Methods and systems are provided for injecting air from a compressed air source into an intake port of a Miller Cycle engine. In one example, a method may comprise positioning an intake valve, coupled to a cylinder of a four-cycle internal combustion engine, in an open position during a portion of an intake stroke through a portion of a compression stroke of a piston reciprocating within said cylinder. The method may additionally comprise supplying air to said intake valve from a first source, and injecting air against said intake valve from a second source while said intake valve is open during said compression stroke.

A control system and method to control cold transient response of an engine. The control system can provide compressed air from a compressed air source to a turbocharger to boost speed of a turbine of the turbocharger, based on determined desired operating characteristics associated with upstream or downstream operation of the engine relative to the turbocharger. The control system can receive data corresponding to actual operating characteristics associated with the upstream or downstream operation of the engine relative to the turbocharger, compare the desired operating characteristics with the data corresponding to actual operating characteristics, and control the air assist from the compressed air source based on the comparison.

An internal combustion engine including a combustion chamber; a compressed gas valve wherein the compressed gas valve is arranged to enable compressed gas to be extracted from the internal combustion engine and used to provide power for mechanical functions: and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of the configuration of the internal combustion engine and cause the compressed gas valve to be opened in response to a signal indicating at least one of that the internal combustion engine is decelerating and a throttle is closed to enable compressed gas to be extracted from the internal combustion engine via the compressed gas valve.

An internal combustion engine including a combustion chamber; a compressed gas valve wherein the compressed gas valve is arranged to enable compressed gas to be extracted from the internal combustion engine and used to provide power for mechanical functions: and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of the configuration of the internal combustion engine and cause the compressed gas valve to be opened in response to a signal indicating at least one of that the internal combustion engine is decelerating and a throttle is closed to enable compressed gas to be extracted from the internal combustion engine via the compressed gas valve.

Variable compression ratio engines and methods for homogeneous charge, compression ignition operation. The engines effectively premix the fuel and air well before compression ignition. Various embodiments are disclosed including embodiments that include two stages of compression to obtain compression ratios well above the mechanical compression ratio of the engine cylinders for compression ignition of difficult to ignite fuels, and a controllable combustion chamber volume for limiting the maximum temperature during combustion. Energy storage with energy management are also disclosed.

Variable compression ratio engines and methods for homogeneous charge, compression ignition operation. The engines effectively premix the fuel and air well before compression ignition. Various embodiments are disclosed including embodiments that include two stages of compression to obtain compression ratios well above the mechanical compression ratio of the engine cylinders for compression ignition of difficult to ignite fuels, and a controllable combustion chamber volume for limiting the maximum temperature during combustion. Energy storage with energy management are also disclosed.

A turbocharger system for a light or heavy duty vehicle, a maritime vehicle or a construction vehicle comprises a turbocharger device, an exhaust manifold conduit, a valve, a receptacle for compressed gas and a gas compressor for compressing gas. By opening the valve during a predetermined pulse duration time period, compressed gas may be provided from the receptacle to the exhaust manifold conduit for initial turbocharger compressor spin-up. The turbocharger system further comprises a cooling means configured to decrease temperature of compressed gas provided by the gas compressor, and a heating means configured to increase temperature of the gas pulse generated by opening of the valve. By decreasing the temperature of the compressed gas in the receptacle upstream of the valve and subsequently heating up the generated air pulse before being provided to the exhaust manifold conduit, the response time of the turbocharger device can be improved.

A turbocharger system for a light or heavy duty vehicle, a maritime vehicle or a construction vehicle comprises a turbocharger device, an exhaust manifold conduit, a valve, a receptacle for compressed gas and a gas compressor for compressing gas. By opening the valve during a predetermined pulse duration time period, compressed gas may be provided from the receptacle to the exhaust manifold conduit for initial turbocharger compressor spin-up. The turbocharger system further comprises a cooling means configured to decrease temperature of compressed gas provided by the gas compressor, and a heating means configured to increase temperature of the gas pulse generated by opening of the valve. By decreasing the temperature of the compressed gas in the receptacle upstream of the valve and subsequently heating up the generated air pulse before being provided to the exhaust manifold conduit, the response time of the turbocharger device can be improved.

Systems and methods are disclosed that include operating an isothermal compression based combustion (IsoC) engine by injecting isothermally compressed air into a combustion engine immediately prior to a combustion event in order to increase the efficiency of the engine, improve emissions, and substantially eliminate autoignition and associated design constraints. The IsoC engine utilizes an intercooled compressor to isothermally compress air that is stored in a plurality of capacitance tanks prior to delivery of the compressed air to the combustion engine. The IsoC engine allows combustion to be selectively terminated to increase fuel efficiency, thereby resulting in a hybrid compressed air-motor and internal combustion operated IsoC engine.

Systems and methods are disclosed that include operating an isothermal compression based combustion (IsoC) engine by injecting isothermally compressed air into a combustion engine immediately prior to a combustion event in order to increase the efficiency of the engine, improve emissions, and substantially eliminate autoignition and associated design constraints. The IsoC engine utilizes an intercooled compressor to isothermally compress air that is stored in a plurality of capacitance tanks prior to delivery of the compressed air to the combustion engine. The IsoC engine allows combustion to be selectively terminated to increase fuel efficiency, thereby resulting in a hybrid compressed air-motor and internal combustion operated IsoC engine.