Low-Temperature Fuel Reformer for Engine Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional internal combustion engine combustion modes are inefficient and environmentally detrimental, requiring multiple fuels or catalysts to achieve clean and high-efficiency operation, which is impractical and costly.
Innovation Solution
A low-temperature fuel reforming unit connects an external reformer to the engine, regulating temperature, pressure, and equivalence ratio to produce hybrid gases with varying activities, which are then introduced into the engine cylinder for combined combustion with fresh fuel, achieving activity and concentration stratification without catalysts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If traditional combustion mode is used, then engine operation is simple, but energy efficiency is low and environmental impact is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion process is segmented into two independent parts: external fuel reforming in a separate reactor and internal combustion in the engine cylinder. This allows optimization of each process independently, achieving high energy efficiency through low-temperature reforming that produces reactive intermediates, while keeping the engine structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Fuel is pre-reformed externally before entering the engine cylinder. The external reformer performs preliminary chemical transformation of the fuel at low temperature to produce reactive intermediate species, which then enhance the combustion process inside the cylinder, improving overall energy efficiency without complicating the engine's core combustion system.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If multiple fuels or catalysts are used to achieve clean combustion, then emission performance improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the chemical parameters of the fuel by performing external reforming to produce a mixture containing reactive intermediates. This parameter change in fuel composition enables clean combustion and meets emission regulations without requiring multiple fuel types or catalyst systems, thus avoiding increased system complexity.
3Productivity
If external reformer is added, then combustion efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the combustion function into external reforming and internal combustion, allowing the external reformer to be optimized for high combustion efficiency while the engine structure remains relatively simple. The reformer operates independently at low temperature to produce reactive intermediates that enhance engine combustion.
Solution Approach 2:
The external reformer acts as an intermediary device that transforms fuel into a more reactive form before it enters the engine. This intermediary process improves combustion efficiency by providing pre-reacted fuel species, while the reformer itself can be a relatively simple device operating under controlled conditions.
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
This approach extends the high-efficiency clean combustion range, meets Euro VI emission regulations, and improves engine efficiency and energy savings by controlling the combustion reaction path with a single fuel, eliminating the need for catalysts.
Implementation Method 1
In the external low-temperature fuel reformer, vaporized fuel combines with the fresh air, and then performs low-temperature reforming so as to form low-temperature reformed products
Implementation Method 2
the external low-temperature fuel reformer, which is winded with a heater strip
Implementation Method 3
a thermocouple, which is used for testing the temperature of the reformed hybrid gas, is arranged adjacent to the outlet of the external low-temperature fuel reformer
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a novel low-temperature fuel reforming unit based on combined external reformer of an engine, comprising an engine cylinder and an external low-temperature fuel reformer; the external low-temperature fuel reformer is winded with a heater strip and is provided with a first temperature controlled meter, the inlet of the external low-temperature fuel reformer is connected with a air inlet pipe and a fuel sample injection pipe, and a flow meter is arranged on the air inlet pipe; the fuel sample injection pipe is connected with a fuel injection pump and a fuel vaporization tank which is provided with a second temperature controlled meter; the outlet of the external low-temperature fuel reformer is connected with the engine inlet pipe via a reforming gas pipe; and the reformed low-temperature products enter into the engine inlet pipe via the reforming gas pipe for combining with the fresh air again to form a uniform hybrid gas, and the hybrid gas is introduced into the engine cylinder and performing combined combustion with the fuel in the cylinder to achieve activity and concentration stratification of hybrid gas. Since the above process does not need adding catalyst, the engine of the present invention can be operated more efficient and energy-saving.