US 6,981,472 B2
Homogeneous charge compression ignition control utilizing plasmatron fuel converter technology
Leslie Bromberg, Sharon, Mass. (US); and Alexander Rabinovich, Swampscott, Mass. (US)
Assigned to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass. (US)
Filed on Nov. 17, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/715,933.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/427138, filed on Nov. 18, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2004/0099226 A1, May 27, 2004
Int. Cl. F02B 43/10 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 123—3 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for providing engine operating control, comprising:
reforming at least a fraction of fuel injected into an onboard fuel reformer;
injecting reformate from said onboard fuel reformer into a charge intake of an engine cylinder; and
controlling compression ignition properties of the charge intake by adjusting composition of the reformate and controlling a temperature of said charge intake based on thermal content of the reformate generated from exothermicity of reactions in the onboard fuel reformer.