Diesel Fuel Injector

A: A fuel injector regulates the injection of fuel into an engine’s internal combustion chamber where it is mixed with air and ignited. The combustion chamber is where the chemical energy in diesel, hydrogen, and natural gas is converted into power for the vehicle. When actuated by the electronic control unit (ECU), the injector delivers a precise amount of fuel to ensure efficient combustion.

A: A fuel injector in a diesel engine consists of a solenoid (a type of electromagnet), a nozzle, and a needle within the injector body. Modern diesel engines are direct injection, meaning fuel is delivered directly into the combustion chamber.

A: Natural gas engines function similarly to gasoline engines in that their combustion process utilizes a spark plug (unlike diesel engines). Natural gas is compressed and stored in a fuel tank, typically located in the back of the vehicle. The high-pressure gas is routed through a pressure regulator that reduces the pressure of the incoming fuel to an appropriate level to ensure accurate fueling from the injector.

A: Hydrogen engines have a high degree of components common with natural gas and diesel engines. Cummins’ hydrogen engines are built on the cutting-edge fuel agnostic engine platform. Though they share common components, hydrogen engines have specific requirements for regulating and injecting fuel.

A: Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles harness electrical energy produced by splitting a hydrogen atom into protons and electrons and reacting it with oxygen. On fuel cells, the hydrogen delivery system must provide sufficient fresh flow of hydrogen to the anode side of the fuel cell stack to meet the electrical power demands of the application. This can be accomplished using either a hydrogen injector or proportional valve, both of which accurately regulate the flow of hydrogen to the stack.