US5660602A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydrogen enriched natural gas as a clean motor fuel
Assignee: University of Central Florida
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Filing: 1996-03-04
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Granted: 1997-08-26
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Expires: 2016-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A fuel mixture is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, an alternative gaseous fuel for operating a combustion engine includes approximately 21 to 50% Hydrogen and the rest natural gas constituants such as combinations of Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, Ethane, Propane, Iso-Butane, N-Butane, Iso Pentane, N-Pentane, and Hexanes Plus. Current production engines without any substantial modifications can take this alternative fuel. This alternative fuel is lean burning and emits emissions that are below current legal standards.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Kirk Collier, Jr.
- 👤 Robert Louis Hoekstra
- 👤 David Neal Mulligan
- 👤 Douglas Edward Hahn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:03
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L3/00; C10L3/06; F; F02; F02B; F02B43/00; F02B43/02; F02B43/04; F02B43/10; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S123/00; Y10S123/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for producing lean burn and near zero NOx emission rates for an internal combustion engine in an automotive vehicle using an alternative gaseous fuel, as compared to the burn and emission rates of a liquid fossil fuel comprising the steps of: feeding an alternative gaseous fuel mixture of approximately 28% to 36% hydrogen gas with a remainder of natural gas to an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle; and operating the internal combustion engine of the vehicle at a lean burn air and fuel equivalence ratio, and at near zero NOx emissions below approximately 200 ppm.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for producing lean burn and near zero NOx emission rates for an internal combustion engine in an automotive vehicle using an alternative gaseous fuel, as compared to the burn and emission rates of a liquid fossil fuel comprising the steps of: feeding an alternative gaseous fuel mixture of approximately 28% to 36% hydrogen gas with a remainder of natural gas to an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle; and operating the internal combustion engine of the vehicle at a lean burn air and fuel equivalence ratio, and at near zero NOx emissions below approximately 200 ppm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the natural gas further include constituants selected from at least one of: Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, Ethane, Propane, Iso-Butane, N-Butane, Iso Pentane, N-Pentane, and Hexanes Plus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the operating step further includes; a catalytic converter to further reduce hydrocarbon emissions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the lean burn operating step further includes: an air and fuel equivalence ratio of approximately 0.625.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine further includes an engine size selected from one of: 4 cylinders, 6 six cylinders and 8 cylinders.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the near zero NOx emissions includes: hydrocarbon levels of approximately 104 ppm(0.84 gm/hp hr.).
Claim 8
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of producing lean burn and near zero NOx emission rates for an internal combustion engine used in an automotive vehicle by using an alternative gaseous fuel, as compared to the burn and emission rates of a liquid fossil fuel comprising the steps of: feeding an alternative gaseous fuel mixture consisting of approximately 28% to 36% hydrogen gas and a remainder of natural gas to a standard internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle, wherein the standard internal combustion engine is selected from one of 4 cylinders, 6 cylinders and 8 cylinders; and operating the internal combustion engine of the vehicle at lean burn having an air and fuel equivalence ratio of approximately 0.625, and at near zero NOx emissions below approximately 200 ppm.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of producing lean burn and near zero NOx emission rates for an internal combustion engine used in an automotive vehicle by using an alternative gaseous fuel, as compared to the burn and emission rates of a liquid fossil fuel comprising the steps of: feeding an alternative gaseous fuel mixture consisting of approximately 28% to 36% hydrogen gas and a remainder of natural gas to a standard internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle, wherein the standard internal combustion engine is selected from one of 4 cylinders, 6 cylinders and 8 cylinders; and operating the internal combustion engine of the vehicle at lean burn having an air and fuel equivalence ratio of approximately 0.625, and at near zero NOx emissions below approximately 200 ppm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the near zero NOx emissions includes: hydrocarbon levels of approximately 104 ppm(0.84 gm/hp hr.).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of producing lean burn and near zero NOx emission rates for an internal combustion engine used in an automotive vehicle by using an alternative gaseous fuel, as compared to the burn and emission rates of liquid fossil fuel comprising the steps of: feeding an alternative gaseous fuel mixture consisting of approximately 30% hydrogen gas and a remainder of natural gas to a standard internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle, wherein the standard internal combustion engine is selected from one of 4 cylinders, 6 cylinders and 8 cylinders; and operating the internal combustion engine of the vehicle at lean burn having an air and fuel equivalence ratio of approximately 0.625, and at near zero NOx emissions below approximately 200 ppm; and using a catalytic converter to further reduce NOx emissions.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of producing lean burn and near zero NOx emission rates for an internal combustion engine used in an automotive vehicle by using an alternative gaseous fuel, as compared to the burn and emission rates of liquid fossil fuel comprising the steps of: feeding an alternative gaseous fuel mixture consisting of approximately 30% hydrogen gas and a remainder of natural gas to a standard internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle, wherein the standard internal combustion engine is selected from one of 4 cylinders, 6 cylinders and 8 cylinders; and operating the internal combustion engine of the vehicle at lean burn having an air and fuel equivalence ratio of approximately 0.625, and at near zero NOx emissions below approximately 200 ppm; and using a catalytic converter to further reduce NOx emissions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the near zero NOx emissions includes: hydrocarbon levels of approximately 104 ppm(0.84 gm/hp hr.).
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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) | 2000-08-25 | 2001-02-24 | 2001-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-25 | 2005-02-24 | 2005-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-25 | 2009-02-24 | 2009-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |