Method of hydrating the intake air of an internal combustion engine

• US 6,698,387 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steve Mcfarland, Wilbur A. Jones
• Original Assignee: Steve Mcfarland, Wilbur A. Jones
• Inventors: McFarland, Steve, Jones, Wilbur A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah P.
• Application Number:
  US10/241,168
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 123/25.R, 123/25.A, 123/25.J, 123/25.K, 123/25.M, 123/25.N, 123/25.Q
• US Class Current: 123/25.00A
• 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 47/02 the substances being water or steam
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0225 Water atomisers or mixers, e.g. using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0227 Control aspects; Arrangement of sensors; Diagnostics; Actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/03 into the cylinder or the pre-combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A method of hydrating the intake air of an internal combustion engine with cool purified water, deriving benefits of preventing the formation of excessive oxides of nitrogen and carbon, effecting a more complete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels, reducing the latent heat of combustion and increasing the power of combustion. The invention utilizes one or more ultrasonic devices to supply an aqueous vapor with droplets of less than 10 microns in size, varying in quantity according to engine size and load, having electronic sensors and controls for precision switching, metering and delivery. Thus equipped, an engine can be run as a lean burn, low emissions prime mover.

Claims

1. A water injection engine comprising:

a) an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, having at least one reciprocating piston, having a cylinder head, having at least one intake port and having at least one exhaust port with at least one exhaust conduit;

b) an air intake path, having an air filtering system and an air mixing system, directing a charge of air into said air intake port;

c) an exhaust path, having said exhaust port connected to said exhaust conduit for the expulsion of exhaust gases from said engine;

d) a water purification system for the removal of minerals and other impurities for the purpose of providing an ultra-pure water supply in fluid connection with an incoming water supply of unspecified purity being forced into a holding tank by a pressurizing means;

e) a holding tank for containing said ultra-pure water supply in fluid connection with said water purification system, including a solenoid valve for the purpose of open/closed control of said holding tank, a liquid level sensor for the purpose of maintaining a pre-determined quantity of said ultra-pure water supply and a variable pressurizing means for the purpose of variable pressure control of said ultra-pure water supply;

f) at least one ultrasonic vaporization unit in fluid connection with said holding tank to create an aqueous vapor having droplets of less than 10 microns diameter;

g) a housing containing said ultrasonic vaporization unit connected to said air intake port for mixing said vapor with said intake air charge of said internal combustion engine;

h) at least one electronic control unit for the purpose of monitoring and controlling functions of said water injection engine which pertain to the operation of said ultrasonic vaporization unit including at least the monitoring of exhaust gas temperature, liquid level control of said ultra-pure water supply, pressure control of said holding tank, and control of said ultrasonic vaporization unit including on/off control;

i) at least one thermal sensor, having its temperature sensing element exposed to the inside of said exhaust conduit located near said exhaust port of said engine and electrically connected to said electronic control unit.

2. A water injection engine according to claim 1 being capable of operating within a pre-determined range of exhaust gas temperatures of said internal combustion engine wherein:

a) minimal injection of said aqueous vapor is initialized when said thermal sensor registers a pre-determined exhaust gas temperature and signals said electronic control unit that said temperature has been achieved, closing said solenoid valve on said holding tank and opening said variable pressurizing means to pressurize said holding tank to a pre-determined level and opening a drip-free shut-off in fluid connection with said ultrasonic vaporization unit;

b) variable control of said aqueous vapor is synchronous to an increase or decrease of exhaust gas temperature from said engine signaled by said thermal sensor in electrical connection with said electronic control unit and said variable pressurizing means to increase or decrease volumetric flow of said ultra-pure water to said ultrasonic vaporization unit for delivery of said aqueous vapor to said engine;

c) shut off of said aqueous vapor is normally achieved when said thermal sensor registers a pre-programmed low temperature of said exhaust gases, which then sends a signal to said electronic control unit to signal said solenoid valve to open and release all pressure from said holding tank and to close said drip-free shut-off of said ultrasonic vaporization unit.

3. A water injection engine according to claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is designed to detect operating anomalies, to shut off aqueous vapor and to activate at least one annunciator signal electrically connected to said electronic control unit in the event of a system malfunction, including at least one of the following conditions:

a) detection of impurities in said ultra-pure water supply,

b) detection of low liquid level in said ultra-pure water supply,

c) detection of pressure loss in said ultra-pure water supply.

4. A water injection engine according to claim 1 wherein premature engine shutdown, before minimum exhaust temperature parameters have been achieved, is prevented by:

a) said electronic control unit receiving a signal that engine shutdown has been initiated,

b) said electronic control unit activating a time delay interrupter that is electrically connected to the ignition circuit of said engine,

c) said electronic control unit concurrently shutting off said ultrasonic vaporization unit,

d) said time delay interrupter allowing sufficient time for excess humidity to adequately evacuate from said intake air path of said engine before complete engine shutdown.

5. A water injection engine according to claim 1 having said water purification system for removing minerals and other impurities from a water supply source and in fluid connection with said pressurizing means wherein supply water of unspecified purity is forced to pass through purification means, including at least filtration media, ion exchange media or reverse osmosis membrane for the removal of minerals and other particulate matter that might damage or inhibit the proper function of said ultrasonic vaporization unit or said engine.