Method of Gas Exchange for Four-stroke Engine
20210048045 ยท 2021-02-18
Inventors
Cpc classification
F15B15/1428
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F02B25/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Y02T10/12
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
International classification
Abstract
This method of gas exchange for four-stroke piston internal combustion engine comprising gas exchange through an intake and an exhaust valves and includes gas exchange through a piston-controlled port in a cylinder sleeve: exhausting combustion products through the port at the end of the power stroke and at the beginning of the exhaust stroke, removal of exhaust gases from the port (from the space outside the port, outside the cylinder) and air supply to the port (supply into afore-mentioned space). As a result, the combustion products do not return to the cylinder through the port at the end of the intake stroke and at the beginning of the compression stroke. This effect is combined with air intaking into the cylinder through the port at the end of the intake stroke and at the beginning of the compression stroke.
Claims
1. A method of gas exchange of a four-stroke engine, which has a port in a cylinder sleeve, that is opened when a piston is near BDC, an engine cycle of said engine includes: intaking a fresh charge (air or air-fuel mixture), compressing the fresh charge in a cylinder, combustion, expansion processes on the power stroke, exhausting combustion products including exhausting combustion products through the port at the end of the power stroke and at the beginning of the exhaust stroke, wherein to improve gas exchange, the following actions is executed: a) connection of a combustion chamber (a space inside the cylinder) with the surrounding (atmospheric) air via the port in the cylinder sleeve directly and exhausting combustion products from the cylinder through the port directly into the surrounding air, b) removal of exhaust gases from the port in the sleeve (and from the space close to this port outside the port, outside the cylinder) to the surrounding air, c) suction or/and supply of air to the port (suction or/and supply air into the space outside the port, outside the cylinder) in the time interval between opening the port at the end of the power stroke and closing the port at the beginning of the compression stroke or at least during the time interval between closing the port at the exhaust stroke and closing the port at the beginning of the compression stroke.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein air intakes into the cylinder through the port in the cylinder sleeve at the end of the intake stroke (or at the end of the intake stroke and at the beginning of the compression stroke).
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the engine is installed so that a stream of surrounding air is directed to (and into) the port and into the space around it (the space close to the port) (the port and the space around it are opened to the stream of surrounding air), as a result this stream of surrounding air intensifies the removal of exhaust gases from the port and the replacement of the exhaust gases with fresh air, the said air flow is created by movement of the vehicle on which the engine is installed, or by a fan or a propeller.
4. A method of gas exchange of a four-stroke engine, which has a port in a cylinder sleeve, that is opened when a piston is near BDC, an engine cycle of said engine includes: intaking a fresh charge (air or air-fuel mixture), compressing the fresh charge in a cylinder, combustion, expansion processes on the power stroke, exhausting combustion products including exhausting combustion products through the port at the end of the power stroke and at the beginning of the exhaust stroke, wherein a device (an air channel, an air deflector, a turbomachine) is used to improve: a) removal of exhaust gases from the port in the sleeve (and from the space close to this port outside the port, outside the cylinder) to the surrounding air, b) suction or/and supply of air to the port (suction or/and supply air into the space outside the port, outside the cylinder) in the time interval between opening the port at the end of the power stroke and closing the port at the beginning of the compression stroke or at least during the time interval between closing the port at the exhaust stroke and closing the port at the beginning of the compression stroke.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein air intakes into the cylinder through the port in the cylinder sleeve at the end of the intake stroke (or at the end of the intake stroke and at the beginning of the compression stroke).
6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the entrance to air channel (convergent channel) or to the air deflector (deflector-confusor) is directed towards the incoming stream of surrounding air.
7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the air channel (convergent channel) is bent or the air deflector is bent so that the air, flowing out of the air channel (convergent channel) or of the air deflector, flows (at least near the port in the sleeve) in the direction of the cylinder axis or at an acute angle to this axis.
8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the exhaust gases flowing out from the port are directed into a channel (or to a deflector) that is mounted so that there is a passage between the entrance of the channel (or the deflector) and the cylinder, this passage is made for the suction of the surrounding air to the port, into the space close to the port.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the channel length is such that an rarefaction wave, generated when the exhaust gas flows out from the channel, increases the remove of exhaust gases from the port and the supply surrounding air to the port in the time interval between the closing of the port in the sleeve on the exhaust stroke and the opening of the port at the end of the intake stroke.
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the exhaust gases flowing out through the port in the cylinder sleeve, are directed from the cylinder into the surrounding air or channel by means of a short nozzle that is mounted outside the port.
11. The method according to claim 8, wherein a turbomachine mounted (on the port, near the port), the exhaust gases rotate the turbomachine, the blades (vanes) of the latter remove (discard) the exhaust gases from the port and supply fresh surrounding air toward the port (to the space outside the port and cylinder).
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein fresh air is supplied toward the port through the hollow axis of the turbomachine, the air enters through the ends of the hollow axis and exits through the slots into the space between the blades.
13. The method according to claim 11, wherein, an outer edge of the blades of the turbomachine in a plan view (top view) has a circumferential shape coaxial to the cylinder.
14. A method of gas exchange of a four-stroke engine, which has a port in a cylinder sleeve, that is opened when a piston is near BDC, an engine cycle of said engine includes: intaking a fresh charge (air or air-fuel mixture), compressing the fresh charge in a cylinder, combustion, expansion processes on the power stroke, exhausting combustion products including exhausting combustion products through the port at the end of the power stroke and at the beginning of the exhaust stroke, wherein to improve gas exchange air is removed (flowed out) of the cylinder (scavenging) through the port at the end of the intake stroke and/or at the beginning of the compression stroke at least at one of operating regimes.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012]
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[0020]
[0021]
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The proposed method was developed, first of all (but not only), for four-stroke engines in which the gas pressure in the cylinder (inside the cylinder) at the end of the intake is lower than atmospheric pressure. This means that the method can also be used in conventional naturally aspirated engines. According to the method, the constantly open port in the cylinder sleeve is used for exhausting combustion products. This (piston-controlled) port is opened by the piston at the end of power stroke and beginning of the exhaust stroke. The port is also open at the end of the intake process and at the beginning of the compression process. But due to the use of the proposed method at the end of the intake process and at the beginning of compression process the combustion products practically do not return into the cylinder, despite the fact that the pressure in the cylinder is below atmosphere pressure and the port in the cylinder sleeve is open. Prevention of the return of exhaust gases into the cylinder at the end of the intake stroke is achieved as follows: during the time between the opening of the port in the sleeve at the end of the power (expansion) stroke and the opening of this port at the end of the intake stroke, the combustion products are removed from the port and surrounding (atmospheric, ambient) air is supply or sucked to the port into the place of these combustion products. Therefore, if gas enters into the cylinder through the port at the end of the intake process, it is the air that enters and not combustion products.
[0024] In the present description the term port in a/the cylinder sleeve is used; obviously, the proposed method can be used in engines in which the cylinder is made in the cylinder block and does not have a sleeve, and the port (or ports) is made (cut) in the cylinder wall.
[0025] The simplest version of the offered method is implemented in the four-stroke internal combustion engine comprisingsee
[0026] According to offered method at the last stage of the power stroke (and at the last stage of expansion process) the exhaust valve 1 (
[0027] Use of the port increases the flow area of the exhaust gases outflow and allows: to reduce the power waste when pushing out the exhaust gases, what increases efficiency; to exercise exhaust at high frequencies of rotation of the crankshaft, i.e. to increase the engine speed and proportionally to increase the engine power. The exhaust via both: exhaust valve 1 and port 2, i.e. split the outflow of hot exhaust gases, reduces temperature and the heat load of the cylinder head and the exhaust valve.
[0028] The exhaust gases flow out through both valve 1 and port 2 continues in the beginning of the exhaust stroke (when the piston moves from BDC) until the piston covers the port 2.
[0029] (In other words, the present method includes exhausting combustion products through the port in the cylinder sleeve at the end of the power stroke and at the beginning of the exhaust stroke.)
[0030] Then, in the exhaust process, the piston is moving towards top dead center (TDC) and continues to push exhaust gases through the exhaust valve 1, see
[0031] At the exhaust stroke, when the piston 3, moving to the TDC, closes the port 2, the outflow of exhaust gases through the port is ended. The exhaust gases, which had previously flowed out of the cylinder through the port, fly away from the port by inertia, and fresh air (surrounding air) is sucked from the environment to the port. Air flow to the port 2 is indicated by white arrows in
[0032] At the next strokeintake strokethe piston travels from TDC to BDC with the intake valve 5 open and exhaust valve 1 closedsee
[0033] At the end of the intake stroke (and at the end of the process of admission) piston 3 appears again in the BDC
[0034] An additional intake through the port in the sleeve increases the filling of the cylinder with the fresh charge. This increase in filling can be executed (can be realized) not at all versions of the engine, not for all engine models and not the entire period when the port is opened. More important is another: in the proposed engine, in despite of the constantly open port, there is no significant return of exhaust gases to the cylinder at the end of the intake stroke and at the beginning of the compression stroke. By the significant return of exhaust gases to the cylinder is meant one whose negative effect is equal to or greater than the positive effect of the port in the sleeve. The positive effects include easy exhaust, a decrease in thermal load (thermal stress), in some cases, an increase in filling, etc., as well as positive effects that follow from the above: a decrease in the tendency to detonation (for engines with spark ignition), therefore, the possibility of increasing the degree of compression; increase in engine speed, therefore, increase in power; reduction of the cooling system; increase in efficiency, etc.
[0035] After the afore-mentioned end of the intake and beginning of compression on the compression stroke, the piston continues travels from BDC to TDC with the intake valve and exhaust valve closed
[0036] Then self-ignition and/or ignition from a spark (by external ignition source) is executed. At the power stroke (expansion stroke) combustion and expanding combustion products are executed. At the last stage of the power stroke (and at the last stage of expansion process) the exhaust valve 1 (
[0037] Using the ports in the sleeve changes the optimal valve timing so that the optimal beginning of exhaust through the exhaust valve can become later (compared with the valve timing of a conventional engine) and can even shift to the beginning of the exhaust stroke.
[0038] Since the port 2 connects directly to the atmosphere, the movement of surrounding air can be used to improve the removal of combustion products from the port 2 and the supply air to the port 2. This refers to the movement of surrounding air created due to any of the reasons: wind, surrounding air movement relative to the machine (relative to a vehicle, for example the aircraft) as it moves, a propeller or a fan rotation, etc. Air flow (an air stream, air blast, current of atmospheric air, surrounding air) is directed to the port and the space around it (or the port and the space around it are opened to a stream of ambient air) so, that this air flow intensifies the removal of combustion products from the port and the replacement of the exhaust gases with fresh air.
[0039] In the simplest case, the engine is mounted so that the ambient air flow easily reaches the port in the sleeve (easily passes to the port in the sleeve) and blows the combustion products from the space around the port, preventing the return of the combustion products into the cylinder.
[0040] To intensify the supply of ambient air to the port an air channel can be used. Such the air channel 6 is shown in
[0041] The port 2 is cut in the cylinder sleeve along the cylinder directrix, which lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder. Therefore, to improve the removal of combustion products flowed out from the port 2, it is better to direct the flow of surrounding air so that it flows towards port 2 in the direction of the cylinder axis or at least at an acute angle to it. An acute angle is the smallest of the angles between the velocity vector of the air flow, flowing from the air channel 6, and the axis of the cylinder. The direction of the axis of the cylinder is selected based on the desired direction of removal of the products of combustion: up, i.e. to the cylinder head, or downto the crankcase. For the indicated air outlet (air flow from the channel) towards the port 2, the air channel 6 has a bend of the walls. Due to this bending, the air flow, that flows from the air channel 6 through the outlet 8 of this channel, flows (at least in the region of the port in the sleeve) in the direction of the cylinder axis or at an acute angle to this axis. The air flow from channel 6 is shown in
[0042] Other versions of devices that facilitate the removal of exhaust gases from the port in the sleeve and the supply surrounding air towards the port (into the space outside the port and cylinder) are possible. For example, a device similar an ejector may be used. Versions of such a device are shown schematically in
[0043] The ejector usually has a pipe, which includes a confusor, a section of constant cross-sectional area and a diffuser. A similar pipe can be mounted on the port in the sleeve. More precisely, this is not a pipe, but a channel similar to the pipe. Such the channel 9 is shown in
[0044] Exhaust gases that flow out through the port 2 flow into channel 9. Due to the high velocity of the gases flowing out of the cylinder, according to Bernoulli's law, the gas pressure drops, and atmospheric air passes through suction passage (air gap) 10 to port 2. Air movement in passage 10 is shown by a white arrow. This additionally facilitates the removal of combustion products from the cylinder and the air supply to the port 2.
[0045] A nozzle 11 can be mounted on the port in the sleeve (see
[0046] In an embodiment, a deflector may be used instead of the channel 9. As a deflector, for example, an inclined plate or an upper part of the channel 9 can be used. Such deflector isolates parts, systems and wires of the engine from hot exhaust gases and facilitates the supply of fresh air to the port.
[0047] In a version of proposed method gas-dynamic (wave) processes are used in the channel 9, which is mounted on the port in the sleeve. As in the previous embodiments (shown in
[0048] Another version of devices that facilitate the removal of exhaust gases from the port in the sleeve and the supply of surrounding air to the port (to the space outside the port and cylinder) is shown in
[0049] At the end of the power stroke (see
[0050] During the period when the port 2 is opened at the end of the power stroke and at the beginning of the exercise stroke, turbomachine 12 is gaining (increasing) speed. Then, in the period between the closing of the port 2 at the beginning of the exhaust stroke and the subsequent opening of the port 2 at the end of the intake stroke, when the port is closed, the turbomachine 12 rotates by inertia. During this period (the beginning of the exhaust strokethe end of the intake stroke, the port is closed), the blades of the turbomachine 12 capture fresh air and drive (pump) it to the port.
[0051] In this way, the removal of the exhaust gases from the port in the sleeve and the supply of surrounding air toward the port (outside the port and cylinder) are executedsee
[0052] Fresh air may also be supplied through the hollow axis of the turbomachine 12. For this purpose, slots are cut in hollow axis between blades. The air enters through the ends of the hollow axis and exits through the slots into the space between the blades and, further, is ejected by centrifugal force to the port 2.
[0053] As seen in
[0054] Depending on the engine and its operation mode, two versions of the operation of the turbomachine 12 are rational. In the first embodiment, the main one is the air supply to the port 2, including the creation of excess pressure outside the port 2, in order to supply air to the cylinder at the end of the inlet and the beginning of the compression. In the second version, the goal is scavenging (this version, we will call scavenging version), for which a depression is created at the end of the intake and the beginning of compression outside the port 2. To implement the second version, the turbomachine 12 is isolated (e.g., by a casing) from the fresh air supply. In the two versions, the geometry of the turbomachine 12 is different (different bending of the blades, etc.).
[0055] Said scavenging version, in which air flow out of the cylinder (scavenging) through the port in the cylinder sleeve at the end of the intake stroke and/or at the beginning of the compression stroke, in principle, can be executed with other versions of the implementation of the proposed method considered above.
[0056] The flow of gases, corresponding to the scavenging version, can be executed when the inertia of the gases flowing through port 2 is high, then air (fresh charge) flows out of the cylinder following them. (That is, the cylinder scavenging is executed.) The scavenging version is also executed when air is supplied into the cylinder under pressure above atmospheric pressure. The pressure increasing is executed in various methods: supercharging (here supercharger is a mechanical driven compressor), inertial supercharging, for example, due to wave processes in the intake manifold, dynamic velocity pressure due to vehicle movement (ram air intake), the use of a wave pressure exchanger, turbocharging, etc. Among the methods of increasing pressure is the following: air is supplied to the cylinder of a four-stroke engine from its crankcase.
CONCLUSION
[0057] The idea of the simplest version of the proposed method can be formulated as follows. To cut (to make) the port in the sleeve and not to interfere with the exhaust gases flowed out through this port fly away from the cylinder. In such a case, at the end of the intake, the exhaust gases do not return to the cylinder through the port, despite the fact, that the port at the end of the intake is open.
[0058] The proposed method can only be used in engines the proportion of which of the total number of engines is completely negligible. These are only four-stroke engines, and among them only engines that have no restrictions on the toxicity of exhaust gases, for example, engines for small models of aircraft. And among these engines are only those in which hot exhaust gases from the port in the sleeve do not harm the engine equipment and the machine (aircraft) on which the engine is installed.