Fuel reforming system for vehicle

A fuel reforming system for a vehicle on which a reciprocating engine is mounted, wherein in the reciprocating engine, a combustion chamber where combustion occurs is partitioned in a cylinder in which a piston reciprocates, the reciprocating engine being configured to perform a six-stroke cycle including:

• an intake stroke in which at least intake air is introduced into the combustion chamber through an intake port by lowering the piston;
• a compression stroke in which air-fuel mixture containing fuel supplied to the combustion chamber is compressed by raising the piston;
• an expansion stroke in which the piston is lowered by combustion of the air-fuel mixture;
• a recompression stroke in which combustion gas is compressed by raising the piston;
• a re-expansion stroke in which the piston is lowered;
• and
• an exhaust stroke in which exhaust gas is discharged through an exhaust port by raising the piston, the fuel reforming system comprising:
• a decomposer configured to communicate with the combustion chamber via an openable/closable third port, decompose hydrocarbon fuel into carbon and hydrogen gas, and store the carbon;
• and
• a hydrocarbon fuel supply to supply the hydrocarbon fuel to the decomposer, wherein
• the decomposer is configured to decompose the hydrocarbon fuel into the carbon and the hydrogen gas using heat and a pressure of the combustion gas produced in the combustion chamber, and separate the hydrogen gas by causing the hydrogen gas to permeate a hydrogen permeable membrane,
• the decomposer is in fluid communication with the intake port via the hydrogen permeable membrane,
• the decomposer is disposed adjacent to and in fluid communication with the intake port, and
• the fuel reforming system is configured to supply the separated hydrogen gas as fuel to the combustion chamber through the intake port,
• further comprising:
• a first injector to inject the hydrocarbon fuel inside of the third port is attached to the third port, wherein
• the fuel reforming system is configured to, in a latter half of the recompression stroke, inject the hydrocarbon fuel from the first injector in an open state of the third port, and wherein
• the third port is in the open state during the re-expansion stroke.

A fuel reforming system for a vehicle on which a reciprocating engine is mounted, wherein in the reciprocating engine, a combustion chamber where combustion occurs is partitioned in a cylinder in which a piston reciprocates, the reciprocating engine being configured to perform a six-stroke cycle including:

• an intake stroke in which at least intake air is introduced into the combustion chamber through an intake port by lowering the piston;
• a compression stroke in which air-fuel mixture containing fuel supplied to the combustion chamber is compressed by raising the piston;
• an expansion stroke in which the piston is lowered by combustion of the air-fuel mixture;
• a recompression stroke in which combustion gas is compressed by raising the piston;
• a re-expansion stroke in which the piston is lowered;
• and
• an exhaust stroke in which exhaust gas is discharged through an exhaust port by raising the piston, the fuel reforming system comprising:
• a decomposer configured to communicate with the combustion chamber via an openable/closable third port, decompose hydrocarbon fuel into carbon and hydrogen gas, and store the carbon;
• and
• a hydrocarbon fuel supply to supply the hydrocarbon fuel to the decomposer, wherein
• the decomposer is configured to decompose the hydrocarbon fuel into the carbon and the hydrogen gas using heat and a pressure of the combustion gas produced in the combustion chamber, and separate the hydrogen gas by causing the hydrogen gas to permeate a hydrogen permeable membrane,
• the decomposer is in fluid communication with the intake port via the hydrogen permeable membrane,
• the decomposer is disposed adjacent to and in fluid communication with the intake port, and
• the fuel reforming system is configured to supply the separated hydrogen gas as fuel to the combustion chamber through the intake port, wherein
• the decomposer has a communication passage therein, the communication passage communicating between the third port and an intake supply located on an upstream side of the intake port, and
• a regulation valve configured to block a flow from the third port side toward the intake supply side is between the intake supply and the communication passage.

A fuel reforming system for a vehicle on which a reciprocating engine is mounted, wherein in the reciprocating engine, a combustion chamber where combustion occurs is partitioned in a cylinder in which a piston reciprocates, the reciprocating engine being configured to perform a six-stroke cycle including:

• an intake stroke in which at least intake air is introduced into the combustion chamber through an intake port by lowering the piston;
• a compression stroke in which air-fuel mixture containing fuel supplied to the combustion chamber is compressed by raising the piston;
• an expansion stroke in which the piston is lowered by combustion of the air-fuel mixture;
• a recompression stroke in which combustion gas is compressed by raising the piston;
• a re-expansion stroke in which the piston is lowered;
• and
• an exhaust stroke in which exhaust gas is discharged through an exhaust port by raising the piston, the fuel reforming system comprising:
• a decomposer configured to communicate with the combustion chamber via an openable/closable third port, decompose hydrocarbon fuel into carbon and hydrogen gas, and store the carbon;
• and
• a hydrocarbon fuel supply to supply the hydrocarbon fuel to the decomposer, wherein
• the decomposer is configured to decompose the hydrocarbon fuel into the carbon and the hydrogen gas using heat and a pressure of the combustion gas produced in the combustion chamber, and separate the hydrogen gas by causing the hydrogen gas to permeate a hydrogen permeable membrane,
• the decomposer is in fluid communication with the intake port via the hydrogen permeable membrane,
• the decomposer is disposed adjacent to and in fluid communication with the intake port, and
• the fuel reforming system is configured to supply the separated hydrogen gas as fuel to the combustion chamber through the intake port,
• further comprising control circuitry configured to control the fuel reforming system according to the six-stroke cycle, including selective opening and closing of the third port.

A fuel reforming system for a vehicle on which a reciprocating engine is mounted, wherein in the reciprocating engine, a combustion chamber where combustion occurs is partitioned in a cylinder in which a piston reciprocates, the reciprocating engine being configured to perform a six-stroke cycle including:

• an intake stroke in which at least intake air is introduced into the combustion chamber through an intake port by lowering the piston;
• a compression stroke in which air-fuel mixture containing fuel supplied to the combustion chamber is compressed by raising the piston;
• an expansion stroke in which the piston is lowered by combustion of the air-fuel mixture;
• a recompression stroke in which combustion gas is compressed by raising the piston;
• a re-expansion stroke in which the piston is lowered;
• and
• an exhaust stroke in which exhaust gas is discharged through an exhaust port by raising the piston, the fuel reforming system comprising:
• a decomposer configured to communicate with the combustion chamber via an openable/closable third port, decompose hydrocarbon fuel into carbon and hydrogen gas, and store the carbon;
• and
• a hydrocarbon fuel supply to supply the hydrocarbon fuel to the decomposer, wherein
• the decomposer is configured to decompose the hydrocarbon fuel into the carbon and the hydrogen gas using heat and a pressure of the combustion gas produced in the combustion chamber, and separate the hydrogen gas by causing the hydrogen gas to permeate a hydrogen permeable membrane,
• the decomposer is in fluid communication with the intake port via the hydrogen permeable membrane,
• the decomposer is disposed adjacent to and in fluid communication with the intake port, and
• the fuel reforming system is configured to supply the separated hydrogen gas as fuel to the combustion chamber through the intake port,
• further comprising:
• the third port, wherein
• the decomposer is fluidly between the third port and the intake port.

A fuel reforming system for a vehicle on which a reciprocating engine is mounted, wherein in the reciprocating engine, a combustion chamber where combustion occurs is partitioned in a cylinder in which a piston reciprocates, the reciprocating engine being configured to perform a six-stroke cycle including:

• an intake stroke in which at least intake air is introduced into the combustion chamber through an intake port by lowering the piston;
• a compression stroke in which air-fuel mixture containing fuel supplied to the combustion chamber is compressed by raising the piston;
• an expansion stroke in which the piston is lowered by combustion of the air-fuel mixture;
• a recompression stroke in which combustion gas is compressed by raising the piston;
• a re-expansion stroke in which the piston is lowered;
• and
• an exhaust stroke in which exhaust gas is discharged through an exhaust port by raising the piston, the fuel reforming system comprising:
• a decomposer configured to communicate with the combustion chamber via an openable/closable third port, decompose hydrocarbon fuel into carbon and hydrogen gas, and store the carbon;
• and
• a hydrocarbon fuel supply to supply the hydrocarbon fuel to the decomposer, wherein
• the decomposer is configured to decompose the hydrocarbon fuel into the carbon and the hydrogen gas using heat and a pressure of the combustion gas produced in the combustion chamber, and separate the hydrogen gas by causing the hydrogen gas to permeate a hydrogen permeable membrane,
• the decomposer is in fluid communication with the intake port via the hydrogen permeable membrane,
• the decomposer is disposed adjacent to and in fluid communication with the intake port, and
• the fuel reforming system is configured to supply the separated hydrogen gas as fuel to the combustion chamber through the intake port, wherein
• the decomposer includes a catalyst to decompose the hydrocarbon fuel into the carbon gas and the hydrogen gas based on the heat and the pressure of the combustion gas produced in the combustion chamber.

A fuel reforming method using a fuel reforming system for a reciprocating engine having a combustion chamber where combustion occurs partitioned in a cylinder in which a piston is operative to reciprocate, the method comprising:

• controlling performance of an intake stroke in which at least intake air is introduced into the combustion chamber through an intake port by lowering the piston;
• controlling performance of a compression stroke in which air-fuel mixture containing fuel supplied to the combustion chamber is compressed by raising the piston;
• controlling performance of an expansion stroke in which the piston is lowered by combustion of the air-fuel mixture;
• controlling performance of a recompression stroke in which combustion gas is compressed by raising the piston;
• controlling performance of a re-expansion stroke in which the piston is lowered;
• and
• controlling performance of an exhaust stroke in which exhaust gas is discharged through an exhaust port by raising the piston, wherein
• the fuel reforming system includes:
• a decomposer in fluid communication with the combustion chamber to decompose hydrocarbon fuel into carbon and hydrogen gas,
• a hydrocarbon fuel supply to supply the hydrocarbon fuel to the decomposer,
• the decomposer is configured to decompose the hydrocarbon fuel into the carbon and the hydrogen gas using heat and a pressure of the combustion gas produced in the combustion chamber, and separate the hydrogen gas by causing the hydrogen gas to permeate a hydrogen permeable membrane of the decomposer,
• the decomposer is adjacent to and in fluid communication with the intake port, and
• the fuel reforming system is configured to supply the separated hydrogen gas as fuel to the combustion chamber through the intake port, wherein
• the decomposer includes:
• a case that installed along the intake port;
• a reformer accommodated in the case so as to extend along the case;
• and
• a closed pipe passage in a central portion of the reformer and having an open end which communicates with the third port,
• a second injector to inject the hydrocarbon fuel from a closed end side of the closed pipe passage toward the closed pipe passage attached to the decomposer, wherein
• the fuel reforming system is configured to, in a first half of the recompression stroke, inject the hydrocarbon fuel from the second injector in an open state of the third port.

A fuel reforming method using a fuel reforming system for a reciprocating engine having a combustion chamber where combustion occurs partitioned in a cylinder in which a piston is operative to reciprocate, the method comprising:

• controlling performance of an intake stroke in which at least intake air is introduced into the combustion chamber through an intake port by lowering the piston;
• controlling performance of a compression stroke in which air-fuel mixture containing fuel supplied to the combustion chamber is compressed by raising the piston:
• controlling performance of an expansion stroke in which the piston is lowered by combustion of the air-fuel mixture;
• controlling performance of a recompression stroke in which combustion gas is compressed by raising the piston;
• controlling performance of a re-expansion stroke in which the piston is lowered;
• and
• controlling performance of an exhaust stroke in which exhaust gas is discharged through an exhaust port by raising the piston, wherein
• the fuel reforming system includes:
• a decomposer in fluid communication with the combustion chamber to decompose hydrocarbon fuel into carbon and hydrogen gas,
• a hydrocarbon fuel supply to supply the hydrocarbon fuel to the decomposer,
• the decomposer is configured to decompose the hydrocarbon fuel into the carbon and the hydrogen gas using heat and a pressure of the combustion gas produced in the combustion chamber, and separate the hydrogen gas by causing the hydrogen gas to permeate a hydrogen permeable membrane of the decomposer,
• the decomposer is adjacent to and in fluid communication with the intake port, and
• the fuel reforming system is configured to supply the separated hydrogen gas as fuel to the combustion chamber through the intake port, wherein
• the decomposer has a communication passage therein, the communication passage communicating between the third port and an intake supply located on an upstream side of the intake port, and
• a regulation valve configured to block a flow from the third port side toward the intake supply side is between the intake supply and the communication passage.