Patent attributes
A reciprocating engine includes a combustion chamber, and a gas exchange inlet valve and a gas exchange outlet valve for a charge cycle. The method introduces an inlet gas into the combustion chamber in an intake phase; introduces a primary quantity of fuel into the combustion chamber during the intake phase and/or a compression phase; compresses the inlet gas and the fuel in the compression phase; ignites a mixture of inlet gas and fuel formed in the combustion chamber; and expands and discharges an exhaust gas formed by the combustion in an expansion phase. A pilot quantity of fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber before the primary quantity of fuel is introduced. Intermediate products of the pilot quantity of fuel are formed and the primary quantity of fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber during the compression phase such that complete ignition of the mixture consisting of inlet gas and the intermediate products is suppressed and other intermediate products are formed until a controlled ignition of the mixture and other intermediate products occurs.