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Title: Fuel reforming system for an internal combustion engine

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6299453

The fuel reforming system for an internal combustion engine has a fuel reforming reactor to be supplied with a hydrocarbon fuel. The reactor contains a catalyst carrier and a catalyst thereon to be heated for facilitating a conversion of the fuel into a reformed gaseous mixture rich with hydrogen which mixture is to be fed into the engine. The catalyst is periodically alternately exposed to the fuel and air so that carbon produced and deposited on the catalyst during the fuel reforming reaction facilitated by the catalyst is burnt away from the catalyst carrier and the catalyst thereon whereby the catalytic performance of the catalyst is restored to ensure a prolonged operative life thereof. The reformed gaseous mixture assures a reliable ignition and combustion of a mixture thereof with air in the engine at a very lean air-fuel ratio to advantageously decrease the emission of harmful commponents of engine exhaust gas.

Assignee:
Nippon Soken, Inc.
Patent Number(s):
US 4147136
OSTI ID:
6299453
Resource Relation:
Patent Priority Date: Priority date 6 Dec 1974, Japan
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English