System and method for extracting propulsion energy from motor vehicle exhaust

• US 7,520,350 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Energyield LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert Hotto
• Inventors: Hotto, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALTERS, JOHN DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/994,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20060108160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 180/309, 180/65.2, 180/65.22, 903/908, 903/944
• US Class Current: 180/65.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/32 characterised by the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/407 Combination of fuel cells with mechanical energy generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0612 from carbon-containing material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0618 Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/905 Combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/908 Fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/944 Characterized by control of fuel cell

Abstract

Vehicle engine exhaust is sent to a reformer, which produces hydrogen from fuel remaining in the exhaust. The hydrogen is stored in a hydrogen tank, and is used by a fuel cell to produce electricity to recharge the vehicle battery and/or to supply propulsion current to an electric propulsion system to propel the vehicle in lieu of using the engine.

Claims

1. A vehicle having an internal combustion engine including at least one exhaust pipe, a drive train couplable to the engine, an electric propulsion system couplable to the drive train, and at least one battery, comprising:

at least one reformer connected to the exhaust pipe for producing hydrogen from hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases from the engine;

at least one hydrogen tank for storing the hydrogen; and

at least one fuel cell connected to the hydrogen tank for using the hydrogen to produce electricity to recharge the battery, supply propulsion current to the electric propulsion system, or recharge the battery and supply propulsion current to the electric propulsion system.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electricity from the fuel cell is propulsion current supplied to the electric propulsion system to activate the drive train to propel the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electricity from the fuel cell is recharging current supplied to the battery to recharge the battery.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, comprising at least one controller selectively causing the electric propulsion system or the engine to activate the drive train.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, comprising at least one valve interposed in a fluid path between the hydrogen tank and fuel cell, wherein the controller controls the valve to open and close the fluid path based at least in part on an amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen tank.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, comprising at least one switch interposed in an electrical path between the fuel cell and electric propulsion system, the controller controlling the switch.

7. The vehicle of claim 5, comprising at least one switch interposed in an electrical path between the battery and electric propulsion system, the controller controlling the switch.

8. The vehicle of claim 5, comprising at least one switch interposed in an electrical path between the battery and fuel cell, the controller controlling the switch.

24. The vehicle of claim 1 further configured to apply at least a portion of said exhaust gases to heat said reformer to improve the hydrogen conversion performance of said reformer.

25. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said internal combustion engine is a two-stroke engine.

26. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said internal combustion engine is a four-stroke engine.

9. A method for providing energy to propel a vehicle, comprising:

providing an internal combustion engine couplable to a drive train;

providing an electric propulsion system couplable to the drive train; and

generating electricity at least in part using hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine to undertake at least one of;

recharge a battery connectable to the electric propulsion system, and

provide propulsion current to the electric propulsion system;

wherein said generating includes sending the exhaust gas to a reformer and providing hydrogen from the reformer to a fuel cell operative to generate at least a portion of the electricity.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising storing hydrogen from the reformer until such time as it is determined to produce electricity using the fuel cell, and then sending hydrogen to the fuel cell.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the act of generating produces propulsion current for the electric propulsion system.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the act of generating produces recharging current for the battery.

13. A vehicle propulsion system, comprising:

internal combustion means for producing torque;

electric drive means for producing torque; and

means for producing electricity using hydrogen gleaned from a reformer disposed to receive at least a portion of the hydrocarbons in an exhaust stream of the internal combustion means.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for producing electricity generates propulsion current that is sent directly to the electric drive means.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for producing electricity generates recharging current that is used to recharge at least one battery.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for producing electricity includes at least one fuel cell receiving hydrogen and producing electricity.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for producing electricity includes at least one tank interposed between the reformer and the fuel cell;

said tank configured to store hydrogen.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the tank is connected directly to a hydrogen output of the reformer.

19. In a vehicle having an internal combustion engine including at least one exhaust pipe, a drive coupleable to the engine, an electric propulsion system coupleable to the drive, and at least one battery, a combination comprising:

a reformer connected to the exhaust pipe for producing hydrogen from hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases from the engine;

a tank for storing the hydrogen; and

a fuel cell connected to the tank for using the hydrogen to produce electricity to recharge the battery, supply propulsion current to the electric propulsion system, or produce electricity to recharge the battery and supply propulsion current to the electric propulsion system.

20. The combination of claim 19 further comprising a channel for providing water directly from the fuel cell to the reformer.

21. The combination of claim 19 further comprising a controller to receive a fuel supply signal from a detector on the tank and provide a signal to a valve to regulate fuel flow between the tank and the fuel cell.

22. The combination of claim 19 further comprising a channel for providing at least a portion of the exhaust gas output from the reformer to the internal combustion engine to provide additional fuel to the engine.

23. The combination of claim 21 further comprising at least one switch connected to the controller for switching the battery output between the fuel cell and the electric propulsion system.

27. A method for propelling a vehicle, comprising:

providing an internal combustion engine configured to be couplable to a drive train of said vehicle;

providing an electric propulsion system configured to be couplable to the drive train, said electric propulsion system including a fuel cell;

providing exhaust gases from said internal combustion engine to a reformer, wherein said exhaust gases include unburned hydrocarbons;

heating said reformer using said exhaust gases;

converting at least a portion of said unburned hydrocarbons to hydrogen in said reformer;

providing said hydrogen to a storage tank; and

providing said hydrogen stored in said storage tank to one of said fuel cell or said internal combustion engine as a fuel to facilitate propelling said vehicle.