Abstract: A reformer such as a CPO (18) receives a mix of fuel, moisture and oxygen from a mixing region (21) having an igniter (26, 66), which may include an inert ceramic foam (19), the fuel being provided by an atomizing nozzle (22), thereby avoiding the need for a vaporizer before use. The oxygen and moisture may comprise engine exhaust (11, 12). Fuel from a vehicle fuel tank (9), may be gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, jet fuel, or JP-8. The atomizing nozzle may be a gas-assist nozzle (22a), receiving the assisting gas from (a) engine exhaust (10), (b) a turbocharger (33), (c) an air pump (50) or (d) a steam generator (57). The oxygen and moisture may comprise moisturized air, which may be achieved by an ejector (41) which ingests water from a tank (43) in response to the flow of air from a pump (50) through a conduit (47). The air may be regeneratively heated (48) with the CPO exhaust. The igniter may be a glow plug (26) or a heater wire (66) coated with catalyst.

Abstract: A catalytic partial oxidizer (30) provides syngas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) to an apparatus intermittently using syngas such as valves (34) feeding NOx traps (35), for brief periods of time. During turndown times when syngas is not being used, either the output of the CPO is diverted (33) to the inlet (13) of an engine (12) through the engine gas recycle (EGR) system (43-46), or the amount of fuel (19) and exhaust (23) applied to the CPO is reduced (24, 26; 59, 60) so that the CPO merely stays warm and in a reduced state, thereby being ready to restart immediately. A mini-CPO (62) may provide syngas and heat to the major CPO (30) during the turndown time when syngas is not being used by the NOx traps.

Abstract: Oxides of nitrogen are adsorbed onto the surfaces of, and particulates are trapped in, pores of channels (130, 133, 139-151) in a porous, interdigitated ceramic particulate filter (57, 100) that has relative rotation with respect to a gas inlet distributor (76, 101). The distributor has a baffle (85) or ribs (121, 122) that causes constantly flowing engine exhaust (53) to enter the filter channels over a large portion of a revolution of the adsorption bed or the distributor, and causes constantly flowing syngas (54) to thereafter pass through those passages during a small portion of each revolution. Either the inlet gas distributor (101) or the filter bed (57) may be rotated to distribute the gases. Dual, alternately regenerated filters (35, 36) may be used.