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.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for operating a reformer and for operating a vehicle. In one embodiment, the method for operating the reformer comprises: introducing an oxidant and fuel to a reformer at greater than or equal to about 25,000/hr space velocity; combusting the oxidant and the fuel the reformer to produce a combustion gas, wherein the reformer comprises a reformer substrate comprising a reformer catalyst and having a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to about 35 W/m° K; extinguishing the combustion; and introducing additional fuel and oxidant to the reformer at an air to fuel weight ratio appropriate for reforming. A method of using the reformate produced to reduce cold start emissions and/or regenerate an exhaust control device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is supplied with reformate from a hydrocarbon reformer at engine start-up and during engine warm-up. The reformate fuel mixture is fuel-lean at start-up to ensure that all the fuel is burned while the exhaust converter is thermally non-functional. Shortly after start-up, the mixture is changed to be fuel-rich, providing unburned reformate fuel in the exhaust stream. During start-up and warm-up, the output of an air pump is controllably divided between the reformer (primary air) and the engine exhaust system (secondary air). Unburned reformate from the engine and secondary air from the air pump ignite and thereby rapidly heat the converter. Gasoline or diesel fueling of the engine by fuel injection is preferably delayed until the engine and the converter both reach operating temperatures, whereupon the engine is fueled by fuel injection and further reforming is terminated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a preheated micro-reformer system is disclosed comprising a reformer and a micro-reformer in fluid communication with the reformer. The micro-reformer being electrically preheatable. An apparatus comprising a micro-reformer including a first zone and a second zone, the first zone being preheatable to a first temperature and the second zone being preheatable to a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature. A method of using a micro-reformer that is electrically preheatable is disclosed comprising initiating an electrically preheatable micro-reformer. The micro-reformer is preheated. The preheating can be accomplished by converting electrical energy into thermal energy. A method of using a preheated micro-reformer is disclosed comprising preheating a first zone, preheating a second zone to a temperature higher than the first zone, vaporizing a fuel air mixture in the first zone, and reforming the fuel air mixture in the second zone.

Abstract: A fast light-off catalytic reformer and method includes at least one preferably substantially cylindrical reactor tube having an inlet for receiving a flow of fuel and a flow of air, a reforming catalyst disposed within the reactor tube for converting the fuel and air to a reformate stream, and an outlet for discharging the produced reformate stream. An ignition device disposed within the reactor tube initiates an exothermic reaction between the fuel and air. Heat generated thereby provides fast light-off of the reforming catalyst. An associated control system selects fuel and air flow delivery rates and operates the ignition device to achieve fast light-off of the reforming catalyst at start-up and to maintain the catalyst at a temperature sufficient to optimize reformate yield. The rapid production of high yields of reformate is particularly suitable for use in an on-board reforming strategy for meeting SULEV emissions with spark-ignition engines, especially with larger, higher emitting vehicles.

Abstract: A reformate/buffer system and method for operating an exhaust emissions control device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the reformate/buffer system comprises: a hydride storage bed, a hydride cycling bed disposed in fluid communication with the hydride storage bed, a hydrogen separation device, a reformate flow path, coolant flow passages in thermal communication with the hydride cycling bed, and reformer flow passages in thermal communication with the hydride cycling bed. The reformate flow path is formed by the hydride storage bed, the hydride cycling bed, and the hydrogen separation device and is disposed in fluid communication with the hydride storage bed and hydride cycling bed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for operating a reformer and for operating a vehicle. In one embodiment, the method for operating the reformer comprises: introducing an oxidant and fuel to a reformer at greater than or equal to about 25,000/hr space velocity; combusting the oxidant and the fuel the reformer to produce a combustion gas, wherein the reformer comprises a reformer substrate comprising a reformer catalyst and having a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to about 35 W/m° K; extinguishing the combustion; and introducing additional fuel and oxidant to the reformer at an air to fuel weight ratio appropriate for reforming. A method of using the reformate produced to reduce cold start emissions and/or regenerate an exhaust control device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A heating, venting, and air conditioning system utilizes a reformer to provide supplemental heat to a passenger compartment and to improve start-up emissions of an engine of a vehicle or power system. A pump circulates a fluid through the engine and throughout the system. A radiator and heater core transfer heat from the fluid. A first circuit cools the fluid upon circulation through the radiator after circulation through the engine to cool the engine, and a second circuit heats the passenger compartment and cools the fluid upon circulation through the heater core after circulation through the engine to cool the engine. The reformer, which converts a hydrocarbon or alcohol fuel into a reformate, generates heat. A third circuit, defined between the reformer and the pump and interconnected with the heater core, provides the supplemental heat from the reformer to the passenger compartment through the heater core and also to the engine.

Abstract: A heating, venting, and air conditioning system utilizes a reformer to provide supplemental heat to a passenger compartment and to improve start-up emissions of an engine of a vehicle or power system. A pump circulates a fluid through the engine and throughout the system. A radiator and heater core transfer heat from the fluid. A first circuit cools the fluid upon circulation through the radiator after circulation through the engine to cool the engine, and a second circuit heats the passenger compartment and cools the fluid upon circulation through the heater core after circulation through the engine to cool the engine. The reformer, which converts a hydrocarbon or alcohol fuel into a reformate, generates heat. A third circuit, defined between the reformer and the pump and interconnected with the heater core, provides the supplemental heat from the reformer to the passenger compartment through the heater core and also to the engine.

Abstract: An integrated fuel reformer-engine system and method provides an on-board fuel reformer for preparing a hydrogen-rich reformate; an engine operating on one or a combination of reformate and liquid fuel, in combination with an exhaust catalyst for treating engine exhaust. The supply of air, reformate, and liquid fuel to the engine and exhaust catalyst is metered so as to provide low hydrocarbon and NOx emissions over a range of operating conditions from cold-start and idle through vehicle road-loads. In one embodiment, the system provides near-zero cold start hydrocarbon and NOx emissions with ultra-lean start using substantially 100% reformate fueling. In another embodiment, accelerated catalyst heating is provided by supplying reformate mixed with engine exhaust to the catalyst. Alternately, an ignition source is employed to ignite the engine exhaust or reformate-exhaust mixture.

Abstract: The invention provides an improvement over conventional engine controls by directly measuring fuel volatility, and using this measured value to adjust the engine air/fuel ratio during engine start and initial operation. Engine startability and initial operation are improved as compared to conventional engine control systems by compensating the engine air/fuel ratio during engine start and initial engine operation, using a direct measurement of the fuel volatility.

Abstract: An integrated fuel reformer-engine system and method provides an on-board fuel reformer for preparing a hydrogen-rich reformate; an engine operating on one or a combination of reformate and liquid fuel, in combination with an exhaust catalyst for treating engine exhaust. The supply of air, reformate, and liquid fuel to the engine and exhaust catalyst is metered so as to provide low hydrocarbon and NOx emissions over a range of operating conditions from cold-start and idle through vehicle road-loads. In one embodiment, the system provides near-zero cold start hydrocarbon and NOx emissions with ultra-lean start using substantially 100% reformate fueling. In another embodiment, accelerated catalyst heating is provided by supplying reformate mixed with engine exhaust to the catalyst. Alternately, an ignition source is employed to ignite the engine exhaust or reformate-exhaust mixture.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a preheated micro-reformer system is disclosed comprising a reformer and a micro-reformer in fluid communication with the reformer. The micro-reformer being electrically preheatable. An apparatus comprising a micro-reformer including a first zone and a second zone, the first zone being preheatable to a first temperature and the second zone being preheatable to a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature.

Abstract: An improved engine control in which the fuel volatility is detected based on a measure of the fired-to-motored cylinder pressure ratio, and used to trim fuel and spark timing controls during engine warm-up and transient fueling periods. In a first embodiment, a matrix of empirically determined pressure ratio values that occur with fuels of differing volatility is stored and compared to the measured pressure ratio to identify the closest stored pressure ratio, and the fuel volatility is determined based on the fuel volatility associated with the identified pressure ratio. In a second embodiment, the actual fuel vapor-to-air equivalence ratio is computed based on the measured pressure ratio, and the fuel volatility is determined based on the deviation between the actual ratio and the desired fuel vapor-to-air equivalence ratio.

Abstract: An improved engine fuel control method which divides the liquid fuel into a plurality of components characterized by relative volatility. The mass and evaporation characteristics of each fuel volatility component are determined separately within the fuel puddle, with the overall puddle behavior being characterized as the sum of the behaviors of the individual volatility components. The method involves determining, for each engine cycle, the mass of fuel that will evaporate from the puddle, the mass of vapor required to achieve the desired air/fuel ratio for the engine cylinder, the fraction of the injected fuel that will vaporize, and the mass of fuel that needs to be injected in order to achieve the desired air/fuel ratio in the cylinder. Finally, the puddle mass is updated for the next intake event.