Combustion process and fuel supply system for engines
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorNigel F. Gale
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuel combustion process is provided for a multi-cylinder engine for reducing exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons. The process includes the steps of introducing hydrocarbon fuel in a first engine cylinder, burning the hydrocarbon fuel and producing exhaust gases, introducing the exhaust gases in a second cylinder, introducing hydrogen in the second cylinder, and burning the hydrogen with the exhaust gases, thereby producing exhaust emissions having a lower carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon content than that of the exhaust gases produced in the first cylinder.
Claims14
A fuel combustion process for a multi-cylinder engine for reducing exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons, the process comprising the steps of:
- introducing hydrocarbon fuel in a first engine cylinder;
- burning the hydrocarbon fuel in the first engine cylinder, thereby producing exhaust gases containing carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen;
- introducing the exhaust gases into a second engine cylinder;
- introducing hydrogen in the second engine cylinder;
- and
- burning the hydrogen with the exhaust gases in the second cylinder to produce exhaust emissions having a lower carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon content than the exhaust gases produced in the first cylinder.
An engine fuel supply system for reducing exhaust emissions of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide from an internal combustion engine having first and second combustion chambers, the fuel supply system comprising:
- means for supplying fuel to the first combustion chamber;
- means for igniting the fuel in the first combustion chamber, thereby producing exhaust gases containing carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen;
- means for delivering the exhaust gases from the first combustion chamber to the second combustion chamber;
- means for introducing hydrogen to the second combustion chamber;
- and
- means for igniting the exhaust gases and hydrogen in the second combustion chamber, thereby producing exhaust emissions having a lower unburned hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide content than the exhaust gases produced from the first combustion chamber.
A fuel combustion process for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine for reducing exhaust emissions of oxides of nitrogen, the process comprising:
- burning hydrocarbon fuel in a first cylinder of the engine to generate exhaust gases having an oxygen content less than that of air;
- introducing the exhaust gases into a second cylinder of the engine;
- introducing hydrogen into the second cylinder;
- and
- burning the hydrogen and exhaust gases in the second cylinder, thereby producing exhaust emissions having a lower oxides of nitrogen content than exhaust gases that would be produced if the hydrogen were burned with air.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.