Process for improving engine efficiency using a fuel reforming system

A system comprising:

• an engine comprising:
• a combustion chamber configured to ignite a first combustible mixture, thereby producing exhaust gases;
• an air intake manifold configured to feed a first portion of air into the combustion chamber;
• a first fuel injector configured to inject a first portion of fuel into an engine intake air stream;
• an exhaust manifold configured to receive combustion products from the combustion chamber thereby forming a primary exhaust stream;
• a first exhaust line configured to connect the exhaust manifold to a tailpipe;
• a second exhaust line, branching from the first exhaust line, configured to provide a portion of the combustion products to a catalytic reformer;
• an air injector configured to inject a second portion of air into the second exhaust line thereby forming a reformer feed mixture;
• a second fuel injector configured to inject a second portion of fuel into the second exhaust line;
• a reformer effluent line configured to connect the catalytic reformer to the air intake manifold;
• a throttle configured to control an amount of the first combustible mixture to be fed into the combustion chamber of the engine;
• a turbocharger configured to compress the first portion of air to form a compressed air stream;
• a turbocharger inlet line configured to deliver the first portion of air into the turbocharger;
• and
• a turbocharger outlet line configured to connect the turbocharger to the air intake manifold and the throttle,
• wherein the turbocharger is coupled to the first exhaust line in parallel with the air injector and the second fuel injector, and the turbocharger outlet line is coupled to the reformer effluent line upstream of the throttle such that a reformate exhaust stream formed by processing the reformer feed mixture through the catalytic reformer is mixed with the compressed air stream at a junction of the reformer effluent line and the turbocharger outlet line to create a mixed air stream, and
• wherein the first fuel injector is disposed upstream of the throttle and the air intake manifold and is configured to inject a third portion of fuel into the mixed air stream to form a second combustible mixture to be controlled by the throttle and fed into the combustion chamber.