Abstract: Time-reducing and flavor-enhancing techniques for alcoholic spirits may be provided as an alternative to conventional barrel-aging. Numerous controllable variables may be accessible for control at one process control panel or unit for a spirit-aging system. Variations in pressure, day/night cycle time, % O2, ratio of exposed wood surface to gallons of spirit, variations in spirit liquid temperature, and the amount of rough and ultrasonic mixing variables may be made to decrease the aging time. The aging process may be monitored for the changing spirit characteristics by drawing periodic samples to compare to spirit-quality target goals. Combinations of the variables may be optimized for these goals. Changes also may be made to the variables to address issues arising for quality control. All or most of the vapor naturally emitted by the spirit may be avoided or captured in a container or vessel with no or substantially reduced volume loss.

Abstract: Time-reducing and flavor-enhancing techniques for alcoholic spirits may be provided as an alternative to conventional barrel-aging. Numerous controllable variables may be accessible for control at one process control panel or unit for a spirit-aging system. Variations in pressure, day/night cycle time, % O2, ratio of exposed wood surface to gallons of spirit, variations in spirit liquid temperature, and the amount of rough and ultrasonic mixing variables may be made to decrease the aging time. The aging process may be monitored for the changing spirit characteristics by drawing periodic samples to compare to spirit-quality target goals. Combinations of the variables may be optimized for these goals. Changes also may be made to the variables to address issues arising for quality control. All or most of the vapor naturally emitted by the spirit may be avoided or captured in a container or vessel with no or substantially reduced volume loss.

Abstract: A combined gasoline and hydrogen fueling system for a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine, including, preferably, a rapid-start catalytic reformer for producing reformate gas containing hydrogen from gasoline. The reformate from the reformer is swept by air into the intake manifold of the cold engine where it is mixed with intake air and then drawn into the cylinders and ignited conventionally to start the engine. A computer-based reformer control system optimizes the amount of reformate formed and the resulting reformate/air mixture. The reformer control system interfaces or is integral with a computer-based gasoline and air supply system for the engine, the two systems cooperating to optimize a mixture of gasoline and reformate in the intake manifold at all times during warming of the engine and its exhaust catalyst to steady-state operating temperature. Preferably, flow of reformate is terminated thereafter.