Coupled thermochemical reactors and engines, and associated systems and methods

• US 9,188,086 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2011
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Green Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: McAlister, Roy Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): HANDAL, KAITY V
• Application Number:
  US13/027,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20110220040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: 422/600, 422/621, 422/625, 422/629, 422/644
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2240/22 a condensation chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 5/02 the devices using heat
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/125 Direct injection in the combustion chamber for spark ignition engines, i.e. not in pre-combustion chamber
• 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 25/03 into the cylinder or the pre-combustion chamber
• 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 51/0671 the armature having an elongated valve body attached thereto
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 57/06 the devices being sparking plugs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

Coupled thermal chemical reactors and engines, and associated systems and methods. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a reactor vessel having a reaction zone, a hydrogen donor source coupled in fluid communication with the reaction zone, and an engine having a combustion region. The system can further include a transfer passage coupled between the combustion region and the reaction zone to transfer a reactant and/or radiate energy to the reaction zone. The system can further include a product passage coupled between the reaction zone and the combustion region of the engine to deliver to the combustion region at least a portion of a constituent removed from the reaction zone.

Claims

1. A chemical reactor system, comprising:

a reactor vessel having a reaction zone, the reactor vessel receiving steam from a steam source that is coupled in fluid communication with the reaction zone of the reactor vessel;

a hydrogen donor source coupled in fluid communication with the reaction zone of the reactor vessel; and

a transfer passage i) positioned within the reaction zone and ii) coupled in fluid communication with a combustion region to transfer a reactant from the combustion region of an engine to an interior region of the transfer passage,

wherein i) the transfer passage includes a transmissive material that is positioned between the reaction zone and the interior region of the transfer passage, and ii) the transmissive material is capable of allowing the reactant to pass from the interior region of the transfer passage to the reaction zone.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a heater positioned in thermal communication with the reactor vessel to heat the reaction zone of the reactor vessel.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising insulation positioned to at least restrict heat transfer away from the engine, other than via the transfer passage.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first separator operably coupled between the reactor vessel and the engine to receive products from the reaction zone and segregate a carbon-bearing constituent of the products from a hydrogen-bearing constituent of the products; and

a product passage coupled between the first separator and the combustion region of the engine to deliver to the combustion region at least a portion of the hydrogen-bearing constituent removed from the reaction zone.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a second separator operably coupled to the transfer passage downstream of the reaction zone to separate constituents removed from the transfer passage, the second separator having an outlet coupled to the combustion region.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

an injector coupled between the product passage and the combustion region to deliver the hydrogen-bearing constituent directly to the combustion region; and

an air intake port positioned to deliver air directly to the combustion region.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the air intake port is positioned to provide an unthrottled flow of air directly to the combustion chamber.

8. A chemical reactor system, comprising:

a reactor vessel having a reaction zone, the reactor vessel receiving steam from a steam source that is coupled in fluid communication with the reaction zone of the reactor vessel;

a hydrogen donor source coupled in fluid communication with the reaction zone of the reactor vessel;

a transfer passage i) positioned within the reaction zone and ii) coupled in fluid communication a combustion region to transfer a reactant from the combustion region of an engine to an interior region of the transfer passage, wherein i) the transfer passage includes a transmissive material that is positioned between the reaction zone and the interior region of the transfer passage, and ii) the transmissive material is capable of allowing the reactant to pass from the interior region of the transfer passage to the reaction zone;

a first separator operably coupled to the reactor vessel to receive products from the reaction zone and segregate a carbon-bearing constituent of the products from a hydrogen-bearing constituent of the products; and

a product passage coupled between the first separator and the combustion region of the engine to deliver to the combustion region at least a portion of the hydrogen-bearing constituent removed from the reaction zone.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a second separator operably coupled to the transfer passage downstream of the reaction zone to separate constituents removed from the transfer passage, the second separator having an outlet coupled to the combustion region.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a heater positioned in thermal communication with the reactor vessel to heat the reaction zone of the reactor vessel.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising insulation positioned to at least restrict heat transfer away from the engine, other than via the transfer passage.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

an injector coupled between the product passage and the combustion region to deliver the hydrogen-bearing constituent directly to the combustion region; and

an air intake port positioned to deliver air directly to the combustion region.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the air intake port is positioned to provide an unthrottled flow of air directly to the combustion chamber.

14. A chemical reactor system, comprising:

a reactor vessel having a reaction zone, the reactor vessel receiving steam from a steam source that is coupled in fluid communication with the reaction zone of the reactor vessel;

a hydrogen donor source coupled in fluid communication with the reaction zone of the reactor vessel; and

a transfer passage i) positioned within the reaction zone and ii) coupled in fluid communication with a combustion region to transfer a reactant from the combustion region of an engine to an interior region of the transfer passage,

wherein i) the transfer passage includes a transmissive material that is positioned between the reaction zone and the interior region of the transfer passage, and ii) the transmissive material is capable of allowing the reactant to pass from the interior region of the transfer passage to the reaction zone.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a first separator operably coupled between the reactor vessel and the engine to receive products from the reaction zone and segregate a carbon-bearing constituent of the products from a hydrogen-bearing constituent of the products.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a second separator operably coupled to the transfer passage downstream of the reaction zone to separate constituents removed from the transfer passage, the second separator having an outlet coupled to the combustion region.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a product passage coupled between a first separator and the combustion region of the engine to deliver to the combustion region at least a portion of a hydrogen-bearing constituent removed from the reaction zone.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

an injector coupled between the product passage and the combustion region to deliver the hydrogen-bearing constituent directly to the combustion region; and

an air intake port positioned to deliver air directly to the combustion region.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising a heater positioned in thermal communication with the reactor vessel to heat the reaction zone of the reactor vessel.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising insulation positioned to at least restrict heat transfer away from the engine, other than via the transfer passage.