US 7,465,337 B2
Internal combustion engine with an air separator and methods for realizing such an internal combustion engine
Uwe Gaertner, Remshalden (Germany); and Thomas Koch, Boeblingen (Germany)
Assigned to Daimler AG, Stuttgart (Germany)
Filed on Aug. 24, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/209,717.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2004 041 263 (DE), filed on Aug. 26, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2006/0042466 A1, Mar. 02, 2006
Int. Cl. B01D 53/22 (2006.01); F02B 23/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 95—54  [96/4; 96/10; 55/385.3; 55/342; 55/482; 60/274; 60/280; 123/26; 123/585; 123/198 E] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multiple-cylinder, air compressing internal combustion motor vehicle engine, comprising:
a charging unit for compression of intake air,
a charged air cooler connected to the outlet of the charging unit for cooling of compressed intake air,
an air separation unit for separation of the intake air compressed by the charging unit into an oxygen-rich permeate with an air composition that, in comparison to normal, is oxygen-enriched, and a nitrogen-rich retentate, and
a purification unit arranged in an air flow downstream of the charged air cooler and immediately prior to the air separation unit so as to remove oil mist from the compressed air prior to supply of the compressed air to the air separation unit,
wherein at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine can at least periodically be fed with the retentate provided by the air separation unit, and
wherein the air separation unit is connected to the outlet of the charged air cooler.