Abstract:
A system (144) comprising a sensor (22), a reformer (146), a reformer electronic control module (150) and a sensor control module (152), wherein the sensor (22) includes an oxygen pump cell (24); an oxygen pump chamber (26); an emf cell (32); a reference chamber (34) providing a fluid connection to the reference gas (30); gas channels in fluid communication with the pump (48,52) and emf electrodes (64,66), the reference gas (30) comprising reformate produced by fuel reformer (146) fuelled by an air-fuel gas mixture having an air-fuel ratio; a heater (72); a temperature sensor (70) disposed in communication with the heater (72) and the sensor control module (152) for maintaining the sensor (22) at a desired operating temperature; a closed loop controlled operation amplifier (40) in electrical communication with the sensor (22), whereby the oxygen pump cell (24) provides sufficient oxygen ions to oxidize an incoming diffusion-limiting fuel flux to the emf cell (32) and maintain a constant emf at the emf cell (32), and wherein a current value represents an equivalent to the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel gas mixture.
Abstract:
A combined gasoline and hydrogen fueling system (10',110) for a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine (62), including, preferably, a rapid-start catalytic reformer (72) for producing reformate gas (98) containing hydrogen from gasoline (74). The reformate (98) from the reformer (72) is swept by air into the intake manifold (22) of the cold engine where it is mixed with intake air and then drawn into the cylinders and ignited conventionally to start the engine. A computer-based reformer control system (26) optimizes the amount of reformate (98) formed and the resulting reformate/air mixture. The reformer control system (110) interfaces or is integral with a computer-based gasoline and air supply system (10') for the engine (62), the two systems cooperating to optimize a mixture of gasoline (74) and reformate (98) in the intake manifold at all times during warming of the engine and its exhaust catalyst to steady-state operating temperature. Preferably, flow of reformate (98) is terminated thereafter.
Abstract:
A reformate/buffer system and method for operating an exhaust emissions control device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the reformate/buffer system comprises: a hydride storage bed, a hydride cycling bed (24) disposed in fluid communication with the hydride storage bed (10), a hydrogen separation device (22), a reformate flow path, coolant flow passages in thermal communication with the hydride cycling bed, and reformer flow passages in thermal communication with the hydride cycling bed. The reformate flow path is formed by the hydride storage bed, the hydride cycling bed, and the hydrogen separation device and is disposed in fluid communication with the hydride storage bed and hydride cycling bed.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are methods for operating a reformer and for operating a vehicle. In one embodiment, the method for operating the reformer comprises: introducing an oxidant and fuel to a reformer at greater than or equal to about 25,000/hr space velocity; combusting the oxidant and the fuel the reformer to produce a combustion gas, wherein the reformer comprises a reformer substrate comprising a reformer catalyst and having a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to about 35 W/m°K; extinguishing the combustion; and introducing additional fuel and oxidant to the reformer at an air to fuel weight ratio appropriate for reforming. A method of using the reformate produced to reduce cold start emissions and/or regenerate an exhaust control device is also disclosed.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for a preheated micro-reformer system is disclosed comprising a reformer (42) and a micro-reformer (44) fluidly coupled to the reformer (42). The micro-reformer (44) being electrically preheatable. An apparatus comprising a micro-reformer (44) including a first zone (76) and a second zone (78), the first zone (76) being preheatable to a first temperature and the second zone (78) being preheatable to a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature. A method of using a micro-reformer (44) that is electrically preheatable is disclosed comprising initiating an electrically preheatable micro-reformer (44). The micro-reformer (44) is preheated. The preheating can be accomplished by converting electrical energy (56) into thermal energy (66). A method of using a preheated micro-reformer (44) is disclosed comprising preheating a first zone (76), preheating a second zone (78) to a temperature higher than the first zone (76), vaporizing a fuel air mixture (60) in the first zone (76), and reforming the fuel air mixture (60) in the second zone (78).
Abstract:
In one embodiment, a fuel reformer 100 can comprise: a mixing zone 26 capable of mixing a fuel and an oxidant to form a fuel mixture 32 and a reforming zone 28 disposed downstream of the mixing zone 26. The reforming zone 28 comprises a primary substrate 18 and a secondary substrate 20. The primary substrate 18 is disposed upstream of the secondary substrate 20 and has a primary thermal mass that is greater than a secondary thermal mass of the secondary substrate 20. One embodiment of a method for operating a fuel reformer 100 can comprise: mixing an oxidant and a fuel to form a fuel mixture 32, combusting the fuel mixture 32, heating the secondary substrate 20 above its light-off temperature, changing an air to fuel ratio of the fuel mixture 32 to a reforming mixture, producing an exotherm and a reformate at the secondary substrate 20, heating a primary substrate 18 with the exotherm to above its light-off temperature, and producing a reformate.
Abstract:
A system (144) comprising a sensor (22), a reformer (146), a reformer electronic control module (150) and a sensor control module (152), wherein the sensor (22) includes an oxygen pump cell (24); an oxygen pump chamber (26); an emf cell (32); a reference chamber (34) providing a fluid connection to the reference gas (30); gas channels in fluid communication with the pump (48,52) and emf electrodes (64,66), the reference gas (30) comprising reformate produced by fuel reformer (146) fuelled by an air-fuel gas mixture having an air-fuel ratio; a heater (72); a temperature sensor (70) disposed in communication with the heater (72) and the sensor control module (152) for maintaining the sensor (22) at a desired operating temperature; a closed loop controlled operation amplifier (40) in electrical communication with the sensor (22), whereby the oxygen pump cell (24) provides sufficient oxygen ions to oxidize an incoming diffusion-limiting fuel flux to the emf cell (32) and maintain a constant emf at the emf cell (32), and wherein a current value represents an equivalent to the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel gas mixture.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for a preheated micro-reformer system is disclosed comprising a reformer (42) and a micro-reformer (44) fluidly coupled to the reformer (42). The micro-reformer (44) being electrically preheatable. An apparatus comprising a micro-reformer (44) including a first zone (76) and a second zone (78), the first zone (76) being preheatable to a first temperature and the second zone (78) being preheatable to a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature. A method of using a micro-reformer (44) that is electrically preheatable is disclosed comprising initiating an electrically preheatable micro-reformer (44). The micro-reformer (44) is preheated. The preheating can be accomplished by converting electrical energy (56) into thermal energy (66). A method of using a preheated micro-reformer (44) is disclosed comprising preheating a first zone (76), preheating a second zone (78) to a temperature higher than the first zone (76), vaporizing a fuel air mixture (60) in the first zone (76), and reforming the fuel air mixture (60) in the second zone (78).
Abstract:
A reformate/buffer system and method for operating an exhaust emissions control device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the reformate/buffer system comprises: a hydride storage bed, a hydride cycling bed (24) disposed in fluid communication with the hydride storage bed (10), a hydrogen separation device (22), a reformate flow path, coolant flow passages in thermal communication with the hydride cycling bed, and reformer flow passages in thermal communication with the hydride cycling bed. The reformate flow path is formed by the hydride storage bed, the hydride cycling bed, and the hydrogen separation device and is disposed in fluid communication with the hydride storage bed and hydride cycling bed.