Method and apparatus for providing a hydrogen enriched fuel to combustion prechamber

• US 6,739,289 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Willi, Martin L., Hiltner, Joel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah P.
• Application Number:
  US10/133,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20030200939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 123/3, 123/DIG.12, 123/527, 123/253, 123/277
• US Class Current: 123/3
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 19/1028 pre-combustion chamber and cylinder having both intake ports or valves, e.g. HONDS CVCC
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/10 Engines or plants characterised by use of other specific gases, e.g. acetylene, oxyhydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0647 the gaseous fuel being liquefied petroleum gas [LPG], liquefied natural gas [LNG], compressed natural gas [CNG] or dimethyl ether [DME]
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0671 Means to generate or modify a fuel, e.g. reformers, electrolytic cells or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a hydrogen enriched fuel to a combustion prechamber. The method and apparatus includes reforming a quantity of fuel to produce a hydrogen enriched fuel, delivering the reformed fuel to the combustion prechamber, and combining the hydrogen enriched fuel with a fuel/air mixture to less than stoichiometric.

Claims

1. A method for providing a hydrogen enriched fuel to a combustion prechamber, including the steps of:

reforming a quantity of fuel to produce a hydrogen enriched fuel;

combining the reformed fuel with a further quantity of fuel;

delivering the combined reformed fuel and further quantity of fuel to the combustion prechamber; and

combining the hydrogen enriched fuel with a fuel/air mixture in the combustion prechamber to less than stoichiometric.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further including the steps of:

igniting the combined fuel in the combustion prechamber;

diverting the ignited fuel to a main combustion chamber; and

providing combustion of a quantity of fuel in the main combustion chamber.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein less than stoichiometric includes an equivalence ratio less than 1.0.

4. A method, as set forth in claim 3, wherein less than stoichiometric includes an equivalence ratio in the range of about 0.5 to 0.7.

5. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fuel is natural gas.

6. A method for providing a reduced temperature ignition in a combustion prechamber, including the steps of:

reforming a quantity of fuel to produce a hydrogen enriched fuel;

combining the reformed fuel with a further quantity of fuel;

delivering the combined reformed fuel to the combustion prechamber;

delivering a portion of fuel/air mixture from a main combustion chamber to the combustion prechamber, the reformed fuel and the fuel/air mixture combining to less than stoichiometric; and

igniting the combined fuel in the combustion prechamber, the less than stoichiometric fuel providing a reduced temperature ignition.

7. An apparatus for providing a hydrogen enriched fuel to an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a fuel supply;

a fuel reformer for receiving a quantity of fuel from the fuel supply and producing a hydrogen enriched fuel;

a combiner for combining the hydrogen enriched fuel with a further quantity of fuel; and

a combustion prechamber for receiving the combined hydrogen enriched fuel and for receiving a portion of fuel/air mixture from a main combustion chamber.

8. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 7, further including:

an ignition device located in the combustion prechamber; and

a flame communication passageway from the combustion prechamber to the main combustion chamber for allowing passage of the combined fuel, ignited by the ignition device, from the combustion prechamber to the main combustion chamber.