초록 ▼

The invention discloses an internal combustion engine of the type in which alcohol or alcohol-containing mixture and air undergo the thermal or catalytic reforming reaction, and the reformed gases containing hydrogen are directly charged or mixed with gasoline or the like and charged into the engine

The invention discloses an internal combustion engine of the type in which alcohol or alcohol-containing mixture and air undergo the thermal or catalytic reforming reaction, and the reformed gases containing hydrogen are directly charged or mixed with gasoline or the like and charged into the engine for combustion. The production of soot and tar during the thermal or catalytic reforming reaction may be minimized, and the emission of noxious combustion products may be also minimized.

대표청구항 ▼

A process for reforming a gas in an internal combustion engine comprising: a combustion chamber; an intake pipe communicating with said combustion chamber; an exhaust gas chamber for receiving exhaust gases from said combustion chamber and leading the same to the atmosphere; a fuel reforming apparat

A process for reforming a gas in an internal combustion engine comprising: a combustion chamber; an intake pipe communicating with said combustion chamber; an exhaust gas chamber for receiving exhaust gases from said combustion chamber and leading the same to the atmosphere; a fuel reforming apparatus communicating with said intake pipe for supplying a reformed gas thereto; and, a reactor means having a catalyst therein for converting a mixture of an alcohol and air into a reformed gas containing hydrogen, said process employing both an alcohol fuel and a hydrocarbon fuel and being carried out without mixing the exhaust gas with the fuel, said process comprising: feeding an alcohol to said reactor means; feeding air to said reactor means at a rate of 10 to 15% by weight of the air required for stoichiometric combustion of the alcohol fed to said reactor means, thereby to assure partial oxidation of the alcohol in said reactor means and form said reformed gas containing hydrogen; feeding a hydrocarbon fuel to said intake pipe; feeding said reformed gas to said intake pipe; feeding air to said intake pipe; and feeding said mixture of hydrocarbon fuel, reformed gas and air to said combustion chamber.