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US 4,986,223 AGranted
Internal combustion engine injection superheated steam
OwnerFred G. Mahoneyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for superheating steam and for injection of same into the air supply of an internal combustion engine are disclosed. A disc-shaped heat exchanger in direct contact with hot exhaust gases is utilized to vaporize and superheat a liquid, particularly water, into superheated steam.
Claims15
A method for introducing water vapor to the combustion chambers of an internal combustion engine comprising:
- introducing a metered amount of liquid water into a heat exchanger;
- contacting said heat exchanger directly with hot exhaust gases emanating from the exhaust manifold;
- maintaining said water in said heat exchanger for a period sufficient to vaporize said water into steam and superheat same;
- reducing pressure and increasing temperature to create superheated steam;
- introducing said superheated steam into the air supply proximate to the air induction system, upstream of any carburetion, of said internal combustion engine.
2 more elements
A method for introducing water vapor into the air intake system of an internal combustion engine comprising:
- metering a liquid water stream into a heat exchanger interconnected to the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine;
- heating said heat exchanger to a temperature significantly above the boiling point of water;
- contacting said heat exchanger containing said liquid water stream for a period of time sufficient to vaporize said liquid water stream and to superheat said water vapors;
- conveying said superheated water vapors from said heat exchanger;
- introducing said superheated water vapors into the air intake system of an internal combustion engine.
2 more elements
Apparatus for providing superheated steam to the air intake system of an internal combustion engine comprising:
- water supply means for supplying liquid water flow to a metering device;
- water metering means connected to said water supply means for metering liquid water flow to a heat exchanger device;
- heat exchanger means, said heat exchanger means adapted to interact with the exhaust system of said internal combustion engine in a manner such that the heat exchanger means is heated by heat from the engine exhaust to temperatures significantly above the boiling point of water;
- channel means with inlet and exit means within said heat exchanger means through which said liquid water stream flows, said channel means having sufficient length and surface areas such that said liquid water flowing therethrough may be vaporized and superheated;
- restriction means to cause pressure losses along the channel means facilitating superheating;
- temperature sensing means to feed back the temperature of the heat exchanger to the water metering means, ensuring superheat;
- conduit means connected to said heat exchanger means for conveying said superheated steam exiting said heat exchanger to the air intake system of said internal combustion engine proximate to the air intake manifold.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.