A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine includes an air compressor, an air cooler connected downstream of the air compressor and the compressed air supply passage, and a bypass passage connected downstream of the air compressor. The fuel supply system also includes a fuel injector secured to the compressed air supply passage or secured to the bypass passage and a valve connected between the air compressor and the air cooler, the valve being configured to block a flow of intake air to the air cooler, causing the intake air to flow to the bypass passage or to permit the flow of intake air to the air cooler.

A fuel injector for operation with combustible gas, having a gas nozzle assembly having at least one gas nozzle opening, and at least one gas nozzle needle associated with the gas nozzle assembly and accommodated in an axial holder so that the stroke of the gas nozzle needle can be controlled. Each gas nozzle opening leads out of the holder having a radial direction component at the nozzle end. The fuel injector has, in the holder, a needle seat upstream of the particular nozzle opening, which needle seat is provided for selectively blocking a combustible-gas flow path to the associated gas nozzle opening in interaction with the gas nozzle needle. The gas nozzle openings are distributed over part of the circumference in the circumferential direction of the gas nozzle needle. The holder, adjoining the needle seat and extending away therefrom axially in the upstream direction, is asymmetric with respect to an axial center axis through the gas nozzle needle. The asymmetry results from a cross-section expansion of the holder on a side of the holder that lies radially opposite the gas nozzle opening, such that a greater mass flow rate of combustible gas can be conducted in the holder by the crosssection expansion than on the gas nozzle opening side opposite thereto. The holder is also shaped to apply a flow direction oriented toward the radially opposite gas nozzle opening, already upstream of the needle seat and via the cross-section expansion, to a combustible-gas flow guided to the needle seat by the cross-section expansion.

A fuel injector for operation with combustible gas, having a gas nozzle assembly having at least one gas nozzle opening, and at least one gas nozzle needle associated with the gas nozzle assembly and accommodated in an axial holder so that the stroke of the gas nozzle needle can be controlled. Each gas nozzle opening leads out of the holder having a radial direction component at the nozzle end. The fuel injector has, in the holder, a needle seat upstream of the particular nozzle opening, which needle seat is provided for selectively blocking a combustible-gas flow path to the associated gas nozzle opening in interaction with the gas nozzle needle. The gas nozzle openings are distributed over part of the circumference in the circumferential direction of the gas nozzle needle. The holder, adjoining the needle seat and extending away therefrom axially in the upstream direction, is asymmetric with respect to an axial center axis through the gas nozzle needle. The asymmetry results from a cross-section expansion of the holder on a side of the holder that lies radially opposite the gas nozzle opening, such that a greater mass flow rate of combustible gas can be conducted in the holder by the crosssection expansion than on the gas nozzle opening side opposite thereto. The holder is also shaped to apply a flow direction oriented toward the radially opposite gas nozzle opening, already upstream of the needle seat and via the cross-section expansion, to a combustible-gas flow guided to the needle seat by the cross-section expansion.

A variable orifice fuel injector has an inward opening needle valve and an outward opening needle valve and has means to directly inject two types of fuels independently and collectively. Both needle valves are fully contained in a nozzle body, with a co-axial smaller needle valve at least partially being contained in a larger needle valve. The materials of the needle valves are individually chosen such that it provides good sealings for liquid and gas fuels.

A variable orifice fuel injector has an inward opening needle valve and an outward opening needle valve and has means to directly inject two types of fuels independently and collectively. Both needle valves are fully contained in a nozzle body, with a co-axial smaller needle valve at least partially being contained in a larger needle valve. The materials of the needle valves are individually chosen such that it provides good sealings for liquid and gas fuels.

A fuel injector assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a fuel injector extending at least to the distal end portion, the fuel injector including a fuel opening. The fuel injector assembly also includes a chamber formed between the proximal and distal end portions, a flame passage extending from the chamber to the distal end portion, and an atomizer configured to provide atomization of liquid fuel injected into the chamber.

A fuel injector has means to directly inject one type of fuel or two types of fuels collectively with fuel ratios on demand. Once being used as a single fuel injector, the injector can enable injection rate shaping. Once being used as a dual fuel injector, the injector can tailor fuel properties on demand. The fuel injector has the capability to enable tailored chemical and thermal-physical fuel properties to enable high efficiency clean combustion for different engine loads and speeds.

A fuel injector has means to directly inject one type of fuel or two types of fuels collectively with fuel ratios on demand. Once being used as a single fuel injector, the injector can enable injection rate shaping. Once being used as a dual fuel injector, the injector can tailor fuel properties on demand. The fuel injector has the capability to enable tailored chemical and thermal-physical fuel properties to enable high efficiency clean combustion for different engine loads and speeds.

A dual-fuel internal combustion engine includes: cylinders for combusting a first liquid fuel having a first ignitability in a first operating mode, and a second liquid fuel having a second lesser ignitability, in a second operating mode; a main injection system including a main injector for each cylinder, for feeding the first liquid fuel to the respective cylinders in the first operating mode and for feeding the second liquid fuel to the respective cylinders in the second operating mode; and a pilot injection system including a pilot injector for each cylinder, via which the first liquid fuel can is feedable to the respective cylinders in the second operating mode for igniting the second liquid fuel. The main and pilot injection systems are coupled such that in the second operating mode the first liquid fuel, is feedable to the respective main injector as a working fluid and/or a barrier fluid.

A dual-fuel internal combustion engine includes: cylinders for combusting a first liquid fuel having a first ignitability in a first operating mode, and a second liquid fuel having a second lesser ignitability, in a second operating mode; a main injection system including a main injector for each cylinder, for feeding the first liquid fuel to the respective cylinders in the first operating mode and for feeding the second liquid fuel to the respective cylinders in the second operating mode; and a pilot injection system including a pilot injector for each cylinder, via which the first liquid fuel can is feedable to the respective cylinders in the second operating mode for igniting the second liquid fuel. The main and pilot injection systems are coupled such that in the second operating mode the first liquid fuel, is feedable to the respective main injector as a working fluid and/or a barrier fluid.