Embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods of operating internal combustion (IC) engines by combusting various fuel chemistries therein. Specifically, engines described herein can operate a wide range of fuel chemistries with varying molecular formulas. The chemical compositions of the fuels described herein make them more difficult to ignite than long chain hydrocarbons (i.e., fuels that include 6 or more carbon atoms in a molecule). In some embodiments, engines described herein can combust fuels that have the chemical properties of alcohols. In some embodiments, engines described herein can combust fuels that include hydroxide groups. Examples of such fuels include methanol and/or ethanol. In some embodiments, engines described herein can combust natural gas. These fuel chemistries are difficult to ignite, particularly at low temperatures and during initial engine startup. Systems and methods described herein address these ignition difficulties, particularly in diesel engine architectures.

A uniflow-scavenged two-cycle engine includes: a cylinder which has a combustion chamber; a piston; a scavenging chamber that surrounds one end side of the cylinder in the stroke direction of the piston and to which compressed active gas is guided; a scavenging port that is provided in a portion of the cylinder which is positioned in the scavenging chamber and suctions active gas from the scavenging chamber to the combustion chamber in response to a sliding motion of the piston; a fuel injection opening that injects fuel gas into the active gas which is suctioned into the scavenging port; and a fuel injecting valve that opens and closes a fuel supply path through which a fuel tank, communicates with the fuel injection opening, and is disposed in an space isolated from the scavenging chamber.

A system 10 and method of operating the system 10 are disclosed. The system 10 includes a compressor 20, a combustion engine 30, and an input system 60. The compressor 20 is configured to mix and compress a liquid hydrocarbon fuel 15 and a first hydrocarbon gas fuel 17, thereby to form a liquid fuel mixture 21. The combustion engine 30 is disposed downstream of the compressor 20 and includes a dual fuel injection system 40 and a combustion chamber 50. The dual fuel injection system 40 includes a nozzle 42 that is configured to inject the liquid fuel mixture 21 into the combustion chamber 50 of the combustion engine 30. The input system 60 is fluidly connected with the combustion engine 30, and configured to inject air 62 and a second hydrocarbon gas fuel 64 into the combustion chamber 50.