FUEL-BASED HEATING TO ENABLE MIXING CONTROLLED COMBUSTION OF SMALL- MOLECULE FUELS

1 . A method of operating a compression ignition engine, the method comprising:

combusting a first fuel in an intake flow path to heat a volume of air;

drawing the heated volume of air into a plurality of cylinders via an intake manifold; and

combusting a volume of a second fuel in the plurality of cylinders in a mixing-controlled compression ignition mode (MCCI), the second fuel being a small-molecule fuel,

wherein heating the volume of air maintains a temperature in the plurality of cylinders greater than a threshold temperature.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein heating the volume of air includes:

feeding the first fuel from outside the intake flow path to inside the intake flow path via a fuel intake gas mixture flow volume;

transporting the first fuel through a series of perforated baffles inside the fuel intake gas mixture flow volume; and igniting the first fuel via an igniter.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein heating the volume of air includes:

feeding the first fuel from outside the intake flow path to inside the intake flow path via a fuel line;

transporting the first fuel through a series of swirl blades inside the fuel line; and

igniting the first fuel via an igniter.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein heating the volume of air includes:

feeding the first fuel from outside the intake flow path to inside the intake flow path via a combustor;

transporting the first fuel through a perforated burner can; and

igniting the first fuel via an ignitor.

5 .- 6 . (canceled)

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

feeding a volume of air from outside the compression ignition engine to the intake flow path to facilitate combustion of the first fuel.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein heating the volume of air includes:

vaporizing the first fuel in a vessel outside of the intake flow path;

after the vaporizing, transporting the first fuel from outside the intake flow path to inside the intake flow path via a fuel line; and

igniting the first fuel upon entering the intake flow path.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the first fuel is the same fuel as the second fuel.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first fuel includes ethanol.

11 .- 14 . (canceled)

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein heating the volume of air includes:

feeding the first fuel through a fuel inlet, the fuel inlet including an electrical connection attached thereto;

boiling the first fuel via electrical heating supplied by the electrical connection;

after the boiling, transporting the first fuel from outside the intake flow path to inside the intake flow path via a fuel line; and

transporting the first fuel from inside the fuel line to outside the fuel line and inside the intake flow path via a premixed burner.

16 . (canceled)

17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:

1) bypassing a charge air cooler to increase an average temperature of the volume of air as the volume of air enters the plurality of cylinders;

2) retrieving at least a portion of exhaust gas exiting the plurality of cylinders and recirculating the at least a portion of the exhaust gas back to the plurality of cylinders via a recirculation flow path;

3) heating at least a portion of exhaust gas exiting the plurality of cylinders and recirculating the at least a portion of the exhaust gas back to the plurality of cylinders via a recirculation flow path;

4) retaining at least a portion of exhaust gas in the cylinders;

5) raising an operating temperature of at least a portion of the cylinders by deactivating at least one cylinder;

6) adding load to the cylinders; or

7) applying exhaust braking.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein heating the volume of air includes:

feeding the first fuel from outside the intake flow path to inside the intake flow path via a fuel line; and

igniting the first fuel via a spark plug,

wherein the spark plug is used as a flame ionization sensor to detect flame-out and turn off fuel and re-start.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein heating the volume of air includes:

feeding the first fuel from outside the intake flow path to inside the intake flow path via a fuel line; and

igniting the first fuel via surface ignition.

20 . (canceled)

21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein heating the volume of air includes:

feeding the first fuel from outside the flow path to inside the flow path via a fuel line; and

igniting the first fuel via one or multiple flame plugs.

22 .- 23 . (canceled)

24 . A compression ignition engine, comprising:

an intake flow path configured to receive a volume of air;

a plurality of cylinders fluidically coupled to the intake flow path via an intake manifold; and

a fuel-based heating device disposed at least partially in the intake flow path, the fuel-based heating device configured to heat the volume of air in the intake flow path, such that the volume of air maintains a temperature in the plurality of cylinders greater than a threshold temperature.

25 . The compression ignition engine of claim 24 , wherein the fuel-based heating device includes a fuel line that extends from a first location outside the intake flow path and a terminal end inside the intake flow path, the fuel-based heating device further including an igniter configured to ignite a first fuel flowing through the fuel line, such that a burner warms the volume of air.

26 .- 29 . (canceled)

30 . The compression ignition engine of claim 25 , wherein the fuel-based heating device includes a plurality of fuel feeding units disposed in a wall of the intake flow path, the plurality of fuel feeding units configured to transport fuel to contact the igniter, the compression ignition engine further comprising:

a flame protector disposed in the intake flow path and attached to an interior wall of the intake flow path, the flame protector configured to block and re-route the flow of the volume of air such that the volume of air does not disturb ignition of the first fuel via the igniter.

31 . The compression ignition engine of claim 25 , wherein the fuel line includes an injector mounted to and penetrating a wall of the intake flow path.

32 . The compression ignition engine of claim 25 , wherein the fuel-based heating device includes a boiler fluidically coupled to the fuel line, the boiler configured to boil a liquid fuel, such that the liquid fuel becomes a gaseous fuel and flows through the fuel line and into the intake flow path.

33 . The compression ignition engine of claim 32 , wherein the boiler includes a level sensor, the compression ignition engine further comprising a fuel tank and a pump, the pump in communication with the level sensor, the pump configured to deliver fuel to the boiler based on data communicated from the level sensor to the pump.

34 . (canceled)

35 . The compression ignition engine of claim 32 , wherein the boiler includes a temperature sensor and an electric heater in communication with the temperature sensor, the electric heater configured to switch on based on temperature data communicated by the temperature sensor.

36 .- 42 . (canceled)