Power generation system and method

• US 7,178,616 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Grieve, Malcolm James, Miller, Carl Elmer, Botti, Jean Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALTERS, JOHN DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/662,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20040055586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/53.1, 180/209, 429/12, 429/13, 429/26, 429/30, 429/22, 602/72, 602/73, 602/96, 603/01, 602/85, 605/93, 605/95, 605/96, 606/052, 123/3, 123/DIG.12
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/24 characterised by the combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/32 characterised by the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/12 with compression ignition with fuel-air charge ignited by compression ignition of an additional fuel F02B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1293 Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0074 Ion conductive at high temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04022 Heating by combustion
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0612 from carbon-containing material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1231 with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
• 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 123/12 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/905 Combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/906 Motor or generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/908 : Fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/944 : Characterized by control of fuel cell

Abstract

An extended rich mode engine configured and operated extremely rich of stoichiometric to produce a substantially continuous hydrogen rich engine exhaust. Oxygen enrichment devices further optimize production of hydrogen rich engine exhaust. Engines include a free piston gas generator with rich homogenous charge compression, a rich internal combustion engine cylinder system with an oxygen generator, and a rich inlet turbo-generator system with exhaust heat recovery. Oxygen enrichment devices to enhance production of hydrogen rich engine exhaust include pressure swing absorption with oxygen selective materials, and oxygen separators such as a solid oxide fuel cell oxygen separator and a ceramic membrane oxygen separator.

Claims

1. An extended rich mode tractive power-producing engine having an intake for hydrocarbon fuel and an exhaust, said extended rich mode engine configured to produce a substantially continuous optimized hydrogen rich engine exhaust comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide having a combined concentration of hydrogen and carbon monoxide greater than 50% by volume;

an oxygen enrichment device having an oxygen stream effluent in fluid communication with said engine intake wherein said oxygen enrichment device is an oxygen separator, a pressure swing absorption oxygen separator, a SOFC oxygen separator, a ceramic membrane oxygen separator, or a combination thereof.

2. An extended rich mode engine as in claim 1, wherein said hydrogen rich engine exhaust has a combined concentration of hydrogen and carbon monoxide greater than about 70%.

3. An extended rich mode engine as in claim 1, wherein said extended rich mode engine is an internal combustion engine.

4. An extended rich mode internal combustion engine as in claim 3, further comprising a rich homogenous charge compression ignition.

5. An extended rich mode internal combustion engine as in claim 3, wherein said engine is configured wit an oxygen enrichment device, a rich homogenous charge compression ignition, and an optional dilute cylinder system in part of said engine.

6. An extended rich mode internal combustion engine as in claim 3, comprising a spark ignition internal combustion engine.

7. An extended rich mode internal combustion engine as in claim 3, comprising a compression ignition internal combustion engine.