IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0637413
(1975-12-03)
|
우선권정보 |
JP-0140725 (1974-12-06); JP-0006726 (1975-01-13); JP-0071121 (1975-06-11) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Noguchi, Masaaki
- Bunda, Tsuchio
- Tanaka, Taro
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
19 인용 특허 :
4 |
초록
▼
A fuel reforming system for an internal combustion engine has a fuel reforming reactor to be supplied with a hydrocarbon fuel. The reactor contains a catalyst carrier and a catalyst thereon to be heated for facilitating a conversion of the fuel into a reformed gaseous mixture rich with hydrogen whic
A fuel reforming system for an internal combustion engine has a fuel reforming reactor to be supplied with a hydrocarbon fuel. The reactor contains a catalyst carrier and a catalyst thereon to be heated for facilitating a conversion of the fuel into a reformed gaseous mixture rich with hydrogen which mixture is to be fed into the engine. The catalyst is periodically alternately exposed to the fuel and air so that carbon produced and deposited on the catalyst during the fuel reforming reaction facilitated by the catalyst is burnt away from the catalyst carrier and the catalyst thereon whereby the catalytic performance of the catalyst is restored to ensure a prolonged operative life thereof. The reformed gaseous mixture assures a reliable ignition and combustion of a mixture thereof with air in the engine at a very lean air-fuel ratio to advantageously decrease the emission of harmful components of engine exhaust gas.
대표청구항
▼
1. A fuel reforming system for an internal combustion engine, which includes a combustion chamber, an air cleaner, and an intake pipe operatively communicating said air cleaner with said combustion chamber via an intake valve for feeding air therethrough, comprising: a burning chamber for burning
1. A fuel reforming system for an internal combustion engine, which includes a combustion chamber, an air cleaner, and an intake pipe operatively communicating said air cleaner with said combustion chamber via an intake valve for feeding air therethrough, comprising: a burning chamber for burning a mixture of fuel and air therein to thereby produce a combustion gas of a high temperature; a first air conduit operatively communicating said intake pipe with said burning chamber for supplying air thereto from said air cleaner; a fuel tank for storing a hydrocarbon fuel; a first fuel conduit operatively communicating said fuel tank with said burning chamber for supplying the fuel thereto; igniting means disposed in said burning chamber for igniting and burning the mixture of air and fuel respectively supplied from said first air and fuel conduits; a heat exchanging chamber communicated with said burning chamber at its upstream end and also communicated with said intake pipe at its downstream end for allowing said combustion gas to flow from said burning chamber to said intake pipe through said heat exchanging chamber; fuel reforming reactor means disposed in said heat exchanging chamber and having a catalyst therein for reforming a fuel into a reformed gaseous mixture including hydrogen, said fuel reforming reactor means being heated by said combustion gas flowing through said heat exchanging chamber, and said fuel reforming reactor means being communicated with said intake pipe for supplying the reformed gaseous mixture to said engine; a second fuel conduit operatively communicating said fuel tank with said fuel reforming reactor means through a fuel control valve for supplying a fuel thereto for causing the catalytic reforming reactor of said fuel in said fuel reforming reactor means; a control circuit for periodically actuating said fuel control valve to open said second fuel conduit; and a second air conduit operatively communicated with said fuel reforming reactor means through an air control valve for supplying air thereto; said control circuit also periodically actuating said air control valve to open said second air conduit during a time when said second fuel conduit is closed by said control circuit, whereby when said fuel reforming reactor means is supplied with the air, a combustion reaction is caused between the air and carbon produced by said reforming reaction and deposited on the surface of said catalyst to thereby remove said carbon therefrom. 2. A fuel reforming system for an internal combustion engine, which includes a combustion chamber, an air cleaner, and an intake pipe operatively communicating said air cleaner with said combustion chamber via an intake valve for feeding air therethrough, comprising: a burning chamber for burning a mixture of fuel and air therein to thereby produce a combustion gas of a high temperature; a first air conduit operatively communicated with said burning chamber for supplying air thereto; a fuel tank for storing a hydrocarbon fuel; a first fuel conduit operatively communicating said fuel tank with said burning chamber for supplying the fuel thereto; igniting means disposed in said burning chamber for igniting and burning the mixture of air and fuel respectively supplied from said first air and fuel conduits; a heat exchanging chamber communicated with said burning chamber at its upstream end and also communicated with said intake pipe at its downstream end for allowing said combustion gas to flow from said burning chamber to said intake pipe through said heat exchanging chamber; first and second fuel reforming reactor vessels disposed in said heat exchanging chamber and each having a catalyst therein for reforming a fuel into a reformed gaseous mixture including hydrogen, said first and second fuel reforming reactor vessels being heated by said combustion gas flowing through said heat exchanging chamber, and said fuel reforming reactor vessel being communicated with said intake pipe for supplying the reformed gaseous mixture to said engine; a second fuel conduit means alternately communicating said fuel tank with said first and second fuel reforming reactor vessels through a fuel control valve for supplying a fuel thereto for causing the catalytic reforming reaction of said fuel in said fuel reforming reactor vessels; a control circuit for periodically actuating said fuel control valve to perform the alternate communication of said fuel tank with said first and second fuel reforming reactor vessels; and a second air conduit means alternately communicated with said first and second fuel reforming reactor vessels through an air control valve for supplying air thereto; said control circuit actuating said air control valve in such a manner that said second air conduit means supplies the air to one of said first and second fuel reforming reactor vessels during a time when the supply of the fuel to said one of first and second fuel reforming reactor vessels from said second fuel conduit means is stopped, whereby when said one of said fuel reforming reactor vessels is supplied with the air, a combustion reaction is caused in said one of fuel reforming reactor vessels between the air and carbon produced by said reforming reaction and deposited on the surface of said catalyst to thereby remove said carbon therefrom. 3. A fuel reforming system for an internal combustion engine, which includes a combustion chamber, an air cleaner, and an intake pipe operatively communicating said air cleaner with said combustion chamber via an intake valve for feeding air therethrough, comprising: a burning chamber for burning a mixture of fuel and air therein to thereby produce a combustion gas of a high temperature; a first air conduit operatively communicated with said burning chamber for supplying air thereto; a fuel tank for storing a hydrocarbon fuel; a first fuel conduit operatively communicating said fuel tank with said burning chamber for supplying the fuel thereto; igniting means disposed in said burning chamber for igniting and burning the mixture of air and fuel respectively supplied from said first air and fuel conduits; a heat exchanging chamber communicated with said burning chamber at its upstream end and also communicated with said intake pipe at its downstream end for allowing said combustion gas to flow from said burning chamber to said intake pipe through said heat exchanging chamber; fuel reforming reactor means disposed in said heat exchanging chamber and having a catalyst therein for reforming a fuel into a reformed gaseous mixture including hydrogen, said fuel reforming reactor means being heated by said combustion gas flowing through said heat exchanging chamber, and said fuel reforming reactor means being communicated with said intake pipe for supplying the reformed gaseous mixture to said engine; a second fuel conduit operatively communicating said fuel tank with said fuel reforming reactor means through a fuel control valve for supplying a fuel thereto for causing the catalytic reforming reaction of said fuel in said fuel reforming reactor means; a control circuit for actuating said fuel control valve to open said second fuel conduit; and a second air conduit operatively communicated with said fuel reforming reactor means through an air control valve for supplying air thereto; said control circuit also actuating said air control valve to open said second air conduit during a time when said second fuel conduit is closed by said control circuit, whereby when said fuel reforming reactor means is supplied with the air, a combustion reaction is caused between the air and carbon produced by said reforming reaction and deposited on the surface of said catalyst to thereby remove said carbon therefrom. 4. A fuel reforming system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a spiral fuel passage connected between said fuel reforming reactor means and said second fuel conduit downstream of said fuel control valve for passing the fuel to said fuel reforming reactor means therethrough, said spiral fuel passage being disposed in said heat exchanging chamber so that said passage is heated by said combustion gas to vaporize said fuel flowing therethrough. 5. A fuel reforming system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: an air-flow meter mounted on said intake pipe for detecting the flow of air supplied to said engine and generating an electrical signal representing said flow of air; a fuel metering valve disposed in said first fuel conduit for closing and opening the same; and control means electrically connected to both of said air-flow meter and fuel metering valve for actuating said fuel metering valve to close and open said first fuel conduit in response to said electrical signal, whereby the amount of the fuel supplied to said burning chamber is controlled in response to the flow of air. 6. A fuel reforming system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: temperature detecting means mounted on said fuel reforming reactor means for detecting the temperature thereof and producing an electrical signal representing said temperature of said fuel reforming reactor means; an air metering valve disposed in said first air conduit for closing and opening the same; and control means electrically connected to both of said temperature detecting means and air metering valve for actuating said air metering valve to close said first air conduit when the temperature of said fuel reforming reactor means exceeds a predetermined value, whereby when said first air conduit is closed the supply of air to said burning chamber is stopped with the result that the burning of the mixture in said burning chamber is prevented. 7. A fuel reforming system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising; an air-flow meter mounted on said intake pipe for detecting the flow of air supplied to said engine and generating an electrical signal representing said flow of air; a fuel metering valve disposed in said second fuel conduit for closing and opening the same; and control means electrically connected to both of said air-flow meter and fuel metering valve for actuating said fuel metering valve to close and open said second fuel conduit in response to said electrical signal, whereby the amount of the fuel supplied to said fuel reforming reactor means is controlled in response to the flow of air. 8. A fuel reforming system for an internal combustion engine, which includes a combustion chamber, an air cleaner, and an intake pipe operatively communicating said air cleaner with said combustion chamber via an intake valve for feeding air therethrough, comprising: means for producing an air-fuel mixture; a burning chamber disposed downstream of said mixture producing means for burning the mixture to thereby produce a combustion gas of a high temperature; igniting means disposed in said burning chamber for igniting and burning the mixture; a heat exchanging chamber communicated with said burning chamber at its upstream end and also communicated with said intake pipe at its downstream end for allowing said combustion gas to flow from said burning chamber to said intake pipe through said heat exchanging chamber; fuel reforming reactor means disposed in said heat exchanging chamber and having a catalyst therein for reforming a fuel into a reformed gaseous mixture including hydrogen, said fuel reforming reactor means being heated by said combustion gas flowing through said heat exchanging chamber, and said fuel reforming reactor means being communicated with said intake pipe for supplying the reformed gaseous mixture to said engine; means for supplying a fuel to said fuel reforming reactor means for a predetermined time period during engine operation for causing the catalytic reforming reaction of said fuel in said fuel reforming reactor means; and means for supplying air to said fuel reforming reactor means during other than said predetermined time period for reoccurringly causing a combustion reaction between the air and carbon produced by said reforming reaction and deposited on the surface of said catalyst for removing said carbon therefrom. 9. A fuel reforming system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said fuel supplying means comprises a passage disposed around said burning chamber and communicating said mixture producing means with said fuel reforming reactor means. 10. A fuel reforming system as claimed in claim 9 further comprising heat exchange means disposed between said mixture producing means and said burning chamber for causing heat exchange between an exhaust gas from the engine and the fuel supplied to said fuel reforming reactor means to thereby heat and vaporize said fuel passing through said fuel supplying means. 11. A fuel reforming system as claimed in claim 9 further comprising heat exchange means disposed between said mixture producing means and said burning chamber for causing heat exchange between said reformed gaseous mixture from said fuel reforming reactor means and the fuel supplied to said reactor means through said fuel supplying means to thereby heat and vaporize said fuel. 12. A fuel reforming system as claimed in claim 9 further comprising means disposed downstream of said fuel supplying means and said burning chamber for mixing said combustion gas with the fuel from said fuel supplying means. 13. A fuel reforming system for an internal combustion engine, which includes a combustion chamber, an air cleaner, and an intake pipe operatively communicating said air cleaner with said combustion chamber via an intake valve for feeding air therethrough, comprising: a burning chamber for burning a mixture of fuel and air therein to thereby produce a combustion gas of a high temperature; a first air conduit operatively communicated with said burning chamber for supplying air thereto; a fuel tank for storing a hydrocarbon fuel; a first fuel conduit operatively communicating said fuel tank with said burning chamber for supplying the fuel thereto; igniting means disposed in said burning chamber for igniting and burning the mixture of air and fuel respectively supplied from said first air and fuel conduits; a heat exchanging chamber communicated with said burning chamber at its upstream end and also communicated with said intake pipe at its downstream end for allowing said combustion gas to flow from said burning chamber to said intake pipe through said heat exchanging chamber; first and second fuel reforming reactor vessels disposed in said heat exchanging chamber and each having a catalyst therein for reforming a fuel into a reformed gaseous mixture including hydrogen, said first and second fuel reforming reactor vessels being heated by said combustion gas flowing through said heat exchanging chamber, and said fuel reforming reactor vessels being communicated with said intake pipe for supplying the reformed gaseous mixture to said engine; a second fuel conduit connected at one end with said fuel tank for supplying the fuel therefrom; first and second fuel branches respectively connected at each one end with said first and second fuel reforming reactor vessels; a fuel three-way valve connected between the other end of said second fuel conduit and the respective other ends of said first and second fuel branches for communicating said second fuel conduit with one of said first and second fuel branches; a control circuit periodically actuating said fuel three-way valve for alternately communicating said second fuel conduit with said first and second fuel branches, to thereby alternately supply the fuel to said first and second fuel reforming reactor vessels for causing the catalytic reforming reaction of said fuel therein; a second air conduit for supplying air therethrough; first and second air branches respectively connected at each one end with said first and second fuel reforming reactor vessels; and an air three-way valve connected between said second air conduit and the respective other ends of said first and second air branches for communicating said second air conduit with one of said first and second air branches; said control circuit also periodically actuating said air three-way valve for alternately communicating said second air conduit with said first and second air branches in such a manner that said second air conduit supplies the air to one of said first and second fuel reforming reactor vessels through the corresponding air branch during a time when the supply of the fuel to said one of first and second fuel reforming reactor vessels through the corresponding fuel branch from said second fuel conduit is stopped, whereby when said one of said fuel reforming reactor vessels is supplied with the air, a combustion reaction is caused in said one of said fuel reforming reactor vessels between the air and carbon produced by reforming reaction and deposited on the surface of said catalyst to thereby remove said carbon therefrom. 14. A fuel reforming system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising first and second spiral fuel passages respectively connected between said first and second fuel reforming reactor vessels and said first and second fuel branches downstream of said fuel three-way valve for passing the fuel to said fuel reforming reactor vessels therethrough, both of said spiral fuel passages being disposed in said heat exchanging chamber so that said passages are heated by said combustion gas to vaporize said fuel flowing therethrough. 15. A fuel reforming system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: an air-flow meter mounted on said intake pipe for detecting the flow of air supplied to said engine and generating an electrical signal representing said flow of air; a fuel metering valve disposed in said first fuel conduit for closing and opening the same; and control means electrically connected to both of said air-flow meter and fuel metering valve for actuating said fuel metering valve to close and open said first fuel conduit in response to said electrical signal, whereby the amount of the fuel supplied to said burning chamber is controlled in response to the flow of air. 16. A fuel reforming system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: temperature detecting means mounted on at least one of said fuel reforming reactor vessels for detecting the temperature thereof and producing an electrical signal representing said temperature of said fuel reforming reactor vessel; an air metering valve disposed in said first air conduit for closing and opening the same; and control means electrically connected to both of said temperature detecting means and air metering valve for actuating said air metering valve to close said first air conduit when the temperature of said fuel reforming reactor vessel exceeds a predetermined value, whereby when said first air conduit is closed the supply of air to said burning chamber is stopped with the result that the burning of the mixture in said burning chamber is prevented. 17. A fuel reforming system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising; an air-flow meter mounted on said intake pipe for detecting the flow of air supplied to said engine and generating an electrical signal representing said flow of air; a fuel metering valve disposed in said second fuel conduit for closing and opening the same; and control means electrically connected to both of said air-flow meter and fuel metering valve for actuating said fuel metering valve to close and open said second fuel conduit in response to said electrical signal, whereby the amount of the fuel supplied to said fuel reforming reactor vessels is controlled in response to the flow of air.
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