Hydrogen opposed-piston engine
US12338763B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 14, 2024 |
| Grant date | Jun 24, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 14, 2044 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/30
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An opposed-piston engine is configured to use hydrogen fuel. The opposed-piston engine has at least one cylinder and a pair of pistons disposed for opposed motion in a bore of the cylinder. Hydrogen fuel is directly side-injected into the cylinder in a compression stroke of the opposed-piston engine, mixed with charge air in the cylinder, and auto-ignited in a combustion chamber formed in the cylinder between the pistons during the compression stroke. A method of operating the hydrogen opposed-piston engine includes switching between a first ignition mode using an externally-generated ignition impulse to ignite the mixture of hydrogen fuel and charge air, and a second ignition mode using compression to ignite the mixture.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.