DUAL-FUEL FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

Abstract

A dual-fuel fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine has a liquid fuel injection branch and a gas fuel injection branch, in which a gas injector assembly that is controllable via a control fluid is situated. The liquid fuel forms the control fluid of the gas injector assembly.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A dual-fuel fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a liquid fuel injection branch; a gas fuel injection branch; and a gas injector assembly, fluidically connected to the gas fuel injection branch, and controllable by a control fluid comprising liquid fuel.

16. The dual-fuel fuel injection system of claim 15, further comprising a high-pressure pump for conveying the liquid fuel to the gas injector assembly during a gas operation.

17. The dual-fuel fuel injection system of claim 15, further comprising a high-pressure pump for conveying the liquid fuel to liquid fuel injectors fluidically connected to the liquid fuel injection branch.

18. The dual-fuel fuel injection system of claim 15, further comprising a high-pressure pump having a switching device for selectively conveying the liquid fuel to the liquid fuel injectors or to the gas injector assembly.

19. The dual-fuel fuel injection system of claim 15, further comprising a first high-pressure pump configured for conveying the liquid fuel to the gas injector assembly, and a second high-pressure pump configured for conveying the liquid fuel to liquid fuel injectors.

20. The dual-fuel fuel injection system of claim 20, further comprising a pre-feed pump that is fluidically connected upstream from the high-pressure pumps.

21. The dual-fuel fuel injection system of claim 20, wherein the first high-pressure pump and the second high-pressure pump are fluidically connected in parallel.

22. The dual-fuel fuel injection system of claim 20, wherein the first high-pressure pump is configured to selectively convey the liquid fuel to the liquid fuel injectors or to the gas injector assembly.

23. The dual-fuel fuel injection system of claim 15, wherein the gas injector assembly is fluidically connected to a liquid fuel tank by a leak return line.

24. An internal combustion engine comprising: a liquid fuel injection branch; a gas fuel branch; and a gas injector assembly in the gas fuel injection branch that is controllable by a control fluid comprising liquid fuel.

25. The internal combustion engine of claim 24, further comprising a high-pressure pump for conveying the liquid fuel to the gas injector assembly during a gas operation.

26. The internal combustion engine of claim 24, further comprising a high-pressure pump for conveying the liquid fuel to liquid fuel injectors fluidically connected to the liquid fuel injection branch.

27. The internal combustion engine of claim 24, further comprising a high-pressure pump having a switching device for selectively conveying the liquid fuel to the liquid fuel injectors or to the gas injector assembly.

28. The internal combustion engine of claim 24, further comprising a first high-pressure pump configured for conveying the liquid fuel to the gas injector assembly, and a second high-pressure pump configured for conveying the liquid fuel to liquid fuel injectors.

29. A method for operating a dual-fuel fuel injection system comprising: conveying, during a gas operation, a liquid fuel to a gas injector assembly of a dual-fuel fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine, the dual-fuel injection system comprising: a liquid fuel injection branch; a gas fuel injection branch; and the gas injector assembly, wherein the gas injector assembly is arranged in the gas fuel injection branch and is controllable by a control fluid comprising the liquid fuel; conveying, during the gas operation, the liquid fuel to liquid fuel injectors fluidically connected to the liquid fuel injection branch.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising conveying, by a high-pressure pump and during a gas operation, the liquid fuel to the gas injector assembly.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising conveying, by a high-pressure pump, the liquid fuel to liquid fuel injectors fluidically connected to the liquid fuel injection branch.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising selectively conveying, by a high-pressure pump having a switching device, the liquid fuel to the liquid fuel injectors or to the gas injector assembly.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising conveying, by a first high-pressure pump, the liquid fuel to the gas injector assembly; and conveying, by a second high-pressure pump, the liquid fuel to liquid fuel injectors.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising selectively conveying, by first high-pressure pump, the liquid fuel to the liquid fuel injectors or to the gas injector assembly.

Description

[0022] Further advantages and practical embodiments are set forth in the additional claims, the description of the figures, and the drawings, which show the following:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an internal combustion engine having a dual-fuel fuel injection system, illustrated in liquid fuel operation, and

[0024] FIG. 2 shows the internal combustion engine having a dual-fuel fuel injection system, illustrated in gas operation.

[0025] Identical components are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0026] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an internal combustion engine 1 that is equipped with a dual-fuel fuel injection system 2 for alternative operation with liquid fuel and with combustion gas. The dual-fuel fuel injection system 2 includes a liquid fuel injection branch 3 via which the liquid fuel is supplied to the internal combustion engine 1, and a gas fuel injection branch 4 for supplying combustion gas to the internal combustion engine 1. Fuel injectors 5 are situated in the liquid fuel injection branch 3, and are connected to a liquid fuel tank 8 via a liquid fuel line 6 in which a pump assembly 7 is situated. The liquid fuel from the tank 8 is supplied at high pressure to the liquid fuel injectors 5 via the pump assembly 7 for injection into the cylinders of the internal combustion engine 1.

[0027] The gas fuel injection branch 4 includes a gas line 9 for supplying gas from a gas reservoir, and a gas injector assembly 10 for controlled injection of the combustion gas into the cylinders of the internal combustion engine. The gas injector assembly 10 includes control valves 11 and gas injectors 12, each associated with a control valve 11, with a gas needle via which the combustion gas is led into the cylinders of the internal combustion engine. The associated gas injectors 12 are adjusted between the open position and the closed position by means of the control valves 11.

[0028] The control valves 11 of the gas injector assembly 10 are controlled by a control fluid, which is the liquid fuel from the tank 8. The control valves 11 are connected to the pump assembly 7 and to the liquid fuel tank 8 via a line 13. The controlled injection of combustion gas into the internal combustion engine 1 takes place via the actuation of the control valves 11 in the gas operation, with the aid of the liquid fuel which functions as a control fluid.

[0029] The pump assembly 7 includes a pre-pump 14 and two high-pressure pumps 15 and 16, connected in parallel, which are connected to the pre-pump 14 in series downstream from same. The pump assembly 7 also includes a switching valve 17 downstream from the first high-pressure pump 15. With the aid of the switching valve 17, the first high-pressure pump 15 may be switched into flow connection with the liquid fuel line 6 (FIG. 1, liquid fuel operation) or into flow connection with the line 13 for controlling the control valves 11 (FIG. 2, gas operation). The second high-pressure pump 16 is situated in the liquid fuel line 6, via which liquid fuel is conveyed to the fuel injectors 5 during the liquid fuel operation and also during the gas operation.

[0030] The control valves 11 of the gas injector assembly 10 as well as the liquid fuel injectors 5 are connected to a leak return line 18 via which leakage fluid of the liquid fuel is returned to the tank 8.

[0031] In the liquid fuel operation illustrated in FIG. 1, the switching valve 17 is switched in such a way that the liquid fuel conveyed from the tank 8 by the first high-pressure pump 15 is led solely into the liquid fuel line 6 of the liquid fuel injection branch 3, and further to the liquid fuel injectors 5. The gas fuel injection branch 4 is not in operation.

[0032] Liquid fuel is conveyed into the line 6 and to the injectors 5 via the second high-pressure pump 16 in addition to the first high-pressure pump 15. The two high-pressure pumps 15 and 16 are dimensioned differently with regard to their pump output. The first high-pressure pump 15 has a higher pump output than the second high-pressure pump 16. In particular the maximum pressure of the liquid fuel of 2200 bar, for example, is settable via the simultaneous operation of the two high-pressure pumps 15 and 16. In contrast, only a lower pressure of the liquid fuel, for example 1500 bar maximum, is settable by operation solely of the second high-pressure pump 16.

[0033] It may be sufficient for only the first high-pressure pump 15 to be in operation in the liquid fuel operation according to FIG. 1.

[0034] The gas operation of the dual-fuel fuel injection system is illustrated in FIG. 2. In the gas operation, the switching valve 17 is switched in such a way that the fuel conveyed by the first high-pressure pump 15 is led into the line 13 to the gas injector assembly 10, and at that location switches the control valves 11 so that gas is led from the gas line 9 via the control valves 11 to the gas injectors 12, via which the injection into the cylinders of the internal combustion engine 1 takes place.

[0035] At the same time, fuel is led via the second high-pressure pump 16 into the liquid fuel line 6 and further to the liquid fuel injectors 5 in order to carry out a pilot injection for igniting the gas mixture. The pressure at which the liquid fuel is conveyed by the second high-pressure pump 16 is lower than the pressure of the liquid fuel in the liquid fuel operation according to FIG. 1.

[0036] Leak quantities that occur during actuation of the control valves 11 in the gas operation and that occur at the injectors 5 in the liquid fuel operation are returned to the fuel tank 8 via the leak return line 18.