Abstract: A flow through catalytic reactor (10) which selectively catalytically decomposes methanol into a soot-free hydrogen-rich product gas utilizing engine exhaust at temperatures of 200.degree. to 650.degree. C. to provide the heat for vaporizing and decomposing the methanol. The reactor (10) is combined with either a spark ignited (28) or compression ignited (54) internal combustion engine or a gas turbine (202) to provide a combustion engine system. The system may be fueled entirely by the hydrogen-rich gas produced in the methanol decomposition reactor or the system may be operated on mixed fuels for transient power gain and for cold start of the engine system. The reactor (10) includes a decomposition zone formed by a plurality of elongated cylinders (12) which contain a body (114) of vapor-permeable, methanol decomposition catalyst preferably a shift catalyst such as copper-zinc. A vaporizer (14) is provided for vaporizing liquid methanol prior to introduction into the elongated cylinders (12).

Abstract: A fuel pellet comprises from about 97 to about 99 percent by weight naturally occurring combustible material of which at least 50 percent is natural cellulosic material and from about 1 to about 3 percent by weight synthetic polymeric thermoplastic material. Any balance of the naturally occurring combustible material is filler and is preferably selected from bark, stillage, byproducts of distillation processes, and coal. If old bark, stillage, or byproducts, such as tar and pitch, or coal are used, the amount of the material is limited to 30 percent. The free moisture content of the naturally occurring combustible material is from about 5 percent to about 15 percent by weight, with 10 to 13 being preferred and 10.5 to 11.5 percent being ideal. Substantially all the thermoplastic material is finer than 30 mesh and coarser than 80 mesh.

Abstract: An arrangement for an internal combustion engine is provided in which one or more of the cylinders of the engine are used for generating hydrogen rich gases from hydrocarbon fuels, which gases are then mixed with air and injected into the remaining cylinders to be used as fuel. When heavy load conditions are encountered, hydrocarbon fuel may be mixed with the hydrogen rich gases and air and the mixture is then injected into the remaining cylinders as fuel.

Abstract: A hydrogen generator provides hydrogen rich product gases which are mixed with the fuel being supplied to an internal combustion engine for the purpose of enabling a very lean mixture of that fuel to be used, whereby nitrous oxides emitted by the engine are minimized. The hydrogen generator contains a catalyst which must be heated to a pre-determined temperature before it can react properly. To simplify the process of heating up the catalyst at start-up time, either some of the energy produced by the engine such as engine exhaust gas, or electrical energy produced by the engine, or the engine exhaust gas may be used to heat up air which is then used to heat the catalyst.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for producing hydrogen-rich product gases by mixing a spray of liquid hydrocarbon with a stream of air in a startup procedure and the mixture is ignited for partial oxidation, then the stream of air is heated by the resulting combustion to reach a temperature such that a signal is produced. The signal triggers a two way valve which directs liquid hydrocarbon from a spraying mechanism to a vaporizing mechanism with which a vaporized hydrocarbon is formed. The vaporized hydrocarbon is subsequently mixed with the heated air in the combustion chamber where partial oxidation takes place and hydrogen-rich product gases are produced.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is described for producing a hydrogen rich gas by introducing a liquid hydrocarbon fuel in the form of a spray into a partial oxidation region and mixing with a mixture of steam and air that is preheated by indirect heat exchange with the formed hydrogen rich gas, igniting the hydrocarbon fuel spray mixed with the preheated mixture of steam and air within the partial oxidation region to form a hydrogen rich gas. The apparatus for performing the process is in the form of a bell-shaped chamber which consists of an open cylinder wherein a partial oxidation reaction takes place. An air pasageway and a pipe for injecting water into the passageway are provided for forming a steam-air mixture. The air is preheated indirectly by the heat generated as a result of igniting a hydrocarbon fuel spray and thus the water is converted into steam when injected into the preheated air.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is described for producing a hydrogen rich gas by injecting air and hydrocarbon fuel at one end of a cylindrically shaped chamber to form a mixture, igniting the mixture to provide hot combustion gases, by partial oxidation of the hydrocarbon fuel. The combustion gases move away from the ignition region to another region where water is injected to be turned into steam by the hot combustion gases. The steam which is formed mixes with the hot gases present to yield a uniform hot gas whereby a steam reforming reaction with the hydrocarbon fuel takes place to produce a hydrogen rich gas.