Device for generating hydrogen for use in internal combustion engines

Abstract

An electrolysis conversion system for converting water into hydrogen and oxygen, includes a housing in which are housed electrodes. The electrodes are immersed in an electrolyte and are connected to a positive and negative sides of an energy source. The housing is a non conductive material that has chambers to separate the hydrogen and the oxygen The present invention further discloses a method of utilizing the electrolyzer in conjunction with the fuel system of an internal combustion engine to improve the efficiency of said internal combustion engine.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,551, issued Mar. 25, 2003, included by reference herein.

The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,558, issued Sep. 24, 1992, by Chiang, included by reference herein.

The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,096,178, issued Aug. 24, 1998, by Amirav Tzanani, included by reference herein.

The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,689,259, issued Oct. 18, 2002, by Klene, included by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fuel in internal combustion engines and, more particularly, to use in autos and trucks to increase the fuel economy. The present invention generally relates to systems including converters for supplying hydrogen-rich gas to internal combustion engines. The invention more particularly relates to onboard generation systems for use in vehicles and the like in which the systems are capable of instantaneously providing hydrogen-rich gas, reducing pollutants during vehicle startup and allowing use of hydrogen-rich gas during load changes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The rising cost of fossil fuels has had a negative impact on the economy of most drivers. The cost of fuel is expected to rise and the environmental cost must be figured in too. There has long been a cost effective way to make the average car get better mileage. The rise in sales of hybrid cars shows the publics interest in better gas mileage and cleaner burning internal combustion engines. The invention is a device that can fit on most vehicles as an add on or aftermarket device.

Hydrogen is attractive as a fuel or additive for internal combustion engines because hydrogen as a fuel source can significantly reduce air pollution and can also serve as an alternative energy source to gasoline. Moreover, engine efficiency can be 10-50% higher when running on hydrogen as compared with a gasoline engine. Prior art systems contemplated either storing hydrogen on-board or generating it on board. On-board storage requires high pressure vessels, cryogenic containers if the hydrogen is to be stored as a compressed gas or liquid, or large volumes and weights if the hydrogen is to be stored as a hydride. Moreover, the refill time for hydrogen is substantially longer than that for gasoline when the hydrogen is to be stored on-board.

As to the on-board production of hydrogen, several approaches have been disclosed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,025 to Munday discloses the use of electrolysis to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen and introducing the hydrogen into an internal combustion engine. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,900 to Dammann, hydrogen gas is produced by water interaction with solid carbon. Electrical current is passed between the carbon electrodes causing the electrodes to burn and oxidize to form carbon monoxide and hydrogen. U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,185 to Greiner et al. discloses a burner which utilizes a portion of the hydrocarbon fuel to reform another portion to produce hydrogen. The hydrogen is then mixed with the hydrocarbon fuel for introduction into an internal combustion engine.

Another system diverts a fraction of the gasoline from the flow path to the engine and is passed through a thermal converter and steam reformed to yield hydrogen-rich gas. See, Breshears, et al., Proc. of EPA 1st Symposium on Low Pollution Power Systems Development, 268 (1973). We note that the authors state that this system would not be practical to generate hydrogen as the sole fuel for an engine. Yet another system of this type uses partial oxidation in a catalytic converter to produce hydrogen rich gas. See Houseman, et al., Proc. 3rd World Hydrogen Energy Conf., 949 (1980). This system requires carefully controlled catalytic action and temperature range and has limitations for startup and transient response.

The present invention provides a low cost mobile hydrogen generation system that can be added to most cars to provide increased efficiency and fuel economy. It is relatively simple compared to other systems in the field and can be installed quickly and easily into almost any internal combustion engine.

It is therefore an object of the invention to increase the fuel economy of internal combustion engines, more over to be small enough to fit in most engine compartments.

It is an object of the present invention to provide system for producing hydrogen gas that can be used in a internal combustion engine.

It is another object of the invention is to provide a way to increase the efficiency of a internal combustion engine.

It is another object of the invention to provide system that uses hydrogen gas that reduce vehicle emission pollutants during startup or regular operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a system for generating hydrogen gas for vehicles on an on demand basis.

It is another object of the invention to provide systems for generating hydrogen and oxygen that can be used for combustion or other uses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided mobile elecrolyzer that is both functional and effective in reducing the amount of fuel an internal combustion engine consumes and there by cuts down the hydrocarbons that the internal combustion engine produces. A plastic housing with separate chambers holds the electrolyte. The chambers are vented separately with the hydrogen being introduced into the air intake of the engine. Adding hydrogen to a hydrocarbon fuel has been proven to increase the efficiency of an internal combustion engine. The present invention provides a low cost device that can create hydrogen when it is needed. The present invention provides a system that can generate hydrogen on board for a vehicle or a internal combustion engine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which:

FIG. 1 is the housing (1) provides a space to add water and space for the electrode to come in contact with water.

the electrolyte fluid (2) increased the conductivity of the liquid.

the positive electrode (3) provides a way for the positive current to come in contact with the electrolyte fluid the oxygen vent (4) provide a exit for the oxygen gas that is created. The fill cap (5) provides a place to fill the device. The negative electrode (6) provides place for the negative current to come in contact with the fluid. The hydrogen vent (7) provides a exit for the hydrogen gas to exit the chamber. The chamber divider (8) separates the hydrogen from the oxygen.

For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 which is a front view of the housing 1 for the electrodes provides a space to add water and space for the electrode to come in contact with water. The Electrolyte fluid 2 increases the conductivity of the fluid. The Positive Electrode 3 provides a device to bring the positive current in contact with the electrolyte fluid 2. The Oxygen vent (4) provides an exit for the oxygen gas hat is created. The fill cap (5) provides a place to fill the device with the fluid. The Negative Electrode 6 provides a place for the negative current to come in contact with the fluid. The Hydrogen vent 7 provides a exit for the hydrogen gas that is created The Chamber Divider 8 (6) separated the hydrogen from the oxygen.

Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for generating hydrogen for use in internal combustion engines for the purpose of this invention is to generate hydrogen for use in internal combustion engines, comprising:

means for provides a place to contain the fluid and for the electrodes to come in contact with the fluid;

means for a device for the positive current to come into contact with the electrolyte fluid;

means for provides a place for the oxygen to exit the housing chamber, rigidly connected to said means for a device for the positive current to come into contact with the electrolyte fluid;

means for provides a place to fill the housing with the fluid, rigidly connected to said means for provides a place to contain the fluid and for the electrodes to come in contact with the fluid;

means for seperates the hydrogen from the oxygen, rigidly connected to said means for a device for the positive current to come into contact with the electrolyte fluid, and rigidly connected to said means for provides a place to contain the fluid and for the electrodes to come in contact with the fluid;

means for provides a place for the hydrogen gas to exit the housing, securely connected to said means for provides a place to contain the fluid and for the electrodes to come in contact with the fluid; and

means for provides a way for the negative charge to come in contact with the electrolyte fluid, rigidly connected to said means for provides a place to contain the fluid and for the electrodes to come in contact with the fluid.

2. The device for generating hydrogen for use in internal combustion engines in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for provides a place to contain the fluid and for the electrodes to come in contact with the fluid comprises a housing.

3. The device for generating hydrogen for use in internal combustion engines in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for a device for the positive current to come into contact with the electrolyte fluid comprises a positive electrode.

4. The device for generating hydrogen for use in internal combustion engines in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for provides a place for the oxygen to exit the housing chamber comprises an oxygen vent.

5. The device for generating hydrogen for use in internal combustion engines in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for provides a place to fill the housing with the fluid comprises a fill cap.

6. The device for generating hydrogen for use in internal combustion engines in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for seperates the hydrogen from the oxygen comprises a chamber divider.

7. The device for generating hydrogen for use in internal combustion engines in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for provides a place for the hydrogen gas to exit the housing comprises a hydrogen vent.

8. The device for generating hydrogen for use in internal combustion engines in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for provides a way for the negative charge to come in contact with the electrolyte fluid comprises a negative electrode.

9. A device for generating hydrogen for use in internal combustion engines for the purpose of this invention is to generate hydrogen for use in internal combustion engines, comprising:

a housing, for provides a place to contain the fluid and for the electrodes to come in contact with the fluid;

a positive electrode, for a device for the positive current to come into contact with the electrolyte fluid;

an oxygen vent, for provides a place for the oxygen to exit the housing chamber, rigidly connected to said Positive Electrode;

a fill cap, for provides a place to fill the housing with the fluid, rigidly connected to said Housing;

a chamber divider, for separates the hydrogen from the oxygen, rigidly connected to said Positive Electrode, and rigidly connected to said Housing;

a hydrogen vent, for provides a place for the hydrogen gas to exit the housing, securely connected to said Housing; and

a negative electrode, for provides a way for the negative charge to come in contact with the electrolyte fluid, rigidly connected to said Housing.

10. The device for generating hydrogen for use in internal combustion engines as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

an electrolyte fluid, for fluid for transmition of current and for the elecrolyssi process to happen, rigidly connected to said Chamber Divider.

11. A device for generating hydrogen for use in internal combustion engines for the purpose of this invention is to generate hydrogen for use in internal combustion engines, comprising:

a housing, for provides a place to contain the fluid and for the electrodes to come in contact with the fluid;

an electrolyte fluid, for fluid for transmition of current and for the elecrolyssi process to happen;

a positive electrode, for a device for the positive current to come into contact with the electrolyte fluid;

an oxygen vent, for provides a place for the oxygen to exit the housing chamber, rigidly connected to said Positive Electrode;

a fill cap, for provides a place to fill the housing with the fluid, rigidly connected to said Housing;

a chamber divider, for seperates the hydrogen from the oxygen, rigidly connected to said Positive Electrode, rigidly connected to said Electrolyte fluid, and rigidly connected to said Housing;

a hydrogen vent, for provides a place for the hydrogen gas to exit the housing, securely connected to said Housing; and

a negative electrode, for provides a way for the negative charge to come in contact with the electrolyte fluid, rigidly connected to said Housing.