Title: Operation of internal combustion engine with improved fuel efficiency

Abstract

A process of operating a spark-ignited internal combustion engine (SI-ICE) with improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions including under steady state and under lean-operating conditions at high overall air to fuel (AFR) ratios. A first supply of high octane hydrocarbon fuel, such as gasoline or natural gas, and a first supply of oxidant are fed to a fuel reformer to produce a gaseous reformate with a reforming efficiency of greater than 75 percent relative to equilibrium. The gaseous reformate is mixed with a second supply of oxidant, after which the resulting reformate blended oxidant is fed with a second supply of high octane hydrocarbon fuel to the SI-ICE for combustion. Steady state fuel efficiency is improved by more than 3 percent, when the reformate comprises from greater than about 1 to less than about 18 percent of the total volume of reformate blended oxidant fed to the engine.

Inventors:

Roychoudhury, Subir; Mastanduno, Richard; Allocco, Eric Edward; Vilekar, Saurabh

Issue Date:

2020-09-29

Research Org.:

Precision Combustion, Inc., North Haven, CT (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1735315

Patent Number(s):

10787959

Application Number:

16/463,409

Assignee:

Precision Combustion, Inc. (North Haven, CT)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01J - CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY

C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01B - NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS

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B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01J - CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY

B01J23/464 - {Rhodium}
B01J35/06 - Fabrics or filaments

C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01B - NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS

C01B2203/0261 - containing a catalytic partial oxidation step [CPO]
C01B2203/1064 - Platinum group metal catalysts
C01B2203/1247 - Higher hydrocarbons
C01B3/386 - {Catalytic partial combustion}
C01B3/388 - {the heat being generated by superheated steam}

C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10L - FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

C10L1/023 - {for spark ignition}
C10L1/12 - Inorganic compounds
C10L1/1233 - {oxygen containing compounds, e.g. oxides, hydroxides, acids and salts thereof}
C10L10/02 - for reducing smoke development
C10L2200/0277 - Hydrogen
C10L2200/0281 - Carbon monoxide
C10L2200/0423 - Gasoline
C10L2230/22 - for improving fuel economy or fuel efficiency
C10L2270/023 - for gasoline engines

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F01 - MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL F01N - GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL

F01N2240/30 - a fuel reformer

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F02 - COMBUSTION ENGINES F02B - INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES

F02B2043/103 - {Natural gas, e.g. methane or LNG used as a fuel}
F02B43/12 - Methods of operating
F02B47/06 - the substances including non-airborne oxygen
F02B51/02 - involving catalysts

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F02 - COMBUSTION ENGINES F02D - CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES

F02D19/0671 - {Means to generate or modify a fuel, e.g. reformers, electrolytic cells or membranes}
F02D41/0002 - {Controlling intake air}
F02D41/0027 - {the fuel being gaseous
F02D41/1475 - {Regulating the air fuel ratio at a value other than stoechiometry}
F02D41/34 - with means for controlling injection timing or duration

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F02 - COMBUSTION ENGINES F02M - SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF

F02M25/00 - Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture
F02M26/36 - with means for adding fluids other than exhaust gas to the recirculation passage
F02M27/02 - by catalysts

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02T - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

Y02T10/30 - Use of alternative fuels
Y02T10/40 - Engine management systems

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DOE Contract Number:  

SC0013709

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 12/06/2017

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS