Fuel supply system for engines and combustion processes therefor

Claim 2

A fuel combustion process for multicylinder engines that reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen in the engine exhaust, the process includes the steps of: burning a hydrocarbon rich fuel in at least one engine cylinder to produce exhaust gas containing carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, unburned hydrocarbons, water vapor and hydrogen; reacting the exhaust gas in the presence of a water-gas shift catalyst to produce a mixture containing increased hydrogen and carbon dioxide; mixing said mixture with a hydrocarbon lean fuel to form a hydrogen enriched inlet gas; and burning said inlet gas in the remaining engine cylinders to power said engine and producing engine exhaust containing reduced amounts of unburned hydrocarbons and reduced amounts of oxides of nitrogen.

Claim 3

An improved multi-cylinder engine fuel supply system that comprises: first carburetor means for supplying hydrocarbon rich fuel to at least one cylinder; conduit means connected with an exhaust port of at least one cylinder and with an inlet port of each remaining cylinder of said engine for delivering exhaust gas containing carbon monoxide, water vapor, oxides of nitrogen, and unburned hydrocarbons from said at least one cylinder to the inlet port of each said remaining cylinder; water-gas shift catalyst means located in said conduit means for producing a mixture containing hydrogen and carbon dioxide; and second carburetor means for supplying a hydrocarbon lean fuel to said conduit means for mixing with said mixture forming a hydrogen enriched inlet gas and for supplying said inlet gas to said inlet ports.

Claim 4

An improved multi-cylinder engine fuel supply system that comprises: first carburetor means for supplying hydrocarbon rich fuel to at least one cylinder; conduit means connected with an exhaust port of at least one cylinder and with an inlet port of each remaining cylinder of said engine for delivering exhaust gas containing carbon monoxide, water vapor, oxides of nitrogen, and unburned hydrocarbons from said at least one cylinder to the inlet port of each said remaining cylinder; water-gas shift catalyst means located in said conduit means for producing a mixture containing hydrogen and carbon dioxide; and second carburetor means for supplying a hydrocarbon lean fuel to said conduit means for mixing with said mixture forming a hydrogen enriched inlet gas and for supplying said inlet gas to said inlet ports.

Claim 5

The fuel supply system of claim 2 wherein said catalyst means is selected from a group including nickel, platinum, cobalt, ruthenium and palladium.

Claim 6

A fuel supply system for a gas turbine engine having first and second combustion chambers, that includes: a first combustion chamber supplied with a rich hydrocarbon fuel generating exhaust gas containing carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, unburned hydrocarbons, water vapor and hydrogen and having an exhaust opening; a second combustion chamber supplied with a hydrocarbon lean and hydrogen enriched fuel and having an inlet opening; conduit means connecting said exhaust opening with said inlet opening; and water-gas shift catalyst means located in said conduit between said combustion chambers wherein said exhaust gas is converted to a mixture containing hydrogen and carbon dioxide and for supplying said mixture to said second combustion chamber wherein said mixture is mixed with additional air and burned for powering the engine and producing an exhaust gas containing reduced amounts of oxides of nitrogen and reduced amounts of unburned hydrocarbons.

Claim 7

A fuel supply system for a gas turbine engine having first and second combustion chambers, that includes: a first combustion chamber supplied with a rich hydrocarbon fuel generating exhaust gas containing carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, unburned hydrocarbons, water vapor and hydrogen and having an exhaust opening; a second combustion chamber supplied with a hydrocarbon lean and hydrogen enriched fuel and having an inlet opening; conduit means connecting said exhaust opening with said inlet opening; and water-gas shift catalyst means located in said conduit between said combustion chambers wherein said exhaust gas is converted to a mixture containing hydrogen and carbon dioxide and for supplying said mixture to said second combustion chamber wherein said mixture is mixed with additional air and burned for powering the engine and producing an exhaust gas containing reduced amounts of oxides of nitrogen and reduced amounts of unburned hydrocarbons.

Claim 8

The fuel supply system of claim 4 wherein said catalyst means is selected from a group including nickel, platinum, cobalt, ruthenium and palladium.

Claim 9

An improved engine fuel supply system that comprises: means for supplying hydrocarbon rich fuel; a first combustion chamber in the engine for producing exhaust gas containing carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, unburned hydrocarbons, water vapor and hydrogen; a second combustion chamber in the engine; conduit means connecting said combustion chambers; and water-gas shift catalyst means located in said conduit means for receiving said exhaust gas from said first combustion chamber, for producing a mixture containing hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and for delivering said mixture to said second combustion chamber wherein said mixture and air are mixed and burned to power the engine producing an exhaust having reduced amounts of oxides of nitrogen and reduced amounts of unburned hydrocarbons.

Claim 10

An improved engine fuel supply system that comprises: means for supplying hydrocarbon rich fuel; a first combustion chamber in the engine for producing exhaust gas containing carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, unburned hydrocarbons, water vapor and hydrogen; a second combustion chamber in the engine; conduit means connecting said combustion chambers; and water-gas shift catalyst means located in said conduit means for receiving said exhaust gas from said first combustion chamber, for producing a mixture containing hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and for delivering said mixture to said second combustion chamber wherein said mixture and air are mixed and burned to power the engine producing an exhaust having reduced amounts of oxides of nitrogen and reduced amounts of unburned hydrocarbons.

Claim 11

The fuel supply system of claim 6 wherein said system also includes: a first carburetor for mixing fuel and air in a hydrocarbon rich mixture; and a second carburetor for mixing fuel and air in a hydrocarbon lean mixture.

Claim 12

The fuel supply system of claim 6 wherein said catalyst means is selected from a group including nickel, platinum, cobalt, ruthenium and palladium.

Claim 13

The fuel supply system of claim 7 wherein said catalyst means is selected from a group including nickel, platinum, cobalt, ruthenium and palladium.

Claim 14

A fuel combustion process for engines that reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen, the process includes the steps of: burning a hydrocarbon rich fuel in a first combustion chamber in the engine producing an exhaust gas containing carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, unburned hydrocarbons, water vapor and hydrogen; reacting the exhaust gas in the presence of a water-gas shift catalyst to produce a mixture containing hydrogen and carbon dioxide; mixing said mixture with air to form a hydrocarbon lean and a hydrogen enriched inlet gas; and burning said inlet gas in a second combustion chamber in the engine to power the engine producing engine exhaust containing reduced amounts of unburned hydrocarbons and reduced amounts of oxides of nitrogen.

Claim 15

A fuel combustion process for engines that reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen, the process includes the steps of: burning a hydrocarbon rich fuel in a first combustion chamber in the engine producing an exhaust gas containing carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, unburned hydrocarbons, water vapor and hydrogen; reacting the exhaust gas in the presence of a water-gas shift catalyst to produce a mixture containing hydrogen and carbon dioxide; mixing said mixture with air to form a hydrocarbon lean and a hydrogen enriched inlet gas; and burning said inlet gas in a second combustion chamber in the engine to power the engine producing engine exhaust containing reduced amounts of unburned hydrocarbons and reduced amounts of oxides of nitrogen.

Claim 16

A fuel combustion process for engines that reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen, the process includes the steps of: burning a hydrocarbon rich fuel in a first combustion chamber in the engine producing an exhaust gas; reacting the exhaust gas in the presence of a water-gas shift catalyst to produce a reactant gas mixture; mixing said mixture with air to form a hydrocarbon lean and hydrogen enriched inlet gas; and burning said inlet gas in a second combustion chamber in the engine to power the engine producing engine exhaust containing reduced amounts of unburned hydrocarbons and reduced amounts of oxides of nitrogen.

Claim 17

A fuel combustion process for engines that reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen, the process includes the steps of: burning a hydrocarbon rich fuel in a first combustion chamber in the engine producing an exhaust gas; reacting the exhaust gas in the presence of a water-gas shift catalyst to produce a reactant gas mixture; mixing said mixture with air to form a hydrocarbon lean and hydrogen enriched inlet gas; and burning said inlet gas in a second combustion chamber in the engine to power the engine producing engine exhaust containing reduced amounts of unburned hydrocarbons and reduced amounts of oxides of nitrogen.

Claim 18

A fuel combustion process for multi-cylinder engines that reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen in the engine exhaust, the process includes the steps of: forming a hydrocarbon rich fuel/air mixture in a first carburetor, the hydrocarbon rich fuel/air mixture formed above stoichiometric range; delivering the hydrocarbon rich fuel/air mixture to a first cylinder; igniting the hydrocarbon rich fuel/air mixture to the first cylinder to produce a first exhaust gas; delivering the first exhaust gas to a catalytic converter; enriching the first exhaust gas with additional hydrogen and carbon dioxide in a water-gas shift reaction in the catalytic converter to form an enriched exhaust gas; delivering the enriched exhaust gas to an intercooler; cooling the enriched exhaust gas to an inlet manifold; mixing a fuel-lean, hydrocarbon-air mixture from a second carburetor with the enriched exhaust gas in the inlet manifold to form a second exhaust gas; delivering the second gas to a plurality of cylinders; and igniting the second gas in the plurality of cylinders to provide power to the engine.

Claim 19

A fuel combustion process for multi-cylinder engines that reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen in the engine exhaust, the process includes the steps of: forming a hydrocarbon rich fuel/air mixture in a first carburetor, the hydrocarbon rich fuel/air mixture formed above stoichiometric range; delivering the hydrocarbon rich fuel/air mixture to a first cylinder; igniting the hydrocarbon rich fuel/air mixture to the first cylinder to produce a first exhaust gas; delivering the first exhaust gas to a catalytic converter; enriching the first exhaust gas with additional hydrogen and carbon dioxide in a water-gas shift reaction in the catalytic converter to form an enriched exhaust gas; delivering the enriched exhaust gas to an intercooler; cooling the enriched exhaust gas to an inlet manifold; mixing a fuel-lean, hydrocarbon-air mixture from a second carburetor with the enriched exhaust gas in the inlet manifold to form a second exhaust gas; delivering the second gas to a plurality of cylinders; and igniting the second gas in the plurality of cylinders to provide power to the engine.

Claim 20

A fuel supply system for a gas turbine engine comprising: a tubular outer housing of a combustion area of the gas turbine, the tubular outer housing formed to have a reduced diameter portion, larger diameter portion, a transition portion between the reduced diameter portion and the larger diameter portion, and a first end; a first and a second space partition located within the reduced diameter portion; a first, second, third, and fourth chamber formed by the first and second space partition and the transition portion, the first chamber located upstream from all the other chambers and the fourth chamber located downstream of all the other chambers; a gas nozzle for delivering a hydrocarbon rich fuel located upstream of the reduced diameter portion in the first chamber and extending through the first end; a conduit for connecting the gas nozzle to a fuel source; ports formed in the tubular outer shell of the first chamber that allow air to mix with the hydrocarbon rich fuel to form a hydrocarbon rich fuel/air mixture; an igniter located within the first chamber for igniting the hydrocarbon rich fuel/air mixture to create a first exhaust gas; means for delivering the first exhaust gas through the first space partition and into the second chamber; a catalytic converter located in the second chamber for receiving the first exhaust gas and enriching the first exhaust gas with hydrogen and carbon dioxide in a water-gas shift reaction to form a second exhaust gas; means for delivering the second exhaust gas to the third chamber; ports formed in the tubular outer shell of the third chamber for mixing air with the second exhaust gas to form a hydrocarbon lean and hydrogen enriched mixture; means for delivering the hydrocarbon lean and hydrogen enriched mixture to the fourth chamber; a second igniter that is located in the fourth chamber for igniting the hydrocarbon lean and hydrogen enriched mixture; and a turbine wheel for harnessing the power developed by the ignition of the hydrocarbon lean and hydrogen enriched mixture from the fourth chamber.

Claim 21

A fuel supply system for a gas turbine engine comprising: a tubular outer housing of a combustion area of the gas turbine, the tubular outer housing formed to have a reduced diameter portion, larger diameter portion, a transition portion between the reduced diameter portion and the larger diameter portion, and a first end; a first and a second space partition located within the reduced diameter portion; a first, second, third, and fourth chamber formed by the first and second space partition and the transition portion, the first chamber located upstream from all the other chambers and the fourth chamber located downstream of all the other chambers; a gas nozzle for delivering a hydrocarbon rich fuel located upstream of the reduced diameter portion in the first chamber and extending through the first end; a conduit for connecting the gas nozzle to a fuel source; ports formed in the tubular outer shell of the first chamber that allow air to mix with the hydrocarbon rich fuel to form a hydrocarbon rich fuel/air mixture; an igniter located within the first chamber for igniting the hydrocarbon rich fuel/air mixture to create a first exhaust gas; means for delivering the first exhaust gas through the first space partition and into the second chamber; a catalytic converter located in the second chamber for receiving the first exhaust gas and enriching the first exhaust gas with hydrogen and carbon dioxide in a water-gas shift reaction to form a second exhaust gas; means for delivering the second exhaust gas to the third chamber; ports formed in the tubular outer shell of the third chamber for mixing air with the second exhaust gas to form a hydrocarbon lean and hydrogen enriched mixture; means for delivering the hydrocarbon lean and hydrogen enriched mixture to the fourth chamber; a second igniter that is located in the fourth chamber for igniting the hydrocarbon lean and hydrogen enriched mixture; and a turbine wheel for harnessing the power developed by the ignition of the hydrocarbon lean and hydrogen enriched mixture from the fourth chamber.