Patent Application
20070193251
The invention, herein described and named the Eldridge ENJET—Engine Exhaust Jet Nozzle, relates generally to the field of dispersing and diluting exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine; and, more specifically, to a novel apparatus that incorporates an external fan, support spool, plenum, and nozzle assembly designed for installation at the discharge end of an internal combustion engine exhaust silencer or pipe and designed to impart a high volume, high velocity air stream to the engine exhaust gas for improved dispersal and dilution of same.
A typical internal combustion engine exhaust silencer or pipe does not produce a velocity at the discharge exit opening that is sufficient to disperse and dilute the exhaust gas.
The lack of exhaust gas velocity allows wind and ambient temperature conditions to blow or settle the engine exhaust gas back toward the exhaust pipe discharge exit opening.
In the past, internal combustion engine exhaust gas dispersal and dilution has been attempted by increasing the engine exhaust pipe height or length. However, an increase in exhaust pipe length does not increase the exhaust gas exit velocity or improve the dilution of the exhaust gas. In fact, a longer exhaust pipe increases engine back pressure resistance to the exhaust gas flow and decreases engine efficiency which are counterproductive results.
By accelerating the engine exhaust gas to a velocity significantly greater than the prevailing wind, the Eldridge ENJET—Engine Exhaust Jet Nozzle invention jets the engine exhaust gas away from the exhaust pipe discharge exit opening.
The Eldridge ENJET—Engine Exhaust Jet Nozzle invention imparts a jetting effect and higher velocity to the engine exhaust gas discharge and, thus, improves dispersal and dilution of the engine exhaust gas accordingly.
According to the embodiments of the Eldridge ENJET—Engine Exhaust Jet Nozzle invention, a plenum, support spool, external fan, and nozzle apparatus is to be designed and constructed of materials suitable to withstanding the elevated temperature of the engine exhaust gas and is to be mounted at the discharge end of an internal combustion engine silencer or exhaust pipe.
The plenum is designed and constructed with an internal plenum sleeve and external plenum sleeve collar that sleeves over the engine exhaust silencer or pipe discharge.
The embodiment of the plenum incorporates an internal turning vane (or vanes) that transitions from the fan to the plenum and distributes the air from the supply fan evenly through the open cross section of the annular space between the plenum and the internal plenum sleeve.
Another embodiment of the invention's plenum incorporates internal straightening vanes that serve as an internal support structure between the plenum and internal plenum sleeve as well as a means to eliminate air turbulence and convert the kinetic energy of the supply fan induced airflow within the annular plenum area to static energy, which is commonly referred to as static pressure regain.
The embodiment of the invention also incorporates a converging nozzle at the discharge end of the plenum.
The nozzle is designed and constructed to accelerate the airflow discharge velocity to atmosphere and to maintain a tight, cylindrical, high velocity flow of air away from the discharge end of the nozzle at a velocity significantly greater than that of the prevailing wind velocity.
A support spool is designed and constructed to enable a supply fan or blower to be mounted external to the assembly.
The air introduced to the plenum by the externally mounted fan creates an inductor effect within the plenum at the discharge end of the internal plenum sleeve and entrains the engine exhaust gas in the induced airflow prior to expulsion through the nozzle.
It should be noted that the supply fan or blower is externally mounted to the plenum so that the fan's airflow is induced to the plenum as opposed to mounting the fan within the plenum or within the engine exhaust silencer/pipe hot gas discharge stream.
The external location of the supply fan or blower to the plenum is critical to the invention operation because the fan is not subjected to the direct line airflow of hot engine exhaust gas in its external location.
The supply fan or blower is designed to overcome the internal airflow resistance pressure imposed by the support spool, internal turning vanes, plenum, internal plenum sleeve, straightening vanes, and discharge nozzle.
The nozzle is designed to increase the discharge velocity of the combined fan airflow volume and engine exhaust gas volume to a velocity above the expected prevailing wind velocity.
The embodiments of the invention increase the velocity of the engine exhaust gas discharge and create a negative pressure on the end of the engine exhaust pipe thus reducing the pressure loss at the engine exhaust pipe exit for increased engine efficiency.
The embodiments of the invention create an induced high velocity, combined air flow from the externally mounted fan and the engine exhaust that can be conveyed out away from the end of the nozzle 50-100 feet, depending on prevailing wind speed, in a tight cylinder air flow pattern for maximum dispersal into the ambient air.
The embodiments of the invention function as a unique apparatus to dilute and cool the engine exhaust gas flow for an environmental advantage.
The embodiments of the invention may be used in any plane: vertical, horizontal, or otherwise without affecting the function and purpose.
The invention apparatus can be modified and utilized to accommodate combined multiple internal combustion engine exhaust pipes arrangements upon application of the proper engineering, design, and construction criteria to the overall assembly.
Other technical advantages are readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the description herein provided as well as from the claims and drawings to follow.
