A fuel injector for a combustion engine includes an injector head including a nozzle, a premixer, and a distributor structured to distribute a plurality of different fuels to different sets of fueling orifices in the premixer. A pilot assembly of the fuel injector is coupled to the premixer and includes a first fueling passage for a first fuel and a second fueling passage for a second fuel. Multiple sets of fueling orifices are positioned within the fuel injector, the fueling orifice sets being selectively connectable to a plurality of different fuel supplies, and both located and sized so as to accommodate a wide range of flow rates to enable a combustion engine coupled with the fuel injector to operate on fuels having a range of Wobbe numbers and compositions.

A fuel injector for a combustion engine includes an injector head including a nozzle, a premixer, and a distributor structured to distribute a plurality of different fuels to different sets of fueling orifices in the premixer. A pilot assembly of the fuel injector is coupled to the premixer and includes a first fueling passage for a first fuel and a second fueling passage for a second fuel. Multiple sets of fueling orifices are positioned within the fuel injector, the fueling orifice sets being selectively connectable to a plurality of different fuel supplies, and both located and sized so as to accommodate a wide range of flow rates to enable a combustion engine coupled with the fuel injector to operate on fuels having a range of Wobbe numbers and compositions.

An apparatus and method for igniting a gaseous fuel directly introduced into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine comprises steps of heating a space near a fuel injector nozzle; introducing a pilot amount of the gaseous fuel in the combustion chamber during a first stage injection event; controlling residency of the pilot amount in the space such that a temperature of the pilot amount increases to an auto-ignition temperature of the gaseous fuel whereby ignition occurs; introducing a main amount of the gaseous fuel during a second stage injection event after the first stage injection event; and using heat from combustion of the pilot amount to ignite the main amount.

An apparatus and method for igniting a gaseous fuel directly introduced into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine comprises steps of heating a space near a fuel injector nozzle; introducing a pilot amount of the gaseous fuel in the combustion chamber during a first stage injection event; controlling residency of the pilot amount in the space such that a temperature of the pilot amount increases to an auto-ignition temperature of the gaseous fuel whereby ignition occurs; introducing a main amount of the gaseous fuel during a second stage injection event after the first stage injection event; and using heat from combustion of the pilot amount to ignite the main amount.

In a multi-fuel system for diesel engines, natural gas is mixed with diesel fuel and conditioned in a mixing chamber before being injected into the mixing chamber of the engine. Filtered blow-by gas may also be introduced into the combustion chamber. A computerized controller is used to determine and control the proportion of diesel fuel, natural gas fuel, the mixing and conditioning of these fuels, and the supply of filtered blow-by gas.

In a multi-fuel system for diesel engines, natural gas is mixed with diesel fuel and conditioned in a mixing chamber before being injected into the mixing chamber of the engine. Filtered blow-by gas may also be introduced into the combustion chamber. A computerized controller is used to determine and control the proportion of diesel fuel, natural gas fuel, the mixing and conditioning of these fuels, and the supply of filtered blow-by gas.

A dual fuel engine is provided. The dual fuel engine includes an engine cylinder and a piston disposed within the engine cylinder. The dual fuel engine includes a cylinder head coupled to the engine cylinder and a fuel injector coupled to the cylinder head. The fuel injector is adapted to supply a first fuel to the engine cylinder. The dual fuel engine further includes a pre-combustion chamber coupled to the cylinder head at a predetermined distance from the fuel injector. The pre-combustion chamber is in fluid communication with the engine cylinder via at least one conduit and the pre-combustion chamber is adapted to receive a second fuel and an air mixture. The second fuel is different from the first fuel. The dual fuel engine further includes a spark plug structured and arranged within the pre-combustion chamber and the spark plug is adapted to ignite the second fuel within the pre-combustion chamber.

A dual fuel engine is provided. The dual fuel engine includes an engine cylinder and a piston disposed within the engine cylinder. The dual fuel engine includes a cylinder head coupled to the engine cylinder and a fuel injector coupled to the cylinder head. The fuel injector is adapted to supply a first fuel to the engine cylinder. The dual fuel engine further includes a pre-combustion chamber coupled to the cylinder head at a predetermined distance from the fuel injector. The pre-combustion chamber is in fluid communication with the engine cylinder via at least one conduit and the pre-combustion chamber is adapted to receive a second fuel and an air mixture. The second fuel is different from the first fuel. The dual fuel engine further includes a spark plug structured and arranged within the pre-combustion chamber and the spark plug is adapted to ignite the second fuel within the pre-combustion chamber.

A control system includes a processor for controlling an internal combustion engine having a temperature region, wherein a change of ignition delay time accompanying a rise in a cylinder temperature when the cylinder temperature is in the temperature region is smaller than when the cylinder temperature is out of the temperature region. When a self ignition timing of secondary fuel is earlier than a self ignition timing of primary fuel due to the secondary fuel being injected at a crank angle at which the cylinder temperature is higher than the temperature region, the processor controls a ratio of the secondary fuel to be lower than when the self ignition timing of the secondary fuel is later than the self ignition timing of the primary fuel due to the secondary fuel being injected at a crank angle at which the cylinder temperature is within the temperature region.

A control system includes a processor for controlling an internal combustion engine having a temperature region, wherein a change of ignition delay time accompanying a rise in a cylinder temperature when the cylinder temperature is in the temperature region is smaller than when the cylinder temperature is out of the temperature region. When a self ignition timing of secondary fuel is earlier than a self ignition timing of primary fuel due to the secondary fuel being injected at a crank angle at which the cylinder temperature is higher than the temperature region, the processor controls a ratio of the secondary fuel to be lower than when the self ignition timing of the secondary fuel is later than the self ignition timing of the primary fuel due to the secondary fuel being injected at a crank angle at which the cylinder temperature is within the temperature region.