On-board CO2 Conversion to Fuel via Heat Exchanger and Membrane Separator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for reducing vehicle emissions, such as catalytic converters, are inefficient in converting emissions into usable fuel and contribute to greenhouse gas production by converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, which is not effectively reduced.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus incorporating a heat exchanger, membrane separator, and catalytic reactor with a nano catalyst to convert carbon dioxide and water from vehicle exhaust into hydrocarbon fuel, utilizing thermal energy from the heat exchanger to stimulate the reaction, producing ethanol and propyne as hydrocarbon fuel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional catalytic converters are used to reduce vehicle emissions, then toxic emissions are converted into non-toxic substances, but carbon dioxide is produced as a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts harmful carbon dioxide emissions into beneficial hydrocarbon fuel through a catalytic reactor. The system captures CO2 from exhaust gases and transforms it into usable fuel components, turning an environmental harm into a resource that can be recycled back into the engine.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of simply discarding carbon dioxide as waste, the system recovers it from the exhaust stream and reprocesses it into valuable hydrocarbon fuel. This recovery process prevents CO2 from being released into the atmosphere while creating a useful byproduct.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If catalytic converters are used to cleanse exhaust, then toxic substances are converted, but the amount of hydrocarbon fuel being combusted is not reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers hydrocarbon fuel from what would otherwise be wasted carbon dioxide emissions. By converting CO2 into usable fuel, the system reduces the need for external fuel input, thereby decreasing the total amount of hydrocarbon fuel that must be combusted.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a feedback loop where exhaust gases are processed to generate fuel that is then fed back into the engine. This closed-loop approach reduces the net fuel consumption by recycling carbon that would have been lost as emissions.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If heat exchanger and catalytic reactor are added to convert CO2 to fuel, then emissions are reduced and fuel is produced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heat exchanger and catalytic reactor into an integrated exhaust processing system. By merging these functions into a unified apparatus that processes exhaust gases, the system reduces complexity compared to having separate, standalone components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The catalytic reactor serves multiple functions: it acts as both a heat transfer medium (through the heat exchanger integration) and a chemical reaction vessel for converting CO2 to fuel. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed in the system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces vehicle emissions by converting carbon dioxide into usable hydrocarbon fuel, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and utilizing waste heat from the vehicle's exhaust, thereby enhancing energy efficiency and fuel recycling.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger to extract thermal energy from exhaust gases of a combustion engine
Implementation Method 2
a membrane separator to separate water and carbon dioxide from the exhaust gases
Implementation Method 3
a catalytic reactor having a nano catalyst, the catalytic reactor to contain a reaction of the water and the carbon dioxide that produces hydrocarbon fuel, the reaction being facilitated by the nano catalyst
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and process for reducing vehicle emissions by converting exhaust gases to hydrocarbon fuel. The apparatus and process supplement conventional emission control techniques to further reduce vehicle emissions of harmful substances. The apparatus includes a heat exchanger to extract thermal energy from exhaust gases of a combustion engine that powers propulsion of a vehicle, a membrane separator to separate water and carbon dioxide from the exhaust gases, and a catalytic reactor comprising a nano catalyst. The catalytic reactor receives the water and the carbon dioxide from the membrane separator, contains a reaction of the water and the carbon dioxide that produces hydrocarbon fuel and is facilitated by the nano catalyst, and uses the thermal energy from the heat exchanger to stimulate the reaction. The catalytic reactor is contained within a body of the heat exchanger to facilitate the transfer of thermal energy.