Patent ID: 6453893
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: F02M,Y02T

Abstract:
An intake air separation system adapted for providing nitrogen enriched air for the combustion process within an internal combustion engine, said engine including an intake manifold, said intake air separation system comprising:an intake air inlet adapted to receive substantially all of said intake air used in the combustion process for said engine; an intake air separation device in flow communication with said intake air inlet and adapted for receiving substantially all of said intake air used in the combustion process for said engine and separating said intake air into a flow of said oxygen enriched air and a flow of nitrogen enriched air; a permeate outlet in fluid communication with said intake air separation device and adapted to receive said flow of said oxygen enriched air; and a retentate outlet in constant fluid communication with said intake air separation device and said intake manifold, said retentate outlet adapted to constantly direct said flow of said nitrogen enriched air solely to said intake manifold for use in the combustion process; a first flow control valve disposed proximate the permeate outlet, said flow control valve adapted for controlling said flow of oxygen enriched air from said intake air separation device via said permeate outlet, said first flow control valve thereby being adapted to selectively control a proportion of a permeate outlet flow of oxygen enriched air from said intake air separation device through said permeate outlet relative to a retentate outlet flow thereof through said retentate outlet; an engine control module operatively coupled to said flow valve and adapted to control said permeate outlet flow of oxygen enriched air from said intake air separation device via said permeate outlet and the corresponding retentate outlet flow via said retentate outlet in response to selected engine operation conditions; wherein the nitrogen content of said air provided to said intake manifold for use in the combustion process is varied solely via operation of said first flow control valve in response to selected engine operating conditions.