Operating an engine includes injecting a first charge of liquid fuel using a first set of nozzle outlets in a fuel injector, and injecting a second charge of liquid fuel using a second set of nozzle outlets in a fuel injector. The first charge is autoignited in a first engine cycle, and the second charge is autoignited in a second engine cycle, and may be used to pilot ignite a charge of gaseous fuel. Operating the engine further includes limiting errors in targeting of the second charge of liquid fuel caused by transitioning the engine from a first combination to a second combination of speed, load, and boost, by varying an injection pressure of the liquid fuel from the first engine cycle to the second engine cycle.

An engine management system and method may include a control system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine may be a direct-injection engine using a Sonex Controlled Auto-Ignition (“SCAI”) combustion path. The control system and method may utilize fuel injection pressure, timing of start and end of injection, management of turbo airflow, fuel supplied, and other factors to provide reduced emissions and improved performance.

A piston for use in 4 Cycle reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines. The one embodiment includes a multifunctional Engraving or Imprint that is machined into the crown of the piston. This “Imprint” consists of concentric circles of metal removed in a machining process resulting in the compartments of the functional areas within the crown of the piston connected by either the height and or cross drillings within the Imprint. The functional result is to create low and high pressure zones within the crown of the piston as it proceeds upward on the compression stroke facilitating the creation of an active moving rotational swirl in the outer 25% on the top surface area of the piston circumference. The active swirl pattern results in ultimate homogenization of the air fuel mixture leaving no area of the combustion chamber with weak or separated air and fuel molecules resulting in enhanced power and complete combustion.

A ducted combustion system is disclosed. The ducted combustion system includes a combustion chamber bound by a flame deck surface of a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine and by a piston top surface of a piston disposed within the internal combustion engine. The system includes a fuel injector including a plurality of orifices, the plurality of orifices injecting fuel into the combustion chamber as a plurality of fuel jets. The system includes a duct structure defining a plurality of ducts and disposed within the combustion chamber between the flame deck surface and the piston top surface, the plurality of ducts being disposed such that each of the plurality of fuel jets at least partially enters one of the plurality of ducts upon being injected into the combustion chamber.

A diesel engine includes at least one cylinder (1) with a piston (2) having a piston bowl (3). A fuel injector (6) is configured to direct a fuel spray towards a target area (21) on an annular wall section (22) of the piston bowl so as to make a flame (20) formed by ignition of the fuel spray hit the target area. The target area borders, via a flow separation edge (23), on a lowered flow separation area (24) on the annular wall section so as to give this annular wall section a stepped configuration. The flow separation edge and flow separation area are configured to induce the formation of a vortex-filled wake between the flame and the flow separation area on the downstream side of the flow separation edge when the flame flows from the target area, across the flow separation edge and over the flow separation area.

A combustion system includes a cylinder having a main chamber and a fuel injector positioned to inject fuel into the main chamber. A cylinder head is disposed at a top of the cylinder and forms an upper end of the main chamber. A prechamber adapter has a prechamber volume and a nozzle with a plurality of orifices for communication between the prechamber volume and an external environment. The prechamber adapter is threaded into a bore in the cylinder head and positioned to expose the nozzle to the main chamber. A spark plug is positioned within the prechamber adapter with a spark emitting end exposed to the prechamber volume. A piston movably disposed within the cylinder has a piston head forming a lower end of the main chamber. The piston head has a dome shape and a bowl formed in a top center of the dome shape.

An engine management system and method may include a control system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine may be a direct-injection engine using a Sonex Controlled Auto-Ignition (“SCAI”) combustion path. The control system and method may utilize fuel injection pressure, timing of start and end of injection, management of turbo airflow, fuel supplied, and other factors to provide reduced emissions and improved performance.

A diesel engine includes at least one cylinder (1) with a piston (2) having a piston bowl (3). A fuel injector (6) is configured to direct a fuel spray towards a target area (21) on an annular wall section (22) of the piston bowl so as to make a flame (20) formed by ignition of the fuel spray hit the target area. The target area borders, via a flow separation edge (23), on a lowered flow separation area (24) on the annular wall section so as to give this annular wall section a stepped configuration. The flow separation edge and flow separation area are configured to induce the formation of a vortex-filled wake between the flame and the flow separation area on the downstream side of the flow separation edge when the flame flows from the target area, across the flow separation edge and over the flow separation area.

Operating an engine includes injecting a first charge of liquid fuel using a first set of nozzle outlets in a fuel injector, and injecting a second charge of liquid fuel using a second set of nozzle outlets in a fuel injector. The first charge is autoignited in a first engine cycle, and the second charge is autoignited in a second engine cycle, and may be used to pilot ignite a charge of gaseous fuel. Operating the engine further includes limiting errors in targeting of the second charge of liquid fuel caused by transitioning the engine from a first combination to a second combination of speed, load, and boost, by varying an injection pressure of the liquid fuel from the first engine cycle to the second engine cycle.

Operating an engine includes injecting a first charge of liquid fuel using a first set of nozzle outlets in a fuel injector, and injecting a second charge of liquid fuel using a second set of nozzle outlets in a fuel injector. The first charge is autoignited in a first engine cycle, and the second charge is autoignited in a second engine cycle, and may be used to pilot ignite a charge of gaseous fuel. Operating the engine further includes limiting errors in targeting of the second charge of liquid fuel caused by transitioning the engine from a first combination to a second combination of speed, load, and boost, by varying an injection pressure of the liquid fuel from the first engine cycle to the second engine cycle.