Abstract: An apparatus comprises a supplier of air and/or fuel, a main passageway fluidly coupled to the supplier to receive air and/or fuel therefrom to provide a fuel-rich air-and-fuel main mixture in the main passageway, and a pilot flame generator mounted in the main passageway. The pilot flame generator defines therein a pilot passageway that is fluidly coupled to the supplier to receive air and/or fuel therefrom and is fluidly coupled to the main passageway to receive air and/or fuel therefrom to provide an air-and-fuel pilot mixture in the pilot passageway. The pilot flame generator comprises an ignition device configured to ignite the pilot mixture to generate a pilot flame that initiates a partial oxidation reaction of the main mixture so as to generate reformate gas. An associated method is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel reformer includes advancing a first air/fuel mixture having a first air-to-fuel ratio into the fuel reformer. The method further includes determining if a soot purge is to be performed and generating a purge-soot signal in response thereto. Further, a second air/fuel mixture having a second air-to-fuel ratio is advanced into the fuel reformer in response to generation of the purge-soot signal. The second air-to-fuel ratio is greater than the first air-to-fuel ratio in order to burn soot present within the fuel reformer. A fuel reformer system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A power system has a fuel reformer, an emission abatement device, and a fuel cell. The fuel reformer reforms hydrocarbon fuels so as to produce a reformate gas which is supplied to both the emission abatement device and the fuel cell. A method of operating a fuel reformer so as to generate and supply a reformate gas to both an emission abatement device and a fuel cell is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel reforming system comprises a fuel reformer and a thermoelectric device positioned in thermal communication with the fuel reformer. A method of generating electrical energy is also disclosed.

Abstract: A plasma fuel reformer reforms hydrocarbon fuels to produce a reformed gas which is supplied to the intake of an internal combustion engine, an emission abatement device, or a fuel cell. The plasma fuel reformer includes a catalytic substrate positioned in the reaction chamber of the plasma fuel reformer to facilitate the reforming process of gas exiting the plasma-generating assembly of the reformer. A method of operating a plasma fuel reformer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A partial oxidation fuel reformer in includes a torch assembly for generating a near-stoichiometric flame through which a relatively rich “primary” air/fuel mixture is advanced. The torch assembly includes a low-energy ignition source such as a conventional sparkplug. The flame has sufficient energy to ignite the primary mixture to facilitate a partial oxidation reaction. A method of operating a partial oxidation fuel reformer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel reformer to regenerate a NOX trap includes operating the fuel reformer to produce a reformate gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide and advancing reformate gas through the NOX trap so as to regenerate the NOX trap. The method further includes determining if a SOX regeneration of the NOX trap is to be performed and generating a SOX-regeneration control signal in response thereto. The temperature of the NOX trap is raised and reformate gas is advanced into the NOX trap in response to the SOX-regeneration signal so as to remove SOX from within the NOX trap. A fuel reformer system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel reforming system comprises a fuel reformer and a thermoelectric device positioned in thermal communication with the fuel reformer. A method of generating electrical energy is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating a power system including a fuel reformer and an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine is shutdown subsequent to shutdown of the fuel reformer. A fuel reformer system for supplying a reformate gas to the engine is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel reformer to regenerate a NOx trap includes operating the fuel reformer to produce a reformate gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide and advancing reformate gas through the NOx trap so as to regenerate the NOx trap. The method further includes determining if a SOx regeneration of the NOx trap is to be performed and generating a SOx-regeneration control signal in response thereto. The temperature of the NOx trap is raised and reformate gas is advanced into the NOx trap in response to the SOx-regeneration signal so as to remove SOx from within the NOx trap. A fuel reformer system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel reforming assembly has a control unit electrically coupled to a temperature sensor to determine the temperature of a catalyst positioned in the reaction chamber of a plasma fuel reformer. Based on the temperature of the catalyst, operation of the reformer's plasma-generating assembly may be selectively actuated and deactuated.

Abstract: A fuel reforming assembly has a control unit electrically coupled to both a fuel reformer and a temperature sensor. The control unit is configured to communicate with the temperature sensor to determine the temperature of the reformate gas being produced by the fuel reformer and then adjust the air-to-fuel ratio of the air/fuel mixture being processed by the fuel reformer based thereon.

Abstract: A plasmatron reforms hydrocarbon fuels so as to produce a reformed gas which is supplied to a remote device such as an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell. The plasmatron includes an air jacket which removes heat from the reaction chamber of the plasmatron and supplies heated air to the plasma-generating assembly of the plasmatron. A method of operating a plasmatron is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing particulate soot from an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine includes a particulate filter assembly having a catalyst and a soot filter positioned downstream of the catalyst for trapping soot particles therein. Hydrogen gas is introduced into the exhaust gas at a location upstream of the catalyst. The catalyst catalyzes an exothermic oxidation reaction between the hydrogen gas and oxygen in the exhaust gas. Heat from this exothermic oxidation reaction is transferred to the soot filter thereby igniting the soot particles trapped therein. A method for regenerating a particulate filter assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A plasmatron reforms hydrocarbon fuels so as to produce a reformed gas which is supplied to a remote device such as an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell. The plasmatron includes an air jacket which removes heat from the reaction chamber of the plasmatron and supplies heated air to the plasma-generating assembly of the plasmatron. A method of operating a plasmatron is also disclosed.

Abstract: A power system has a fuel reformer, an emission abatement device, and a fuel cell. The fuel reformer reforms hydrocarbon fuels so as to produce a reformate gas which is supplied to both the emission abatement device and the fuel cell. A method of operating a fuel reformer so as to generate and supply a reformate gas to both an emission abatement device and a fuel cell is also disclosed.

Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment apparatus and method for its use includes an upstream catalyst and a downstream catalyst. The upstream catalyst contains a catalytic metal effective at least for the oxidation of hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas stream, and preferably contains a palladium catalytic component and contains substantially no oxygen storage components, i.e., oxides of cerium, cobalt, iron, magnesium, molybdenum, nickel, praseodymium, tungsten and vanadium, but the downstream catalyst includes an oxygen storage component. Preferably, the upstream catalyst is a close-coupled catalyst. The downstream catalyst may be an underfloor catalyst or a close-coupled catalyst, in which case there is, preferably, an additional, underfloor catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust gas treatment catalytic article having an upstream catalytic zone and at least one downstream catalytic zone. The upstream catalytic zone has an upstream composition which has a first upstream support, and at least one first upstream palladium component. The upstream zone can have one or more layers. The downstream catalytic zone has a first downstream layer which has a first downstream support and a first downstream precious metal component. A second downstream layer has a second downstream support and a second downstream precious metal component.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising at least one first support, at least one first precious metal component, at least one second support, and at least one second precious metal component. The total amount of the first precious metal component comprises from 1 to 99 weight percent based on the total of the first and second precious metal components. The average particle size of the second support is greater than the average particle size of the first support. The present invention includes a method to prepare the catalyst composition and a method to use the catalyst composition as a three-way catalyst. The composition results in a coated layer from a slurry where the more supported first precious metal component is in the bottom half and more supported second precious metal component is in the top half.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising at least one first support, at least one first precious metal component, at least one second support, and at least one second precious metal component. The total amount of the first precious metal component comprises from 1 to 99 weight percent based on the total of the first and second precious metal components. The average particle size of the second support is greater than the average particle size of the first support. The present invention includes a method to prepare the catalyst composition and a method to use the catalyst composition as a three-way catalyst. The composition results in a coated layer from a slurry where the more supported first precious metal component is in the bottom half and more supported second precious metal component is in the top half.