Compact catalytic dissociator system for cold starting methanol-fueled cars

Patent · Tue Aug 09 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:7018209

McCabe, R W; McCready, D F; Mohan, P V; Potter, R A

A method is described for starting a spark-ignited methanol-fueled engine at low ambient temperatures comprising: forming atomized droplets of methanol and introducing them into a stream of ambient air to form an air-methanol mixture, passing the stream into contact with a catalyst that promotes both the oxidation and dissociation of methanol, the proportion of methanol to air initially being adjusted to promote oxidation to heat the catalyst to a temperature promoting dissociation and the proportion then being increased to provide methanol for dissociation productive of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and introducing the hydrogen and carbon monoxide into the engine as a fuel for engine start-up.

• Assignee: General Motors Corp., Detroit, MI
• Patent Number(s): US 4762093
• OSTI ID: 7018209
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 10 Apr 1987
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
FUEL SYSTEMS
CATALYSTS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
METHANOL
ATOMIZATION
DESIGN
DROPLETS
FUEL-AIR RATIO
IGNITION
IGNITION SYSTEMS
MIXING
START-UP
ALCOHOLS
ENGINES
FUELS
HEAT ENGINES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
330100* - Internal Combustion Engines
330800 - Emission Control- Alternative Fuels