Combustion engine air supply system
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United States of America Patent
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Oct 5, 1999
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app pub date -
Feb 20, 1998
filing date -
Feb 20, 1998
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Abstract
A novel method of operating an internal combustion engine employs a selectively gas permeable membrane to provide either oxygen or nitrogen enriched air feed to beneficially affect engine performance. By feeding enriched air from a membrane unit such performance parameters as reduced NOx emissions, lean burn limit, engine power, and reduced cold start emissions can be enhanced relative to feeding ambient air. The selectively gas permeable membrane unit further includes a nonporous membrane (i) having an oxygen/nitrogen selectivity of at least 1.4 and a permeability to oxygen of at least 50 barrers; (ii) formed from an amorphous copolymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole; and (iii) being at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the amorphous copolymer. A cylindrical module having many substantially parallel aligned small diameter hollow fiber membrane structures is ideally suited for carrying out the novel method. The apparatus can be configured to furnish only one of permeate fraction, oxygen enriched air or retentate fraction, nitrogen enriched air. Additionally, the apparatus can be configured to switch between oxygen and nitrogen enrichment modes.
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