US7721543B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for cooling a combustion gas charge
Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
•
Filing: 2006-10-23
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Granted: 2010-05-25
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Expires: 2026-10-23
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a system and method for cooling a combustion gas charge prior. The combustion gas charge may include compressed intake air, exhaust gas, or a mixture thereof. An evaporator is provided that may then receive a relatively high temperature combustion gas charge and discharge at a relatively lower temperature. The evaporator may be configured to operate with refrigeration cycle components and/or to receive a fluid below atmospheric pressure as the phase-change cooling medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Mary Cecelia Massey
- 👤 Thomas Earl BOBERG
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:43
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B29/00; F02B29/04; F02B29/0406; F02B29/0437; F02B29/0443; F01; F01P; F01P9/00; F01P9/02; F01P9/06; F02M; F02M26/00; F02M26/13; F02M26/22; F02M26/23; F02M26/28; F01P2060/00; F01P2060/02; F02B37/00; F02M26/02; F02M26/04; F02M26/05; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for cooling a combustion gas charge for combustion in an engine comprising: providing a refrigerant compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve in fluid communication with an evaporator, said evaporator receiving said combustion gas charge, said combustion gas charge comprising exhaust gas and compressed air, said exhaust gas and compressed air received separately by the evaporator; wherein aid exhaust gas and compressed air are mixed in the evaporator; circulating a refrigerant through said evaporator, wherein said refrigerant enters said evaporator in at least liquid form and exits said evaporator in a vapor form; and directing said combustion gas charge through said evaporator, wherein said combustion gas charge has a higher mean temperature upon entering said evaporator than upon exiting said evaporator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for cooling a combustion gas charge for combustion in an engine comprising: providing a refrigerant compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve in fluid communication with an evaporator, said evaporator receiving said combustion gas charge, said combustion gas charge comprising exhaust gas and compressed air, said exhaust gas and compressed air received separately by the evaporator; wherein aid exhaust gas and compressed air are mixed in the evaporator; circulating a refrigerant through said evaporator, wherein said refrigerant enters said evaporator in at least liquid form and exits said evaporator in a vapor form; and directing said combustion gas charge through said evaporator, wherein said combustion gas charge has a higher mean temperature upon entering said evaporator than upon exiting said evaporator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said refrigerant comprises water and separating water vapor from said refrigerant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising delivering said water vapor to an engine radiator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising cooling said exhaust gas prior to directing said exhaust to said evaporator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said refrigerant comprises water at a pressure less than 760 mm Hg.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said evaporator has an internal surface area greater than or equal to about 50 ft 2 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said refrigerant comprises a fluorocarbon compound.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said refrigerant comprises an aqueous solution having a colligative agent.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for cooling a combustion gas charge for combustion in an engine comprising: a refrigerant compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve in fluid communication with an evaporator; said evaporator receiving said combustion gas charge having a mean temperature T 1 , said combustion gas charge comprising exhaust gas and compressed air, said exhaust gas and compressed air received separately by the evaporator, wherein aid exhaust gas and compressed air are mixed in the evaporator; and discharging said combustion gas charge from said evaporator having a mean temperature T 1 , wherein T 1 > T 2 ; and said evaporator receiving and discharging a refrigerant, wherein said refrigerant enters said evaporator in at least liquid form and exits said evaporator in a vapor form.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for cooling a combustion gas charge for combustion in an engine comprising: a refrigerant compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve in fluid communication with an evaporator; said evaporator receiving said combustion gas charge having a mean temperature T 1 , said combustion gas charge comprising exhaust gas and compressed air, said exhaust gas and compressed air received separately by the evaporator, wherein aid exhaust gas and compressed air are mixed in the evaporator; and discharging said combustion gas charge from said evaporator having a mean temperature T 1 , wherein T 1 > T 2 ; and said evaporator receiving and discharging a refrigerant, wherein said refrigerant enters said evaporator in at least liquid form and exits said evaporator in a vapor form.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cooling system of claim 9 wherein said evaporator has an internal surface area greater than or equal to about 50 ft 2 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cooling system of claim 9 wherein said refrigerant comprises a fluorocarbon compound.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cooling system of claim 9 wherein said refrigerant comprises water at a pressure less than 760 mm Hg.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cooling system of claim 9 wherein said refrigerant comprises an aqueous solution having a colligative agent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cooling system of claim 9 wherein said compressed air is sourced from a turbocharger.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
141 words
An internal combustion engine comprising: a source of exhaust gas and a source of compressed air; a system for cooling a combustion gas charge comprising: a refrigerant compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve in fluid communication with an evaporator; said evaporator receiving said combustion gas charge having a mean temperature T 1 , said combustion gas charge comprising said exhaust gas and said compressed air (emphasis added), said exhaust gas and compressed air received separately by the evaporator; wherein aid exhaust qas and compressed air are mixed in the evaporator; and discharging said combustion gas charge from said evaporator having a mean temperature T 2 , wherein T 1 > T 2 ; and said evaporator receiving and discharging a refrigerant, wherein said refrigerant enters said evaporator in at least liquid form and exits said evaporator in a vapor form.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
141 words
An internal combustion engine comprising: a source of exhaust gas and a source of compressed air; a system for cooling a combustion gas charge comprising: a refrigerant compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve in fluid communication with an evaporator; said evaporator receiving said combustion gas charge having a mean temperature T 1 , said combustion gas charge comprising said exhaust gas and said compressed air (emphasis added), said exhaust gas and compressed air received separately by the evaporator; wherein aid exhaust qas and compressed air are mixed in the evaporator; and discharging said combustion gas charge from said evaporator having a mean temperature T 2 , wherein T 1 > T 2 ; and said evaporator receiving and discharging a refrigerant, wherein said refrigerant enters said evaporator in at least liquid form and exits said evaporator in a vapor form.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The engine of claim 15 wherein said evaporator has an internal surface area greater than or equal to about 50 ft 2 .
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The engine of claim 15 wherein said refrigerant comprises a fluorocarbon compound.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The engine of claim 15 wherein said refrigerant comprises an aqueous solution having a colligative agent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The engine of claim 15 wherein said refrigerant comprises water at a pressure less than 760 mm Hg.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The engine of claim 15 wherein said compressed air is sourced from a turbocharger.
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