Generating Plants Patents (Class 123/3)
  • Publication number: 20130152879
    Abstract: An engine system comprises a fuel processor that is supplied with air and a fuel reactant stream to produce a hydrogen-containing gas stream. The fuel processor comprises a mounting manifold, a housing, and an internal reaction chamber. The mounting manifold can fluidly interconnect an upstream engine exhaust conduit and a downstream engine exhaust conduit via internal passageways in the manifold, attach and position the fuel processor within the engine exhaust conduit, and fluidly connect external reactant supply conduits to the internal reaction chamber of the fuel processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: WESTPORT POWER INC.
    Inventor: WESTPORT POWER INC.
  • Patent number: 8464699
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine with a fuel reformer is presented. In one embodiment a first fuel is reformed into a gaseous fuel comprising H, CO, and CH4, or the fuel may change state to vaporized alcohol. The present method provides for ramping injection of the gaseous fuel so that stoichiometric combustion may be maintained while gaseous fuel is injected to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8464667
    Abstract: A hydrogen system for diesel and gas engines, comprising a housing assembly containing an aqueous solution. A heating assembly comprises a first inlet, a first outlet, and tubing connecting the first inlet to the first outlet. A hydrogen generator is contained within the housing assembly. It comprises a second inlet and a second outlet, and at least a top wall and a base wall. The top wall is at a predetermined angle to allow the aqueous solution to flow and circulate into a connecting tube. The hydrogen generator comprises negative charged rods and positive charged rods. The hydrogen generator generates hydrogen and oxygen gas for use in an internal combustion engine to improve combustion efficiency and to decrease emissions. The hydrogen generator serves as an electrolysis cell to generate the oxygen and hydrogen gas with electric current from a power source being passed through the aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Inventor: Giulio Stama
  • Patent number: 8464694
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for providing fuel to internal combustion engines including fuel activation prior to injection. The method carried out by the system comprises dissolving a mixture of gasses providing improved fuel dispersing after fuel injection into a combustion chamber. Dissolved gasses desorption is stimulated from a unsaturated fuel solution. Full control of fuel flows with dissolved gas/gasses to and from injectors and FET technology is based on Henry's law (dissolving gasses in the liquids) and Kelvin principle (vapor pressure over droplet surface). The system provides fuel to internal combustion engines and consists of compact components, including exhaust gasses recirculation system which can be easily added to existing diesel and gasoline engine fuel supply systems. The method and system were tested with 4 different types of engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Fuecotech, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Gurin, Igor Gachik, Serguei Permiakov, Roman Press, Leonid Faynberg, Aleksandr Reshetnyak
  • Publication number: 20130145999
    Abstract: A system for producing hydrogen gas fuel from water source or waste water source or a combination thereof to supplement an internal combustion engine. The system includes at least a hydrogen fuel electrolyzer, at least an electrical power storage means, at least a air intake chamber in the engine, at least an ignition switch, and at least a relay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA PAHANG
    Inventor: UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA PAHANG
  • Patent number: 8459213
    Abstract: A method and device to optimize the cumulative beneficial effect of harvesting available forms of lost energy, including energy that is lost while a vehicle is in motion (e.g., kinetic energy and energy contained in electromagnetic radiation. The cumulative energy that is recovered is converted to electrical energy which powers the on-board electrolyzer to produce more hydrogen and oxygen while the system is in operation and stationary. Stationary, passive forms of energy (e.g., solar, wind, hydro, etc.) will also be available to power the electrolyzer. The system also contemplates using passive forms of energy to power a non-mobile system which incorporates an internal or external combustion engine in place of a fuel cell. An oxygen injection control device is employed to control the supply of oxygen to the combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventors: Donald Moriarty, Stephen Toner
  • Patent number: 8461703
    Abstract: A engine-generator is provided which has a rotary engine formed with an engine housing having an output surface portion and an output shaft on a central axis extending externally of the engine housing. A generator has a stator secured to the output end of the shaft and has a surface in a confronting relation with the engine housing. Permanent magnets and windings are secured to the respective surface portion of the engine housing and stator at a radial distance from the axis. Each magnet and winding has a corresponding pole face lying in a corresponding one of a pair of first planes orthogonal to the central axis. The magnets and windings are rotatable with respect to each other and periodically align in a confronting relationship to define an air-gap between the parallel planes. The windings produce electrical output in response to rotation of the magnets relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Paul M. Dunn, Christopher J. Egan
  • Patent number: 8459214
    Abstract: Apparatus for dissociating water into hydrogen and oxygen, comprising a tank and the quantity of water contained in said tank is dissolved. A quantity of a conductivity promoting material suspended or dissolved in said water to form an electrically conductive fluid and a plurality of plates suspended in said electrically conductive fluid and a reactive agent selected from the group consisting of derivatives of vegetable materials, derivatives of highly resinous vegetable materials, derivatives of vegetable materials taken from pinyon pine, derivatives of vegetable materials taken from dragon blood tree, water soluble derivatives of partially oxidized vegetable materials, water soluble derivatives of partially oxidized highly resinous vegetable materials, water soluble derivatives of partially oxidized vegetable materials taken from pinyon pine, and water soluble derivatives of partially oxidized vegetable materials taken from dragon blood tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Common Sense Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vernon Roth, Gregory Sherman
  • Publication number: 20130133595
    Abstract: An ancillary device for enhancing engine fuel combustion efficiency includes a pure water replenishable electrolytic bath and a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell installed on an automobile. The electrolytic bath and the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell are electrically connection with an automobile battery The battery supplies electrical power to the electrolytic bath to electrolyze water replenished thereto into hydrogen and oxygen, which are fed through a first gas supply tube into an automobile fuel conduit to mix with fuel for being supplied with the fuel to an engine cylinder. The hydrogen and oxygen are also supplied through a second gas supply tube to the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell for chemical reaction that generates electrical power to charge the battery. The chemical reaction of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell generates a product of pure water that is supplied through a pure water tube to the electrolytic bath for circulative and cyclic use for electrolysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventor: WEN-LO CHEN
  • Patent number: 8448612
    Abstract: A propane fueled combustor for providing a controlled heat flux environment of twenty to two hundred kilowatts per square meter. The combustor has the capability of generating a repeatable and quantifiable environment in which to evaluate a response of an energetic material to a fast cook off hazard, such as a liquid fuel fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Kenneth Jay Wilson, Travis Shane Laker, Ephraim Berk Washburn, Alice Irene Atwood
  • Patent number: 8438847
    Abstract: A heat-pipe electric power generating device includes a heat pipe having an evaporating end and a condensing end, a non-magnetic shell connected to the condensing end, a generator stator coil disposed at the outer of the non-magnetic shell, a turbine disposed in the heat pipe, a driving axle connected to the turbine and extended into the non-magnetic shell, and a magnetic element disposed at the driving axle and located in the non-magnetic shell. A vapor flow flowing to the condensing end is generated at the evaporating end. The vapor flow drives the turbine to move the magnetic element, such that the generator stator coil generates an induced current. In addition, a hydrogen/oxygen gas generating apparatus and an internal combustion engine system having the heat-pipe electric power generating device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yao-Shun Chen, Wen-Yang Peng, Ra-Min Tain
  • Publication number: 20130112157
    Abstract: An ozone-aided combustion system and method that provides for increased fuel efficiency and reduces the hydrocarbon output in internal combustion engines is disclosed. The system/method incorporates pre-combustion ozone production via an ozone generator to improve the ignition/combustion cycle in an internal combustion engine. Some preferred embodiments incorporate an air dryer for reducing the moisture content of the incoming air to improve ozone production over a range of ambient humidity conditions. Alternate preferred embodiments may incorporate a hydrolysis unit to generate dry oxygen to be added to the intake air stream of the ozone generator and/or hydrogen to be added to the downstream exhaust of the ozone generator to both enhance the production of ozone, improve the combustion efficiency of the internal combustion engine and to reduce the pollution generated by the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: Daniel M. Brown
  • Publication number: 20130098314
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for reducing vehicle emissions by converting exhaust gases to hydrocarbon fuel. The apparatus and process supplement conventional emission control techniques to further reduce vehicle emissions of harmful substances. The apparatus includes a heat exchanger to extract thermal energy from exhaust gases of a combustion engine that powers propulsion of a vehicle, a membrane separator to separate water and carbon dioxide from the exhaust gases, and a catalytic reactor comprising a nano catalyst. The catalytic reactor receives the water and the carbon dioxide from the membrane separator, contains a reaction of the water and the carbon dioxide that produces hydrocarbon fuel and is facilitated by the nano catalyst, and uses the thermal energy from the heat exchanger to stimulate the reaction. The catalytic reactor is contained within a body of the heat exchanger to facilitate the transfer of thermal energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
  • Patent number: 8424496
    Abstract: Methods and systems for starting a vehicle engine are provided. One example method for starting a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders may include generating hydrogen gas and oxygen gas onboard the vehicle from water. The method may further include maintaining the hydrogen gas and oxygen gas together as a gaseous mixture. The method may further include injecting the gaseous mixture to at least one cylinder of the engine during a start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Publication number: 20130095401
    Abstract: Engine exhaust is sent to a reformer, which produces hydrogen from fuel remaining in the exhaust. The hydrogen may be stored in a hydrogen tank, and may be used by a fuel cell to produce electricity to recharge a vehicle battery and/or to supply propulsion current to an electric propulsion system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: ENERGYYIELD LLC
    Inventor: EnergyYield LLC
  • Patent number: 8418456
    Abstract: A heat-pipe electric power generating device including a fan disposed between an evaporating end and a condensing end of a heat-pipe is provided. A magnetic substance is disposed on the fan to form a magnetic field. A stator coil of a generator is disposed at the outer of the heat-pipe, which is corresponding to the position of the fan. An induced current is generated by the stator coil of the generator when the magnetic substance spins. Since the heat-pipe is made of copper, and the magnetic field is not shielded by copper, a current is induced when a relative motion between the magnetic substance on the fan and the stator coil of the generator at the outer of the heat-pipe is generated. Further, the heat-pipe electric power generating device can be applied on a hydrogen/oxygen gas generating apparatus and an internal combustion engine system of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ra-Min Tain, Wen-Yang Peng, Yao-Shun Chen
  • Patent number: 8423265
    Abstract: A control system of an internal combustion engine in which a first fuel of ammonia and a second fuel which is easier to burn than ammonia are used as fuels. An ammonia ratio is usually set to a reference ammonia ratio which is determined in advance in accordance with an operating state of an engine. At the time when feed of the fuel is restarted after suspension of feed of the fuel at the time of deceleration, the ammonia ratio is temporarily made lower than the reference ammonia ratio in accordance with the operating state of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Aso, Takahiko Fujiwara, Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8414288
    Abstract: A combustion system comprising a combustion chamber fed by fuel and oxidant delivery lines. The oxidant line has an oxidant tank pressurized by a compressor. The fuel delivery line has a fuel source and a fuel feed mechanism. An ignition device ignites the oxidant and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. The coolant line is adapted to inject cooling fluid directly into the combustion chamber. An energy production device is disposed downstream a combustion chamber exhaust valve for converting energy from both exhausted combustion gases and coolant gases exhausted from the combustion chamber. In some embodiments the coolant is the oxidant, while in other embodiments the coolant is another fluid introduced from a separate coolant delivery line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventor: Ilan Tzriker
  • Patent number: 8407999
    Abstract: A turbocharged engine system is configured to vaporize methanol using heat from exhaust gases and uses the vaporized methanol to drive the engine's turbocharger. The methanol may also be dissociated into hydrogen and carbon monoxide. After passing through the turbocharger, the vapor is injected into the engine by port injection. By selective timing of exhaust valves, the exhaust gases are separated into two streams, a first stream comprising gases ejected during exhaust blowdown, and a second stream of gases ejected during the remainder of the engine's exhaust stroke. The blowdown gases are employed to drive a separate turbine of the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventor: Charles L. Gray, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8402928
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine with a fuel reformer is presented. In one embodiment a first fuel is reformed into a gaseous fuel comprising H, CO, and CH4. The engine is operated by injecting the gaseous fuel and a second fuel to a cylinder of the engine in response to an available amount of gaseous fuel, engine speed and engine load. Further, an engine actuator may be adjusted to vary cylinder charge in response to the available amount of gaseous fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Michael H. Shelby, James Michael Kerns
  • Publication number: 20130071317
    Abstract: Hydrogen is produced from methanol and water under supercritical temperature and pressure conditions desirably without any catalyst. The hydrogen can be produced in situ on an internal combustion engine using a heat source such as the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine to achieve the supercritical temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sunggyu Lee
  • Patent number: 8397701
    Abstract: A fuel system and a method of operation of the fuel system are described in the context of a multi-fuel internal combustion engine. In one example, the method includes varying a proportion of fuel supplied by a fuel pump to an engine and a fuel separator. The method may be particularly useful for a dual fuel engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 8397680
    Abstract: An engine system includes a medium which chemically repeats storage and release of hydrogen to provide an engine system where CO2 emissions can be suppressed and system efficiency is excellent. The engine system includes a hydrogen supply device for producing hydrogen rich gas from a medium which chemically repeats the storage and release of hydrogen, and drives an engine using the hydrogen rich gas produced in the hydrogen supply device as one of the fuels. This engine system is characterized by comprising a waste heat supply device for supplying waste heat of the engine to hydrogen supply device, a generator which generates electricity by power of the engine, an energy storage device for storing electric power produced by the generator, and a motor for converting electric power discharged from the energy storage device into power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Shimada, Takao Ishikawa, Masatoshi Sugimasa
  • Publication number: 20130061822
    Abstract: The present invention provides an engine enhancement system and method which utilises hydrogen as a combustion catalyst within an internal combustion engine, the hydrogen preferably being obtained and/or replenished from a supply of HHO gas fed to combustion chambers of the engine, and being located at interstitial sites in the walls of the combustion chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Christopher Adair
  • Patent number: 8387570
    Abstract: A coke burning engine is described wherein hot coke fuel chunks are first compressed with air and reacted therewith to form a carbon monoxide rich gas, during a compression cycle time period. Next these primary reacted gases are mixed into and burned with secondary air during a blowdown cycle time period. These fully reacted gases are expanded though an expander engine whose power output drives the air compressor, and yields a net useful engine power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventor: Joseph Carl Firey
  • Patent number: 8381701
    Abstract: A bio-diesel fuel engine system and bio-diesel fuel engine operating method capable of producing a biomass fuel from a liquid state biomass source material of a fat-containing vegetable or animal oil allowing fuel to be combusted in a conventional diesel engine while providing the benefits of low fuel consumption, stable engine operation, and extended engine service life, with compared to use a biomass fuel reformed by methyl-ester method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Inventors: Tetuo Sugioka, Akira Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8375899
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine including a fuel tank, a membrane dividing the fuel tank into at least a first and second portion, the membrane preferentially diffusing a substance from a mixture, the substance having an increased knock suppression relative to the mixture, and a controller adjusting delivery of condensed water to the tank responsive to an operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Mark Allen Dearth
  • Patent number: 8375900
    Abstract: A hydrogen fuel zero or low emissions external combustion engine and a method to convert an internal combustion engine thereto. The invention includes devices, modifications, alterations, kits and methods for converting an internal combustion (IC) engine or engine design to the external combustion engine while using many of the components of the internal combustion engine. The external combustion engine includes a hydrogen tank to supply hydrogen fuel, a hydrogen flash vaporizer (HFV) to combust the hydrogen fuel and vaporize an atomized liquid introduced into the hydrogen flash vaporizer into an expanding fluid vapor (EFV), and an engine to receive the expanding fluid vapor and convert an expansion force thereof into mechanical force with a superior level of efficiency derived from a unique heat scavenging and cylinder shrouding design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Inventor: John Berkyto
  • Publication number: 20130036990
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine while improving the utilization rate of an evaporation fuel. The raw fuel F0 is separated to a first fuel F1 and a second fuel F2 by a separation device 20. The evaporation fuel V derived from the first fuel F1 is suctioned from a condenser 30 by an operation of a vacuum pump 36, and then supplied to a first fuel tank 40. During this operation, at least a part of the evaporation fuel V transits its phase from a gas phase to a liquid phase and stored in the first fuel tank 40 as the first fuel F1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi CHISHIMA, Hirotsugu KUDO, Masayoshi KAWAGUCHI, Kenji SHIGETOYO
  • Patent number: 8371253
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for a controlling a flow of reformate fuel in a fuel system which includes a reformer and a storage tank coupled to an engine in a vehicle. The system includes a pump located between the reformer and the storage tank that is selectively operated in order to reduce parasitic losses on the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Robert Walter McCabe
  • Patent number: 8365688
    Abstract: A method and reactor suitable for reformation of fuels at low temperatures is disclosed. The method includes introducing an oxidized porous metal felts with a catalyst powder in a reaction chamber having a heat exchange relationship with a heat-providing chamber, vaporizing a liquid mixture of alcohol and water using an Inconel tubing, and introducing the vaporized liquid into the reaction chamber for producing a methane gas. The fuel reforming reactor includes a heat-providing chamber in a heat exchange relationship with at least one reaction chamber. Each reaction chamber having an aluminum shim lining on at least one interior surface. Each reaction chamber accommodating a catalyst powder and an oxidized porous metal felt. The catalyst powder loaded onto the oxidized porous metal felt to facilitate production of methane gas from alcohol for use with the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventors: Anand S. Chellappa, Donovan A. Pena, John K. Hughes, Duraiswamy Kandaswamy
  • Patent number: 8370048
    Abstract: The pollution control system includes a controller coupled to a sensor monitoring an operational characteristic of a combustion engine, such as engine RPM. A PCV valve having an inlet and an outlet is adapted to vent blow-by gas out from the combustion engine. A fluid regulator associated with the PCV valve and responsive to the controller selectively modulates engine vacuum pressure to adjustably increase or decrease a fluid flow rate of blow-by gas venting from the combustion engine. The controller selectively adjustably positions the fluid regulator to vary the degree of vacuum pressure to optimize the recycling of blow-by gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: Serge V. Monros
  • Publication number: 20130025547
    Abstract: A fuel supply system includes an energy output device, a reformer and a cooling unit. The energy output device consumes fuel, which is a compound including hydrogen, and outputs energy. The reformer decomposes fuel so as to generate hydrogen which is to be supplied to the energy output device. The cooling unit cools the hydrogen generated in the reformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro NAKAGAWA, Takuya Fuse, Kazutoshi Kuwayama
  • Patent number: 8360015
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a fuel reformer which reforms ethanol into a reformate gas comprising H2, CO, and CH4 for fueling an engine are provided. Degradation of the fuel reformer may be indicated based on an amount of ethanol injected into the fuel reformer and an amount of at least one of H2, CO, and CH4 produced by the fuel reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Publication number: 20130014711
    Abstract: A method of operating a compression ignition engine on diethyl ether containing fuel obtained by conversion of a primary ethanol containing fuel, wherein the primary fuel is catalytically converted to a diethyl ether containing fuel at a constant minimum and maximum flow rate through a catalytic reactor. The thus prepared ether containing fuel is passed to a buffer tank and a system for use in anyone of the preceding claims comprising a first fuel tank for holding a primary ethanol containing fuel; an ethanol dehydration reactor connected to the first fuel tank at inlet of the reactor and to a second buffer tank connected at outlet of the reactor; the second buffer tank holding a diethyl ether containing fuel being formed in the dehydration reactor is further connected to a compression ignition engine; the second buffer tank is provided with at least a sensor for detecting an upper fuel level and at least a second sensor for detecting a lower fuel level in the buffer tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventors: Ton V.W. Janssens, Svend-Erik Mikkelsen, Pär L.T. Gabrielsson
  • Patent number: 8347829
    Abstract: An electrolytic reactor and related methods are provided for supplementing the air-intake of an internal combustion engine with hydrogen. In one embodiment, the reactor has a core defined by a plurality of whole metal plates separated by peripheral gaskets; an inlet for providing an electrolyte to the core; a gas and effluent outlet, and a pump to force an electrolyte through the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventor: James Harper
  • Publication number: 20130000571
    Abstract: Method of operating a compression ignition engine on ether containing fuel obtained by on board conversion of an alcohol containing primary fuel and a system for use in the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventors: Christophe Duwig, Pär L. Gabrielsson, Svend-Erik Mikkelsen, Ton V.W. Janssens
  • Publication number: 20130000570
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine with a fuel reformer is presented. In one embodiment a method for operating an engine by injecting a gaseous fuel and a liquid fuel to at least an engine cylinder is presented. The method may prioritize the injection of the gaseous fuel in response to an amount of gaseous fuel stored in a fuel storage tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Michael H. Shelby, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Robert Walter McCabe
  • Publication number: 20130000569
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for producing synthesis gas and for operating an internal combustion engine therewith. The engine fuel gases can be produced from changing heterogeneous organic fuels, wherein highly tar-laden product gas and pyrolysis gas are formed. By combining and purifying these gases, the gas mixtures or the syntheses gas formed and by special operation of the gas engine, tars and pyrolysis oil produced in a high proportion are usable as an addition to the ignition oil. The synthesis gas is generated from the pyrolysis gas that is generated in a pyrolysis reactor (2) and from the product gas that results from autothermal gasification of the pyrolysis coke formed and/or of the pyrolysis oil in an atmospheric steady-state fluidisedbed gasifier (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicants: Semiha Pektas-Cehreli, Timo Schneider
    Inventors: Arno Schneider, Ergun Cehreli
  • Publication number: 20130000568
    Abstract: A fuel conditioning system includes a fuel supply, cracking vessel, heat source and fuel delivery line. The cracking vessel breaks carbon-carbon bonds of hydrocarbons present in the fuel. The heat source provides thermal energy to the cracking vessel for breaking the carbon-carbon bonds. The fuel delivery line delivers cracked fuel to an internal combustion engine. An internal combustion engine system includes an engine having a combustion chamber and fuel injection system, a fuel supply, a fuel conditioning system and a fuel delivery line. The fuel conditioning system includes a heat loop that receives thermal energy and a cracking vessel that breaks carbon-carbon bonds of fuel hydrocarbons using the thermal energy. The fuel delivery line delivers cracked fuel to the engine. A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes delivering fuel to a cracking vessel, thermally cracking the fuel, delivering cracked fuel to an engine and combusting the cracked fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert B. Fowler
  • Patent number: 8342140
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine with a fuel reformer is presented. In one embodiment a method for operating an engine by injecting a gaseous fuel and a liquid fuel to at least an engine cylinder is presented. The mixture of an engine cylinder may be diluted with EGR and a fraction of gaseous fuel may be increased relative to a fraction of liquid fuel injected to a cylinder in response to an operator tip-out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 8336508
    Abstract: A system for use with a combustion engine having an air intake, sensors and an engine control module, comprising a hydrogen cell capable of turning water into hydrogen and oxygen gases and a controller electrically connected to the sensors, the engine control module and the hydrogen cell, wherein the controller is programmed to ratiometrically skew one or more signal inputs to the engine control module to control the engine in response to predetermined signal levels, wherein the controller is programmed to activate the hydrogen cell in response to predetermined signal levels, wherein the hydrogen cell is fluidly connected to the engine through the air intake, and wherein the controller is programmed to cause the engine control module to reduce the rate of fuel flow to the engine and to activate the hydrogen cell simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventor: Timothy Huttner
  • Publication number: 20120312255
    Abstract: The present description relates to operation and control of a fuel reformer. In one embodiment, an engine constituent is adjusted in response to limiting an amount of reformate supplied to the engine during a condition of reformer degradation. The approach can improve engine operation. In this way, consequences of reformate system degradation may be reduced by limiting use of the reformate system after degradation is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Publication number: 20120299306
    Abstract: A cogeneration system includes a fuel evaporator; an internal combustion engine which outputs mechanical energy by combusting fuel evaporated by the fuel evaporator; an electric energy generator that converts the mechanical energy to an electric energy; a cold energy recovery portion which recovers cold energy generated when the fuel evaporator evaporates the fuel; an exhaust heat recovery portion which recovers heat exhausted from the engine; and a gas cleaner that cleans nitrogen oxides contained in gas exhausted from the engine. When the fuel is supplied to the gas cleaner, the fuel reduces the nitrogen oxides by reacting with the nitrogen oxides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Fuse, Kazutoshi Nishizawa, Kazutoshi Kuwayama
  • Publication number: 20120301802
    Abstract: The fuel provision system uses hydrogen and oxygen from a hydrogen container and an oxygen container as energy source for a power unit to deliver work and for a fuel cell to produce electricity In the mean time, the water resulted from the power unit and the fuel cell is stored in a water tank and then electrolyzed in an electrolytic tank to produce hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen and oxygen are separated by an exchange membrane and recycled to the hydrogen and oxygen containers. The power unit is one of combustion engine accompanied by a generator and a battery, a furnace or an industrial cutting/welding device with a fuel tank, and an electrothermal device. The water tank is capable of adjusting the volume of output water flow and overflowing excessive water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventor: WEN-LO CHEN
  • Publication number: 20120298054
    Abstract: A hydroxy gas generator for an internal combustion engine is digitally controlled by a micro- controller and is installed in a vehicle. The invention senses vehicle RPM and uses a pulse width modulation signal of variable duty cycle with feedback to set the current to the electrolysis cell to one of three possible values. At zero RPM the current to the cell is zero. At an idle, a small amount of hydrogen is produced to aid in combustion but to prevent strain on the alternator. Above an idle, the system is running at full capacity to generate the maximum amount of hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventor: Dan Dinsmore
  • Publication number: 20120291721
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selectively storing gaseous reformate output by a fuel reformer for fueling an engine. Carbon monoxide produced by a fuel reformer may be continuously combusted in the engine and/or engine exhaust rather than being stored. In one example, reformate components produced by a fuel reformer, e.g., H2 and CH4, may be stored and buffered for use by an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, James Michael Kerns
  • Publication number: 20120285400
    Abstract: An ECU computes a quantity of reforming-fuel which the reforming-fuel injector injects based on an engine driving condition and an EGR quantity. The injecting quantity of the reforming-fuel is properly adjusted according to an EGR gas temperature or an alcohol concentration of the reforming-fuel, whereby it can be restricted that temperature of a fuel-reforming catalyst and the EGR gas temperature are decreased due to a vaporization heat of the reforming-fuel. Also, an injecting time period of the reforming-fuel is properly adjusted, so that a maldistribution of the reforming-fuel is restricted. Furthermore, an injection cycle of the reforming-fuel is varies according to an engine speed, so that a supplied quantity of the reforming-fuel is made uniform for each cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Inuzuka, Makoto Miwa
  • Publication number: 20120285162
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell-engine hybrid system formed to effectively utilize an exhaust gas discharged from a process for generating electricity. A fuel cell-engine hybrid system according to the present invention includes: an electricity generating unit including a cathode and an anode interposing an electrolyte membrane therebetween; and an engine unit connected to a rear end of the electricity generating unit and generating power by receiving the exhaust gas discharged from the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF MACHINERY & MATERIALS
    Inventors: Kook Young AHN, Young Duk Lee, Sang Gyu Kang, Sang Min Lee, Han Seok Kim, Ju Hyeong Cho, Min Kuk Kim, Sung Ho Park, Seung Jin Song, Han Ho Song
  • Patent number: 8307790
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine with a fuel reformer is presented. In one embodiment a method for operating an engine by injecting a gaseous fuel and a liquid fuel to at least an engine cylinder is presented. The method may prioritize the injection of the gaseous fuel in response to an amount of gaseous fuel stored in a fuel storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Michael H. Shelby, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Robert Walter McCabe