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Construction of a gas heating boiler and principle of operation. How a gas water heater works Design of gas equipment for a car

Cooking with gas is a pleasure - the flame heats the dish well and quickly to the desired temperature, and if necessary, the heat can be easily reduced. But there is one dangerous natural property of gas - it can ignite and explode. We use ignition within small limits for our own purposes. In large sizes, we don’t need it at all, not to mention the explosion hazard - all this can lead to tragedy. How is this problem solved in gas-powered household appliances? There is only one answer - a gas control system. Most modern models of stoves and ovens have it. Let's take a closer look at her work.

Gas control works according to the following principle. If a gas leak occurs - unintentional extinguishing of the burner flame special mechanism completely shuts off the gas supply inside gas stove, oven, hob. Thus, owners of devices with such a system do not have to worry about the consequences of escaped milk, which flooded and extinguished the flame. The gas will be shut off automatically.

Technically, this mechanism is implemented quite simply. The main elements of the system are a thermocouple, wire, and solenoid valve. A thermocouple is two wires made of two different special metals, fused at the end together in a certain way. At the fused end a smooth round ball. Externally, the wire itself may be in the housing, but the ball is always free. When it is heated to a certain temperature, a very small but stable electrical signal appears at the other ends (terminals) of the thermocouple. It is used for various purposes - both in industry and in everyday life. In manufacturing, thermocouples are commonly used to measure temperatures and automate processes. The same principle applies to household appliances. In our case, the received electrical signal is sent to the solenoid valve, which in turn opens or stops the gas supply to the required burners. The thermocouple is installed so that its fused ball is at the flame boundary.

The solenoid valve is built-in and is connected to the tap of the gas burner mechanism. When there is a signal from the thermocouple, the valve presses on the burner tap and keeps it open. If the flame suddenly goes out (it is flooded with water, the gas runs out), the thermocouple cools down almost immediately, a signal to the valve is not generated, the valve stops supporting the burner gas pipeline valve, the valve closes, shutting off the gas. The thermocouple and the solenoid valve are connected to each other by a special wire in good insulation.

The entire gas control mechanism is designed in such a way that after it is triggered, the ignition must be re-ignited. Ignition of stoves with a gas control system has its own nuance. The fact is that when igniting, it takes some time for the thermocouple to heat up. Usually it is 1-5 seconds, but for some brands it reaches 10-20 seconds. Therefore, you need to manually hold the burner knob in the desired position for a short time after the flame ignites, otherwise the still cold thermocouple will immediately extinguish it through the entire gas control system. This nuance is practically the only small inconvenience of stoves and ovens with a gas control system. Although in fact it pays off at the expense of your safety.

Tip: sometimes, in practice, the time you hold the handle during ignition increases significantly or slightly. This usually happens after several years of operation. A fairly common reason for this phenomenon is that the thermocouple is dirty. You just need to carefully clean its output near the burner. If there is no improvement, then the thermocouple, wire, or solenoid valve itself is faulty. To repair them, you should contact specialists.

Some owners of devices with such a system resort to various tricks to reduce ignition time. Quite often, the ignition tap handle is fixed in the desired position so as not to manually press it. Or just different by artificial means implement mechanical pressure from the solenoid valve on the gas supply shut-off valve. Sometimes this produces results. But we must remember that interference in internal structure gas appliances relieves and shifts all responsibility for possible consequences from the gas service organization to you - in extreme cases, even criminal charges.

In general, the gas control system works perfectly and provides good security to our housewives, cooks, and families in general. Almost all manufacturing companies (Hephaestus, Gorenje, Darina, Siemens, Brest) now offer models with a gas control system. On some models, gas control is installed both in the oven and on the upper burners, on others - only on the upper ones hobs, with electric or manual ignition. The main thing is not to make a mistake when choosing a model. When purchasing a stove or oven, you can ask the seller what is the ignition time? The smaller it is, the more convenient it is for you. In addition, many large salons have their own licensed partner network for installation and maintenance of selected products.

For many years, those who want to save on fuel have been switching their car from gasoline to gas. Gas equipment is being improved in terms of safety and environmental friendliness. Now the latest model is 5th generation gas cylinder equipment. But the most common is the 4th generation. In today’s article we will look at what the 4th generation HBO is and how to install it.

What is HBO?

LPG is gas cylinder equipment, it is also gas cylinder equipment, it is also gas equipment for a car. Designed to serve gaseous fuel into an internal combustion engine (ICE).

HBO is a special equipment that stores gas fuel and supplies it to the internal combustion engine system.

Thanks to the cheap price of gas, I received wide application. LPG equipment is installed on both commercial vehicles and private cars.

There are two types of gaseous fuel for engines with gas equipment:

• Compressed, that is, compressed natural gas(CNG). This includes METHANE (CH4) gas.
• Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This includes gas BUTANE (C4H6), PROPANE (C3H8), and a mixture of them.

Methane is a very dangerous type of gas. Contact with a small amount of it on a person leads to loss of vision or death. Therefore, there are many cases of loss or deterioration of vision in people who drank counterfeit alcoholic beverages diluted with methyl alcohol (CH3OH). Therefore, propane and butane cylinders are used.

Operating principle of 4th generation HBO

LPG automotive equipment has become popular due to the fact that it is capable of pumping combined fuel, that is, gas + gasoline. Also, at the driver’s request, he can switch from the combined method only to gas supply or, only for gasoline supply to the internal combustion engine system. Also, mode switching can occur automatically. The control panel of the fourth HBO is small. It is illuminated by an LED indicator indicating the amount of gas in the cylinder and on which there is a fuel supply mode switch.

Basically the control panel gas equipment installed on the left side under the steering column, next to the headlight adjustment buttons.

Fuel indicators

There are 5 LED information indicators on the HBO 4 control panel: 4 green and 1 red. They are located in one row.

1. If 1 green LED light is on, this means that there are 10 liters of gaseous fuel left in the cylinder. 10 liters of gas is enough to cover a distance of up to 200 km.
2. If the red LED light turns on, it means that there is a minimum amount of fuel left. The emergency amount of gas is enough to travel from 50 to 80 km. When the red indicator turns on, you need to stop at a gas station.

Gas equipment control panel

There is also a red indicator on the remote control, at the top in the corner. It works in flashing mode. When it flashes, it means that the engine is currently running on gasoline, but will soon switch to gas. The red light on the remote control flashes whenever the car has just started. After the motor picks up operating temperature, the HBO system will switch to gas.

What do you know about the ECTO fuel brand? What is better, we examined and deduced the pros and cons of using this fuel developed by LUKOIL.

The ability of the LPG system to operate in combined mode increases the reliability of the stable operation of the internal combustion engine of the machine. Also, one refueling allows you to travel a greater distance. This is especially convenient in sparsely populated areas, where distances to gas stations are long or where the fuel is of poor quality. In addition to the above advantages, you can easily make your car not stolen. To enable the car's anti-theft system, it is enough to remove the switch, without which neither gasoline nor gas fuel will flow into the injection system of the internal combustion engine.

If the car has an engine with an expensive fuel injection system with a catalyst that cleans exhaust gases, then installed system 4th generation LPG will reduce fuel consumption and extend the life of the catalyst itself.

Such equipment is intended for engines that meet the requirements of environmental standards for hazardous substances EURO 3 and higher. This equipment has a pulsed injection of the fuel-air mixture, which executes commands from the controller of a separate control unit with a microprocessor. The control unit (CU) reads and generates microprocessor data and provides control signals that open the electromagnetic gas fuel injection injectors and that block the gasoline supply injectors.

Data by which the system creates the required concentration to be supplied to the engine system:

1. Gas pressure.
2. Gearbox temperature.
3. Gas temperature.

If a case arises when the pressure of the incoming gas decreases and becomes below the maximum permissible, the LPG system 4 turns off the gas injectors and turns on the gasoline injectors. Thus, the operation of the internal combustion engine is transferred from gas to gasoline.

Design and operating diagram of HBO 4

HBO device:

1. Cylinder for gaseous fuel.
2. Multivalve.
3. A unit that prepares, distributes and injects gas fuel into the vehicle’s internal combustion engine system.

The multivalve device is mounted on the neck of the gas cylinder. It serves to refill the cylinder, for normalized, economical gas consumption when the engine is running and consuming gas.

Multivalve device:

• Inlet or filling valve.
• Outlet or flow valve.
• Emergency or high-speed valve.
• Cylinder refill arrow.
• Fuel intake pipe.

An emergency or high-speed valve is installed to timely shut off the flow channel in the event that gas flow increases sharply, for example, if the tube from the cylinder to the internal combustion engine is damaged.

Design of the gas preparation and distribution system:

1. single-stage, if the cylinder contains propane. The gearbox is two-stage, if the cylinder contains methane. The function of the gearbox is that it converts fuel from a liquid state to a gaseous state. A two-stage reducer (when there is methane in the cylinder) can still reduce the pressure.
2. Injector ramp with jets.
3. Filters for gas purification.

Attention! It is recommended to start the car engine on gasoline. It is possible to start immediately with gas supply, but this is the case when the gasoline fuel system is faulty. Gas starting is abnormal.

If you start the engine directly on gas, the service life of the gearbox quickly expires, since the gearbox diaphragm experiences high pressure loads. When starting with gasoline, when the engine warms up, the system automatically switches to gas. And when the gas pressure drops, the system automatically switches the engine to gasoline mode. When switching from gas to gasoline, a sound signal sounds, which notifies you that the gas has run out.

During operation, the 4th generation gas cylinder equipment system does not allow popping sounds to appear in the intake channel, which can occur in equipment with poorly synchronized mechanical supply systems. Thanks to this, the fourth generation LPG can be safely installed on engines with plastic manifolds and adjustable feed geometry gas-air mixture.

After installing gas equipment in a car, you need to adjust the ignition timing. The ignition is adjusted because the combustion time of gas is longer than that of gasoline and the octane number is higher. The gas system requires early ignition, that is, the advance angle must be larger.

To improve the performance of internal combustion engines on gas, spark plugs are specially manufactured. But ordinary spark plugs also ensure good uninterrupted operation of the car engine. The ignition is adjusted using an electronic variator.

As in the case of an internal combustion engine without gas, a motor with 4th generation gas equipment can be tuned, that is, chip tuning of the internal combustion engine. As a result, nominal technical specifications motor and the temperature will change, upon reaching which the fuel supply mode will automatically switch.

Recommendation from HBO installers: install additional filters to protect the injectors and gearbox from dust particles, thereby extending their service life and increasing the reliable operation of the car engine. Where does the garbage in the cylinder come from, you ask? It often happens that when cylinders are refilled from old containers or from new ones, but the remains are sucked out, particles of dirt get into the cylinder.

Pros of HBO 4th generation

If we compare automotive gas equipment of the 4th generation and previous modifications, the following advantages will be revealed:

• Due to the fact that a gas-air mixture is formed very precisely, the desired concentration, in the required proportion, the maximum power of the internal combustion engine of the car is achieved.
• The power unit operates quite smoothly, without jerking or tripping. The pops that were present with installed HBOs of 3 and earlier generations are completely absent.
• Due to the fact that the mixture is created in the required proportion, it burns efficiently and completely, resulting in increased environmental friendliness of the engine. The engine with HBO 4 complies with the EURO 3/4 environmental standard. In this case, the motor power is only lost up to 2%.
• Due to the fact that it is possible to combine software and hardware diagnostic systems EOBD, 4th generation gas cylinder equipment can be installed on all modern cars.
• The connectors of the blocks are unique, they cannot be mixed up, so there are no errors when installing gas equipment due to the ignorance of the craftsmen, and the installation itself is simplified.
• Due to the use of the most modern equipment in the production of gas equipment at the plant, fourth-generation equipment is reliable and relatively inexpensive.

Causes of malfunction of 4th generation HBO

When operating a vehicle with such equipment installed, the performance of the internal combustion engine may decrease. Such problems occur for the following reasons:

1. The gearbox has failed.
2. The gearbox or dispenser is incorrectly configured.
3. The filter is clogged, which prevents the gas supply in the required volume.
4. The temperature of the gas-air mixture is low. This often happens in winter.
5. Due to the low temperature of the gearbox, the mixture turns out too rich.

If a car with HBO 4 does not start well:

1. The gearbox diaphragm has failed. This happens if you often start the engine directly on gas.
2. The gearbox is not configured correctly.
3. The flow solenoid valve is not working correctly. The valve may “fail” due to mechanical jamming of the armature or if a short circuit (short circuit) of the turns occurs.
4. The electronic control unit refuses to give a signal to start gas supply or gives an incorrect signal that does not correspond to the required amount of fuel.
5. The car battery is low, which is why the solenoid valves do not operate when starting. The battery charge may decrease due to a malfunction of the starter or generator. You should also check.
6. Compression in the engine cylinders has been reduced. This may be due to wear on the smooth surfaces of the cylinder-piston group parts or damage to the engine rings and valves.
7. When using a vacuum reducer, the engine may not start due to the fact that a low vacuum is created in the intake manifold, which is insufficient to suck in gas. In this case, a separate electromagnetic pump helps out, which forcibly supplies fuel.

Maintenance of fourth generation gas equipment

To increase the service life of the equipment and the quality of the vehicle’s internal combustion engine as a whole, it is advisable to perform the following tasks weekly:

1. Conduct a visual inspection of the system for leaks to prevent gas leaks. If there is a suspicion of a gas leak, you can check using a soap solution, which must be diluted and soap foam applied to the pipes, hoses, connecting elements, and in places where clamps are installed. Also, in the event of a gas leak, a characteristic odor of ODORANTE will appear.
2. Also, once a week you need to drain the fluid that accumulates in the gearbox. For this purpose, there is a special plug in the gearbox at the bottom. If the liquid from the gearbox is not drained at all or is drained very rarely, then the drain hole may become coked and clog the hole, after which the normal operation of the evaporator reducer occurs.

Also, there are recommendations for HBO 4 maintenance, which should be done once a month:

• Clean or change the filter. To do this, you need to disconnect the inlet pipe and remove the filter. Depending on the degree of contamination, clean or replace the filter element. If you cleaned the filter, then there is a magnet in the filter element small size, which must be replaced after cleaning the filter.

• Disassemble and clean the gearbox. This work requires extreme caution to avoid denting or tearing the membrane. After the gearbox has been cleaned and assembled, it must be checked for leaks.

Video

This video shows and talks about the types of gas equipment for cars. A useful video, it even shows an excerpt of how a full gas cylinder is thrown from the 9th floor and it does not explode.

In this video there is a Suzuki Grand Vitara with 4th generation LPG. Since the fuel consumption of the Suzuki Grand Vitara is very high, it is beneficial to transfer it to gas equipment.

This video shows the consequences of a gas car explosion.

In this video they test gas cylinders for strength. For those who are thinking whether or not to install HBO in a car.

Many motorists, especially in the face of constantly rising fuel prices, decide to convert their car from gasoline to gas. Installing gas equipment can significantly save money for those drivers who actively use their car and have significant mileage. We will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of using HBO in a separate article, but now let’s look at the classification similar decisions and the operating principle of such equipment.

Read in this article

Gas system design

Main components of gas systems:

• Reducer-evaporator. This device heats the propane-butane mixture, is responsible for evaporation and reduces the pressure to a value close to atmospheric. Gas reducer great for cars with a small displacement, as it compact solution not difficult to place in the engine compartment. The device can be controlled either vacuum or electronic using a separate unit.
• Solenoid gas valve. It shuts off the gas line, which is necessary during idle times or after switching the engine to gasoline. It also has a filter that cleans the fuel mixture.
• Solenoid gasoline valve. In cars with The carburetor stops the supply of gasoline when the engine is running on gas. In a car with injection injection, this function is performed injector emulator.
• Switch between fuel types. The device is located inside the car. Switches may have various designs, some of them receive backlighting and a scale indicating the remaining gas in the cylinder.
• Multivalve. This solution is mounted on the neck of the cylinder. The device consists of a filling valve and a flow valve. There is also a gas level meter and a sampling tube. Structurally, the device includes another valve (high-speed), which is capable of preventing gas leakage in the event of an emergency breakdown of the gas line.
• Ventilation box. The solution is also installed on the neck of the cylinder. The above-mentioned multivalve is placed inside the box. The main task of the ventilation box is to remove gas vapors to the outside in case of leaks from the cylinder in the luggage compartment.
• Capacity for liquefied gas(gas cylinder). Cylinders can be cylindrical or toroidal. The latter allow installation in a niche for a spare wheel. Cylinders are filled to no more than 80% of the maximum volume, which is done in accordance with safety requirements during their operation.

Operating principle

It is worth noting that gas supply and the implementation of the entire gas equipment system of early generations is noticeably simpler than the design of a gasoline fuel supply system. For clarity, let us once again draw your attention to a relatively small list of basic elements.

Converting a car to a gas power system and the corresponding conversion is as follows. At the very beginning in the trunk, cargo compartment, on the frame or under the floor vehicle install a gas storage container (gas cylinder). The evaporator reducer and devices responsible for supplying gas to the engine are located in the engine compartment. Additionally, solutions are installed that allow mixture regulation.

The gas in the cylinder is propane-butane, which is liquefied petroleum gas. If the pressure is at atmospheric level, then the substance is in a gaseous state, but with a relatively small increase in pressure it easily turns into a liquefied state. The resulting liquid is prone to evaporation at household temperatures. For this reason, the gas is placed in sealed containers (cylinders) under a pressure of 2-16 atm, where it is stored in the form of a liquid.

Gas vapors create pressure, due to which they enter the gas line from the cylinder, which is called the high pressure line. Gas from the cylinder is consumed due to its passage through the multivalve. As mentioned above, gas filling is also carried out through this valve. An additional remote device is used for refueling.

Liquid gas moves along the line and enters a gas valve equipped with a filter. The filter is designed for effective cleaning gas from impurities and tarry deposits. The device is additionally responsible for shutting off the gas supply when the ignition is turned off, as well as when selecting the engine operating mode on gasoline.

After the filter, the purified liquefied gas moves through the gas pipeline and ends up in the evaporator reducer. In this device, its pressure is reduced to approximately 1 atm. A decrease in pressure causes the liquid gas to begin to evaporate. In this case, active cooling of the gearbox occurs. For this reason, the gearbox is connected to the engine cooling system. The heated coolant, which circulates in the system, prevents freezing of the gearbox, as well as the membranes in the device. The main recommendation in the cold season is to pre-start and warm up the engine on gasoline, and then switch the engine to gas. This requirement implies that the internal combustion engine reaches operating temperature with the necessary heating of the coolant.

From the gearbox, gas, which is already in a vapor state, enters the engine cylinders. Dosing devices are responsible for its supply. It is noteworthy that the gas installation does not have an element whose functions are similar to a gas pump. The gas is already in the cylinder under pressure and enters the reducer independently, and not forcibly. This greatly simplifies the HBO system. The ability of a gas to change from the liquid phase to the vapor phase when changing pressure and temperature further reduces the number of structural elements in the circuit.

The mixer in LPG is a device complex shape, which is installed in front of the throttle valve. The main task of this solution is to prepare a working mixture of gas and air. The dispenser is a device for adjustment. A special solenoid valve is installed in front of the reducer, which turns off the gas supply.

The petrol or gas selection switch in the cabin has three positions: “gas”, “petrol” and neutral position. Selecting a mode closes one or both valves. When the ignition is turned off, then all valves are closed. HBO may also have the function of shutting off the gas supply if there is no ignition spark in the internal combustion engine.

• cylinder (1)
• multivalve (2)
• high pressure gas line (3)
• remote filling device (4)
• gas valve (5)
• reducer-evaporator (6)
• dispenser (7)
• air and gas mixer (8)
• petrol valve (9)
• fuel switch (10)

Based on the principle of gas supply to the engine, LPG is conventionally divided into generations. As clear example Let's take early systems and follow the algorithm of their operation. Petroleum gas (propane-butane), which is in a liquefied state and under pressure, comes from a cylinder (1). Gas flows through the high pressure line (3). The multivalve (2) is responsible for controlling gas flow. By means of the same valve, refueling is carried out using a remote refueling device (4). In the liquid phase, gas penetrates through the line into the gas filter valve (5). There it is cleaned from suspended matter and tarry deposits, and the filter also cuts off the gas supply when the ignition is turned off or when the gasoline operating mode is selected.

The gas purified in the filter goes through the pipeline and ends up in the evaporator reducer (6). The gas pressure drops there to atmospheric levels. Intensive evaporation of gas begins. The vacuum in the intake manifold of a running internal combustion engine allows gas from the gearbox to pass through the hose low pressure. Next, the gas penetrates the dispenser (7) and ends up in the mixer (8). The mixer is installed between air filter and throttle valve. On carburetor cars, instead of a mixer, gas fittings can be inserted directly into the carburetor.

The operating modes of the internal combustion engine on gasoline or gas are selected using the fuel type switch (10), which is placed on the dashboard. When the gas mode is selected, the switch initiates the opening of the gas solenoid valve (5) and the gasoline solenoid valve (9) is turned off. If there is a transition from gas to gasoline, then the switch closes the gas valve and allows the gasoline valve to open. The backlight on the switch allows you to determine what type of fuel is used at any given moment.

In the process of evolution, a well-established practice of dividing attitudes into generations has developed. In the CIS, certain difficulties have arisen with the classification of HBO. The fact is that the third generation, after its appearance on the market, did not become widespread and then disappeared, and for this reason the first and second began to be mistakenly called the second and third.

Even greater confusion is caused by numerous installers who, in some cases, mistakenly assign fifth-generation status to LPG systems with an OBD correction function, as well as to BRC Sequent Direct Injection systems for engines with direct fuel injection. For maximum clarity, the system should be divided according to the method of supplying gas to the internal combustion engine:

• ejector-type equipment, which includes gas equipment of the first generations. The solution is analogous to the gasoline carburetor and early examples of injection injection;
• distributed gas injection, belonging to the fourth generation of systems;
• liquid injection, which is a fifth-generation LPG;
• direct injection of liquid gas, which is the sixth generation of gas equipment;

Generations of gas equipment and design features

I generation

This generation includes the mechanical systems that were partially described above in the form of a schematic example. The solutions are vacuum controlled and are also equipped with a mechanical gas dispenser. Such systems are installed on gasoline units that have a carburetor or a simple injector. The first generation gas equipment also received a gas mixer.

Regulation of the gas supply to the mixer for such systems is carried out manually. A dispenser is used for this. The dispenser is a pipe that allows you to change the flow area by screwing in the adjusting screw, which is inserted into the pipe. By adjusting the dispenser we mean the position of the screw that allows the engine to operate stably on gas in various modes. The position of the screw during vehicle operation may occasionally require correction, especially if the air filter is clogged. The fuel selection switch in such gas equipment may additionally have a gas level indicator in the cylinder. The function is implemented if there is a fuel level sensor in the multivalve design.

The first generation of LPG for cars with an injector is structurally different in that the gasoline valve for stopping the supply of gasoline is replaced with a device called an injector emulator. During the gas supply process, the element imitates the operation of standard gasoline injectors so that it does not go into emergency mode work. A similar solution in the form of a lambda probe emulator made it possible to solve the problem regarding ECU errors of an injection engine.

II generation

The mechanical system was supplemented with an electronic metering device, the operation of which was based on feedback from the lambda probe (oxygen content sensor). This solution is installed on injection engines with a catalyst. The second generation HBO eliminated the need for a manual dispenser. Its place was taken by an electronic dispenser, which regulates the gas supply using a stepper-type electric motor.

The dispenser is controlled by an electronic unit, which relies on signals from the standard lambda probe. This makes it possible to maintain the optimal composition of the gas-air working mixture. The electronic unit additionally receives signals from the throttle position sensor and the engine speed sensor, which is necessary to optimize the mixture during transient operating conditions of the power unit. This type of HBO is configured using a PC.

Such systems were installed on cars with electronic carburetors or injectors, which are equipped with a lambda probe and a catalyst, and have a throttle position sensor in their design. These generations of HBO are transitional systems. Today such solutions are practically not used.

The reason was that early generations of HBO do not meet current requirements regarding toxicity, being at the level of EURO-1 standards. With these requirements in mind, manufacturers have created third and fourth generation systems, which are much more common.

III generation

Such systems are capable of providing distributed synchronous gas injection. Structurally, they have a dispenser-distributor controlled by an electronic unit. Gas is supplied to the intake manifold via mechanical injectors. The injectors open due to excess pressure in the high-pressure gas line. An electronic-mechanical stepper-type dispenser-distributor is located between the gearbox, which supplies excess pressure, and the valve fittings, which are installed in the engine intake manifold. The element is responsible for the optimal dosage of gas flow into the inlet. Switching modes and creating an optimal gas-air working mixture is entrusted to the electronic control unit, which receives signals from standard engine sensors (MAP sensor, lambda probe, TPS, etc.).

It is worth noting that the 3rd generation LPG does not use the car’s ECU and does not rely on fuel maps, which are hardwired into the standard internal combustion engine control unit. Gas supply systems operate in parallel and have their own fuel maps. The adjustment of the mixture composition in such gas equipment is not of the highest quality, which directly depends on the operating speed of the stepper dispenser-distributor. After the introduction of EURO-3 standards, as well as the advent of OBD II and EOBD (second generation on-board diagnostics) systems, 3rd generation gas systems lost popularity. The release of the 4th generation HBO systems completely pushed the previous 3rd generation out of the market.

IV generation

This generation of gas injection is called distributed gas injection (the definition of phased distributed gas injection is also found). The generation of distributed sequential gas injection systems with electromagnetic injectors is controlled by a more advanced electronic unit. Like the 3rd generation systems, the gas injectors are mounted on the intake manifold. The installation involves close proximity of the injector nozzle and the intake valve of each individual cylinder. This generation of HBO uses the power of the ECU and, which are included in the standard program of the vehicle controller. In the 4th generation, only the necessary amendments are made in order to adapt the gas system to the fuel map in the ECU designed for gasoline.

In this generation of systems, gas from the reducer-evaporator passes through a fine gas filter. Next, it enters a special gas injector ramp. These injectors are installed on the intake manifold, and their installation location is the space near the standard gasoline injectors. Gas injectors are based on calibrated jets, through which gas is supplied to the area where the inlet valve of the power unit is located.

A separate control unit controls the gas injectors. The block uses the signals that come from the standard on-board computer in the car and are intended for gasoline injectors. The gas block converts these signals and sends them to the gas injectors. Gasoline injectors are switched off at this moment by the same unit.

The required amount of gas that is distributed throughout the intake manifold is calculated based on the injection time, which is determined by the standard ECU. The gas injector control unit adjusts this time for the gas, since its pressure and temperature must be taken into account. The result is that gas enters each cylinder of the internal combustion engine in a timely manner and in a precisely defined quantity.

The 4th generation HBO is configured using a personal computer and appropriate programs. The software must be compatible with the HBO generation. A separate advantage of such systems is the function of switching automatically from gasoline to gas when the engine warms up. If the gas cylinder runs out, then an automatic switch to gasoline will also occur. The ability to manually select fuel using a switch in the cabin remains unchanged. Today, 4th generation LPG is the most popular and optimal equipment for injection vehicles.

HBO IV and direct injection

Separately, it is worth noting the 4th generation LPG for vehicles in which the fuel supply system is designed on the principle of direct fuel injection. Some gas equipment installation companies classify this type of system as the fifth generation, but a detailed study of the issue reveals the fallacy of this definition. In fact, the system remains 4th generation equipment, which has been modified and adapted for a specific type of internal combustion engine.

Not so long ago, installing LPG on cars with direct fuel injection into the cylinders was simply impossible. Such cars include Mitsubishi with a line of GDI engines, VW, Skoda and Audi with FSI units, certain models of Toyota, Nissan, etc. The main problem The problem was that gasoline injectors in such engines do not inject fuel into the intake manifold, but supply fuel directly to the combustion chamber. It was not possible to install gas injectors to directly supply gas to the combustion chamber. The usual 4th generation gas system with gas injectors on the intake manifold was also not suitable, since the gasoline power system of these internal combustion engines suffered greatly and failed in a short time.

The LPi (Liquid Propane Injection) system is an injection of liquefied gas. Such a system was the brainchild of a company from Holland, Vialle. The brand’s specialists developed and were the first to introduce gas injection systems, which are in a liquid state, back in 1995. The main difference between this system and other gas systems with distributed injection is that gas is injected into the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine not in the evaporated phase, but in liquid form. This generation gas system It also has a number of differences in its constituent components. Most of the elements of the LPi system differ from those conventional solutions that are used in the design of conventional previous LPG systems.

The gas cylinder contains a gas pump. This pump allows you to supply gas in a liquid state. In this form, the gas flows to the gas injectors. There is no need to evaporate gas in the intake manifold, which automatically eliminates the reducer-evaporator from the system. Instead of this element there is a pressure regulator. The task of the device is to maintain constant operating pressure in the gas supply system. The indicator is at such a level that the outlet pressure is at least 5 bar higher than the pressure in the gas cylinder. This pressure does not allow the gas to enter the vapor phase in the tubes due to heating of the running engine. The need to warm up the LPG elements under the hood by integrating them into the internal combustion engine cooling system to circulate heated coolant has now lost its relevance. The pressure regulator is enclosed in a special block, which contains a safety solenoid valve. This valve is open when the internal combustion engine is running on gas; the device closes when the engine is switched to gasoline.

The remaining unused gas from the injectors flows through the pressure regulator back into the cylinder, which is reminiscent of the “return” principle in gasoline units. The fuel line has also changed. In the early generations of HBO there was a tube, the material of which in most cases was refined copper. The tube was used to supply gas from the cylinder to the evaporator reducer. In the 5th generation system, it was replaced with single lines, the material for which was reinforced plastic.

If you carefully study the LPi system, then it is quite obvious that there is a significant similarity with the gasoline injection system for the internal combustion engine. Liquid injection allows you to completely replace the gasoline power system. South Korean automakers appreciated this opportunity by launching the production of mono-fuel gas cars for their domestic market.

The main advantage of HBO 5 is high injection accuracy, no connection to the internal combustion engine cooling system, independence from the level of gas pressure in the cylinder, etc. Moreover, due to the cooling effect during gas evaporation, the engine produces slightly higher power when operating in some modes.

Start the internal combustion engine under conditions low temperatures becomes easier, since in cold weather in LPi liquefied gas has best characterization evaporation compared to gasoline, which allows you to avoid filling the spark plugs. The disadvantages of the system include the high final cost and little experience in servicing these solutions by specialists in the CIS countries.

If the system is not properly looked after, then the service life of the 5th generation gas equipment without breakdowns is reduced significantly. For example, an old-style gas pump required periodic lubrication for its trouble-free operation. Not all specialists knew about this need. This is where myths arose about the rapid failure of gas pumps, which were attributed to the low quality of gas in the CIS, design flaws in the system, etc.

Proper maintenance, even taking into account the realities and mediocre quality of gas, can provide a minimum service life of the Vialle LPi, even with an old type pump, of about 200-300 thousand km. IN modern systems an even more advanced pump was used turbine type, which completely eliminates the need for additional lubrication and other manipulations to care for the system.

VI generation

The Liquid Propane Direct Injection system is a solution for direct injection of liquid gas. In parallel with the LPi system, the Dutch company Vialle created the LPdi system. This solution is intended for engines with direct fuel injection into the cylinders.

This system occupies the conditional status of the sixth generation of HBO, repeating the situation with the 4th generation and the Sequent Direct Injection (SDI) system. The solution has a similar design to the 5th generation HBO. The main difference is that liquid gas is supplied through standard gasoline injectors of the power unit. The system uses the same cylinder with gas pump high pressure. This pump supplies liquefied gas to a special device called a fuel selector. It is in this device that the switching between the supply of gasoline or gas occurs.

It is quite obvious that the basis of this LPG system is the specified fuel selector. This device is a patented valve block. During operation of the unit, gasoline located in front of fuel pump high pressure, replaced by liquid gas. Remaining in a liquefied state, the gas is supplied to. Specified
raises the pressure to 100 bar and higher, supplying gas to the fuel injectors.

The use of such an LPG system allows you to fully retain all the advantages of using an internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection. The most accurate dosing of fuel is ensured, the engine runs confidently on a lean working mixture, and there are no problems in transient conditions. Not only that, but the use of liquefied gas can further reduce exhaust toxicity.

One more positive thing The benefit of using 6th generation gas equipment is the ability to not only maintain the engine power that engineers put into it at the factory, but also exceed this figure. The manufacturer gives an example that after installing such an LPG system on a Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI, whose rated power on gasoline is 160 hp, the power characteristics on gas increased to 169 hp. With. The installation of the Vialle LPdi system is only possible on certain car models with the corresponding type of power unit.

The constant rise in the price of gasoline is forcing car owners to increasingly become interested in gas equipment or the so-called LPG. In this material we will talk about what HBO is in a car, when it is advisable to use it, and also what the economic effect of its installation is.

Set of gas cylinder equipment for installation in a car (toroidal cylinder)

Gas equipment means a set technical means and units that allow the use of a mixture of petroleum oils as fuel liquefied gases(propane-butane). At the same time, it is possible to switch from traditional fuel (gasoline) to gas, which allows you to choose the most economical mode of operation of the car.

The gas cylinder equipment includes the following main components:

• Gas cylinder with a capacity of 40 liters or more. There are standard cylindrical modifications and toroidal ones, which can be placed in a niche for a spare wheel, which makes it possible to maintain useful trunk volume.
• Ventilation box with a multi-valve, including a flow and filling valve, a control device for determining the gas level in the container, and an intake tube. The design of this unit allows you to prevent emergency gas leaks and ensure the removal of gas vapors from the trunk.
• A fuel type switch is mounted inside the car, allowing you to select gas or gasoline.
• A filter valve that purifies the gas mixture from existing impurities.
• Electromagnetic gasoline and gas valves that allow you to cut off the supply of unused fuel to the combustion chamber. For injection-type engines, a special injector emulator is used.
• Gas reducer, ensuring maintenance of the required pressure of gas supplied to the combustion chamber. This unit was specially designed for installation on vehicles, so its dimensions and shape guarantee easy installation under the hood.
• Reducer-evaporator - ensures the transition of liquefied gas into a gaseous state of aggregation, which is required for engine operation. It is worth noting the fact that such a unit is present only in gas equipment of 1-4 generations; in newer equipment (5th generation), gas is supplied to the combustion chamber in a liquid state. Instead, a pressure regulator is used to maintain optimal parameters of the gas mixture.

The gas coming from the container (cylinder) passes through the multivalve and through the high pressure line enters the filter valve. At this stage, the mixture is cleaned of resinous deposits and mechanical mixtures contained in it.

When the transition to gaseous fuel is switched on, gasoline flows are cut off, and the gas enters the evaporator reducer or pressure regulator (for LPG 5). At this stage, the high pressure of the mixture is reduced to standard parameters. Considering the significant drop in temperature caused by the transition of fuel to a gaseous state, it is mandatory to connect this unit to the engine cooling system. This will prevent freezing of the membranes and gear housing.

Thanks to vacuum pressure (rarefaction), the gas flows through the low pressure line directly into the carburetor or into the mixer, which is mounted between the throttle valves and the air filter.

Features of HBO installation

Considering the increased danger that characterizes any gas equipment, its installation should only be carried out by an experienced contractor with the appropriate permit. At the same time, gas cylinders must undergo regular inspection and calibration.

Keep in mind that any gas equipment must be registered with the traffic police, otherwise the owner may be punished with a fine, the amount of which is established by the rules and legislation.

Video about HBO in a car

Generations of HBO

On current moment in practice, 5 generations of gas equipment are used, while the first of them are used mainly on outdated machines, installation on modern models impractical due to high fuel consumption.

• 1st generation equipment uses mechanical devices, which are controlled using a vacuum method. Used on gasoline carburetor engines.
• Generation 2 includes the same mechanical equipment with an additional electronic control device. Installed on injection engines.
• Synchronous gas injection is carried out by 3rd generation equipment. It is used in various modifications on both carburetor and injection cars.
• 4th generation units provide sequential distributed gas injection, controlled using electronically controlled electromagnetic injectors.
• The most modern and efficient equipment is the 5th generation, which supplies gas in a liquid state to the combustion chamber.

Considering the current cost of liquefied gas, the use of LPG for passenger cars and trucks is justified and also confirmed by the economic effect.

The practice of using gas-cylinder equipment has shown the possibility of saving up to 30% of money on fuel. But when choosing an LPG kit, you need to pay attention to its features, since for engines various types a certain type of gas equipment is installed.

In this article we will talk about gas equipment for cars, consider the classification and installation diagram of gas equipment, what it consists of and how it works.

Classification of HBO by generation

1st generation

Vacuum-controlled mechanical systems that are installed on gasoline carburetor cars.

2nd generation

Mechanical systems supplemented by an electronic dosing device operating on the feedback principle with an oxygen sensor (lambda probe). They are installed on vehicles equipped injection engine and a catalyst.

3rd generation

Systems providing distributed synchronous gas injection with a metering distributor controlled by an electronic unit. Gas is supplied to the intake manifold using mechanical injectors, which open due to excess pressure in the gas supply line.

According to current laws, a system of at least the fourth generation is allowed to be installed on a car.

4th generation

Distributed sequential gas injection systems with electromagnetic injectors, which are controlled by a more advanced electronic unit. They differ in that gas is supplied directly to the intake manifold through special gas injectors. They are controlled by their own electronic control unit, which synchronizes its operation with the standard controller and simultaneously performs the functions of an emulator.

This system is popular in the market due to its low cost and quick installation. It can interact with the standard engine control unit via the OBD-2 diagnostic connector, and then the adjustment accuracy becomes higher. On engines with direct fuel injection, an HBO 4+ system is installed, which is connected to the engine control unit. This is due to the design of the engine, when gasoline is supplied to the combustion chamber to cool it.

5th generation

The main difference is that the gas enters the collector not in an evaporated state, but in a liquid one. This allows for more precise dosing of fuel supply and increases efficiency. This system is insensitive to sudden temperature changes and ensures that the engine starts on gas even in winter. In the manufacture of 5th generation equipment, an element base is used that is fundamentally different from the previous ones. One of these differences is the installed pump, thanks to which liquid gas is supplied to the gas injectors.

The new design does not require the use of an evaporator reducer. Instead, a pressure regulator is installed to ensure constant gas pressure in the line, which is 5 bar higher than in cylinders. Thanks to this level of operating pressure, the heat generated by the engine does not cause steam to form in the tubes.

6th generation

Just like the previous system, the 6th generation system injects fuel in a liquid state, but through standard engine injectors. In winter, you can also run the engine on gas. This system is the most advanced due to the complete integration of two fuel systems. But it is also expensive, so it is rarely used in practice.

Main Components

Reducer-evaporator serves to heat the propane-butane mixture, evaporate it and reduce the pressure to a value close to atmospheric pressure.

Gas reducer serves to reduce gas pressure and transfer it from a liquid to a gaseous state. This requires heating the gearbox with liquid from the cooling system. May have a vacuum or electronic control. On all reducers, gas pressure is adjusted using a special screw.

Solenoid gas valve serves to shut off the gas line when the engine is parked or running on gasoline. Equipped with a filter for cleaning the fuel mixture.

Solenoid petrol valve in carburetor cars, it cuts off the supply of gasoline when the engine is running on gas. In injection cars, its functions are performed by an injector emulator.

Fuel selector- installed in the car interior and designed to transfer the engine from one type of fuel to another from the driver’s seat without stopping the engine. There are switches on which the gas level in the cylinder is shown using LEDs.

The multivalve is mounted on the neck of the cylinder. Includes filling and flow valves, gas level indicator and sampling tube. A special high-speed valve stops gas leaks when accidental damage gas main.

The ventilation box is attached to the neck of the cylinder. A multivalve is placed inside it. In the event of a gas leak from the cylinder, the ventilation box removes its vapor from the luggage compartment to the outside.

Gas container. There are cylindrical and toroidal cylinders (for a niche for a spare tire). According to safety regulations, fill no more than 80% of the full volume. There are 4 generations of cylinders: the first type - all steel; the second - made of alloy steel with composite winding); the third - an aluminum vessel with a composite winding) and the fourth type - the most modern and durable - from composite materials. It is the latter that are the most expensive, but also the easiest.

How does the HBO scheme work?

LPG diagram: 1 - cylinder 2 - multi-valve 3 - high-pressure gas line 4 - remote filling device 5 - gas valve 6 - evaporator reducer 7 - dispenser 8 - air and gas mixer 9 - gasoline valve 10 - fuel type switch

Liquefied petroleum gas (propane-butane) comes under pressure from balloon(1) in high pressure gas line(3). Gas consumption from the cylinder occurs through multivalve(2), through which refueling is also carried out using remote filling device(4). Along the main line, gas in the liquid phase enters the gas filter valve(5), which cleans the gas from suspended matter and tarry deposits and shuts off the gas supply when the ignition is turned off or when switching to gasoline.

Next, the purified gas flows through the pipeline to reducer-evaporator(6), where the gas pressure decreases from sixteen atmospheres to one. As the gas intensively evaporates, it cools the gearbox, so the latter is connected to the engine’s water cooling system. The circulation of antifreeze allows you to avoid freezing of the gearbox and its membranes. Under the influence of vacuum created in the intake manifold of a running engine, gas from the gearbox through the low pressure hose through dispenser(7) goes to mixer(8), installed between the air filter and the carburetor throttle valves. Sometimes, instead of installing a mixer, gas fittings are directly inserted into the carburetor.

Operating modes are controlled using fuel switch(10) installed on the instrument panel. When selecting the "GAS" position, the switch opens the electromagnetic gas valve(5) and turns off the electromagnetic gasoline valve(9). And, conversely, when switching from gas to gasoline, the switch closes the gas valve and opens the gasoline valve. Using LEDs, the switch allows you to control which fuel is currently being used.

You should know that the installation of gas equipment on a car must be officially registered with the traffic police and regulatory authorities. If this is not done, the inspector may issue a fine of 500 rubles or a warning for operating a car to which changes have been made without permission. In practice, 90 percent of drivers do not even know that they need to register a car with LPG.