Octane enhanced natural gas for internal combustion engine
OwnerR. Kirk Collier, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of operating an internal combustion engine using natural gas as a fuel. There is provided a reforming reactor in fluid communication with the engine for selectively reforming the natural gas in the reactor to reform substantially all hydrocarbons in the natural gas except methane, to provide a higher octane gaseous fuel comprised of methane, hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
Claims17
An improved method of operating an engine using natural gas as a fuel, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an engine;
- (b) providing a source of natural gas for powering said engine;
- (c) providing a reforming reactor in fluid communication with said engine;
- (d) selectively reforming said natural gas in said reactor to reform substantially all hydrocarbons in the natural gas except methane, to provide a gaseous fuel comprised of methane, hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
- (e) combining said gas fuel from said reactor with air to provide a combination mixture;
- and
- (f) combusting said combination mixture within the engine.
An improved method of operating an engine using natural gas as a fuel, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an engine;
- (b) providing a source of natural gas for powering said engine;
- (c) providing a reforming reactor in fluid communication with said engine;
- (d) selectively steam reforming said natural gas at a temperature in the range of 450° to 800° C. in said reactor to reform substantially all non-methane hydrocarbons in the natural gas to provide a gaseous fuel comprised of methane, hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
- (e) combining said gas fuel from said reactor with air to provide a combination mixture;
- and
- (f) combusting said combination mixture within the engine.
An improved method of operating an engine using natural gas as a fuel, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an engine having an exhaust gas;
- (b) providing a source of natural gas for powering said engine;
- (c) providing a reforming reactor in fluid communication with said engine;
- (d) recycling an exhaust gas stream from said engine to said reforming reactor wherein said recycled exhaust gas is used for reforming said natural gas;
- (e) selectively reforming said natural gas in said reactor to reform substantially all non-methane hydrocarbons in the natural gas to provide a gaseous fuel comprised of methane, hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
- (f) commingling said exhaust gas to provide a diluted gaseous fuel;
- (g) combining said diluted gas fuel from said reactor with air to provide a combination mixture;
- and
- (h) combusting said combination mixture in a combustion zone within the engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.