초록 ▼

A low or no pollution engine is provided for delivering power for vehicles or other power applications. The engine has an air inlet which collects air from a surrounding environment. At least a portion of the nitrogen in the air is removed using a technique such as liquefaction, pressure swing adsor

A low or no pollution engine is provided for delivering power for vehicles or other power applications. The engine has an air inlet which collects air from a surrounding environment. At least a portion of the nitrogen in the air is removed using a technique such as liquefaction, pressure swing adsorption or membrane based air separation. The remaining gas is primarily oxygen, which is then compressed and routed to a gas generator. The gas generator has an igniter and inputs for the high pressure oxygen and a high pressure hydrogen-containing fuel, such as hydrogen, methane or a light alcohol. The fuel and oxygen are combusted within the gas generator, forming water and carbon dioxide with carbon containing fuels. Water is also delivered into the gas generator to control the temperature of the combustion products. The combustion products are then expanded through a power generating device, such as a turbine or piston expander to deliver output power for operation of a vehicle or other power uses. The combustion products, steam and, with carbon containing fuels, carbon dioxide, are then passed through a condenser where the steam is condensed and the carbon dioxide is collected or discharged. A portion of the water is collected for further processing and use and the remainder is routed back to the gas generator. The carbon dioxide is compressed and cooled so that it is in a liquid phase or super critical state. The dense phase carbon dioxide is then further pressurized to a pressure matching a pressure, less hydrostatic head, existing deep within a porous geological formation, a deep aquifer, a deep ocean location or other terrestrial formation from which return of the CO2 into the atmosphere is inhibited.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A combustion engine providing clean power for various applications and featuring low NOx production and low CO2 release into the atmosphere, comprising in combination:a source of air, the air including nitrogen and oxygen; a source of fuel, the fuel including hydrogen and carbon; an air separator

1. A combustion engine providing clean power for various applications and featuring low NOx production and low CO2 release into the atmosphere, comprising in combination:a source of air, the air including nitrogen and oxygen; a source of fuel, the fuel including hydrogen and carbon; an air separator having an inlet coupled to said source of air, a nitrogen separator, an oxygen enriched air outlet, and a nitrogen outlet separate from said oxygen enriched air outlet, such that at least a portion of the nitrogen is removed from the air entering said inlet; a fuel combustor, said fuel combustor receiving fuel from said source of fuel and oxygen enriched air from said oxygen enriched air outlet of said air separator, said combustor combusting the fuel with the oxygen enriched air to produce elevated pressure and elevated temperature combustion products including H2O and CO2, said combustor having a discharge for said combustion products; a combustion product expansion device located downstream from said discharge of said combustion device, said expansion device outputting power from said system and having an exhaust for said combustion products; a combustion products separator downstream from said exhaust, said separator having a first outlet for combustion products including H2O and a second gaseous combustion product outlet, said combustion products separator configured such that at least a portion of the CO2 remains gaseous and at least a portion of the CO2 exits said combustor through said second gaseous combustion product outlet; said first outlet containing a stream of combustion products from said separator having a greater percentage of H2O than a percentage of H2O in the combustion products entering said separator, such that the stream of combustion products passing through said first outlet is H2O enriched; a compressor located downstream from said gaseous combustion product outlet, said compressor compressing said gaseous combustion products to above atmospheric pressure; and a terrestrial formation injection system located downstream from said compressor and upstream from a terrestrial formation beneath the atmosphere, said terrestrial formation capable of holding CO2 therein.