Apparatus and method for operating a fuel reformer to generate multiple reformate gases

• US 7,014,930 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc. (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc. (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Daniel, Michael J., Bauer, Shawn D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Bruce F.
• Application Number:
  US10/245,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20030143442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 429/19, 429/22, 429/23, 429/13, 429/17, 123/3, 123/1.A, 602/74, 602/75, 602/86, 603/01, 603/03, 602/99, 602/95, 603/11, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/309, 422/186.21, 422/186.22, 422/183, 422/182, 422/186.03, 422/186.04
• US Class Current: 429/423
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/9431 Processes characterised by a specific device
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/9495 Controlling the catalytic process
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/088 giving rise to electric discharges for heating purposes H05B7/00; for the production of ozone C01B13/11, H01T19/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00063 of the reactants
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0883 Gas-gas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0884 Gas-liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0892 involving catalytically active material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0894 Processes carried out in the presence of a plasma
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0205 containing a reforming step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0861 by plasma
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/342 with the aid of electrical means, electromagnetic or mechanical vibrations, or particle radiations
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/009 having two or more separate purifying devices arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/0097 the purifying devices are arranged in a single housing
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/011 having two or more purifying devices arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2240/28 a plasma reactor
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2240/30 a fuel reformer
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/03 the substance being hydrocarbons, e.g. engine fuel
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0253 : adding fuel to exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/032 : during filter regeneration only
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/035 : with catalytic reactors , e.g. catalysed diesel particulate filters
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0821 : combined with particulate filters catalysed diesel particulate filters F01N3/035
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0842 : Nitrogen oxides
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0871 : Regulation of absorbents or adsorbents, e.g. purging by electrically controlling the supply of combustible mixture or its constituents only F02D41/0235
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0878 : Bypassing absorbents or adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0892 : Electric or magnetic treatment, e.g. dissociation of noxious components electric filters F01N3/01; regeneration of exhaust filters F01N3/023; heating catalytic converters F01N3/2006
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/10 : Engines or plants characterised by use of other specific gases, e.g. acetylene, oxyhydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/022 : to adjust the fuel pressure, temperature or composition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/027 : Determining the fuel pressure, temperature or volume flow, the fuel tank fill level or a valve position
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0206 : Non-hydrocarbon fuels, e.g. hydrogen, ammonia or carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0227 : Means to treat or clean gaseous fuels or fuel systems, e.g. removal of tar, cracking, reforming or enriching
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/06 : Apparatus for de-liquefying, e.g. by heating
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/12 : the apparatus having means for generating such gases using rays and simultaneously generating ozone F02M27/06
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 27/02 : by catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 27/042 : by plasma
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0612 : from carbon-containing material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0662 : Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• 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: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel reformer is operated in one mode of operation to generate and supply a particular quantity and/or composition of reformate gas to a first component such as a NO_X trap, and then is operated in a different mode of operation to generate and supply and different quantity and/or composition of reformate gas to a different component such as a soot particulate filter. In a similar manner, the fuel reformer is operated in one mode of operation to generate and supply a particular quantity and/or composition of reformate gas to a fuel cell, and then is operated in a different mode of operation to generate and supply and different quantity and/or composition of reformate gas to an emission abatement device. A method of operating a fuel reformer is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of operating an onboard fuel reforming assembly comprising the steps of:

operating an onboard fuel reformer so as to generate a first reformate gas having a first composition during a first period of time,

advancing the first reformate gas to a first component during the first period of time,

operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate a second reformate gas having a second composition different from the first composition during a second period of time, and

advancing the second reformate gas to a second component during the second period of time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first component comprises a fuel cell and the second component comprises an emission abatement device,

the first reformate gas advancing step comprises advancing the first reformate gas to the fuel cell, and

the second reformate gas advancing step comprises advancing the second reformate gas to the emission abatement device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first reformate gas is richer in hydrogen than is the second reformate gas.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first component comprises a fuel cell and the second component comprises an intake of an internal combustion engine,

the first reformate gas advancing step comprises advancing the first reformate gas to the fuel cell, and

the second reformate gas advancing step comprises advancing the second reformate gas to the intake of the engine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the onboard fuel reformer comprises a plasma fuel reformer having a plasma-generating assembly,

the step of operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate the first reformate gas comprises advancing the first reformate gas through a catalyst downstream of the plasma-generating assembly, and

the step of operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate the second reformate gas comprises bypassing the second reformate gas around the catalyst.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the onboard fuel reformer comprises a plasma fuel reformer,

the step of operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate the first reformate gas comprises advancing a first air/fuel mixture having a first air-to-fuel ratio into the plasma fuel reformer, and

the step of operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate the second reformate gas comprises advancing a second air/fuel mixture having a second air-to-fuel ratio into the plasma fuel reformer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the onboard fuel reformer comprises a plasma fuel reformer having a power supply associated therewith,

the step of operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate the first reformate gas comprises operating the power supply so as to supply electrical power at a first power level to the plasma fuel reformer, and

the step of operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate the second reformate gas comprises operating the power supply so as to supply electrical power at a second power level to the plasma fuel reformer.

8. An onboard fuel reforming assembly, comprising:

an onboard fuel reformer,

an electrically-controlled flow diverter valve, and

an electronic control unit electrically coupled to the onboard fuel reformer and the flow diverter valve, the electronic control unit comprising (i) a processor, and (ii) a memory device electrically coupled to the processor, the memory device having stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

(a) operate the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate a first reformate gas having a first composition during a first period of time,

(b) position the flow diverter valve so as to advance the first reformate gas to a first component during the first period of time,

(c) operate the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate a second reformate gas having a second composition different from the first composition during a second period of time, and

(d) position the flow diverter valve so as to advance the second reformate gas to a second component during the second period of time.

9. The onboard fuel reforming assembly of claim 8, wherein:

the first component comprises a fuel cell for generating electrical power, and

the second component comprises an emission abatement device for treating exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine.

10. The onboard fuel reforming assembly of claim 8, wherein the first reformate gas is richer in hydrogen than is the second reformate gas.

11. The onboard fuel reforming assembly of claim 8, wherein:

the first component comprises a fuel cell for generating electrical power, and

the second component comprises an intake of an internal combustion engine.

12. A method of operating an onboard fuel reforming assembly comprising the steps of:

operating an onboard fuel reformer so as to generate a first quantity of reformate gas during a first period of time,

advancing the first quantity of reformate gas to a first component during the first period of time,

operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate a second quantity of reformate gas different from the first quantity of reformate gas during a second period of time, and

advancing the second quantity of reformate gas to a second component during the second period of time.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the first component comprises a fuel cell and the second component comprises an emission abatement device,

the step of advancing the first quantity of reformate gas comprises advancing the first quantity of reformate gas to the fuel cell, and

the step of advancing the second quantity of reformate gas comprises advancing the second quantity of reformate gas to the emission abatement device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the first component comprises a fuel cell and the second component comprises an intake of an internal combustion engine,

the step of advancing the first quantity of reformate gas comprises advancing the first quantity of reformate gas to the fuel cell, and

the step of advancing the second quantity of reformate gas comprises advancing the second quantity of reformate gas to the intake of the internal combustion engine.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the first component comprises a NO_X trap and the second component comprises a soot particulate filter,

the step of advancing the first quantity of reformate gas comprises advancing the first quantity of reformate gas to the NO_X trap, and

the step of advancing the second quantity of reformate gas comprises advancing the second quantity of reformate gas to the soot particulate filter.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the onboard fuel reformer comprises a plasma fuel reformer,

the step of operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate the first quantity of reformate gas comprises operating the plasma fuel reformer so as to generate the first quantity of reformate gas, and

the step of operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate the second quantity of reformate gas comprises operating the plasma fuel reformer so as to generate the second quantity of reformate gas.

17. An onboard fuel reforming assembly, comprising:

an onboard fuel reformer,

an electrically-controlled flow diverter valve, and

an electronic control unit electrically coupled to the onboard fuel reformer and the flow diverter valve, the electronic control unit comprising (i) a processor, and (ii) a memory device electrically coupled to the processor, the memory device having stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

(a) operate the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate and advance a first quantity of reformate gas to a first component during a first period of time, and

(b) operate the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate and advance a second quantity of reformate gas different from the first quantity of reformance gas to a second component during a second period of time.

18. The onboard fuel reforming assembly of claim 17, wherein:

the first component comprises a fuel cell for generating electrical power, and

the second component comprises an emission abatement device for treating exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine.

19. The onboard fuel reforming assembly of claim 17, wherein:

the first component comprises a fuel cell for generating electrical power, and

the second component comprises an intake of an internal combustion engine.

20. The onboard fuel reforming assembly of claim 17, wherein:

the first component comprises a NO_X trap for removing NO_X from an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, and

and the second component comprises a soot particulate filter for removing soot particulate from the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine.

21. The onboard fuel reforming assembly of claim 17, wherein the onboard fuel reformer comprises a plasma fuel reformer.