Method for Operating an Engine with a Fuel Reformer

• US 20110132306A1
• Filed: 04/08/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Shelby, Michael Howard, Kerns, James Michael, Leone, Thomas G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,539,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/1.A
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/10 Engines or plants characterised by use of other specific gases, e.g. acetylene, oxyhydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/12 Methods of operating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

Methods for operating a flexible fuel engine with a fuel reformer which reforms a fuel into a gaseous fuel reformate are provided. Operating parameters of the fuel reformer and delivery of reformate to the engine are adjusted based on an alcohol content of the fuel.

Claims

1. A method for operating an engine with an alcohol reformer which reforms a fuel into a reformate including H₂, the method comprising:

adjusting an operating condition of the alcohol reformer based on an alcohol content of the fuel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting an operating condition of the alcohol reformer based on an alcohol content of the fuel includes increasing a temperature of the reformer with decreasing alcohol content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the temperature of the alcohol reformer is increased by increasing an amount of exhaust gas in thermal contact with the reformer.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the temperature of the alcohol reformer is increased by increasing power to a heater coupled to the reformer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting an operating condition of the alcohol reformer based on an alcohol content of the fuel includes increasing a flow rate of fuel supplied to the reformer with decreasing alcohol content, the method further comprising adjusting delivery of reformate to the engine based on the alcohol content of the fuel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the alcohol content of the fuel is based on a sensor in a fuel supply line.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the alcohol content of the fuel is based on a sensor in an exhaust of the engine.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the alcohol content of the fuel is based on an amount of reformate output by the reformer.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring one or more engine components by comparing a first estimate of the alcohol content of the fuel with a second estimate of the alcohol content of the fuel.

10. A method for operating an engine with an alcohol reformer which reforms a fuel into a reformate including H₂, the method comprising:

activating the reformer to produce reformate based on an alcohol content of the fuel; and

adjusting an operating condition of the alcohol reformer based on an alcohol content of the fuel.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein activating the reformer to produce reformate based on an alcohol content of the fuel follows a refueling event, where the refueling event includes refilling the engine with fuel, and wherein an alcohol content of the fuel varies with refilling.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising during an engine start immediately following a refueling event, operating the engine using reformate, if available, from a previous engine operation.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising deactivating the reformer if a refueling event occurs while the engine is running, and adjusting delivery of reformate to the engine based on the alcohol content of the fuel, including increasing a relative amount of reformate delivered to the engine when the alcohol content of the fuel is greater, and decreasing the relative amount of reformate delivered to the engine when the alcohol content of the fuel is lower.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein activating the reformer includes supplying the fuel to reformer and adjusting an operating condition of the alcohol reformer based on an alcohol content of the fuel includes increasing a flow rate of fuel supplied to the reformer with decreasing alcohol content.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting an operating condition of the alcohol reformer based on an alcohol content of the fuel includes increasing a temperature of the reformer with decreasing alcohol content

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising, if the reformer outputs non-reformed fuel, sending the non-reformed fuel to a fuel injection system of the engine.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising, if the reformer outputs non-reformed fuel, sending the non-reformed fuel to a fuel tank.

18. A method for operating an engine, comprising:

reforming a fuel into a reformate including H₂ when an alcohol content of the fuel is above a threshold; and

not reforming a fuel into a reformate including H₂ when an alcohol content of the fuel is below the threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing a portion of reformate when the alcohol content of the fuel is above the threshold.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising operating the engine with reformate, if available.