US3717129A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for reducing engine exhaust pollutants
Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
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Filing: 1970-09-28
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Granted: 1973-02-20
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Expires: 1990-09-28
Abstract
Abstract This invention resides in passing exhaust gases from an engine through a fuel regenerator in indirect heat exchange with fuel and steam in contact with a catalytic bed for steam reforming the fuel, bringing the reformed fuel into heat exchange relationship with the fuel and water entering the fuel regenerator and thereafter operating the engine utilizing this reformed fuel for lowering the amount of pollutant species discharging from the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 H Fox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:12
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M25/00; F02M25/022; F02M25/0228; F02B; F02B43/00; F02B43/10; F02M25/0221; F02M25/0224; F02M27/00; F02M27/02; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12; Y02T10/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S123/00; Y10S123/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
A method for reducing the exhaust pollutants discharging from an engine comprising: delivering a first hydrocarbon fuel to the engine for operating the engine; continuing to operate the engine until the exhaust temperature discharging from the engine increases to a preselected temperature; metering into and mixing volumes of the first fuel and water in a catalyst bed that is in indirect heat exchange with exhaust gases discharging from the engine; maintaining the first fuel and water mixture in contact with the catalytic bed for a time sufficient for heating the mixture to a temperature and for a time sufficient for reforming the first fuel mixture in the presence of the catalyst and producing a second reformed fuel having decreased pollutant properties when combusted; passing the second reformed fuel into heat exchange relationship with the first fuel and water being metered into the catalyst bed for increasing the temperature of said first fuel and water; passing the second fuel to a fuel injection apparatus of the engine; mixing a volume of air with the second reformed fuel; delivering the second reformed fuel and air mixture into the engine; at least reducing the volume of first fuel delivered to the engine; and combusting the second reformed fuel in the engine for operating said engine at reduced pollutant rates.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
216 words
A method for reducing the exhaust pollutants discharging from an engine comprising: delivering a first hydrocarbon fuel to the engine for operating the engine; continuing to operate the engine until the exhaust temperature discharging from the engine increases to a preselected temperature; metering into and mixing volumes of the first fuel and water in a catalyst bed that is in indirect heat exchange with exhaust gases discharging from the engine; maintaining the first fuel and water mixture in contact with the catalytic bed for a time sufficient for heating the mixture to a temperature and for a time sufficient for reforming the first fuel mixture in the presence of the catalyst and producing a second reformed fuel having decreased pollutant properties when combusted; passing the second reformed fuel into heat exchange relationship with the first fuel and water being metered into the catalyst bed for increasing the temperature of said first fuel and water; passing the second fuel to a fuel injection apparatus of the engine; mixing a volume of air with the second reformed fuel; delivering the second reformed fuel and air mixture into the engine; at least reducing the volume of first fuel delivered to the engine; and combusting the second reformed fuel in the engine for operating said engine at reduced pollutant rates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the temperature of the exhaust gases passing through the fuel regenerator adjacent the catalyst bed is maintained at a temperature of at least 950*F while the second fuel is injected into the catalytic bed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the catalyst utilized is selected from a group comprising nickel and cobalt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the catalyst includes materials selected from the group consisting of oxides of aluminum, chromium, cerium, zirconium and calcium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first hydrocarbon liquid fuel is selected from the group consisting of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene and liquefied petroleum gaS.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second reformed fuel is produced at a rate such that delivery of the second fuel to the engine is at a rate sufficient to operate the engine at the desired speed and including terminating the flow of first fuel to the engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the temperature of the exhaust gas adjacent the catalytic bed is maintained at a temperature of at least 950*F during injection of fuel and water into the catalytic bed; the catalytic bed is selected from a group comprising nickel and cobalt; the first fuel is liquefied petroleum gas; and the pressure within the catalyst bed is maintained at pressures greater than about 2 atmospheres.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
220 words
An apparatus for reducing the exhaust pollutants discharging from an engine comprising: means for delivering a stream of first hydrocarbon liquid fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine; a fuel regenerator tube having separate first and second chambers extending therethrough and having openings formed on the ends thereof in communication with said chambers with said regenerator having a catalytic bed in the first chamber; a conduit connected to the combustion chamber of the engine and the second chamber of the fuel regenerator tube for passing exhaust gases from the engine through the second chamber of the fuel regenerator tube in indirect heat exchange with the catalyst in the first chamber of said fuel regenerator tube; means for metering a stream of first hydrocarbon liquid fuel and a stream of water into one end of the first chamber of the fuel regenerator tube each at a preselected rate; means for maintaining the pressure in the first chamber of the fuel regenerator at a preselected pressure; means for delivering a resultant second fuel from the other end of the first chamber into heat exchange with the metered fuel and water stream and into the combustion chamber of the engine; and valve means for terminating the flow of the stream of first hydrocarbon liquid fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
220 words
An apparatus for reducing the exhaust pollutants discharging from an engine comprising: means for delivering a stream of first hydrocarbon liquid fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine; a fuel regenerator tube having separate first and second chambers extending therethrough and having openings formed on the ends thereof in communication with said chambers with said regenerator having a catalytic bed in the first chamber; a conduit connected to the combustion chamber of the engine and the second chamber of the fuel regenerator tube for passing exhaust gases from the engine through the second chamber of the fuel regenerator tube in indirect heat exchange with the catalyst in the first chamber of said fuel regenerator tube; means for metering a stream of first hydrocarbon liquid fuel and a stream of water into one end of the first chamber of the fuel regenerator tube each at a preselected rate; means for maintaining the pressure in the first chamber of the fuel regenerator at a preselected pressure; means for delivering a resultant second fuel from the other end of the first chamber into heat exchange with the metered fuel and water stream and into the combustion chamber of the engine; and valve means for terminating the flow of the stream of first hydrocarbon liquid fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, including insulating material covering the fuel regenerator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-20 | 1976-08-21 | 1977-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-20 | 1980-08-21 | 1981-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-20 | 1984-08-21 | 1985-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |