Method and apparatus for operating an internal combustion engine

Abstract

An internal combustion engine and method of operation employing timed injection of water into the combustion chamber for one or a combination of recapturing waste heat, cooling the engine, and lowering Nox emissions of the engine. The water injection subsequent to the power stroke of the engine employs residual heat and heat conducted from surfaces of the combustion chamber, to form steam to drive a second power stroke. The water injection can also be employed to pre-cool the combustion chamber to avoid formation of Nox gases during fuel combustion and by recapturing residual and conductive heat from the combustion chamber the engine is cooled thereby minimizing or eliminating exterior cooling system requirements.

1 . An internal combustion engine having a plurality of strokes of a piston during a cycle of operation, comprising: 
 at least one piston reciprocating inside of a cylinder;    said piston having an intake stroke;    means to communicate a fuel and an oxidizer into said cylinder;    said piston having a compression stroke whereby said fuel and oxidizer are compressed in a fuel mixture in said combustion chamber;    means to ignite said fuel mixture;    said piston having a first power stroke during said cycle of operation caused by ignition of said fuel mixture;    said piston having an exhaust stroke subsequent to said first power stroke;    means to communicate water directly into said combustion chamber subsequent to commencement of said exhaust stroke whereby steam is formed in said combustion chamber from a said water; and    said piston having a second power stroke during said cycle of operation caused by expansion of said steam.    
   
   
       2 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 1  additionally comprising: 
 said piston having a second exhaust stroke during said cycle of operation whereby said steam is purged from said compression chamber to a steam exhaust conduit;    said steam exhaust conduit communicating with a means to condense said steam to form reclaimed water therefrom; and    means to communicate said reclaimed water to a reservoir supplying said water to said means to communicate water directly into said combustion chamber.    
   
   
       3 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 1  additionally comprising: 
 said means to communicate water substantially directly into said combustion chamber subsequent to commencement of said exhaust stroke using residual heat energy communicated from combustion chamber to convert said water to steam thereby additionally providing means to cool said engine internally through elimination of residual heat energy.    
   
   
       4 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 1  additionally comprising: 
 said means to communicate water directly into said combustion chamber having a second water communication cycle; and    said second water communication cycle communicating water into said combustion chamber immediately prior to said ignition of said fuel mixture; and    said water thereby providing means for reduction of Nox exhaust gases from said engine by preventing overheating of surfaces defining said combustion chamber.    
   
   
       5 . An internal combustion engine comprising: 
 a cylinder, a cylinder head, and a piston reciprocating in said cylinder, and a combustion chamber defined by said cylinder head, said cylinder said piston;    a fuel injection device for injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber,    means to ignite said fuel and cause a combustion thereof;    said combustion communicating a force to said piston causing a first power stroke of said piston;    a water injection device for communicating a water injection directly into said combustion chamber subsequent to said combustion to thereby produce steam from said water injection and residual heat in said combustion chamber; and    said steam communicating a second force to said piston said second force causing a second power stroke of said piston.    
   
   
       6 . An internal combustion engine comprising: 
 a cylinder, a cylinder head, and a piston reciprocating in said cylinder, and a combustion chamber defined by surfaces of said cylinder head, said cylinder said piston;    a fuel injection device for injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber,    means to ignite said fuel and cause a combustion;    said combustion causing a first power stroke of said piston;    a water injection device for communicating a portion of water directly into said combustion chamber;    said portion being injected in a timed injection;    said timed injection immediately prior to said combustion; and    said portion providing means to reduce a rise in temperature of said surfaces from heat from said combustion, thereby providing means to reduce Nitrogen oxides exhausted from said combustion chamber.    
   
   
       7 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 6  wherein: 
 said timed injection being injected after said combustion;    said portion being converted to steam by residual heat in and conductive to said combustion chamber; and    said steam providing a second power stroke to said engine.    
   
   
       8 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 6  wherein: 
 a second said portion being injected after said combustion;    said second portion being converted to steam by residual heat in said combustion chamber; and    said steam providing a second power stroke to said engine.    
   
   
       9 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 7  additionally comprising: 
 said piston having a steam exhaust stroke after said second power stroke whereby said steam is purged from said compression chamber to a steam exhaust conduit;    said steam exhaust conduit communicating with a means to condense said steam to form reclaimed water therefrom; and    means to communicate said reclaimed water to a reservoir supplying said water to said water injection device.    
   
   
       10 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 8  additionally comprising: 
 said piston having a steam exhaust stroke after said second power stroke whereby said steam is purged from said compression chamber to a steam exhaust conduit;    said steam exhaust conduit communicating with a means to condense said steam to form reclaimed water therefrom; and    means to communicate said reclaimed water to a reservoir supplying said water to said water injection device.    
   
   
       11 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 5  additionally comprising 
 passages formed in at least said cylinder head; and    said exhaust stroke of said piston venting at least a portion of exhaust gases formed by ignition of said fuel mixture into said passages, whereby said cylinder head is increased in temperature by conduction of heat from said exhaust gases, thereby providing an increase in said residual heat available in said combustion chamber to form said steam.    
   
   
       12 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 5  additionally comprising 
 said piston having an exhaust stroke subsequent to said first power stroke whereby gases formed by said combustion are vented from said combustion chamber;    passages formed in at least said cylinder head; and    said exhaust stroke of said piston venting at least a portion of said gases formed by said combustion into said passages, whereby said cylinder head is increased in temperature by conduction of heat from said gases, thereby providing an increase in heat energy conductive from said cylinder head to said combustion chamber to form said steam.    
   
   
       13 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 7  additionally comprising 
 said piston having an exhaust stroke subsequent to said first power stroke whereby gases formed by said combustion are vented from said combustion chamber;    passages formed in at least said cylinder head; and    said exhaust stroke of said pistion venting at least a portion of said gases formed by said combustion into said passages, whereby an increase in temperature is imparted to said cylinder head by a conduction of heat from said gases, thereby providing an increase in heat energy conductive from said cylinder head to said combustion chamber to form said steam.    
   
   
       14 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 8  additionally comprising 
 said piston having an exhaust stroke subsequent to said first power stroke whereby gases formed by said combustion are vented from said combustion chamber;    passages formed in at least said cylinder head; and    said exhaust stroke of said piston venting at least a portion of said gases formed by said combustion into said passages, whereby an increase in temperature is imparted to said cylinder head by a conduction of heat from said gases, thereby providing an increase in heat energy conductive from said cylinder head to said combustion chamber to form said steam.    
   
   
       15 . A method of operating an internal combustion engine having at having at a cylinder, a cylinder head, and a piston reciprocating in said cylinder, a combustion chamber defined by surfaces of said cylinder head, said cylinder said piston; a fuel injection device, an ignition device; and a water injection device, to achieve a second power stroke of said engine from steam, comprising the steps of: 
 activating said fuel injection device to communicate fuel into said combustion chamber;    activating said ignition device to ignite said fuel to cause a combustion resulting power stroke of said piston; and    subsequent to said power stroke of activating said water injection device to communicate water into said combustion chamber whereby steam is formed resulting in a steam-powered second power stroke.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  including the additional steps of: 
 activating said water injection device to communicate water into said combustion chamber just prior to said second step, whereby combustion chamber temperatures are lowered subsequent to said combustion.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  including the additional steps of: 
 venting gases formed by said combustion into conduits formed in said cylinder head; and    allowing said gases to increase cylinder head temperature whereby available heat energy to form said steam is recaptured from said gases.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  employed upon an engine not having a water injection device communicating with said combustion chamber comprising the additional step of: 
 installing said water injection device in operative communication with said combustion chamber.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  including the additional steps of: 
 reducing or eliminating external cooling of said engine by an engaged cooling system; and    allowing said water communicated by said water injection device, to internally cool said engine.    
   
   
       20 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 5  additionally comprising: 
 a turbo charger engaged to an air intake conduit communicating with said combustion chamber, said turbo charger communicating a pressurized air supply to said combustion chamber;    said fuel injection device injecting said fuel in an increased fuel volume to form a fuel mixture relative to said pressurized air supply; and    said water injection device adapted to provide said water injection at a timing and a volume to internally cool said combustion from an increased temperature caused by said pressurized air supply and fuel.