Internal combustion engine

A method of operating an internal combustion engine that comprises a combustion chamber having a volume defined by a housing and a reciprocating piston that in use reciprocates relative to said housing between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position to vary said volume and a catalyst provided on said piston, said method comprising:

• admitting an intake gas comprising an aspirant into said combustion chamber;
• reducing the volume of said combustion chamber to compress said intake gas by moving said piston relative to said housing towards said top dead center position to raise pressure in said housing from a first pressure to a second pressure;
• injecting an aqueous fluid and a steam reforming fuel into said intake gas in said combustion chamber when the pressure in said combustion chamber reaches a predetermined pressure intermediate said first and second pressures and said piston is disposed intermediate said top dead center and bottom dead center positions so that said aqueous fluid and steam reforming fuel absorb heat generated by said compression of said intake gas and said catalyst promotes a steam reformation process by which hydrogen is separated from said steam reforming fuel or said aqueous fluid;
• and
• when the pressure in said combustion chamber is at least at said second pressure, admitting a combustible fuel into said combustion chamber and combusting said combustible fuel and hydrogen,
• wherein combusting said combustible fuel and hydrogen causes movement of said piston relative to said housing towards said bottom dead center position to increase the volume of said combustion chamber and said movement of said body towards said bottom dead center position provides an energy output of said combustion chamber, and
• wherein said aqueous fluid and steam reforming fuel are injected into said combustion chamber when said volume is partially defined by a wall of said housing that is sealingly engaged by said piston.

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a housing and a body movable in said housing, said body and housing defining a combustion chamber that has a single enclosed volume that is variable by movement of said body relative to said housing;
• a catalyst in said single enclosed volume;
• first valving to admit an intake gas into said single enclosed volume;
• an aqueous fluid supply system;
• second valving connected with said aqueous fluid supply system and operable to admit aqueous fluid from said aqueous fluid supply system and a steam reforming fuel into said single enclosed volume;
• and
• a controller configured to i) cause said first valving to admit a charge of intake gas into said single enclosed volume and ii) when a predetermined condition exists in said single enclosed volume during movement of said body to reduce the volume of said single enclosed volume so as to compress said intake gas to raise pressure of said intake gas from a first pressure to a second pressure, cause said second valving to admit aqueous fluid from said aqueous fluid supply system and an amount of said steam reforming fuel into said single enclosed volume so that said aqueous fluid and steam reforming fuel absorb heat generated by said compression of said intake gas and said catalyst promotes a steam reformation process by which hydrogen is separated from said steam reforming fuel or said aqueous fluid,
• wherein said combustion of said fuel and hydrogen causes movement of said body to increase the volume of said single enclosed volume and said movement of said body provides an energy output of said combustion chamber.

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a housing and a piston movable relative to said housing to define a combustion chamber that has a volume that is variable by movement of said piston relative to said housing between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position;
• a catalyst provided on said piston;
• first valving to admit an intake gas into said combustion chamber;
• an aqueous fluid supply system;
• second valving connected with said aqueous fluid supply system and operable to admit aqueous fluid from said aqueous fluid supply system and a steam reforming fuel into said combustion chamber;
• and
• a controller configured to i) cause said first valving to admit a charge of intake gas into said combustion chamber and ii) when a predetermined condition exists in said combustion chamber during movement of said piston towards said top dead center position to reduce the volume of said combustion chamber so as to compress said intake gas to raise pressure of said intake gas from a first pressure to a second pressure cause said second valving to admit aqueous fluid from said aqueous fluid supply system and an amount of said steam reforming fuel into said chamber so that said aqueous fluid and steam reforming fuel absorb heat generated by said compression of said intake gas and said catalyst promotes a steam reformation process by which hydrogen is separated from said steam reforming fuel or said aqueous fluid,
• wherein said combustion of said fuel and hydrogen causes movement of said piston towards said bottom dead center to increase the volume of said combustion chamber and said movement of said piston provides an energy output of said combustion chamber, and
• wherein when said second valving is caused to admit said aqueous fluid and steam reforming fuel into said combustion chamber, said volume is partially defined by a wall of said housing that is sealingly engaged by said piston.