阅读说明：本技术 内燃发动机和用于内燃发动机的模块化系统 (Internal combustion engine and modular system for an internal combustion engine ) 是由 M.森根 S.雷勒 于 2019-07-16 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及内燃发动机和用于内燃发动机的模块化系统,具体而言内燃发动机、即燃气发动机或双燃料发动机或液体燃料发动机具有汽缸曲轴箱,其中安装有曲轴；具有包括汽缸的汽缸排,其中汽缸包括汽缸盖,其带有充入空气的入口阀且带有废气的排气阀；具有阀驱动器,其包括凸轮轴用于促动相应的汽缸的充入空气的入口阀和废气的排气阀；具有燃料供应系统用于给汽缸供应燃料。内燃发动机的燃料供应系统以这样方式以模块化设计体现以致于对于每个汽缸各自存在燃料供应模块,其中可经由相应燃料供应模块来给相应的汽缸在燃气发动机情况下唯一供应气态燃料且在双燃料发动机情况下供应气态燃料和同样液体燃料两者且在液体燃料发动机情况下唯一供应液体燃料。(The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine and a modular system for an internal combustion engine, in particular an internal combustion engine, i.e. a gas engine or a dual fuel engine or a liquid fuel engine, having a cylinder crankcase in which a crankshaft is mounted; having a cylinder bank comprising cylinders, wherein the cylinders comprise a cylinder head with an inlet valve for charging air and with an exhaust valve for exhaust gases; having a valve drive comprising a camshaft for actuating an inlet valve for the charge air and an exhaust valve for the exhaust gas of the respective cylinder; there is a fuel supply system for supplying fuel to the cylinders. The fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine is embodied in a modular design in such a way that for each cylinder there is a fuel supply module each, wherein the respective cylinder can be supplied via the respective fuel supply module exclusively with gaseous fuel in the case of a gas engine and with a dual-fuel engine both with gaseous fuel and likewise with liquid fuel and exclusively with liquid fuel.)

1. An internal combustion engine, i.e. a gas engine (10) or a dual fuel engine (10') or a liquid fuel engine (10' '),

having a cylinder crankcase (11) in which a crankshaft is mounted;

having at least one cylinder bank (12, 13) comprising a plurality of cylinders (14), wherein each cylinder (14) comprises a cylinder head (15), the cylinder head (15) having at least one inlet valve (27) for charge air and having at least one exhaust valve for exhaust gas;

having a valve drive comprising at least one camshaft for actuating the or each inlet valve (27) for charge air of the respective cylinder (14) and for actuating the or each exhaust valve for exhaust gas of the respective cylinder (14);

having a fuel supply system (16, 16'') for supplying the cylinder (14) with fuel;

wherein the fuel supply system (16, 16', 16 ") of the internal combustion engine (10) is embodied in a modular design in such a way that for each cylinder (14) there is a fuel supply module (17, 17', 17");

wherein the respective cylinder (14) can be supplied exclusively with gaseous fuel in the case of a gas engine, and with dual-fuel engines both with gaseous fuel and likewise with liquid fuel, and with liquid fuel engines exclusively with liquid fuel, via the respective fuel supply module (17, 17', 17 ").

2. An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective fuel supply module (17, 17', 17 ") comprises a mounting flange (18) for mounting the fuel supply module (17, 17', 17") on the internal combustion engine.

3. An internal combustion engine according to claim 2, characterized in that in the case of an internal combustion engine designed as a gas engine (10) and in the case of an internal combustion engine designed as a dual-fuel engine (10'), the respective fuel supply module (17, 17') furthermore comprises a supply line (19) for the gaseous fuel, a solenoid-actuated main gas valve (20) and a supply lance (21), the supply lance (21) being intended to supply the gaseous fuel in the direction of the respective cylinder (14), i.e. upstream of the or each inlet valve (27) for the charge air of the respective cylinder (14).

4. An internal combustion engine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, in the case of an internal combustion engine designed as a gas engine (10), the respective fuel supply module (17) furthermore comprises a pre-chamber air-bleed valve (23), the pre-chamber air-bleed valve (23) being used for feeding the gaseous fuel in the direction of the pre-chamber of the respective cylinder (14).

5. The internal combustion engine according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, in the case of an internal combustion engine designed as a dual-fuel engine (10'), and in the case of an internal combustion engine designed as a liquid-fuel engine (10 "), the respective fuel supply module (17', 17") furthermore comprises at least one inlet (24, 34) which supplies the liquid fuel in the direction of at least one injector of the respective cylinder (14).

6. An internal combustion engine according to claim 5, characterized in that in the case of an internal combustion engine designed as a dual fuel engine (10') and in the case of an internal combustion engine designed as a liquid fuel engine (10 "), the respective fuel supply module (17', 17") furthermore comprises an advance (31) for cooling water and a return (32) for cooling water, wherein the cooling water is used to cool the or each injector of the respective cylinder (14).

7. The internal combustion engine according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, in a dual fuel engine (10') and a liquid fuel engine (10 "), the respective fuel supply module (17', 17") further comprises a bleed air advance (33), a bleed air return (34) and a leakage return (35) for the injectors of the respective cylinders (14).

8. An internal combustion engine according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized by conduit modules (25, 26) extending between adjacent fuel supply modules (17, 17', 17 ").

9. An internal combustion engine according to claim 8, characterized in that the conduit module (25) connects the supply lines (19) for the gaseous fuel of adjacent fuel supply modules (17, 17') of adjacent cylinders (14) of a cylinder bank (12, 13) to each other in the case of an internal combustion engine designed as a gas engine (10) and in the case of an internal combustion engine designed as a dual-fuel engine (10').

10. The internal combustion engine according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, in the case of an internal combustion engine designed as a dual-fuel engine (10'), and in the case of an internal combustion engine designed as a liquid-fuel engine (10 "), the pipe module (26) connects the advance (31) and return (32) for cooling water, and the bleed advance (33) and bleed return (34) and the leakage return (35) of adjacent cylinders (14) of a cylinder bank (12, 13) to one another.

11. The internal combustion engine according to any one of claims 2 to 10, characterized by at least one support (28) mounted on the cylinder crankcase (11), the fuel supply module (17, 17', 17 ") being mounted on the at least one support (28) via the mounting flange (18).

12. An internal combustion engine according to claim 11, characterized in that for each cylinder bank (12, 13) at least one support (28) is mounted on the cylinder crankcase (11).

13. An internal combustion engine according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that on the respective support (28) the cylinder head (15) of the respective cylinder (14) and/or at least one camshaft and/or cylinder liner and/or charge air line (29) and/or exhaust line are mounted.

14. A modular system for an internal combustion engine designed as a gas engine (10) or as a dual fuel engine (10') or as a liquid fuel engine (10 "), with a cylinder crankcase (11) for the internal combustion engine (10), wherein the respective cylinder crankcase comprises at least one cylinder bank (12, 13) with a plurality of cylinders (14), wherein in the respective cylinder crankcase (11) a crankshaft is guided;

having a cylinder head (15) for an internal combustion engine (10), wherein the respective cylinder head (15) for the respective cylinder (14) comprises at least one inlet valve (27) for charge air and at least one exhaust valve for exhaust gas;

having a valve drive comprising at least one camshaft for an internal combustion engine (10), wherein the respective valve drive is used to actuate the at least one inlet valve (27) for charge air of the respective cylinder (14) and to actuate the at least one exhaust valve for exhaust gas of the respective cylinder (14);

with a fuel supply module (17, 17', 17 ") for the cylinders (14) of an internal combustion engine (10), wherein via the respective fuel supply module (17, 17', 17") gaseous and/or liquid fuel can be supplied to the respective cylinder (14).

15. Modular system according to claim 14, characterised by the features according to one or more of claims 1 to 13.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to internal combustion engines. The invention further relates to a modular system for an internal combustion engine.

Background

The invention presented herein relates in particular to the field of so-called large engines or large internal combustion engines, the cylinders of which have a piston diameter of more than 140 mm, in particular more than 175 mm. Such large internal combustion engines are for example marine diesel internal combustion engines (such as gas engines or dual fuel engines or liquid fuel engines).

Until now, large internal combustion engines have always been those which have been individually designed for the purpose of definition and for the requirements of definition. When a large internal combustion engine is to be newly developed, all components of the large internal combustion engine are generally subjected to the new development.

Heretofore, during the new development of large internal combustion engines, existing components of existing large internal combustion engines have not been utilized in order to continue to utilize the components being tested as unchanged as possible. This is disadvantageous.

Disclosure of Invention

Starting from this, the invention is based on the object of creating a new type of internal combustion engine.

This object is solved by an internal combustion engine according to claim 1.

An internal combustion engine according to the present invention includes a cylinder crankcase in which a crankshaft is mounted. The internal combustion engine according to the invention furthermore comprises at least one cylinder bank having a plurality of cylinders, wherein each cylinder has a cylinder head with at least one inlet valve for charge air and with at least one exhaust valve for exhaust gas. Furthermore, the internal combustion engine according to the invention comprises a valve drive having at least one camshaft for actuating the or each inlet valve for charge air of the respective cylinder and for actuating the or each exhaust valve for exhaust gas of the respective cylinder.

The internal combustion engine according to the invention furthermore comprises a fuel supply system for supplying the cylinders with fuel, wherein the fuel supply system of the internal combustion engine is embodied in a modular design in such a way that for each cylinder, in each case, there is a fuel supply module, wherein the respective cylinder can be supplied exclusively with gaseous fuel in the case of a gas engine and both gaseous fuel and likewise liquid fuel in the case of a dual-fuel engine and exclusively with liquid fuel in the case of a liquid fuel engine via the respective fuel supply module.

During construction or assembly of the internal combustion engine, the fuel supply module of the fuel supply system determines whether the internal combustion engine according to the invention is to be constructed as a gas engine or a dual fuel engine or a liquid fuel engine. Many components of the internal combustion engine according to the invention (in particular, the cylinder crankcase, the cylinder bank and the valve drive) are independent of the fuel supply module employed. In the case of dual-fuel engines, and in the case of liquid-fuel engines, in the region of the cylinder head, at least one injector for the liquid fuel remains ready. In the gas mode, the injector can also be used to supply point fuel for the gas-charge air mixture.

The number of fuel supply modules employed depends on the number of cylinders of the internal combustion engine. Due to the modular construction, it is not necessary to newly develop all components of the internal combustion engine during its new development, but instead standardized components that have been tried and tested can be utilized.

The respective fuel supply module comprises a mounting flange for mounting the fuel supply module on the internal combustion engine. In the case of an internal combustion engine designed as a gas engine, and in the case of an internal combustion engine designed as a dual-fuel engine, the respective fuel supply module furthermore comprises a supply line for gaseous fuel, a solenoid-actuated main gas valve, and a feed lance for feeding gaseous fuel in the direction of the respective cylinder (i.e. upstream of the or each inlet valve of the respective cylinder for the charge air). In the case of a gas engine, the respective fuel supply module furthermore comprises a prechamber vent valve (sometimes referred to as scavenging valve) for supplying gaseous fuel in the direction of the prechamber of the respective cylinder. In the case of a dual-fuel engine or a liquid-fuel engine, the respective fuel supply module furthermore comprises at least one inlet for supplying liquid fuel in the direction of at least one injector of the respective cylinder. The fuel supply module provides at least a mounting flange. Depending on whether the fuel supply module is embodied as a fuel supply module for a gas engine or for a dual-fuel engine or for a liquid-fuel engine, the fuel supply module comprises further components. With such a fuel supply module, it is possible to construct a gas engine or a dual-fuel engine or a liquid-fuel engine with low expenditure using standardized components. In the case of gas engines and dual-fuel engines, the fuel supply module results in the possibility of direct access to the respective main gas valve and the respective feed lance. Subsequent to detaching the feed nozzle from the respective fuel supply module, the respective cylinder is freely accessible (i.e., without requiring complete detachment of the fuel supply module).

Furthermore, the internal combustion engine according to the invention comprises a conduit module extending between adjacent fuel supply modules, wherein, in the case of a gas engine and a dual-fuel engine, the conduit module connects the supply lines for gaseous fuel of adjacent fuel supply modules of adjacent cylinders of a cylinder bank to one another. In the case of dual-fuel and liquid-fuel engines, there are additional conduit modules that extend between adjacent fuel supply modules and connect the coolant-directed and/or purge (sometimes referred to as sweep) and leak returns of adjacent cylinders of a cylinder bank to one another. The conduit module serves to couple the fuel supply modules disposed in the region of the cylinder banks. The fuel supply modules disposed in the region of the cylinder banks can be connected or coupled to one another via the pipe module. This allows a particularly simple construction of the internal combustion engine with standardized components.

According to an advantageous further development of the invention, the internal combustion engine according to the invention comprises at least one support mounted on the cylinder crankcase, on which support the fuel supply module is mounted via the mounting flange. Preferably, for each cylinder bank, at least one support is mounted on the cylinder crankcase. On the respective support, not only the fuel supply module but also at least one camshaft of the cylinder head of the respective cylinder and/or of the valve drive of the respective cylinder and/or a cylinder liner of the respective cylinder and/or a charge air line and/or an exhaust line of the respective cylinder are preferably mounted. It is particularly preferred to mount the fuel supply module via a support mounted on the cylinder crankcase. This makes expensive vibration decoupling of the fuel supply module and the line module superfluous.

The modular system of the internal combustion engine according to the invention is defined in claim 14.

Drawings

Preferred further developments of the invention result from the dependent claims and the description below. Exemplary embodiments of the invention, not limited thereto, are explained in more detail via the drawings.

In the drawings, there are shown:

fig. 1 is a perspective side view of a first internal combustion engine according to the invention designed as a gas engine;

FIG. 2 is a detail of the internal combustion engine of FIG. 1;

fig. 3 is a perspective side view of a second internal combustion engine according to the invention designed as a dual-fuel engine;

FIG. 4 is a detail of the internal combustion engine of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an alternative detail to that of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective side view of a third internal combustion engine according to the present disclosure designed as a liquid fuel engine;

FIG. 7 is a detail of the internal combustion engine of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an alternative detail to that of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a through-the-floor of an extract, sometimes referred to as a partial, cross-section through the internal combustion engine of FIG. 1.

List of reference numbers

10. 10', 10' ' internal combustion engine

11 cylinder crankcase

12 cylinder bank

13 cylinder bank

14 cylinder

15 Cylinder head

16. 16', 16' ' fuel supply system

17. 17', 17' ' fuel supply module

18 mounting flange

19 supply line

20 Main air valve

21 feeding spray pipe

22 Cable

23 precombustion chamber air-release valve

24 inlet

25 pipeline module

26 pipeline module

27 inlet valve

28 support piece

29 charging air line

30 inlet

31 cooling water advancing part

32 cooling water return part

33 deflation proceeding part

34 bleed air return

35 leaking back.

Detailed Description

The invention presented herein relates to an internal combustion engine in modular form designed as a gas engine or as a dual fuel engine or as a liquid fuel engine, wherein a large number of components can be utilized unchanged or with a minimum of matching in the sense of a modular system, independently of the specific embodiment of the internal combustion engine.

The invention furthermore relates to a modular system for such an internal combustion engine designed as a gas engine or as a dual fuel engine or as a liquid fuel engine.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an internal combustion engine 10 designed as a gas engine. Fig. 2 and 9 show details of the internal combustion engine of fig. 1. The internal combustion engine 10 of fig. 1 comprises a cylinder crankcase 11, in which cylinder crankcase 11 a crankshaft, not visible, is mounted. In the exemplary embodiment shown, internal combustion engine 10 includes two banks 12, 13 of cylinders, each with a plurality of cylinders 14 arranged in a line. Fig. 9 shows the cylinder head 15 of the cylinder 14. In the exemplary embodiment shown, ten cylinders 14 are each arranged in line for each cylinder bank 12, 13. The two cylinder banks 12, 13 are positioned with respect to each other like a V. Fig. 1 thus shows a gas engine with twenty cylinders in a V-shaped design.

Each cylinder 14 comprises a cylinder liner, not visible in fig. 1, for a piston, not visible, of the respective cylinder 14, wherein the piston of the respective cylinder 14 is connected via a connecting rod, not visible, to a crankshaft, not visible as such. For each cylinder 14, the cylinder head 15 of the respective cylinder 14 is provided with at least one inlet valve 27 (see fig. 9), each for charge air, and at least one exhaust valve, each not shown, for exhaust gas. The inlet valve 27 for the charge air and the outlet valve for the exhaust gas are also referred to as scavenging valves.

The internal combustion engine 10 furthermore comprises a valve drive, which is not visible in fig. 1. Such a valve drive comprises at least one camshaft from which an inlet valve 27 for charge air of the cylinder 14 and an exhaust valve for exhaust gas of the cylinder 14 can be actuated. Typically, so-called rocker levers interact with the respective camshaft in order to finally actuate the gas exchange valves of the respective cylinders via the respective camshaft and the respective rocker lever.

The internal combustion engine 10 shown in fig. 1, which is designed as a gas engine, furthermore comprises a fuel supply system 16 for supplying the cylinders 14 with fuel. The fuel supply system 16 of the internal combustion engine 10 is embodied in a modular design (i.e. in such a way that for each cylinder 14 of the internal combustion engine 10 there is a respective fuel supply module 17. In the V-type internal combustion engine shown in fig. 1 with a total of twenty cylinders, twenty such fuel supply modules 17 are present, i.e. in the region of each cylinder bank 12, 13, there are ten fuel supply modules, the cylinder banks 12, 13 each comprising ten cylinders.

In the internal combustion engine 10 shown in fig. 1, which is designed as a gas engine, a fuel supply module 17 is used to exclusively supply gaseous fuel to the cylinders 14.

The respective fuel supply module 17 comprises: a mounting flange 18 for mounting or assembling the respective fuel supply module 17 on the internal combustion engine; a supply line 19 for gaseous fuel; a solenoid-actuated main valve 20; and a feed nozzle 21, wherein gaseous fuel can be supplied via the feed nozzle 21 in the direction of the main combustion chamber of the respective cylinder, depending on the actuation of the main gas valve 20, preferably in such a way that the feed nozzle 21 mixes the gaseous fuel upstream of the inlet valve 27 of the respective cylinder with the charge air, depending on the actuation of the main gas valve 20, in order thereby to introduce the charge air/gas mixture into the main combustion chamber of the respective cylinder 14 via the respective inlet valve 27 of the respective cylinder 14. Fig. 2 shows the cable 22 used to actuate the main gas valve 20. For example, for maintenance purposes (i.e. without the need to dismantle the fuel supply module 17), the respective cylinder 14 can be freely accessed following the dismantling of the feed nozzle 21 by withdrawing the feed nozzle 21 from the respective fuel supply module 17.

In the exemplary embodiment of fig. 1, 2 and 9, i.e. in the case of a gas engine, the respective fuel supply module 17 furthermore comprises a prechamber purge valve 23. Via the prechamber purge valve 23, gaseous fuel can be supplied to the prechamber of the respective cylinder 14. The gas supplied to the respective prechamber of the respective cylinder 14 via the prechamber bleed valve 23 ignites in the region of the respective prechamber, in order finally to ignite via the gas ignited in the prechamber an charge air/gas mixture in the main combustion chamber of the respective cylinder 14, which charge air/gas mixture enters the main combustion chamber of the respective cylinder 14 via the respective inlet valve 27.

Fig. 3, 4 and 5 show details of an internal combustion engine 10' designed as a dual-fuel engine, which internal combustion engine 10' differs from the internal combustion engine 10 of fig. 1 and 2 in its embodiment of the fuel supply system 16 '. In the exemplary embodiments of fig. 3, 4 and 5, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as in the exemplary embodiments of fig. 1, 2 and 9. To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference is made to the exemplary embodiments with respect to fig. 1, 2, and 9 to the same components with the same reference numbers.

The fuel supply system 16 'of the dual fuel engine 10' of fig. 3, 4 and 5 is in turn embodied modularly and comprises, for each cylinder 14, a fuel supply module 17 'each, as the fuel supply module 17 of the fuel supply system 16 of the internal combustion engine of fig. 1 and 2, the fuel supply module 17' comprising a mounting flange 18, a supply line 19, a solenoid actuated main gas valve 20 with a start cable 22 and a feed lance 21. However, the fuel supply module 17' for a dual-fuel engine does not have a prechamber purge valve 23, but rather has an inlet 24, with the aid of which inlet 24 liquid fuel can be supplied to the injectors of the respective cylinders 14. In fig. 4, there is a single inlet 24 for liquid fuel. In fig. 5, there is an additional inlet 30 for liquid fuel, i.e. for a pilot injector (sometimes referred to as a pre-injector).

In the case of a dual-fuel engine, the respective fuel supply module 17' furthermore comprises: a forward portion 31 and a return portion 32 for cooling water for cooling the injector of the corresponding cylinder; a leak return portion 35 for liquid fuel; and the purge gas advancing portion 33 and the purge gas returning portion 34, in order to perform scavenging on the respective injectors of the respective cylinders, particularly during or after the change from the liquid fuel mode to the gas fuel mode or before the engine stop.

Independent of whether the gas engine 10 is constructed with a fuel supply module 17 in the sense of fig. 1, 2, 9 or the dual fuel engine 10' is constructed with a fuel supply module 17' in the sense of fig. 3, 4, 5, there is a pipe module 25, the pipe module 25 extending between adjacent fuel supply modules 17 and 17 '. Via the pipe module 25, the supply lines 19 for gaseous fuel of adjacent fuel supply modules 17, 17' of adjacent cylinders 14 of each cylinder bank 12, 13 can be connected to one another. Thus, the fuel supply modules 17 and 17', respectively in the region of each cylinder bank 12, 13, of the cylinders 14 located in the respective cylinder banks 12, 13 arranged next to each other or behind each other, can be coupled to each other in order to thereby supply all the cylinders 14 with gaseous fuel.

In the exemplary embodiment of fig. 3, 4 and 5 (i.e., utilizing fuel supply module 17 'to provide a dual fuel engine 10'), fuel supply module 17 'includes an additional conduit module 26 to connect the coolant water directed advance 31 and return 32, and the bleed air advance 33 and return 34, and the leak return 35 of the fuel supply module 17' of the adjacent cylinder 14 of each cylinder bank 12, 13 to each other.

The pipe modules 25, 26 can remain installed while performing, for example, maintenance operations on the cylinder 14. In order to gain access to the cylinders 14, it is sufficient to remove the respective feed lance 21 by withdrawing the respective feed lance 21 from the respective fuel supply module 17.

Fig. 6, 7 and 8 show details of an internal combustion engine 10 ″ designed as a liquid fuel engine, which internal combustion engine 10 ″ differs from the internal combustion engine 10 of fig. 1 and 2 in its embodiment of the fuel supply system 16 ″. In the exemplary embodiments of fig. 6, 7 and 8, the same reference numerals as in the exemplary embodiments of fig. 1, 2 and 9 are again used for the same components. Therefore, for identical components with the same reference numerals, reference is again made to the explanations with respect to the exemplary embodiments of fig. 1, 2 and 9, in order to avoid unnecessary repetitions. The fuel supply system 16 "of the liquid fuel engine 10" of fig. 6, 7 and 8 is again embodied modularly and, for each cylinder 14, comprises a fuel supply system 17 "each, as is the fuel supply module 17 of the fuel supply system 16 of the internal combustion engine of fig. 1 and 2, the fuel supply system 17" comprising a mounting flange 18 and not comprising a supply line 19, a solenoid-actuated main gas valve 20 with a start cable 22 and a feed nozzle 21. The fuel supply module 17 ″ for the liquid fuel engine 10 ″ furthermore has no prechamber purge valve 23. Like the fuel supply module 17 'for a dual fuel engine 10', the fuel supply module 17 "for a liquid fuel engine 10" does not, so to speak, have an inlet 24, by means of which inlet 24 liquid fuel can be supplied to the injectors of the respective cylinders 14. The liquid fuel can be, for example, diesel fuel or heavy fuel oil or the like. In fig. 7, there is a single inlet 24 for liquid fuel (i.e., for the main injector). In fig. 8, there is an additional inlet 30 for liquid fuel (i.e. for the pilot injector).

The fuel supply system 16 "of the liquid fuel engine 10" includes only the pipe module 26 so as to connect the advance 31 and return 32 for cooling water, and the advance 33 and return 34 for air bleeding, and the return for leakage 35 of the fuel supply module 17 "of the adjacent cylinder 14 of each cylinder bank 12, 13 to each other, but the fuel supply system 16" does not include the pipe module 25.

According to an advantageous further development of the invention, it is provided that the internal combustion engine 10 of fig. 1, 2 and 9 and the internal combustion engine 10' of fig. 3, 4 and 5 or the internal combustion engine 10 ″ of fig. 6, 7 and 8 each comprise at least one support 28 (see fig. 5). Preferably, in the region of each cylinder bank 12, 13, there is such a support 28, in each case a support 28 mounted on the cylinder crankcase 11. Then, preferably, the fuel supply module 17, 17' or 17 ″ is preferably attached or mounted to the support 28 via its mounting flange 18. Depending on the specific embodiment of the internal combustion engine 10, 10' or 10 ″, the cylinder head 15 of the cylinder 14, at least one camshaft of a valve drive, not shown, the cylinder liner of the cylinder 14, and the charge air line 29 and the exhaust line can also be mounted on the support 28. Via the respective support 28, it is possible to mount the fuel supply modules 17, 17' and 17 ″ in such a way as to be insensitive to vibrations. Thus, expensive vibration decoupling measures can be omitted.

The interfaces (sometimes referred to as interfaces or interfaces) among the fuel supply modules 17 and 17' and 17 ″ are standardized, and in each case two adjoining components are standardized. Fuel supply modules 17, 17 'and 17 ″ with uniform interfaces (such as mounting flanges 18, supply lines 19 for gaseous and/or liquid fuel) are employed independently of the number of cylinders of the internal combustion engines 10, 10' and 10 ″. The fuel supply module 17 for a gas engine and the fuel supply module 17' for a dual-fuel engine and the fuel supply module 17 ″ for a liquid-fuel engine differ from one another only slightly in terms of the further interface. The fuel supply module 17 for a gas engine therefore comprises, in particular, a prechamber purge valve 23. The fuel supply module 17' for dual-fuel engines and the fuel supply module 17 ″ for liquid-fuel engines comprise, inter alia, a forward 31 and a return 32 for cooling water, bleed air and leakage connections 33, 34, 35 and inlets 24, 30 for liquid fuel.