducing the main fuel into the combustion chamber;

means for determining, at midrange load conditions, the amount of time required for a predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization of the main fuel under the load conditions;

means for introducing, at midrange load conditions, the main fuel into the combustion chamber sufficiently prior to the top dead center position of the piston to achieve the predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization;

means for delaying, at midrange load conditions, the introduction of the auxiliary fuel into the combustion chamber relative to the introduction at minimum load conditions for a predetermined amount of time so that the main fuel can be ignited and burn very fast to yield a predetermined high combustion rate and efficiency;

means for determining, at maximum load conditions, the amount of time required for a predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization of the main fuel;

means for introducing, at maximum load conditions, the main fuel sufficiently prior to the top dead center position of the piston to achieve the predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization; and

means for delaying, at maximum load conditions, the introduction of the auxiliary fuel into the combustion chamber until a predetermined amount of time after introduction of the main fuel has occurred so that the main fuel has evaporated and so that the main fuel will burn very fast to yield a predetermined high combustion rate and efficiency at a predetermined maximum cylinder pressure.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the low combustible main fuel is a coal water slurry.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the high combustible auxiliary fuel is diesel oil.

17. A system of introducing a low combustible main fuel and a high combustible auxiliary fuel into in an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder having a combustion chamber, the system comprising:

means for injecting the auxiliary fuel to start and to run the engine at idle until the engine achieves normal operating conditions;

means for detecting the load conditions on the engine;

means for determining, at midrange load conditions, the amount of time required for a predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization of the main fuel under the load conditions; and

means for introducing, at midrange load conditions, the main fuel into the combustion chamber sufficiently prior to the top dead center position of the piston to achieve the predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization; and

delaying the introduction of the auxiliary fuel into the combustion chamber relative to the introduction at minimum load conditions for a predetermined amount of time so that the main fuel can be ignited and burn very fast to yield a predetermined high combustion rate and efficiency.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the low combustible main fuel is a coal water slurry.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the high combustible auxiliary fuel is diesel oil.

20. A system of introducing a low combustible main fuel and a high combustible auxiliary fuel into in an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder having a combustion chamber, the system comprising:

means for injecting the auxiliary fuel to start the locomotive and to run the engine at idle until the engine achieves normal operating conditions;

means for detecting the load conditions on the engine;

means for determining, at maximum load conditions, the amount of time required for a predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization of the main fuel;

means for introducing, at maximum load conditions, the main fuel sufficiently prior to the top dead center position of the piston to achieve the predetermined amount of evaporation and devolatilization; and

means for delaying, at maximum load conditions, the introduction of the auxiliary fuel into the combustion chamber until a predetermined amount of time after introduction of the main fuel has occurred so that the main fuel has evaporated and so that the main fuel will burn very fast to yield a predetermined high combustion rate and efficiency at a predetermined maximum cylinder pressure.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the low combustible main fuel is a coal water slurry.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the high combustible auxiliary fuel is diesel oil.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the coal water slurry comprises about 0.7% to about 2.5% ash by weight and about 46% to about 51% solid by weight.