HYDROGEN FUEL ASSIST DEVICE FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A hydrogen fuel system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a) a water reservoir;
b) a fuel cell formed from a plurality of fuel cell stacks in fluid communication with the water reservoir, each fuel cell stack having at least one cathode, at least one anode and a proton exchange membrane for separating water into hydrogen and oxygen when an electrical current is applied across the at least one cathode and at least one anode;
c) a hydrogen path extending through the fuel cell and fluidly coupled to each of the plurality of fuel cell stacks to receive substantially pure hydrogen from each of the fuel cell stacks and transport the hydrogen to a hydrogen outlet in the fuel cell;
d) an oxygen path extending through the fuel cell and fluidly coupled to each of the plurality of fuel cell stacks to receive oxygen from each of the fuel cell stacks and transport the oxygen to a oxygen outlet in the fuel cell;
e) a hydrogen line fluidly coupled to the hydrogen outlet to receive and transport hydrogen away from the fuel cell;
f) an oxygen line fluidly coupled to the oxygen outlet to receive and transport oxygen away from the fuel cell; and
g) an engine gas interface fluidly coupled to the oxygen line and the hydrogen line, and operatively coupled to an engine intake, the engine gas interface being operable to receive hydrogen from the hydrogen line and the oxygen from the oxygen line and introduce the hydrogen and oxygen into the engine intake.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hydrogen fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a water reservoir and a fuel cell in fluid communication with the water reservoir. An oxygen line is fluidly coupled to the hydrogen fuel cell and receives and transports oxygen away from the fuel cell. A hydrogen line is fluidly coupled to the fuel cell and receives and transports hydrogen away from the fuel cell. An engine gas interface is fluidly coupled to the oxygen line and the hydrogen line, and operatively coupled to an engine intake. The engine gas interface receives oxygen and hydrogen from the oxygen and hydrogen lines, and introduces the hydrogen and oxygen into the engine intake. A vibration sensor is operatively coupled to the engine gas interface to detect engine vibration of the internal combustion engine, and deactivates the fuel when the sensor does not detect vibration from the engine.
41 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A hydrogen fuel system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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a) a water reservoir; b) a fuel cell formed from a plurality of fuel cell stacks in fluid communication with the water reservoir, each fuel cell stack having at least one cathode, at least one anode and a proton exchange membrane for separating water into hydrogen and oxygen when an electrical current is applied across the at least one cathode and at least one anode; c) a hydrogen path extending through the fuel cell and fluidly coupled to each of the plurality of fuel cell stacks to receive substantially pure hydrogen from each of the fuel cell stacks and transport the hydrogen to a hydrogen outlet in the fuel cell; d) an oxygen path extending through the fuel cell and fluidly coupled to each of the plurality of fuel cell stacks to receive oxygen from each of the fuel cell stacks and transport the oxygen to a oxygen outlet in the fuel cell; e) a hydrogen line fluidly coupled to the hydrogen outlet to receive and transport hydrogen away from the fuel cell; f) an oxygen line fluidly coupled to the oxygen outlet to receive and transport oxygen away from the fuel cell; and g) an engine gas interface fluidly coupled to the oxygen line and the hydrogen line, and operatively coupled to an engine intake, the engine gas interface being operable to receive hydrogen from the hydrogen line and the oxygen from the oxygen line and introduce the hydrogen and oxygen into the engine intake. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A hydrogen fuel system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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a) a water reservoir; b) a fuel cell formed from a plurality of fuel cell stacks in fluid communication with the water reservoir, each fuel cell stack configured to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen when an electrical current is applied across to the fuel cell stack; c) a hydrogen line fluidly coupled to the fuel cell to receive and transport substantially pure hydrogen away from the fuel cell; d) a water line fluidly coupled to the fuel cell stack and configured to receive and transport a mixture of water and oxygen away from the fuel cell stack; e) an oxygen separator fluidly coupled to the water line to receive the water and oxygen mixture from the water line and to separate the oxygen and water mixture into water and substantially pure oxygen; f) an oxygen line fluidly coupled to the oxygen separator to receive and transport pure oxygen away from the oxygen separator; and e) an engine gas interface fluidly coupled to the oxygen line and the hydrogen line, and operatively coupled to an engine intake, the engine gas interface being operable to receive hydrogen from the hydrogen line and the oxygen from the oxygen line and introduce the hydrogen and oxygen into the engine intake. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for providing hydrogen fuel to an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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a) adding water from a water reservoir to a fuel cell positioned in an engine compartment of the vehicle; b) sensing vibration from the internal combustion engine with a vibration sensor when the engine is running; c) providing an electric current from an electricity source of the internal combustion engine to the fuel cell to separate the water into hydrogen and oxygen when vibration is sensed by the vibration sensor; d) delivering substantially pure hydrogen from the fuel cell to an engine gas interface coupled to an intake of the internal combustion engine; and e) injecting the substantially pure hydrogen into the intake of the engine to mix the hydrogen with a air and a primary fuel of the engine prior to combustion of the primary fuel in the engine. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A hydrogen fuel system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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a) a hydrogen generator configured to produce and provide hydrogen for use by the internal combustion engine; b) an engine gas interface operatively coupled to an engine intake of the internal combustion engine, the engine gas interface being operable to receive hydrogen from the hydrogen generator and introduce the hydrogen into the engine intake; c) a hydrogen line fluidly coupled between the hydrogen generator and the engine gas interface and configured to receive hydrogen from the hydrogen generator and transport the hydrogen to the engine gas interface; and d) a vibration sensor operatively coupled to the engine gas interface, configured to detect engine vibration of the internal combustion engine, and operable to deactivate the fuel stack when the sensor does not detect vibration from the engine. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification