Abstract: A pressure vessel includes curved sidewalls configured as a frame having a polygonal outline, a planar top side and a planar bottom side attached to the curved sidewalls forming a sealed pressure chamber therebetween. Each planar side includes a contoured surface having shaped pressure resistant features formed thereon. A preferred method for forming the pressure resistant features includes hydraulic pressurization to induce plastic strain. The pressure vessel also includes an array of internal support posts within the sealed pressure chamber attached to the planar sides in a geometrical pattern, such as a hexagonal array. The support posts can be solid metal cylinders, hollow tubes or tubes through which reinforcing materials, such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, or fiber/epoxy tape have been passed. A composite pressure vessel includes tubular internal support posts reinforced with reinforcing materials, as well as contoured surfaces and curved sidewalls reinforced with these same reinforcing materials.

Abstract: A pressure vessel includes curved sidewalls configured as a frame having a polygonal outline, a planar top side and a planar bottom side attached to the curved sidewalls forming a sealed pressure chamber therebetween. Each planar side includes a contoured surface having shaped pressure resistant features formed thereon. A preferred method for forming the pressure resistant features includes hydraulic pressurization to induce plastic strain. The pressure vessel also includes an array of internal support posts within the sealed pressure chamber attached to the planar sides in a geometrical pattern, such as a hexagonal array. The support posts can be solid metal cylinders, hollow tubes or tubes through which reinforcing materials, such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, or fiber/epoxy tape have been passed. A composite pressure vessel includes tubular internal support posts reinforced with reinforcing materials, as well as contoured surfaces and curved sidewalls reinforced with these same reinforcing materials.

Abstract: A pressure vessel includes curved sidewalls configured as a frame having a polygonal outline, a planar top side and a planar bottom side attached to the curved sidewalls forming a sealed pressure chamber therebetween. Each planar side includes a contoured surface having shaped pressure resistant features formed thereon. A preferred method for forming the pressure resistant features includes hydraulic pressurization to induce plastic strain. The pressure vessel also includes an array of internal support posts within the sealed pressure chamber attached to the planar sides in a geometrical pattern, such as a hexagonal array. The support posts can be solid metal cylinders, hollow tubes or tubes through which reinforcing materials, such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, or fiber/epoxy tape have been passed. A composite pressure vessel includes tubular internal support posts reinforced with reinforcing materials, as well as contoured surfaces and curved sidewalls reinforced with these same reinforcing materials.

Abstract: A system includes a hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine, a fuel system configured to provide a flow of hydrogen fuel to the engine, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system configured to provide a flow of recirculated gas to the engine which includes exhaust gases. The system also includes an engine controller configured to control the fuel system and the EGR system, such that the engine receives a mixture which includes the hydrogen fuel, the ambient air and the recirculated gas in a stoichiometric fuel/air ratio that meets the torque demand on the engine. A method includes the steps of providing a flow of gaseous hydrogen fuel, a flow of ambient air, and a flow of recirculated exhaust gas to the engine.

Abstract: A gas blending and compressing system includes a blender having a blending chamber configured to blend two or more separate gases into a blended gas, a compressor configured to compress the blended gas to a selected pressure, and a control system configured to sense operational parameters of the blender and the compressor, to sense one or more properties of the blended gas and to control the operation of the blender and the compressor to maintain the quality of the blended gas. A method for blending and compressing two or more gases includes the steps of: blending the separate gases into a blended gas using the blender; compressing the blended gas using the compressor; and matching a constant flow through the compressor to a selected minimum flow dependent on nominal operating parameters of the compressor. Alternate embodiment systems and methods blend separate gases at high pressure without using a compressor.

Abstract: Gas flow is controlled to a feed gas consuming device depending on whether a contaminant gas is present. In one embodiment, hydrogen gas flow from a hydrogen gas generator to a hydrogen consuming device, such as a fuel cell, gas chromatograph or a flame ionization detector, is terminated when there is chemical contaminant breakthrough in the hydrogen gas flow. The apparatus relates to the use of a sensor for detecting a predetermined concentration of a chemical contaminant such as ammonia. In one embodiment the apparatus terminates the gas flow when a concentration of ammonia in the gas flow corresponds to a breakthrough (e.g., approximately in the range of 2.0% or greater). The apparatus prevents the ammonia-contaminated hydrogen from disabling such a hydrogen consuming device that would have otherwise received the contaminated gas flow.

Abstract: A system (10) for producing a hydrogen enriched fuel includes a steam reformer (12) configured to produce an impure hydrogen-rich gas stream which includes a composition of hydrogen and impurities in selected quantities. The system (10) also includes a blending apparatus (14) configured to blend the impure hydrogen-rich gas stream with a hydrocarbon fuel in a predefined ratio. The system (10) can also include a compressor (16), a storage container (18), a fuel dispensing system (20) and a vehicle (22) having an engine (26) configured to burn the hydrogen enriched fuel. A method for producing the hydrogen enriched fuel includes the steps of producing the hydrogen-rich gas stream, and then blending the hydrogen-rich gas stream and the hydrocarbon fuel into the hydrogen enriched fuel at the predefined ratio.

Abstract: A system includes a hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine, a fuel system configured to provide a flow of hydrogen fuel to the engine, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system configured to provide a flow of recirculated gas to the engine which includes exhaust gases. The system also includes an engine controller configured to control the fuel system and the EGR system, such that the engine receives a mixture which includes the hydrogen fuel, the ambient air and the recirculated gas in a stoichiometric fuel/air ratio that meets the torque demand on the engine. A method includes the steps of providing a flow of gaseous hydrogen fuel, a flow of ambient air, and a flow of recirculated exhaust gas to the engine.

Abstract: Gas flow is controlled to a feed gas consuming device depending on whether a contaminant gas is present. In one embodiment, hydrogen gas flow from a hydrogen gas generator to a hydrogen consuming device, such as a fuel cell, gas chromatograph or a flame ionization detector, is terminated when there is chemical contaminant breakthrough in the hydrogen gas flow. The apparatus relates to the use of a sensor for detecting a predetermined concentration of a chemical contaminant such as ammonia. In one embodiment the apparatus terminates the gas flow when a concentration of ammonia in the gas flow corresponds to a breakthrough (e.g., approximately in the range of 2.0% or greater). The apparatus prevents the ammonia-contaminated hydrogen from disabling such a hydrogen consuming device that would have otherwise received the contaminated gas flow.

Abstract: A system for producing a hydrogen enriched fuel includes a steam reformer configured to produce an impure hydrogen-rich gas stream which includes a composition of hydrogen and impurities in selected quantities. The system also includes a blending apparatus configured to blend the impure hydrogen-rich gas stream with a hydrocarbon fuel in a predefined ratio. The system can also include a compressor, a storage container, a fuel dispensing system and a vehicle having an engine configured to burn the hydrogen enriched fuel. A method for producing the hydrogen enriched fuel includes the steps of producing the hydrogen-rich gas stream, and then blending the hydrogen-rich gas stream and the hydrocarbon fuel into the hydrogen enriched fuel at the predefined ratio.

Abstract: A hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine utilizes either internal or external exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), while providing an overall stoichiometric fuel/air ratio. An EGR system provides recirculated exhaust gas to the engine, and an engine controller regulates fuel flow to control torque and achieve a stoichiometric fuel/air ratio. A three-way catalyst can be applied to the exhaust gas to produce near-zero emissions. In addition, turbocharging or mechanical supercharging can also be used to increase power.

Abstract: Gas flow is controlled to a feed gas consuming device depending on whether a contaminant gas is present. In one embodiment, hydrogen gas flow from a hydrogen gas generator to a hydrogen consuming device, such as a fuel cell, gas chromatograph or a flame ionization detector, is terminated when there is chemical contaminant breakthrough in the hydrogen gas flow. The apparatus relates to the use of a sensor for detecting a predetermined concentration of a chemical contaminant such as ammonia. In one embodiment the apparatus terminates the gas flow when a concentration of ammonia in the gas flow corresponds to a breakthrough (e.g., approximately in the range of 2.0% or greater). The apparatus prevents the ammonia-contaminated hydrogen from disabling such a hydrogen consuming device that would have otherwise received the contaminated gas flow.

Abstract: Apparatus for four-cycle rotary engine operation includes a cylinder block rotatable about a first axis and having six cylinders uniformly spaced and radially arranged about the axis, a set of six pistons rotatable about a second axis which is offset from and parallel with the first mentioned axis, each piston being disposed to move in a different one of the cylinders, and a valve system for introducing fuel charges into and exhausting combustion products from the cylinders. A crankshaft extends within the cylinder block and is coupled to the pistons to rotate as the cylinder block rotates and as the pistons move in their respective cylinders. The fuel charges are successively fired in alternate pairs of adjacent cylinders to cause the cylinder unit and crankshaft to rotate in a smooth and efficient manner.