Hydrogen Electrolyser Fuel Mixing for Engine Combustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production rate of hydrogen is typically low, making it challenging to meet high demand, and its use in combustion engines is limited by storage constraints and high ignition temperatures, necessitating a solution for on-demand hydrogen production and efficient fuel mixture.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an electrolyser, hydrogen fuel enhancer, and hydrocarbon fuel vaporizer that continuously produces hydrogen, vaporizes and mixes it with hydrocarbon fuel, and ionizes the mixture for enhanced combustion properties, using ultrasound and high voltage to improve efficiency and reduce emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If hydrogen is produced by electrolysis to power combustion engines, then environmental friendliness and energy density are improved, but production volume is low requiring storage tanks
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by continuously producing hydrogen through electrolysis and storing it in a reservoir before combustion, ensuring adequate supply without requiring large external storage tanks. The hydrogen is generated in advance and maintained at ready状态 through continuous production.
Solution Approach 2:
A hydrogen reservoir acts as an intermediary between the electrolysis system and the combustion engine, buffering the mismatch between production and consumption rates. This intermediary component enables continuous operation by decoupling production and usage.
2Use of energy by moving object
If hydrogen is used in combustion engines, then energy density is improved, but ignition temperature is too high requiring special handling
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of ignition temperature by introducing a pre-charged high voltage field through ionizing electrodes. This creates a lowered ignition threshold condition, allowing hydrogen to ignite at lower temperatures than its normal autoignition point through field-induced ionization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the traditional thermal ignition mechanism with an electrical field-based ignition mechanism. Instead of relying solely on thermal energy to reach hydrogen's high ignition temperature, a high voltage electrical field is used to ionize the fuel-air mixture and initiate combustion.
3Productivity
If hydrogen is stored in a tank for high demand applications, then production constraints are overcome, but system complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen reservoir serves multiple functions: it stores hydrogen for future use, acts as a buffer between production and consumption, and provides a controlled environment for hydrogen management. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated storage and control systems.
4Ease of operation
If conventional hydrocarbon fuel is used, then ease of storage and handling is improved, but fuel consumption and emissions are high
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges hydrogen and hydrocarbon fuel into a combined fuel mixture, combining the advantages of both: hydrogen's high energy density and clean combustion with hydrocarbon's ease of storage and handling. This blended approach allows the system to leverage the complementary strengths of both fuel types.
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 system achieves a 50-70% reduction in hydrocarbon fuel consumption and 15% reduction in harmful gases, providing a cleaner and more efficient fuel for combustion engines.
Implementation Method 1
A DC current between the cathode and the anode causes electrolysis wherein the DC voltage applied to the cathode and the anode causes cations (H + H) at the cathode and can exit the water reservoir as gaseous hydrogen Hz.
Implementation Method 2
The electrolyser preferably further comprises an ultrasound generator that is configured and arranged for emitting ultra sound into the interior space enclosed by the electrolyser housing.
Implementation Method 3
The hydrogen fuel enhancer preferably further comprises a compressor stage that is arranged between the mixing stage and the ionizing stage and that is configured to compress a gas mixture supplied by the mixing stage and for feeding the compressed gas mixture to the ionizing stage.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3f
AI summary
The invention relates to generating fuel for an internal combustion engine such as a piston engine or a gas turbine. The invention relates to a system, apparatuses and methods for producing hydrogen and for hydrogen fuel enhancement. The invention relates in particular to an electrolyser that comprises an electrolyser housing enclosing an interior space that is adapted for containing a water reservoir. The electrolyser housing comprises a side wall and a top cover and a bottom cover that are tightly connected to the side wall. The electrolyser further comprises a plurality of elongate electrodes that extend from the bottom cover and/or the top cover into the interior space enclosed by the electrolyser housing. The electrodes are electrically isolated from the electrolyser housing and are electrically connected to electric conductors for feeding DC current to the electrodes. The electric connections are configured to connect electrodes acting as cathodes to a negative voltage terminal of a DC electric power source and to connect electrodes acting as anodes to a positive voltage terminal of a DC electric power source.. The invention further relates to a method of producing hydrogen enhanced hydrocarbon fuel comprising the steps of. - producing hydrogen from water by means of an electrolyser - vaporizing hydrocarbon fuel - mixing the hydrogen and the vaporized hydrocarbon fuel - compressing the mixture of hydrogen and the vaporized hydrocarbon fuel, and - ionizing the compressed mixture of hydrogen and the vaporized hydrocarbon fuel.