Engine system

• US 8,397,680 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Shimada, Atsushi, Ishikawa, Takao, Sugimasa, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada, Rinaldi
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLBROOK, TEUTA BAJRAMOVIC
• Application Number:
  US12/146,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20090000575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: 123/3, 123/DIG.12, 180/301, 603/20, 165/146
• US Class Current: 123/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/56 Temperature prediction, e.g. for pre-cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0619 Air-fuel ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• 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: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

An engine system includes a medium which chemically repeats storage and release of hydrogen to provide an engine system where CO2 emissions can be suppressed and system efficiency is excellent. The engine system includes a hydrogen supply device for producing hydrogen rich gas from a medium which chemically repeats the storage and release of hydrogen, and drives an engine using the hydrogen rich gas produced in the hydrogen supply device as one of the fuels. This engine system is characterized by comprising a waste heat supply device for supplying waste heat of the engine to hydrogen supply device, a generator which generates electricity by power of the engine, an energy storage device for storing electric power produced by the generator, and a motor for converting electric power discharged from the energy storage device into power.

Claims

1. An engine system, which comprises:

first and second hydrogen supply devices for producing hydrogen rich gas from a medium which chemically repeats storage and release of hydrogen, and drives an engine by using hydrogen rich gas produced in the first and second hydrogen supply devices for fuel;

a waste heat supply device for supplying waste heat from the engine to the first and second hydrogen supply devices;

a generator which generates electricity by using power from the engine;

an energy storage device for storing electric power produced by the generator;

a motor for converting electric power supplied from the energy storage device into mechanical power; and

a combustor installed in an exhaust pipe of the engine, the combustor burning the hydrogen rich gas produced by the medium or the first hydrogen supply device,

wherein the first hydrogen supply device is provided on the upstream side of the exhaust pipe with respect to a position where the combustor is installed, the second hydrogen supply device is provided on the downstream side of the exhaust pipe with respect to a position where the combustor is installed, and heat from the combustor is supplied to at least the second hydrogen supply device.

2. The engine system according to claim 1,

wherein the electric power supplied from the energy storage device to the motor is controlled with a control device according to demanded power required by a user, and

wherein the control device determines engine power according to residual energy of the energy storage device or the demanded power to control engine speed and engine torque.

3. The engine system according to claim 2,

wherein the control device controls the engine speed and the engine torque based on the engine power and consumption rate of the medium determined by the demanded power.

4. The engine system according to claim 1,

wherein the waste heat supply device includes a waste heat control device for controlling heat quantity generated by the engine.

5. The engine system according to claim 4, comprising a catalyst temperature estimation device for estimating or sensing catalyst temperature of the hydrogen supply devices,

wherein the waste heat control device controls the quantity of waste heat according to the catalyst temperature.

6. The engine system according to claim 5,

wherein the medium is supplied to the engine when the catalyst temperature of the hydrogen supply devices is not greater than a prescribed value and the amount stored in the energy storage device is not greater than a prescribed value.

7. The engine system according to claim 4, comprising a catalyst temperature estimation device for estimating or sensing catalyst temperature of the hydrogen supply devices,

wherein the combustor, or the waste heat control device is controlled according to driving state of the engine and the catalyst temperature.

8. The engine system according to claim 1,

wherein combustor includes a hydrogen rich gas supply device for supplying the hydrogen rich gas into exhaust gas and an ignition system for igniting mixture gas of the exhaust gas and the hydrogen rich gas.

9. The engine system according to claim 8, comprising at least one selected from an oxygen concentration sensor for sensing the oxygen concentration of the exhaust gas between the combustor and the engine and an oxygen concentration sensor for sensing the oxygen concentration of the exhaust gas on the downstream side of the combustor.

10. The engine system according to claim 9,

wherein feed rate of the hydrogen rich gas to be supplied to the combustor or the medium is controlled according to an output value of the oxygen concentration sensor.

11. The engine system according to claim 1, comprising an oxygen concentration sensor for sensing oxygen concentration of the exhaust gas on the upstream side of the exhaust pipe,

wherein use of the combustor is prohibited when the oxygen concentration is not greater than a prescribed value.

12. The engine system according to claim 1,

wherein the hydrogen produced in the hydrogen supply devices on the upstream side of the exhaust pipe is supplied to the combustion device.