Method and apparatus for warming intake air to an internal combustion engine
AssigneeLynntech, Inc.
InventorsCraig C. Andrews, Oliver J. Murphy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for chemically heating one or more components of, or intake air flowing to, an internal combustion engine by feeding hydrogen to a catalyst. In accordance with the invention, condensation of fuels on cold engine cylinder walls during and after cold start-ups is prevented, thereby reducing wear on the engine. The invention also provides a method and apparatus for reducing pollutants commonly occurring during cold start-up of combustion engines by heating components of, or intake air flowing to, a combustion engine, in order to quickly warm the engine and its catalytic converter to operating temperatures.
Claims36
An internal combustion engine comprising:
- a catalyst disposed across the main air intake passageway;
- and
- a source of hydrogen in fluid communication with the catalyst.
An air intake line for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a catalyst disposed across the main air intake line;
- and
- a hydrogen delivery conduit having a valve for communicating a source of hydrogen to the catalyst region of the main air intake line.
A method of providing warm air to an internal combustion engine having an air intake line, comprising:
- disposing a hydrogen oxidation catalyst in the main air intake line;
- passing air through the main air intake line to the hydrogen oxidation catalyst and into the internal combustion engine;
- providing hydrogen to the catalyst during cold startup of the internal combustion engine;
- catalytically combining the hydrogen and oxygen in the air on the catalyst to heat the catalyst;
- and
- transferring heat from the catalyst to the air passing into the internal combustion engine.
In a system for mixing hydrogen with oxygen from an oxygen conduit, an apparatus comprising:
- a hydrogen destruction catalyst bed disposed in the oxygen conduit to prevent passage of hydrogen through the oxygen conduit, the hydrogen destruction catalyst bed being suitable to catalytically combine the hydrogen with oxygen at ambient temperatures.
An internal combustion engine comprising:
- a catalyst disposed in the air intake line providing air to the intake manifold of the engine;
- and
- a conduit for communicating a source of hydrogen with the catalyst.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.