Roger Patrick Cole

US Patent:

56495170, Jul 22, 1997

Filed:

Sep 18, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/710520

Inventors:

Ramesh B. Poola - Woodridge IL
Ramanujam R. Sekar - Naperville IL
Roger L. Cole - Elmhurst IL

Assignee:

The University of Chicago - Chicago IL

International Classification:

F02B 2300

US Classification:

123585

Abstract:

An air supply control system for selectively supplying ambient air, oxygen enriched air and nitrogen enriched air to an intake of an internal combustion engine includes an air mixing chamber that is in fluid communication with the air intake. At least a portion of the ambient air flowing to the mixing chamber is selectively diverted through a secondary path that includes a selectively permeable air separating membrane device due a differential pressure established across the air separating membrane. The permeable membrane device separates a portion of the nitrogen in the ambient air so that oxygen enriched air (permeate) and nitrogen enriched air (retentate) are produced. The oxygen enriched air and the nitrogen enriched air can be selectively supplied to the mixing chamber or expelled to atmosphere. Alternatively, a portion of the nitrogen enriched air can be supplied through another control valve to a monatomic-nitrogen plasma generator device so that atomic nitrogen produced from the nitrogen enriched air can be then injected into the exhaust of the engine. The oxygen enriched air or the nitrogen enriched air becomes mixed with the ambient air in the mixing chamber and then the mixed air is supplied to the intake of the engine.