System and method for engine lubrication

Abstract

The invention resides in an internal combustion engine ( 20 ) comprising an air intake system ( 24 ) operatively connected to a cylinder ( 21 ), a gaseous phase fuel delivery system ( 25 ) operatively connected to the cylinder ( 21 ), and a liquid phase lubricant injection system ( 10 ) operatively connected to the cylinder ( 21 ). An atomised portion of liquid phase lubricant is injected into a mixture of gaseous phase fuel and air by the liquid phase lubricant injection system ( 10 ) to lubricate components of the cylinder ( 21 ) prior to burning the mixture in the cylinder ( 21 ).

1 . An internal combustion engine, comprising:
 an air intake system operatively connected to a cylinder;   a gaseous phase fuel delivery system operatively connected to the cylinder; and   a liquid phase lubricant injection system operatively connected to the cylinder;   
     wherein during use an atomised portion of liquid phase lubricant is injected into a mixture of gaseous phase fuel and air by the liquid phase lubricant injection system to lubricate components of the cylinder prior to burning the mixture in the cylinder. 
   
   
       2 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid phase lubricant system comprises one or more lubricant injectors located in an intake manifold of the engine. 
   
   
       3 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 2 , wherein the lubricant injector is positioned adjacent an intake valve of the cylinder. 
   
   
       4 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid phase lubricant system comprises one or more lubricant injectors located in a cylinder head of the engine. 
   
   
       5 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant injector injects the liquid phase lubricant immediately prior to or during an intake stroke of the engine. 
   
   
       6 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the gaseous phase fuel is coal bed methane (CBM), coal mine methane (CMM), abandoned mine methane (AMM), landfill gas, biogas, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), or natural gas. 
   
   
       7 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid phase lubricant is a mineral or synthetic oil. 
   
   
       8 . A method for lubricating a dry fuel internal combustion engine, the method including the steps of:
 i) injecting an atomised portion of liquid phase lubricant into a mixture of gaseous phase fuel and air contained in an intake manifold of the engine;   ii) drawing the mixture into a cylinder of the engine; and   iii) allowing the atomised liquid phase lubricant contained in the mixture to lubricate components of the cylinder prior to burning the mixture in the cylinder.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein step i) occurs immediately prior to or during an intake stroke of the engine. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the gaseous phase fuel is coal bed methane (CBM), coal mine methane (CMM), abandoned mine methane (AMM), landfill gas, biogas, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), or natural gas. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the liquid phase lubricant is a mineral or synthetic oil.