Engine reformer systems for lower cost, smaller scale manufacturing of liquid fuels

A reformer system for producing methanol, comprising:

• an engine, comprising
• a plurality of cylinders, each having a reciprocating piston disposed therein, where each of the pistons are in communication with a rotatable shaft,
• an exhaust manifold and
• an inlet manifold into which a hydrocarbon fuel and an oxidant are supplied;
• wherein said engine produces hydrogen rich gas through partial combustion in at least one of said cylinders, and energy released from said partial combustion is used to rotate said shaft;
• a mechanical power plant in communication with the rotating shaft;
• and
• a chemical reactor in communication with said exhaust manifold, which uses said hydrogen rich gas to produce said methanol, wherein DME is produced from said methanol.

A reformer system for producing a liquid fuel, comprising:

• an engine, comprising
• a plurality of cylinders, each having a reciprocating piston disposed therein, where each of the pistons are in communication with a rotatable shaft,
• an exhaust manifold and
• an inlet manifold into which a hydrocarbon fuel and an oxidant are supplied;
• wherein said engine produces hydrogen rich gas through partial combustion in at least one of said cylinders, and energy released from said partial combustion is used to rotate said shaft;
• a mechanical power plant in communication with the rotating shaft;
• and
• a chemical reactor in communication with said exhaust manifold, which uses said hydrogen rich gas to produce said liquid fuel, further comprising a heat exchanger, where heat contained in said hydrogen rich gas is transferred to said hydrocarbon fuel or said oxidant.

A reformer system for producing a liquid fuel, comprising:

• an engine, comprising
• a plurality of cylinders, each having a reciprocating piston disposed therein, where each of the pistons are in communication with a rotatable shaft,
• an exhaust manifold and
• an inlet manifold into which a hydrocarbon fuel and an oxidant are supplied;
• wherein said engine produces hydrogen rich gas through partial combustion in at least one of said cylinders, and energy released from said partial combustion is used to rotate said shaft;
• a mechanical power plant in communication with the rotating shaft;
• and
• a chemical reactor in communication with said exhaust manifold, which uses said hydrogen rich gas to produce said liquid fuel, wherein at least one of said cylinders can operate in a first mode where said hydrogen rich gas is produced and in a second mode, where stoichiometric operation is used to produce mechanical power that is transferred to said shaft, and said cylinder can operate in either of said first or second modes to vary production of said liquid fuel and electricity.