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At least 19 records

Boosting devices with integral features for recirculating exhaust gas

According to one embodiment of the invention, a turbine housing includes a turbine inlet in fluid communication with a turbine volute configured to house a turbine wheel, the turbine inlet configured to direct an exhaust gas flow from an engine to the turbine wheel. The turbine housing also includes a turbine outlet in fluid communication with the turbine volute, the turbine outlet configured to direct the exhaust gas flow to an exhaust gas conduit and a first exhaust gas recirculation supply port located on and in fluid communication with the turbine outlet, the first exhaust gas recirculation supply port being configured to direct a portion of the exhaust gas flow to an exhaust gas recirculation supply conduit.

02 PETROLEUM↗

Boosting devices with integral features for recirculating exhaust gas

According to one embodiment of the invention, a compressor housing includes a compressor inlet in fluid communication with a compressor volute configured to house a compressor wheel, the compressor inlet configured to provide a first air flow to the compressor wheel and a compressor outlet in fluid communication with the compressor volute, the compressor outlet configured to direct a compressed gas to an intake manifold. The compressor housing further includes an exhaust gas recirculation inlet port in fluid communication with the compressor volute, the exhaust gas recirculation inlet port being configured to combine an exhaust gas flow with the air flow to the compressor wheel.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Power plant including an exhaust gas recirculation system for injecting recirculated exhaust gases in the fuel and compressed air of a gas turbine engine

A power plant is provided and includes a gas turbine engine having a combustor in which compressed gas and fuel are mixed and combusted, first and second supply lines respectively coupled to the combustor and respectively configured to supply the compressed gas and the fuel to the combustor and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system to re-circulate exhaust gas produced by the gas turbine engine toward the combustor. The EGR system is coupled to the first and second supply lines and configured to combine first and second portions of the re-circulated exhaust gas with the compressed gas and the fuel at the first and second supply lines, respectively.

42 ENGINEERING↗

The effect of engine operating conditions on exhaust gas recirculation cooler fouling

Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler fouling occurs when particulate matter (PM) and hydrocarbons (HC) in diesel exhaust form a deposit on the walls of the EGR cooler through thermophoresis and condensation. To better understand the mechanisms controlling deposit formation and removal and how operating conditions can affect cooler performance, 20 identical tube-in-shell EGR coolers with sinusoidal fins were fouled using a 5-factor, 3-level experimental design. The deposit thickness was measured using two methods: (1) epoxy-mounting and polishing cooler cross-sections and comparing deposit thicknesses on the primary (outer tube) to the secondary (fins) heat transfer surfaces, and (2) milling tube sections such that the surface of a fin could be observed and measuring the deposit thickness across the fin using a 3D profilometer. Near the cooler inlet, high inlet gas temperatures reduced deposit thickness by promoting mud-cracking and spallation. Near the middle of the cooler, the flow rate had the largest impact on the deposit thickness through the effect on residence time of the PM. The HC concentration along with flow rate had the largest effects near the cooler outlet where the lower temperatures allows for more HC condensation. Furthermore, these insights into how engine operating conditions influence the development of fouling layers in EGR coolers learned through this study will aid in the development of more fouling resistant coolers in the future.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Exhaust gas recirculation system for an internal combustion engine

An exhaust gas recirculation system for an internal combustion engine comprises an exhaust driven turbocharger having a low pressure turbine outlet in fluid communication with an exhaust gas conduit. The turbocharger also includes a low pressure compressor intake and a high pressure compressor outlet in communication with an intake air conduit. An exhaust gas recirculation conduit fluidly communicates with the exhaust gas conduit to divert a portion of exhaust gas to a low pressure exhaust gas recirculation branch extending between the exhaust gas recirculation conduit and an engine intake system for delivery of exhaust gas thereto. A high pressure exhaust gas recirculation branch extends between the exhaust gas recirculation conduit and the compressor intake and delivers exhaust gas to the compressor for mixing with a compressed intake charge for delivery to the intake system.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

System and method of exhaust gas recirculation

A system includes an exhaust gas an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) mixer which includes a housing and a first passage in the housing. The first passage may be configured to supply an EGR flow into the housing. The system further includes a second passage in the housing, such that the second passage is disposed about the first passage. The second passage is configured to supply at least one fluid flow into the housing. The system also includes a region downstream from the first and second passages, and a fluid outlet downstream from the region.

Zurlo, James Richard↗

Characterization of temporal variations and feedback timescales of exhaust gas recirculation gas properties using high-speed diode laser absorption spectroscopy for next-cycle control of cyclic variability

Dilute combustion offers efficiency gains in boosted gasoline direct injection engines both through knock-limit extension and thermodynamic advantages (i.e. the effect of γ on cycle efficiency), but is limited by cyclic variability at high dilution levels. Past studies have shown that the cycle-to-cycle dynamics are a combination of deterministic and stochastic effects. The deterministic causes of cyclic variations, which arise from feedback due to exhaust gas recirculation, imply the possibility of using active control strategies for dilution limit extension. While internal exhaust gas recirculation will largely provide a next-cycle effect (short-timescale feedback), the feedback of external exhaust gas recirculation will have an effect after a delay of several cycles (long timescale). Therefore, control strategies aiming to improve engine stability at dilution limit may have to account for both short- and long-timescale feedback pathways. This study shows the results of a study examining the extent to which variations in exhaust gas recirculation composition are preserved along the exhaust gas recirculation flow path and thus the relative importance and information content of the long-timescale feedback pathway. To characterize the filtering or retention of cycle-resolved feedback information, high-speed (1–5 kHz) CO 2 concentration measurements were performed simultaneously at three different locations along the low-pressure external exhaust gas recirculation loop of a four-cylinder General Motors gasoline direct injection engine using a multiplexed two-color diode laser absorption spectroscopy sensor system during steady-state and transient engine operation at various exhaust gas recirculation levels. It was determined that cycle-resolved feedback propagates through internal residual gases but is filtered out by the low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation flow system and do not reach the intake manifold. Intermediate variations driven by flow rate and compositional changes are also distinguished and identified.

Dilute combustion↗

Learning reference governor for cycle-to-cycle combustion control with misfire avoidance in spark-ignition engines at high exhaust gas recirculation–diluted conditions

Cycle-to-cycle feedback control is employed to achieve optimal combustion phasing while maintaining high levels of exhaust gas recirculation by adjusting the spark advance and the exhaust gas recirculation valve position. The control development is based on a control-oriented model that captures the effects of throttle position, exhaust gas recirculation valve position, and spark timing on the combustion phasing. Under the assumption that in-cylinder pressure information is available, an adaptive extended Kalman filter approach is used to estimate the exhaust gas recirculation rate into the intake manifold based on combustion phasing measurements. The estimation algorithm is adaptive since the cycle-to-cycle combustion variability (output covariance) is not known a priori and changes with operating conditions. A linear quadratic regulator controller is designed to maintain optimal combustion phasing while maximizing exhaust gas recirculation levels during load transients coming from throttle tip-in and tip-out commands from the driver. During throttle tip-outs, however, a combination of a high exhaust gas recirculation rate and an overly advanced spark, product of the dynamic response of the system, generates a sequence of misfire events. In this work, an explicit reference governor is used as an add-on scheme to the closed-loop system in order to avoid the violation of the misfire limit. The reference governor is enhanced with model-free learning which enables it to avoid misfires after a learning phase. Experimental results are reported which illustrate the potential of the proposed control strategy for achieving an optimal combustion process during highly diluted conditions for improving fuel efficiency.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Thermal diffusion, exhaust gas recirculation and blending effects on lean premixed hydrogen flames

Thermodiffusively-unstable lean premixed hydrogen flames are investigated using two-dimensional direct numerical simulation employing finite-rate chemical kinetics. Three databases are generated focussing on the inclusion of the Soret effect, the recirculation of exhaust gas, and blending with methane. A simple rescaling of a classic thermal diffusion model is presented and shown to mimic multicomponent diffusion with very low computational cost and little-to-no loss in accuracy. It is also shown that a previously developed model for mean local flame speeds in lean premixed hydrogen flames can still be used provided Soret effects are taken into account in one-dimensional calculations. The addition of exhaust gas to the unburned mixture is found to enhance thermodiffusive instability; the primary mechanism for this was shown to be the highly-efficient third-body nature of water, with the reduction of adiabatic flame temperature a second-order effect. Again, the existing mean local flame speed model proved sufficient. Finally, blending with methane was found to reduce the thermodiffusive response of the flame, more so than the existing model suggests, despite adjustment of the fuel Lewis number; an adapted model is presented to account for this.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Engine with pulse-suppressed dedicated exhaust gas recirculation

An engine assembly includes an intake assembly, a spark-ignited internal combustion engine, and an exhaust assembly. The intake assembly includes a charge air cooler disposed between an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) mixer and a backpressure valve. The charge air cooler has both an inlet and an outlet, and the back pressure valve is configured to maintain a minimum pressure difference between the inlet of the charge air cooler and an outlet of the backpressure valve. A dedicated exhaust gas recirculation system is provided in fluid communication with at least one cylinder and with the EGR mixer. The dedicated exhaust gas recirculation system is configured to route all of the exhaust gas from the at least one cylinder to the EGR mixer for recirculation back to the engine.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Use of exhaust gas recirculation as a control approach for thermoacoustic instabilities

Investigation into exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) as a method for reducing costs of postcombustion carbon capture in gas turbine systems reveals that EGR offers potential applications as a control strategy for thermoacoustic instabilities. Introduction of EGR allows semi-independent variation of the operating parameter of flame temperature and characteristic flame length scales, known to play a primary role in the phase of the thermoacoustic coupling mechanism. Measurements were made showing the ability of EGR to reduce the amplitude of thermoacoustic oscillations over a range of operating conditions in a laboratory scale, swirled dump combustor, without affecting the flame temperature. Theoretical analysis was also performed to investigate the limitations on the ability of this approach to influence dynamics.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Engine with exhaust gas recirculation system and variable geometry turbocharger

An engine assembly includes an intake assembly, an internal combustion engine defining a plurality of cylinders and configured to combust a fuel and produce exhaust gas, and an exhaust assembly in fluid communication with a first subset of the plurality of cylinders. Each of the plurality of cylinders are provided in fluid communication with the intake assembly. The exhaust assembly is provided in fluid communication with a first subset of the plurality of cylinders, and a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation system in fluid communication with both a second subset of the plurality of cylinders and with the intake assembly. The dedicated exhaust gas recirculation system is configured to route all of the exhaust gas from the second subset of the plurality of cylinders to the intake assembly. Finally, the engine assembly includes a turbocharger having a variable geometry turbine in fluid communication with the exhaust assembly.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

The Use of Exhaust Gas Recirculation to Optimize Fuel Economy and Minimize Emission in Engines Operating on E85 Fuel

This report summarizes activities conducted for the project “The Use of Exhaust Gas Recirculation to Optimized Fuel Economy and Minimize Emissions in Engines Operating on E85 Fuel” under COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT NUMBER DE-FC26-07NT43271, which are as outlined in the STATEMENT OF PROJECT OBJECTIVES (SOPO) dated March 2007 and in the supplemental SOPO dated October 2010. The project objective was to develop and demonstrate an internal combustion engine that is optimized for E85 (85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) fuel operation to achieve substantially improved fuel economy while operating with E85 fuel and that is also production viable in the near- to medium-term. The key engine technology selected for research and development was turbocharging, which is known to improve fuel economy thru downsizing and is in particular capable of exploiting ethanol fuel’s characteristics of high octane number and high latent heat of vaporization. The engine further integrated synergistic efficiency improving technologies of cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), direct fuel injection and dual continuously variable intake and exhaust cam phasers. On the vehicle level, fuel economy was furthered thru powertrain system optimization by mating a state-of-the-art six-speed automatic transmission to the engine. In order to achieve the project’s objective of near- to medium-term production viability, it was essential to develop the engine to be flex-fuel capable of operating with fuels ranging from E0 (0% ethanol and 100% gasoline) to E85 and to use three-way type of catalyst technology for exhaust aftertreatment. Within these scopes, various technologies were developed through systems approach to focus on ways to help accelerate catalyst light-off. Significant amount of development took place during the course of the project within General Motors, LLC. Many prototype flex-fuel engines were designed, built and developed with various hardware configurations selected to achieve the project goals. Several flex-fuel demonstration vehicles were designed and built for carrying out calibration development and final testing to quantify the technology merits. Based on the extensive test results collected from dynamometer and vehicle testing, the fuel economy benefits of cooled EGR from the intended level of turbocharger technology were quantified. When combined with turbo downsizing, the FE benefits are considered large enough for E0 fuel as well as for E85 fuel to warrant further development of the technology beyond the current proof-of-concept level to a level that can meet production driveability quality and durability requirements in order to meet customers’ expectations. Cold-start cart test results from the emissions segment of the project were positive, confirming the assumption of faster thermal response of turbo exhaust system for emissions reductions for both E0 and E85 fuels. Vehicle emissions test results directionally correlated to the cold-start cart findings. The limited number of test runs did demonstrate the potentials of meeting stringent emission standards, however, they did not comprehend the factors such as hardware variability and long-term durability, 3 which are essential for mass production to satisfy customers’ expectations. It is therefore recommended, moving forward, durability concerns over turbocharger, EGR system and aftertreatment system, which would likely impact production viability, should be addressed. The data moreover suggested that further FE increase is likely with turbocharger technology advancement.

Wu, Ko-Jen↗

THE EFFECT OF FUEL REACTIVITY AND EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION ON KNOCK PROPENSITY OF NATURAL GAS

The development of high efficiency, spark ignited natural gas engines is currently limited by engine knock at high compression ratio/elevated boost pressures and misfire at lean conditions/high exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) levels. The knock and misfire limits are further confounded by the wide variety in fuel reactivity observed in “pipeline quality” natural gas. In this study, a rapid compression machine was used to characterize the effects of EGR and variation in natural gas fuel reactivity on the homogeneous ignition delay, flame propagation rate, and end- gas autoignition propensity for stoichiometric natural gas/oxidizer/EGR blends. A reduced chemical kinetic mechanism was also developed to accurately model the homogeneous ignition delays measured in the Colorado State University rapid compression machine (CSU RCM). Pipeline quality natural gas with a range of chemical reactivity (68 < Methane Number < 95) was simulated using mixtures of CH4, C2H6, and C3H8. Exhaust gas recirculation gases were simulated with mixtures of Ar, CO2, CO, and NO at substitution rates of 0 to 30 mass percent. Ignition delay period under homogeneous autoignition conditions was measured at compressed pressures of 30.2 to 34.0 bar and compressed temperatures of 667 to 980 K. End-gas autoignition fraction and flame propagation rate were measured by initiating a laser spark in the center of the combustion chamber, after compression, at pressures of 30.7 to 32.7 bar and temperatures of 751 to 795 K. The results indicate that both fuel reactivity and the presence of reactive species (NO and CO) in the exhaust gas recirculation have a strong impact on end-gas autoignition fraction. A chemical kinetic mechanism was developed to predict homogeneous ignition delays for pipeline quality natural gas in a pressure and temperature range of 1-100 bar and 500-1000 K respectively. This mechanism accurately predicted measured homogeneous ignition delay in the RCM with a total average relative error of 11.0%.

Mohr, Jeffrey↗

Fast Spatially Resolved Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Distribution Measurements in an Internal Combustion Engine Using Absorption Spectroscopy

One effective method of reducing NO x emissions while improving efficiency is exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in internal combustion engines. But, insufficient mixing between fresh air and exhaust gas can lead to cycle-to-cycle and cylinder-to-cylinder nonuniform charge gas mixtures of a multi-cylinder engine, which can in turn reduce engine performance and efficiency. Furthermore, a sensor packaged into a compact probe was designed, built and applied to measure spatiotemporal EGR distributions in the intake manifold of an operating engine. The probe promotes the development of more efficient and higher-performance engines by resolving high-speed in situ CO 2 concentration at various locations in the intake manifold. Our study employed mid-infrared light sources tuned to an absorption band of CO 2 near 4.3 μm, an industry standard species for determining EGR fraction. The calibrated probe was used to map spatial EGR distributions in an intake manifold with high accuracy and monitor cycle-resolved cylinder-specific EGR fluctuations at a rate of up to 1 kHz.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Mapping of exhaust gas recirculation and combustion-residual backflow in the intake ports of a heavy-duty diesel engine using a multiplexed multi-species absorption spectroscopy sensor [Mapping of EGR and combustion residual backflow in the intake ports of a heavy duty diesel engine using a multiplexed multi-species absorption spectroscopy sensor]

Here, the combustion-residual backflow into the intake ports of a commercial diesel engine (Cummins ISX series) was spatiotemporally mapped using a multiplexed multi-species absorption spectroscopy sensor system; the resulting cycle- and cylinder-resolved measurements are applicable for assessing cylinder charge uniformity, control strategies, and computational fluid dynamics tools. On-engine measurements were made using four compact (3/8 in Outside Diameter) stainless steel probes which enabled simultaneous multi-point measurements, required minimal engine hardware modification, and featured a novel tip design for measurement of gas flows parallel to the probe axis. Three sensor probes were used to perform simultaneous backflow measurements in intake runners corresponding to three of the six engine cylinders, and a fourth probe was installed in the intake manifold plenum for tracking dynamics introduced by an external exhaust gas recirculation mixer. Near-crank-angle resolved measurements (5 kHz, that is, 1.2 crank angle resolution at 1000 RPM) were performed during steady-state engine operation at various levels of external exhaust gas recirculation to measure the gas properties and penetration distance of the backflow into the intake runners on a cylinder- and cycle-basis. Validation of computational fluid dynamics model results is also presented to demonstrate the utility of such measurements in advancing engine research.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

EVALUATION OF CONTROLLED END GAS AUTO IGNITION WITH EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION IN A STOICHIOMETRIC, SPARK IGNITED, NATURAL GAS ENGINE

Many stationary and heavy-duty on-road natural gas fueled engines today operate under stoichiometric conditions with a three-way catalyst. The disadvantage of stoichiometric natural gas engines compared to lean-burn natural gas and diesel engines is lower efficiency, resulting primarily from lower power density and compression ratio. Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) coupled with advanced combustion controls can enable operation with higher compression ratio and power density, which yields higher efficiency. This also results in engine operation between the limits of knock and misfire. Operation between these limits has been named controlled end gas auto-ignition (C-EGAI) and can be used to improve the brake efficiency of the engine. Various methods of cylinder pressure-based knock quantification were explored to implement C-EGAI. The indicated quantification methods are used for the implementation of a control scheme for C-EGAI with a relation to the fractional heat release due to auto-ignition. A custom EGR system was built and the effect of EGR on the performance of a stochiometric, spark ignited, natural gas engine is evaluated. C-EGAI is implemented and the optimal parameters are determined for peak performance under EGR and C-EGAI conditions. In this study, knock detection is used for the recognition, magnitude, and location of the auto-ignition events. Cylinder pressure-based knock detection was the primary method for determining the occurrence and location of knock but was also used for implementing the ignition control scheme for controlled end gas auto-ignition. The combustion intensity metric (CIM) enabled parametric ignition timing control which allowed for the creation of a relationship between fractional heat release due to auto-ignition and CIM. Many stationary and heavy-duty on-road natural gas fueled engines today operate under stoichiometric conditions with a three-way catalyst. The disadvantage of stoichiometric natural gas engines compared to lean-burn natural gas and diesel engines is lower efficiency, resulting primarily from lower power density and compression ratio. Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) coupled with advanced combustion controls can enable operation with higher compression ratio and power density, which yields higher efficiency. This also results in engine operation between the limits of knock and misfire. Operation between these limits has been named controlled end gas auto-ignition (C-EGAI) and can be used to improve the brake efficiency of the engine. Various methods of cylinder pressure-based knock quantification were explored to implement C-EGAI. The indicated quantification methods are used for the implementation of a control scheme for C-EGAI with a relation to the fractional heat release due to auto-ignition. A custom EGR system was built and the effect of EGR on the performance of a stochiometric, spark ignited, natural gas engine is evaluated. C-EGAI is implemented and the optimal parameters are determined for peak performance under EGR and C-EGAI conditions. In this study, knock detection is used for the recognition, magnitude, and location of the auto-ignition events. Cylinder pressure-based knock detection was the primary method for determining the occurrence and location of knock but was also used for implementing the ignition control scheme for controlled end gas auto-ignition. The combustion intensity metric (CIM) enabled parametric ignition timing control which allowed for the creation of a relationship between fractional heat release due to auto-ignition and CIM. Both exhaust gas recirculation and controlled end gas auto-ignition were analyzed with a cooperative fuel research (CFR) engine modified for boosted fuel/air intake. The data was interpreted to provide a proper evaluation of unique analytical methods to quantify the results of C_EGAI and characterize the live auto-ignition events. The control variables for this method of C-EGAI were optimized with EGR conditions to generate the point of peak performance on the CFR engine under stoichiometric, spark ignited, natural gas conditions.

Bayliff, Scott Michael↗