US6405720B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Natural gas powered engine
Assignee: COLLIER TECHNOLOGIES Inc
•
Filing: 2000-04-03
•
Granted: 2002-06-18
•
Expires: 2020-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A method of producing near zero NO x and near zero CO emissions in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine using a gaseous fuel comprised of natural gas and at least one additional gas selected from hydrogen and carbon monoxide. A first portion of the exhaust gas is recycled for providing dilution of the fuel charge. A second portion of the exhaust gas is discharged to the atmosphere. The engine is operated to combust the gaseous fuel with air under exhaust gas recycle conditions which produce near zero NO x emissions and near zero CO emission in the exhaust discharged to the atmosphere.
Inventors
- 👤 R. Kirk Collier, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:20
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M25/00; F02M25/10; F02M25/12; F02B; F02B43/00; F02D; F02D19/00; F02D19/02; F02D19/021; F02D19/022; F02D19/023; F02D19/06; F02D19/0639; F02D19/0642; F02D19/08; F02D19/082; F02M21/00; F02M21/02; F02M21/0203; F02M21/0206; F02M21/0215; F02M26/00; F02M26/13; F02M26/22; F02M26/23; F02M26/35; F02B43/10; F02B2043/103; F02D41/00; F02D41/0025; F02D41/0047; F02M26/27; F02M26/28; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12; Y02T10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
A method of producing near-zero NO x and near-zero CO emissions in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine using a gaseous fuel wherein the exhaust gas includes water vapor, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an internal combustion engine having an intake for fuel and having exhaust gas; (b) providing a gaseous fuel comprised of natural gas and hydrogen sufficient to prevent said engine from misfiring during operation and adding said gaseous fuel to said engine; (c) separating the exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine into first and second portions, wherein the first portion comprises 30 to 50% of the exhaust gas; (d) cooling the first portion of the exhaust gas to condense at least a portion of the water vapor; (e) separating the condensed water from the first portion of the exhaust gas; (f) discharging a second portion of the exhaust gas to the atmosphere; (g) operating said engine to combust a charge of said gaseous fuel and air in an equivalence ratio in the range of 0.6 to 0.45, said charge diluted with said first portion of exhaust gas, said operating being carried out: (i) to produce not greater than 10 ppm NO x emissions in said exhaust gas emitted from said engine; and (ii) under lean burn conditions to provide not less than 0.5% oxygen in said exhaust gas emitted from said engine; and (h) oxidizing CO in said second portion of the exhaust gas using an oxidizing catalyst to produce not greater than 10 ppm CO emission in said second portion of the exhaust gas discharged to the atmosphere.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
267 words
A method of producing near-zero NO x and near-zero CO emissions in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine using a gaseous fuel wherein the exhaust gas includes water vapor, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an internal combustion engine having an intake for fuel and having exhaust gas; (b) providing a gaseous fuel comprised of natural gas and hydrogen sufficient to prevent said engine from misfiring during operation and adding said gaseous fuel to said engine; (c) separating the exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine into first and second portions, wherein the first portion comprises 30 to 50% of the exhaust gas; (d) cooling the first portion of the exhaust gas to condense at least a portion of the water vapor; (e) separating the condensed water from the first portion of the exhaust gas; (f) discharging a second portion of the exhaust gas to the atmosphere; (g) operating said engine to combust a charge of said gaseous fuel and air in an equivalence ratio in the range of 0.6 to 0.45, said charge diluted with said first portion of exhaust gas, said operating being carried out: (i) to produce not greater than 10 ppm NO x emissions in said exhaust gas emitted from said engine; and (ii) under lean burn conditions to provide not less than 0.5% oxygen in said exhaust gas emitted from said engine; and (h) oxidizing CO in said second portion of the exhaust gas using an oxidizing catalyst to produce not greater than 10 ppm CO emission in said second portion of the exhaust gas discharged to the atmosphere.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
239 words
A method of producing near-zero NO x and near-zero CO emissions in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine using a gaseous fuel wherein the exhaust gas includes water vapor, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an internal combustion engine having an intake for fuel and having an exhaust gas; (b) providing a gaseous fuel comprised of natural gas and at least one additional gas selected from hydrogen and CO and adding said gaseous fuel to said engine; (c) recirculating a first portion of the exhaust gas, cooling the first portion of exhaust gas to condense at least a portion of the water vapor, removing the condensed water from the first portion of exhaust gas, and adding said first portion of exhaust gas to said engine; (d) discharging a second portion of the exhaust gas, to the atmosphere; (e) operating said engine to combust a charge of said gaseous fuel and air, said charge diluted with said first portion of exhaust gas, said operating being carried out; (i) under exhaust gas recycle conditions which product near-zero NO x emissions in said exhaust gas emitted from said engine; and (ii) under lean bum conditions to provide oxygen in said exhaust gas emitted from said engine; and (f) oxidizing CO in said second portion of the exhaust gas using an oxidizing catalyst to product near-zero CO emission in said second portion of the exhaust gas discharged to the atmosphere.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
239 words
A method of producing near-zero NO x and near-zero CO emissions in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine using a gaseous fuel wherein the exhaust gas includes water vapor, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an internal combustion engine having an intake for fuel and having an exhaust gas; (b) providing a gaseous fuel comprised of natural gas and at least one additional gas selected from hydrogen and CO and adding said gaseous fuel to said engine; (c) recirculating a first portion of the exhaust gas, cooling the first portion of exhaust gas to condense at least a portion of the water vapor, removing the condensed water from the first portion of exhaust gas, and adding said first portion of exhaust gas to said engine; (d) discharging a second portion of the exhaust gas, to the atmosphere; (e) operating said engine to combust a charge of said gaseous fuel and air, said charge diluted with said first portion of exhaust gas, said operating being carried out; (i) under exhaust gas recycle conditions which product near-zero NO x emissions in said exhaust gas emitted from said engine; and (ii) under lean bum conditions to provide oxygen in said exhaust gas emitted from said engine; and (f) oxidizing CO in said second portion of the exhaust gas using an oxidizing catalyst to product near-zero CO emission in said second portion of the exhaust gas discharged to the atmosphere.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said additional gas is hydrogen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said additional gas is CO.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first portion of exhaust recycled comprises 30 to 50% of the exhaust gas emitted from said engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method in accordance with claim 2 including utilizing an air and fuel equivalence ratio in the range of 0.99 to 0.7.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method in accordance with claim 2 including utilizing an air and fuel equivalence ratio in the range of 0.95 to 0.8.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said NO x emissions are less than 10 ppm and said CO emissions are less than 10 ppm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method in accordance with claim 2 including operating said engine under lean burn conditions which provides up to 4% oxygen in said exhaust gas emitted from said engine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said gaseous fuel comprises natural gas and combination of hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1628066A
Cited
US1936155A
Cited
US3855980A
Cited
US3943236A
Cited
US3759678A
Cited
US3825487A
Cited
US3929431A
Cited
US4147136A
Cited
US4059076A
Cited
US4073716A
Cited
US4175386A
Cited
US4199938A
Cited
US4340013A
Cited
US4244328A
Cited
US4318369A
Cited
US4328781A
Cited
US4375746A
Cited
US4337170A
Cited
US4547356A
Cited
US4476817A
Cited
DE3048540A1
Cited
US4475484A
Cited
US4358364A
Cited
US4444158A
Cited
US4425876A
Cited
US5004592A
Cited
US4473490A
Cited
WO1985000159A1
Cited
US4635609A
Cited
US4919844A
Cited
US4643666A
Cited
JPS61171870A
Cited
US4696279A
Cited
US4900333A
Cited
JPH02116603A
Cited
US5156114A
Cited
US5081977A
Cited
US5448885A
Cited
GB2258012A
Cited
JPH05200252A
Cited
US5725616A
Cited
US5297515A
Cited
US5388402A
Cited
WO1994023188A1
Cited
US5410872A
Cited
US5660602A
Cited
US5666923A
Cited
US5488932A
Cited
US5592925A
Cited
US5671600A
Cited
US5787864A
Cited
US5852927A
Cited
US5763351A
Cited
US5814283A
Cited
US5609144A
Cited
US5720266A
Cited
US5972829A
Cited
US6079373A
Cited
US5947063A
Cited
US6026787A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-06-17 | 2005-12-17 | 2006-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-17 | 2009-12-17 | 2010-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-17 | 2013-12-17 | 2014-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |