Variable oxygen/nitrogen enriched intake air system for internal combustion engine applications

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:871055

Poola, Ramesh B ^[1]; Sekar, Ramanujam R ^[2]; Cole, Roger L ^[3]

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1. Woodridge, IL
2. Naperville, IL
3. Elmhurst, IL

An air supply control system for selectively supplying ambient air, oxygen enriched air and nitrogen enriched air to an intake of an internal combustion engine includes an air mixing chamber that is in fluid communication with the air intake. At least a portion of the ambient air flowing to the mixing chamber is selectively diverted through a secondary path that includes a selectively permeable air separating membrane device due a differential pressure established across the air separating membrane. The permeable membrane device separates a portion of the nitrogen in the ambient air so that oxygen enriched air (permeate) and nitrogen enriched air (retentate) are produced. The oxygen enriched air and the nitrogen enriched air can be selectively supplied to the mixing chamber or expelled to atmosphere. Alternatively, a portion of the nitrogen enriched air can be supplied through another control valve to a monatomic-nitrogen plasma generator device so that atomic nitrogen produced from the nitrogen enriched air can be then injected into the exhaust of the engine. The oxygen enriched air or the nitrogen enriched air becomes mixed with the ambient air in the mixing chamber and then the mixed air is supplied to the intake of the engine. As a result, the air being supplied to the intake of the engine can be regulated with respect to the concentration of oxygen and/or nitrogen.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
• Patent Number(s): US 5649517
• OSTI ID: 871055
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

variable
oxygen
nitrogen
enriched
intake
air
internal
combustion
engine
applications
supply
control
selectively
supplying
ambient
mixing
chamber
fluid
communication
portion
flowing
diverted
secondary
path
permeable
separating
membrane
device
due
differential
pressure
established
separates
permeate
retentate
produced
supplied
expelled
atmosphere
alternatively
valve
monatomic-nitrogen
plasma
generator
atomic
injected
exhaust
mixed
result
regulated
respect
concentration
air flowing
oxygen enriched
selectively supplying
plasma generator
atomic nitrogen
nitrogen enriched
permeable membrane
ambient air
internal combustion
air flow
fluid communication
combustion engine
enriched air
differential pressure
control valve
mixing chamber
air supply
selectively permeable
intake air
generator device
engine applications
mixed air
permeable air
air intake
device separates
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