초록 ▼

A flow through catalytic reactor (10) which selectively catalytically decomposes methanol into a soot-free hydrogen-rich product gas utilizing engine exhaust at temperatures of 200°to 650°C. to provide the heat for vaporizing and decomposing the methanol. The reactor (10) is combined with either a s

A flow through catalytic reactor (10) which selectively catalytically decomposes methanol into a soot-free hydrogen-rich product gas utilizing engine exhaust at temperatures of 200°to 650°C. to provide the heat for vaporizing and decomposing the methanol. The reactor (10) is combined with either a spark ignited (28) or compression ignited (54) internal combustion engine or a gas turbine (202) to provide a combustion engine system. The system may be fueled entirely by the hydrogen-rich gas produced in the methanol decomposition reactor or the system may be operated on mixed fuels for transient power gain and for cold start of the engine system. The reactor (10) includes a decomposition zone formed by a plurality of elongated cylinders (12) which contain a body (114) of vapor-permeable, methanol decomposition catalyst preferably a shift catalyst such as copper-zinc. A vaporizer (14) is provided for vaporizing liquid methanol prior to introduction into the elongated cylinders (12). Exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine is passed in contact with the elongated cylinders (12) to supply the heat needed for methanol decomposition. The partially cooled exhaust gases are then passed to the vaporizer (14) where residual heat in the exhaust is utilized in vaporization of liquid methanol.

대표청구항 ▼

A combustion engine system comprising: a combustion engine having a combustible gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet; a fuel reservoir for containing liquid methanol; means for vaporizing said liquid fuel into methanol vapor; means for feeding said liquid fuel from said reservoir to said vaporizing m

A combustion engine system comprising: a combustion engine having a combustible gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet; a fuel reservoir for containing liquid methanol; means for vaporizing said liquid fuel into methanol vapor; means for feeding said liquid fuel from said reservoir to said vaporizing means: decomposition reactor means including walls defining a flow-through decomposition zone containing a vapor-premeable body of solid, selective methanol decomposition catalyst coated on a high heat capacity support for catalytically decomposing said methanol vapor selectively into a soot free product gas consisting essentially of hydrogen and carbon monoxide at a temperature from 250°C. to 650°C.; means for heating said decomposition reactor to a temperature from 200°C. to 650°C.; means for transferring said vapor to said decomposition reactor means from said vaporizing means; carburetor means for mixing an oxygen containing gas with said product gas to form combustion gas consisting of product gas and oxygen; means for continuously transferring said combustion gas from said carburetor means to said combustion reactor during operation of the engine; and means connecting said exhaust gas outlet to said heating means.