System and method for extracting propulsion energy from motor vehicle exhaust
First Claim
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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.
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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.
51 Citations
27 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 24, 25, 26)
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9. A method for providing energy to propel a vehicle, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle propulsion system, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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27. A method for propelling a vehicle, comprising:
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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.
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Specification