An internal combustion engine in which a required reformed-fuel heat generation quantity (required output cylinder heat generation quantity) is calculated based on a required engine power and the thermal efficiency of an output cylinder. An estimated reformed fuel heat generation quantity is calculated based on the molar number of reformed fuel, mole fraction of each gas component in the reformed fuel, and heat generation quantity of each gas component in the reformed fuel. When a value resulting from subtracting the estimated reformed fuel heat generation quantity from the required reformed-fuel heat generation quantity is negative, a fuel reforming operation is not executed, assuming that there is a possibility that surplus reformed fuel may be generated. For example, a fuel supply from an injector to a fuel reformation chamber is stopped.

An internal combustion engine in which a fuel reforming operation in a fuel reformation cylinder (2) is not executed when a gas temperature of a fuel reformation chamber (23) at a time point when a piston (22) in the fuel reformation cylinder (2) reaches a compression top dead point is estimated to fall short of a reforming operation allowable lower limit gas temperature set based on a lower limit value of a reforming reaction enabling temperature. For example, fuel is supplied from an injector (25) so that an equivalence ratio in the fuel reformation chamber (23) is less than 1. Alternatively, the fuel supply from an injector (25) is stopped. This way, a supply of non-reformed fuel from the fuel reformation cylinder (2) to an output cylinder (3) can be avoided, and knocking in the output cylinder (3) can be avoided.

A fuel gas blending system for internal combustion engines combines two or more gas streams to achieve a blended fuel gas having a suitable heating value (HV) for a given engine. A relatively high HV gas, for example gas produced from an oil and/or gas well, or containerized propane, is blended with a relatively low HV gas, for example nitrogen. The blended gas achieves a fuel gas with a suitable HV. Suitable means for combining the gas streams, analyzing the blended gas stream for HV and other properties, and adjusting the blend as needed are all provided. The system permits use of available gaseous fuel sources, even if not suitable in an unblended state, to efficiently fuel internal combustion engines.

The invention relates to a method for adapting the composition of a mixture of fuel and combustion air. The mixture is supplied to a combustion chamber of a mixture-lubricated combustion engine in a work apparatus. The fuel is supplied to the combustion engine via a controlled fuel valve. In an operating state (I) of the combustion engine, the quantity of fuel is metered by the fuel valve. For the purpose of adapting the composition of the mixture, the combustion engine is shifted into a special operating state (II) which differs from the normal operating state (I). After starting, the combustion engine is operated in a first rotational speed range (B) for a prespecified operating time (T.sub.min), wherein, after the prespecified operating time (T.sub.min) has elapsed, the operating state (II) for adapting the composition of the mixture is initiated by a prespecified user action.

A supplemental fuel system includes a fuel mixer. The fuel mixer includes a nozzle and a stem. The nozzle is configured to be positioned within a conduit of an air supply system for a compression-ignition engine. The nozzle has a body defining a first inlet positioned at a first nozzle end thereof, an outlet positioned at a second nozzle end thereof, a second inlet positioned between the first nozzle end and the second nozzle end, and a nozzle passage extending from the first nozzle end to the second nozzle end that is configured to receive air flowing through the conduit. The stem has a first stem end interfacing with the second inlet. The stem is configured to extend through a wall of the conduit such that a second stem end is positioned outside of the conduit.

The present invention relates to a system for coping with a malfunction of an ethanol sensor of a FFV. The present invention provides a system for coping with a malfunction of an ethanol sensor of a FFV, the system including: a driving condition detector configured to determine whether a driving condition of the FFV is satisfied; an air-fuel ratio control condition detector configured to determine whether an air-fuel ratio control condition is satisfied; a timer unit configured to calculate a timer value by measuring time when an ethanol content value measured in the ethanol sensor is constant and when the driving condition and the air-fuel ratio control condition are satisfied; and a controller configured to synchronize an ethanol-content learned value with the ethanol content value measured in the ethanol sensor when it is determined that the timer value calculated in the timer unit is higher than a preset critical value.

A control device includes first and second level ratio calculators and an adjuster. The first level ratio calculator calculates a first level ratio of an amount of a first fuel stored in a first tank to a full tank capacity of the first tank. The second level ratio calculator calculates a second level ratio of an amount of a second fuel stored in a second tank to a full tank capacity of the second tank. An octane number of the second fuel is higher than an octane number of the first fuel. The adjuster adjusts a first fuel ratio of the first fuel in a supplied fuel which is supplied to an internal combustion engine and a second fuel ratio of the second fuel in the supplied fuel such that a deviation ratio of the first level ratio and the second level ratio is within a predetermined range.

A gaseous fuel engine system includes a quick start fuel system having a pressurized gaseous fuel supply, a fuel feed conduit and a quick start fuel admission valve. The fuel feed conduit is coupled to an intake conduit for the engine at a downstream fuel admission location. A main fuel system is coupled to the intake conduit at an upstream fuel admission location. The quick start fuel admission valve is electrically actuated to admit a pressured gaseous fuel from the pressurized gaseous fuel supply for quick starting the gaseous fuel internal combustion engine. The quick start fuel may have a fuel composition different than a fuel composition of the main fuel.

A hybrid power system for a locomotive for reducing emissions. The hybrid power system may have at least one engine powered by natural gas, at least one engine powered by diesel fuel and/or a dual fuel mixture of diesel and natural gas, a drive system operatively coupled to the at least one natural gas powered engine and the at least one diesel and/or dual fuel powered engine for propelling the locomotive, and a system controller for independently controlling power output from the respective engines to the drive system based upon a power demand. The hybrid power system may utilize the natural gas powered engine(s) at low power demands, and then supplement this power with the diesel and/or dual fuel powered engine(s) at higher power demands.

Internal combustion engine, preferably a gas engine, comprising a pre-chamber having a pre-chamber intake system and a main combustion chamber having a main combustion chamber intake system, wherein by use of the intake systems a predetermined amount of energy of fuel can be supplied to the main combustion chamber for a combustion, wherein a control unit is configured to control the intake systems according to the following operation modes: a first operation mode, in which a majority of a fuel energy amount for the combustion in the main combustion chamber is supplied directly to the main combustion chamber by use of the main combustion chamber intake system, and a second operation mode, in which a majority of the fuel energy amount for the combustion in the main combustion chamber is supplied via the pre-chamber to the main combustion chamber by use of the pre-chamber intake system.