Air pump-assisted hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell for use with internal combustion engine

• US 5,458,095 A
• Filed: 09/15/1993
• Issued: 10/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Energy Reductions Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Energy Reductions Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Post, Donald R., Littlefield, Douglas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOLIS, ERICK R
• Application Number:
  US08/121,695
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 123/DIG. 12, 123/3, 123/527, 123/25 A, 123/1 A
• US Class Current: 123/3
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/17 Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2043/106 Hydrogen obtained by electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/10 Engines or plants characterised by use of other specific gases, e.g. acetylene, oxyhydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 47/06 the substances including non-airborne oxygen F02B47/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 123/12 Hydrogen

Abstract

An electrolysis cell for use in connection with a combustion engine, for generating hydrogen and oxygen gases which are added to the fuel delivery system as a supplement to the gasoline or other hydrocarbons burned therein. The hydrogen and oxygen gases are drawn out of the cell using an electric pump or other reliable source. The outlet side of the pump is connected to the air intake manifold using a hose having a terminating insert. The insert, typically formed from copper tube bent at an appropriate angle, insures that the hydrogen and oxygen gas outlet from the pump is in the same direction as the downstream airflow in the air intake manifold.

Claims

1. In a combustion engine including combustion cylinders;

a fuel delivery means for mixing a primary fuel with air and for delivering said primary fuel/air mixture through an intake manifold to said combustion cylinders; and

a source of electrical potential energized by the operation of said engine;

the improvement to said engine comprising;

an electrolysis cell containing an aqueous electrolyte solution and at least two electrodes disposed within said electrolysis cell each at least partially immersed in said electrolyte solution, said electrodes being electrically connected to opposite polarities of said source of electrical potential, whereby hydrogen and oxygen are generated from the water in the electrolyte solution and are collected in a gas accumulation zone formed in said electrolysis cell, and wherein said electrolysis cell has an air inlet cooling robe which includes art air filter, and an outlet port, wherein air passing through said air filter enters said gas accumulation zone, and gas exiting said zone exits through said outlet port; and

a pump, comprising a pump inlet port which receives gas exiting said outlet port and pumps the gas through a pump outlet port into the intake manifold of the engine.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pump is an electric pump operated by said source of electric potential in said engine.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outlet side of the pump is connected to the intake manifold using a terminating hose insert, the hose insert positioned with respect to the direction of air intake to insure that outflow from the pump is in the same direction as the inlet airflow to the engine.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air inlet cooling tube includes an air adjustment needle valve to control the amount of ambient air introduced into said gas accumulation zone through said air inlet cooling tube.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a pressure relief valve is positioned in the electrolysis cell.

6. In a combustion engine including combustion cylinders;

a fuel delivery means for mixing fuel with air and for delivering said fuel/air mixture through an intake manifold to said combustion cylinders; and

a source of electrical potential energized by the operation of said engine;

the improvement to said engine comprising;

an electrolysis cell with an aqueous electrolyte solution partially filling said electrolysis cell, said electrolysis cell containing at least two electrodes disposed within said electrolysis cell and at least partially immersed in electrolyte solution, the electrodes being electrically connected to opposite polarities of said source of electrical potential, whereby hydrogen and oxygen are generated from the water in the electrolyte solution and are collected in a gas accumulation zone formed in said electrolysis cell, and wherein said electrolysis cell has an inlet port and an outlet port;

a pump, arranged to cause gas formed in the gas accumulation zone to be pumped into the air intake manifold of the engine, said pump having an inlet port and an outlet port, and

wherein the inlet port of said pump is connected to receive ambient air through an air filtration device and the outlet port of said pump is connected to the air inlet port of said electrolysis cell, and wherein the outlet port of said electrolysis cell is connected to said air intake manifold.

7. A combustion engine comprising:

combustion cylinders;

associated pistons, crankshaft and crankcase;

a hydrocarbon fuel tank containing a primary fuel;

primary fuel pumping means, for pumping said primary fuel;

primary fuel mixing means for mixing said primary fuel with air and delivering said primary fuel/air mixture through an intake manifold to said combustion cylinders; and

a battery energized by the operation of said engine; and

a supplemental hydrogen fuel source comprising

an electrolysis cell comprising a body;

an aqueous electrolyte solution partially filling said body of said electrolysis cell and leaving a gas accumulation zone there above in said electrolysis cell;

an inner stainless steel cylindrical electrode and an outer stainless steel cylindrical electrode concentrically disposed with respect to each other within said electrolysis cell body and at least partially immersed in said electrolyte solution, said inner electrode being electrically connected to the positive side of said battery through an ignition key switch, and said outer electrode being connected to the negative side of said battery, whereby when said ignition key switch is turned to an on position, hydrogen and oxygen are generated from said electrolyte solution and are collected in said gas accumulation zone;

a cooling air intake opening in the body of said electrolysis cell, having an air filter disposed therein, wherein atmospheric air passes through said air intake and said air filter on its way into said gas accumulation zone, the size of said opening being controlled by an air adjustment valve;

an outlet port through which gases in said accumulation zone exit said electrolysis cell;

an electric pump having electrical terminals to receive electric power and having inlet and outlet ports, the terminals of the electric pump being connected to the positive and negative sides of said battery;

a first hydrogen/oxygen delivery line connected at one end through the body of said electrolysis cell into said gas accumulation zone in said electrolysis cell and connected at the other end to said inlet port of said electric pump;

a second hydrogen/oxygen delivery line connected at one end to the outlet of said electric pump and connected at the other end to said intake manifold,

whereby hydrogen and oxygen generated in said supplemental hydrogen fuel source are withdrawn by said pump and fed into said intake manifold.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the electrolyte is in communication with the atmosphere through an air cooling tube.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said cooling tube includes an air adjustment needle valve.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a pressure relief valve is positioned on the electrolysis cell.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the outlet port of said electrolysis cell is connected to the air intake manifold using a terminating hose insert, the hose insert positioned with respect to the direction of air intake to insure that outflow is in the same direction as the inlet airflow to the engine.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the outlet port of said electrolysis cell is connected to said intake manifold at a position adjacent a carburetor air filter assembly positioned above a carburetor.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said engine has an air filter and the outlet port of said electrolysis cell is connected to said intake manifold at an air intake located after the carburetor air filter.

14. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the outlet port of said electrolysis cell is connected through a fitting adapted to said intake manifold.

15. In a combustion engine including combustion cylinders;

a fuel delivery means for mixing fuel with air and for delivering said fuel/air mixture through an intake manifold to said combustion cylinders; and

a source of electrical potential energized by the operation of said engine;

the improvement to said engine comprising;

an electrolysis cell with an aqueous electrolyte solution partially filling said electrolysis cell, said electrolysis cell containing at least two electrodes disposed within said electrolysis cell and at least partially immersed in electrolyte solution, the electrodes being electrically connected to opposite polarities of said source of electrical potential, whereby hydrogen and oxygen are generated from the water in the electrolyte solution and are collected in a gas accumulation zone formed in said electrolysis cell;

a pump, arranged to cause gas formed in the gas accumulation zone to be pumped into the air intake manifold of the engine; and

an air filtration device, arranged to cause ambient air to be pumped together with the gas formed in the gas accumulation zone into the air intake manifold of the engine.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said pump is an electric pump operated by said source of electric potential in said engine.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the electrolyte is in communication with the atmosphere through an air cooling tube.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said cooling tube includes an air adjustment needle valve.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein a pressure relief valve is positioned on the electrolysis cell.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said electrolysis cell has an inlet port and an outlet port and said pump has an inlet port and an outlet port, and

wherein the inlet port of said pump is connected to receive ambient air through an air filtration device and the outlet port of said pump is connected to the air inlet port of said electrolysis cell, and

wherein the outlet port of said electrolysis cell is connected to said air intake manifold.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the outlet port of said electrolysis cell is connected to the air intake manifold using a terminating hose insert, the hose insert positioned with respect to the direction of air intake to insure that outflow is in the same direction as the inlet airflow to the engine.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the outlet port of said electrolysis cell is connected to said intake manifold at a position adjacent an air filter assembly positioned above a carburetor.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said engine has an air filter and the outlet port of said electrolysis cell is connected to said intake manifold at an air intake hose located after the air filter.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the outlet port of said electrolysis cell is connected is through a fitting adapted to said intake manifold.

25. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said pump includes an inlet and an outlet, wherein said inlet receives hydrogen and oxygen from said gas accumulation zone and pumps the hydrogen and oxygen into the air intake manifold.

26. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said filtration device is located in an ambient air inlet line which provides filtered ambient air to said gas accumulation zone.