IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0225362
(2011-09-02)
|
등록번호 |
US-8449736
(2013-05-28)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Brundidge & Stanger, P.C.
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
11 |
초록
▼
A hydrogen generation system for producing hydrogen and injecting the hydrogen as a fuel supplement into the air intake of internal combustion engines. Hydrogen and oxygen is produced with a fuel cell at low temperatures and pressure from water in a supply tank. The hydrogen is directed to the air i
A hydrogen generation system for producing hydrogen and injecting the hydrogen as a fuel supplement into the air intake of internal combustion engines. Hydrogen and oxygen is produced with a fuel cell at low temperatures and pressure from water in a supply tank. The hydrogen is directed to the air intake of the engine while the oxygen is vented to the atmosphere. The device is powered by the vehicle battery. The system utilizes an engine sensor that permits power to the system only when the engine is in operation.
대표청구항
▼
1. A portable hydrogen supplemental system for supplying hydrogen gas to an internal combustion engine comprising: a housing unit;an electrolyzer mounted inside the housing unit that separates nonelectrolyte water into the hydrogen and an oxygen gas in response to electrical power;a nonelectrolyte w
1. A portable hydrogen supplemental system for supplying hydrogen gas to an internal combustion engine comprising: a housing unit;an electrolyzer mounted inside the housing unit that separates nonelectrolyte water into the hydrogen and an oxygen gas in response to electrical power;a nonelectrolyte water tank mounted inside the housing unit and positioned to supply water to the electrolyzer;a power supply for supplying the electrical power to the electrolyzer; andan engine sensor for detecting operation of the internal combustion engine,wherein the power supplies electrical power to the electrolyzer only when the engine sensor detects that the internal combustion engine is in operation,wherein the electrolyzer, when supplied with the electrical power, then produces the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas from the nonelectrolyte water being supplied from the nonelectrolyte water tank, and supplies, via the nonelectrolyte water tank, the hydrogen gas being produced to the internal combustion engine for combustion therein,wherein the electrolyzer is disposed external of the nonelectrolyte water tank,wherein the nonelectrolyte water tank includes first and second dividers provided at opposite ends of the nonelectrolyte water tank to divide the nonelectrolyte water tank into a hydrogen section and an oxygen section;wherein each divider is formed along an inner wall of the nonelectrolyte water tank and extends to a predetermined position from the bottom surface of the nonelectrolyte water tank such that when the nonelectrolyte water is input into the nonelectrolyte water tank, the nonelectrolyte water tank fills evenly on both sides of each of the dividers,wherein the nonelectrolyte water tank includes at least first and second gas collection cavities at a top portion thereof for collecting the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas respectively, the first and second gas collection cavities being formed by a top surface of the nonelectrolyte water tank, the first and second dividers and a surface of the nonelectrolyte water in the nonelectrolyte water tank;wherein the first gas collection cavity includes a fitting at the top thereof for outputting the hydrogen as out of the nonelectrolyte water tank to the internal combustion engine for combustion therein,wherein the second gas collection cavity includes a fitting at the top thereof for outputting the oxygen gas out of the nonelectrolyte water tank,wherein the hydrogen gas supplied from the electrolyzer to the nonelectrolyte water tank is input into the hydrogen section, travels through the nonelectrolyte water in the hydrogen section and collects in the first gas collection cavity,wherein the oxygen gas supplied from the electrolyzer to the nonelectrolyte water tank is input to the oxygen section, travels through the nonelectrolyte water rank in the oxygen gas section, and collects in the second gas collection cavity,wherein the electrolyzer is a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer and includes:a plurality of layers, the layers being non-liquid and each layer in adjacent contact with another one of the layers,wherein the plurality of layers include at least two external layers and an internal layer which is disposed in adjacent contact between the external layers,wherein a first external layer is connected to a positive terminal of the power supply and as such applies the positive side of the voltage to a first side of the internal layer and a second external layer is connected to a negative terminal of the power supply and as such applies the negative side of the voltage to a second side of the internal layer, the first and second sides being opposite sides of the internal layer,wherein when the voltage is applied across the first external layer, the internal layer and the second external layer, the electrolyzer separates the nonelectrolyte water into the oxygen gas which is output on the first side of the internal layer and the hydrogen gas which is output on the second side of the internal layer,wherein the portable hydrogen supplemental system further includes an electrical circuit which includes the engine sensor,wherein said electrical circuit controls operation of the portable hydrogen supplemental system. 2. A portable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit is provided by a control circuit which includes the engine sensor which provides a positive output when the engine is operating, an operator control switch which provides the positive output from the engine sensor when the operator control switch is moved to the on position, a speed determining circuit which provides a positive output when the speed of the automobile exceeds a predetermined level, logical circuitry which provides a positive output when both the operator control switch and the speed determining circuit outputs are positive, and a switch which switches electrical power to the electrolyzer when the logical circuitry supplies a positive output, thereby causing the electrolyzer to operate when the engine is operating and the speed of the automobile exceeds a predetermined level. 3. A portable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine is a gasoline powered engine, and wherein the portable hydrogen supplemental system is controlled to operate optimally in the gasoline powered engine by limiting the amount of hydrogen produced by the system and supplied to the gasoline powered engine to fall within a preset range. 4. A portable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 3, wherein the portable hydrogen supplemental system causes a load on the gasoline powered engine and is controlled to operate optimally in the gasoline powered engine by limiting the load on the gasoline powered engine to not exceed a predetermined level. 5. A portable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 3, wherein the portable hydrogen supplemental system is controlled to produce an optimal amount of hydrogen and supply the optimal amount of hydrogen to the gasoline powered engine, wherein the optimal amount of hydrogen falls within a range of 0.10-0.25 liters per minute. 6. A portable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 1, wherein the portable hydrogen supplemental system is mounted to a vehicle powered by the internal combustion engine by a mounting bracket which is attached to a surface of the vehicle. 7. A portable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 6, wherein the mounting bracket has formed therein oblong holes positioned near the corners of the mounting bracket for receiving screws/studs disposed on the undersigned of the housing unit, and wherein the oblong holes upon receiving the screws/studs disposed on the undersigned of the housing unit allows for the housing unit to be removably attached to the mounting bracket, thereby permitting the portable hydrogen supplemental system to be removed for servicing. 8. A portable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 1, wherein the nonelectrolyte water tank is positioned above the electrolyzer. 9. A portable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 1, further comprising: a control electrical circuit, having a switch, which supplies electrical power to the electrolyzer when the engine sensor detects that the internal combustion engine is in operation. 10. A portable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical power is applied to opposing layers of said fuel electrolyzer in a manner to produce hydrogen and oxygen gases. 11. A portable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 8, wherein said nonelectrolyte water tank comprises: a water supply fitting positioned on the underside of the nonelectrolyte water tank connected to a tube that is connected to water inlet fitting on the electrolyzer,wherein the nonelectrolyte water is supplied to the electrolyzer by the tube, andwherein the electrolyzer further includes a hydrogen gas outlet fitting and an oxygen gas outlet fitting which are connected by other tubes to gas inlet fittings on the underside of the nonelectrolyte water tank. 12. A portable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 11, wherein during operation of the electrolyzer, a small amount of water, hydrogen gas bubbles and oxygen gas bubbles emerge from a hydrogen outlet and an oxygen outlet, respectively, of the electrolyzer, and flow into a hydrogen side and an oxygen side of the nonelectrolyte water tank, wherein bubbles rise through the nonelectrolyte water to the upper air cavities formed by the water level in the nonelectrolyte water tank and the first and second dividers such that hydrogen and oxygen gases are kept separate from each other in the upper cavities by the dividers, andwherein as hydrogen gas and oxygen gas fill their respective upper cavities, the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas flow out of the upper cavities through a hydrogen fitting and an oxygen fitting. 13. A portable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 12, wherein the first and second gas collection cavities are constructed to contain baffles that serve to prevent water from splashing into or entering the tubes. 14. A portable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 13, wherein each baffle is configured to extend perpendicularly from an inner surface of the gas collector, and wherein a first baffle is configured to extend from a portion of the inner surface of the first and second gas collection cavities opposite to another portion of the inner surface of the gas collector from which a second baffle extends. 15. A method of supplying hydrogen gas to an internal combustion engine comprising: supplying, from a nonelectrolyte water tank mounted inside the housing unit, nonelectrolyte water to an electrolyzer;detecting, by an engine sensor, operation of the internal combustion engine;supplying, by a power supply, electrical power in the form of a voltage to the electrolyzer only upon detecting that the internal combustion engine is in operation and an operator control switch is activated;producing, by the electrolyzer, when supplied with the electrical power, hydrogen and oxygen gases from the nonelectrolyte water being supplied to the electrolyzer from the nonelectrolyte water tank; andsupplying, via the nonelectrolyte water tank, the hydrogen gas being produced to the internal combustion engine for combustion therein,wherein the electrolyzer is disposed external of the nonelectrolyte water tank;wherein the nonelectrolyte water tank includes first and second dividers provided at opposite ends of the nonelectrolyte water tank to divide the nonelectrolyte water tank into a hydrogen section and an oxygen section,wherein each divider is formed along an inner wall of the nonelectrolyte water tank and extends to a predetermined position from the bottom surface of the nonelectrolyte water tank such that when the electrolyte water tank fills evenly on both sides of each of the first and second dividers,wherein the nonelectrolyte water tank includes at least first and second as collection cavities at a top portion thereof for collecting hydrogen gas and oxygen gas respectively, the first and second gas collection cavities each being formed by a top surface of the nonelectrolyte water tank, the first and second dividers, and the surface of the nonelectrolyte water in the nonelectrolyte water tank,wherein the first gas collection cavity includes a fitting at the top thereof for outputting the hydrogen gas out of the nonelectrolyte water tank to the internal combustion engine for combustion therein,wherein the second gas collection cavity includes a fitting at the top thereof for outputting the oxygen gas out of the nonelectrolyte water tank,wherein the hydrogen gas supplied from the electrolyzer to the nonelectrolyte water tank in the hydrogen section, and collects in the first gas collection cavity,wherein the oxygen gas supplied from the electrolyzer to the nonelectrolyte water tank is input to the oxygen section, travels through the nonelectrolyte water tank in the oxygen section, and collects in the second gas collection cavity,wherein the electrolyzer is a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer, and includes:a plurality of layers, the layers being non-liquid and each layer being in adjacent contact with another one of the layers,wherein the plurality of layers includes at least two external layers and an internal layer which is disposed in adjacent contact between the external layers,wherein a first external layer is connected to a positive terminal of the power supply and as such applies the positive side of the voltage to a first side of the internal layer, and a second external layer is connected to a negative terminal of the power supply and as such applies the negative side of the voltage to a second side of the internal layer, said first and second sides being opposite sides of the internal layer,wherein when the voltage is applied across the first external layer, the internal layer and the second external layer, the electrolyzer separates the nonelectrolyte water into oxygen gas which is output on the first side of the internal layer and hydrogen gas which is output on the second side of the internal layer,wherein the portable hydrogen supplemental system further includes an electrical circuit which includes the engine sensor, andwherein said electrical circuit controls operation of the portable hydrogen supplemental system. 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the electrical circuit is provided by a control circuit which includes the engine sensor which provides a positive output when the engine is operating, an operator control switch which provides the positive output from the engine sensor when the operator control switch is moved to the on position, a speed determining circuit which provides a positive output when the speed of the automobile exceeds a predetermined level, logical circuitry which provides a positive output when both the operator control switch and the speed determining circuit outputs are positive, and a switch which switches electrical power to the electrolyzer when the logical circuitry supplies a positive output, thereby causing the electrolyzer to operate when the engine is operating and the speed of the automobile exceeds a predetermined level. 17. A portable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 15, wherein the internal combustion engine is a gasoline powered engine, and wherein the portable hydrogen supplemental system is controlled to operate optimally in the gasoline powered engine by limiting the amount of hydrogen produced by the system and supplied to the gasoline powered engine to fall within a preset range. 18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the portable hydrogen supplemental system causes a load on the gasoline powered engine and is controlled to operate optimally in the gasoline powered engine by limiting the load on the gasoline powered engine to not exceed a predetermined level. 19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the portable hydrogen supplemental system is controlled to produce an optimal amount of hydrogen and supply the optimal amount of hydrogen to the gasoline powered engine, Wherein the optimal amount falls within a range of 0.10-0.25 liters per minute. 20. A method according to claim 17, wherein the portable hydrogen supplemental system is mounted to a vehicle powered by the internal combustion engine by a mounting bracket which is attached to a surface of the vehicle. 21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the mounting bracket has formed therein oblong holes positioned near the corners of the mounting bracket for receiving screws/studs disposed on the undersigned of the housing unit, and wherein the oblong holes upon receiving the screws/studs disposed on the undersigned of the housing unit allows for the housing unit to be removably attached to the mounting bracket, thereby permitting the portable hydrogen supplemental system to be removed for servicing. 22. A method according to claim 17, wherein the nonelectrolyte water tank is positioned above the electrolyzer. 23. A method according to claim 17, wherein a control electrical circuit, having a switch, supplies electrical power to the electrolyzer when the engine sensor detects that the internal combustion engine is in operation. 24. A method according to claim 17, wherein the electrical power is applied to opposing layers of said electrolyzer in a manner to produce hydrogen and oxygen gases. 25. A method according to claim 20, wherein said nonelectrolyte water tank comprises: a water supply fitting positioned on the underside of the nonelectrolyte water tank connected to a tube that is connected to water inlet fitting on the electrolyzer,wherein the nonelectrolyte water is supplied to the electrolyzer by the tube, andwherein the electrolyzer further includes a hydrogen gas outlet fitting and an oxygen gas outlet fitting which are connected by other tubes to gas inlet fittings on the underside of the nonelectrolyte water tank. 26. A method according to claim 25, wherein during operation of the electrolyzer, a small amount of water, hydrogen gas bubbles and oxygen gas bubbles emerge from a hydrogen outlet and an oxygen outlet, respectively, of the electrolyzer, and flow into a hydrogen side and an oxygen side of the nonelectrolyte water tank, wherein bubbles rise through the water to the upper air cavities formed by the water level in the nonelectrolyte water tank and the first and second dividers such that hydrogen and oxygen gases are kept separate from each other in the upper cavities by the dividers, andwherein as hydrogen gas and oxygen gas fill their respective upper cavities, the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas flow out of the upper cavities through a hydrogen fitting and an oxygen fitting. 27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the first and second gas collection cavities are constructed to contain baffles that serve to prevent water from splashing into or entering the tubes. 28. A method according to claim 27, wherein each baffle is configured to extend perpendicularly from an inner surface of the first and second gas collection cavities, and wherein a first baffle is configured to extend from a portion of the inner surface of the first and second as collection cavities opposite to another portion of the inner surface of the first and second gas collection cavities from which a second baffle extends.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.