Internal combustion engine with ammonia fuel
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorsShizuo Sasaki, Jayant Sarlashkar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides methods of providing fuel to an internal combustion engine, fuel systems for an internal combustion engine and a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine. Ammonia may be heated and pressurized to a selected condition and may used as fuel which is supplemented with hydrogen to assist with ignition, flame propagation, and/or combustion speed.
Claims25
A method of providing fuel to an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
- providing a source of ammonia wherein said ammonia is at a temperature of greater than or equal to 300° C. and a pressure of greater than or equal to 112 bar;
- dissociating a portion of said ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen;
- and
- introducing said ammonia and said hydrogen to an internal combustion engine.
A method of providing fuel to an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
- providing a source of ammonia wherein said ammonia is heated by exhaust gas from said internal combustion at a temperature of greater than or equal to 300° C. and a pressure of greater than or equal to 112 bar;
- dissociating a portion of said ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen;
- and
- introducing said ammonia and said hydrogen to an internal combustion engine wherein said ammonia undergoes expansion and heat release wherein 95% or more of said heat released due to said expansion is retained by said ammonia.
A fuel system for an internal combustion engine, the fuel system comprising:
- a fuel tank to store liquid ammonia;
- a supply line to deliver said ammonia from said fuel tank to a reaction vessel wherein said vessel is capable of heating said ammonia to a temperature of greater than or equal to 300° C. at a pressure of greater than or equal to 112 bar along with dissociation of said ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen;
- a first fuel supply line to provide the ammonia from the reaction vessel to said internal combustion engine;
- and
- a second fuel supply line to provide the hydrogen from the reaction vessel to said internal combustion engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.