초록 ▼

A hydrocarbon fuel is subjected to combustion in an internal combustion engine by the use of excess air, and the exhaust gas is utilized as heat and oxygen sources for partial oxidation of the hydrocarbon fuel in a separate reformer. A resulting mixture of the reformed gas and the exhaust gas is sub

A hydrocarbon fuel is subjected to combustion in an internal combustion engine by the use of excess air, and the exhaust gas is utilized as heat and oxygen sources for partial oxidation of the hydrocarbon fuel in a separate reformer. A resulting mixture of the reformed gas and the exhaust gas is subjected to heat exchange with air to be drawn into the engine and/or the fuel to be supplied to the reformer and thereafter is supplied to a larger internal combustion engine.

대표청구항 ▼

A fuel system of an internal combustion engine, comprising: an auxiliary internal combustion engine of a smaller displacement than the firstly recited internal combustion engine; first means for supplying a hydrocarbon fuel to said auxiliary internal combustion engine at such a rate that said hydroc

A fuel system of an internal combustion engine, comprising: an auxiliary internal combustion engine of a smaller displacement than the firstly recited internal combustion engine; first means for supplying a hydrocarbon fuel to said auxiliary internal combustion engine at such a rate that said hydrocarbon fuel is subjected to combustion in said auxiliary internal combustion engine in the presence of excess air; a reformer forming therein a reaction chamber adapted to cause partial oxidation reactions of said hydrocarbon fuel to give a gaseous reformed fuel containing as combustible components essentially hydrogen and carbon monoxide; a first conduit connecting said auxiliary internal combustion engine to said reformer for supplying the exhaust gas of said auxiliary internal combustion engine to said reformer while said exhaust gas is at an elevated temperature; second means for supplying said hydrocarbon fuel to said reformer at a controlled rate such that said exhaust gas and said hydrocarbon fuel are supplied to said reaction chamber in a predetermined proportion; and a second conduit connecting said reformer to the firstly recited internal combustion engine for passing therethrough a gas which is discharged from said reaction chamber and includes said reformed fuel.