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US 12,442,324 B1Granted
Systems and methods for supplementing an ammonia heat-exchange unit for engine cooling with a radiator
AssigneeFirst Ammonia Motors, Inc.
InventorsJames L. Wall, II, David Gwynn Kapp, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates, in general, to systems and methods for generating hydrogen from ammonia on-board vehicles, where the produced hydrogen is used as fuel source for an internal combustion engine along with ammonia. The present invention utilizes ammonia not only as a co-fuel for the engine, but also as a heat-exchange medium used by a cooling system that is supplemented by a radiator based on the temperature of the internal combustion engine.
Claims20
A system for heat-exchange between ammonia and engine coolant for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an electronic control unit (ECU);
- an ammonia tank containing ammonia;
- a heat-exchange unit fluidly coupled to the ammonia tank and to the internal combustion engine, the heat-exchange unit receiving ammonia from the ammonia tank;
- a radiator fluidly coupled to the heat-exchange unit and to the internal combustion engine, the radiator receiving hot engine coolant from the internal combustion engine, and the radiator supplying the hot engine coolant to the heat-exchange unit;
- a bypass valve coupled between the heat-exchange unit, the radiator, and the internal combustion engine;
- and
- a temperature sensor coupled to the ECU to detect a temperature of the internal combustion engine,
- wherein heat is transferred from the hot engine coolant to the ammonia within the heat-exchange unit, resulting in heated ammonia and cooled engine coolant,
- wherein the ECU closes the bypass valve when the temperature of the internal combustion engine is above a threshold value, allowing the cooled engine coolant to exit the heat-exchange unit and flow to the radiator, and
- wherein the ECU opens the bypass valve when the temperature the of internal combustion engine is below the threshold value, allowing the cooled engine coolant to exit the heat-exchange unit and flow to the internal combustion engine.
7 more elements
A system for heat-exchange between ammonia and engine coolant for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an electronic control unit (ECU);
- an ammonia tank containing ammonia;
- a heat-exchange unit fluidly coupled to the ammonia tank and to the internal combustion engine, the heat-exchange unit receiving ammonia from the ammonia tank;
- a radiator fluidly coupled to the heat-exchange unit and to the internal combustion engine, the radiator receiving hot engine coolant from the internal combustion engine, and the radiator supplying the hot engine coolant to the heat-exchange unit;
- a bypass valve coupled between the heat-exchange unit, the radiator, and the internal combustion engine;
- and
- a temperature sensor coupled to the ECU to detect a temperature of the internal combustion engine,
- wherein heat is transferred from the hot engine coolant to the ammonia within the heat-exchange unit, resulting in heated ammonia and cooled engine coolant,
- wherein the ECU partially opens the bypass valve when the temperature of the internal combustion engine is above a threshold value, allowing the cooled engine coolant to exit the heat-exchange unit and partially flow to the radiator and partially flow to the internal combustion engine,
- wherein the ECU closes the bypass valve when the temperature of the internal combustion engine is below the threshold value, allowing the cooled engine coolant to exit the heat-exchange unit and flow to the internal combustion engine.
7 more elements
A system for heat-exchange between ammonia and engine coolant for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an electronic control unit (ECU);
- an ammonia tank containing ammonia;
- a heat-exchange unit fluidly coupled to the ammonia tank and to the internal combustion engine, the heat-exchange unit receiving ammonia from the ammonia tank;
- a radiator fluidly coupled to the heat-exchange unit and to the internal combustion engine, the radiator receiving hot engine coolant from the internal combustion engine, and the radiator supplying the hot engine coolant to the heat-exchange unit;
- a bypass valve coupled between the heat-exchange unit, the radiator, and the internal combustion engine;
- and
- a temperature sensor coupled to the ECU to detect a temperature of the internal combustion engine,
- wherein heat is transferred from the hot engine coolant to the ammonia within the heat-exchange unit, resulting in heated ammonia and cooled engine coolant,
- wherein the ECU closes the bypass valve when the temperature of the internal combustion engine is above a threshold value, allowing the cooled engine coolant to exit the heat-exchange unit and flow to the radiator,
- wherein the ECU opens the bypass valve when the temperature of the internal combustion engine is below the threshold value, allowing the cooled engine coolant to exit the heat-exchange unit and flow to the internal combustion engine, and
- wherein the heated ammonia is supplied to the internal combustion engine for use as a combustion fuel.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.