초록 ▼

A method for controlling combustion within an internal combustion engine includes operating the engine in one of an HCCI and SI combustion modes and injecting water into a combustion chamber of the engine during at least periods of relatively high engine load conditions, the injecting water absorbin

A method for controlling combustion within an internal combustion engine includes operating the engine in one of an HCCI and SI combustion modes and injecting water into a combustion chamber of the engine during at least periods of relatively high engine load conditions, the injecting water absorbing heat to reduce the occurrence of unintentional combustion ignition.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for controlling combustion within an internal combustion engine including a reciprocating piston having a compression stroke followed by a combustion expansion stroke, comprising: operating said engine in one of an HCCI and SI combustion modes, wherein said HCC

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for controlling combustion within an internal combustion engine including a reciprocating piston having a compression stroke followed by a combustion expansion stroke, comprising: operating said engine in one of an HCCI and SI combustion modes, wherein said HCCI and SI combustion modes each having a high load limit for operating said engine; injecting water into a combustion chamber of said engine during at least periods of relatively high engine load conditions during the combustion expansion stroke to thereby generate steam from said water effective to contribute work to the piston; and wherein the injection of water into said combustion chamber during the combustion expansion stroke further operates to extend said high load limit of said HCCI and SI combustion modes for operating said engine. 2. The method of claim 1, said injecting water comprising forming a spray pattern to impinge upon an area of relatively higher temperatures within said combustion chamber. 3. The method of claim 1, said injecting water comprising forming a spray pattern to impinge upon surfaces of said combustion chamber, said forming a spray pattern removing combustion by-product deposits from said surfaces of said combustion chamber. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said internal combustion engine operates cyclically through six stroke combustion process. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said internal combustion engine operates cyclically in a four stroke combustion process. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said internal combustion engine operates cyclically in a two stroke combustion process. 7. Reciprocating piston internal combustion engine cycle, comprising: exhaust, intake, compression and combustion expansion stroke processes conducive to one of HCCI and SI combustion, wherein said HCCI and SI combustion each having a high load limit for operating said engine; a water injection process wherein water is injected into a combustion chamber of the engine during the combustion expansion stroke to thereby generate steam from said water effective to contribute work to the piston; and, wherein said water injection process during combustion expansion further operates to extend said high load limits of said HCCI and SI combustion for operating said engine. 8. The cycle of claim 7, wherein said water injection process includes at least a portion of the injected water impinging upon an area of higher relative temperature upon said combustion chamber surface. 9. An apparatus for controlling combustion within an internal combustion engine including a reciprocating piston having a compression stroke followed by a combustion expansion stroke, comprising: a combustion chamber combusting a fuel air mixture in one of HCCI and SI combustion modes, wherein said HCCI and SI combustion modes each having a high load limit for operating said engine; and water injection apparatus for controlling water injection into said combustion chamber during the combustion expansion stroke to thereby generate steam from said water effective to contribute work to the piston, wherein the injection of water into said combustion chamber during the combustion expansion stroke further operates to extend said high load limit of said HCCI and SI combustion modes for operating said engine. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said water injection apparatus injects water onto a surface of said combustion chamber exhibiting relatively higher temperatures. 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said water injection apparatus injects water onto a surface of said combustion chamber in order to remove combustion by-product deposits. 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said water injection apparatus injects water in a spray pattern comprising small droplets, said small droplets absorbing heat and vaporizing inside said combustion chamber to create water vapor. 13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said water injection apparatus injects water onto a surface of said combustion chamber known to aggregate combustion by-product deposits. 14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said internal combustion engine operates cyclically in a two stroke combustion process. 15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said internal combustion engine operates cyclically in a four stroke combustion process. 16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said internal combustion engine operates cyclically in a six stroke combustion process. 17. The method of claim 9, said injecting water comprising forming a spray pattern to impinge upon a surface of said combustion chamber known to aggregate combustion by-product deposits. 18. A method for controlling combustion within an internal combustion engine, said method comprising: operating said engine in an HCCI combustion mode, wherein said HCCI combustion mode operates cyclically in a six stroke combustion process including a reciprocating piston having, in order, an intake stroke, a compression stroke, an expansion stroke, a re-compression stroke, a re-expansion stroke, and an exhaust stroke; and injecting water into a combustion chamber of said engine during one of said re-compression and re-expansion strokes, wherein the injection of water operates to extend said high load limit of said HCCI combustion mode for operating said engine. 19. The method of claim 18, said injecting water comprising forming a spray pattern to impinge upon an area of relatively higher temperatures within said combustion chamber. 20. The method of claim 18, said injecting water comprising forming a spray pattern to impinge upon surfaces of said combustion chamber, said forming a spray pattern removing combustion by-product deposits from said surfaces of said combustion chamber. 21. An apparatus for controlling combustion within an internal combustion engine operating cyclically in a six stroke combustion process, comprising: a reciprocating piston having, in order, an intake stroke, a compression stroke, an expansion stroke, a re-compression stroke, a re-expansion stroke, and an exhaust stroke; a combustion chamber combusting a fuel air mixture in an HCCI combustion mode; and water injection apparatus for controlling water injection into said combustion chamber during one of said re-compression and re-expansion strokes, wherein the injection of water operates to extend said high load limit of said HCCI combustion mode for operating said engine. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said water injection apparatus injects water onto a surface of said combustion chamber exhibiting relatively higher temperatures. 23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said water injection apparatus injects water onto a surface of said combustion chamber in order to remove combustion by-product deposits. 24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said water injection apparatus injects water onto a surface of said combustion chamber known to aggregate combustion by-product deposits.