Pulsating Current Electrolysis for Engine Combustion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for operating internal combustion engines with hydrogen-oxygen mixtures generated by water electrolysis face challenges in reducing fuel consumption and pollutant emissions while maintaining efficient combustion, often requiring complex equipment and high energy expenditure.

Innovation Solution

A method and arrangement that directly feeds energy-enriched Browns gas, containing hydrogen, oxygen, and water molecules, into the engine's combustion air without intermediate storage, using a pulsating current electrolysis device with minimal apparatus and energy outlay, ensuring efficient combustion by utilizing energy-enriched water molecules as ignition nuclei.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hydrogen-oxygen mixture is generated and temporarily stored at specified pressure, then the gas can be fed into the engine intake tract during starting up and high power acceleration, but the equipment complexity increases due to separate water tank and additional alternator

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine starting and high power performanceVSAvoidelectrolysis device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate storage环节 from the hydrogen-oxygen mixture system. Instead of generating, storing, and then feeding the gas mixture, the system generates the gas mixture directly at the point of use (engine intake tract), removing the need for separate storage tanks, pressure regulation systems, and additional alternators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrolysis device is integrated directly into the engine's air intake system, merging the gas generation function with the existing combustion air supply pathway. This combination eliminates separate components and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining the ability to provide hydrogen-oxygen mixture during starting and high power operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Quantity of substance

If complex electrolysis device with separate water tank and additional alternator is used, then hydrogen-oxygen mixture can be generated for engine operation, but the energy expenditure and apparatus outlay increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydrogen-oxygen mixture supplyVSAvoidenergy consumption for electrolysis
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The electrolysis device is designed to utilize the engine's existing electrical system and air intake infrastructure, making the system multi-functional. The same system that supplies combustion air also generates and delivers the hydrogen-oxygen mixture, eliminating the need for dedicated separate systems and reducing overall energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the engine's own operational parameters (air intake flow, electrical system) to fuel the electrolysis process. The electrolysis device draws power from the engine's existing electrical system and uses the incoming air flow to deliver the generated gas mixture, making the system self-sufficient without requiring external energy sources or additional fuel tanks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If energy-enriched water molecules are used as ignition nuclei, then combustion efficiency is improved with reduced fuel consumption, but the proportion of energy-enriched water molecules decreases over time without continuous generation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidstability of energy-enriched water molecules
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The electrolysis device operates continuously during engine operation to generate fresh energy-enriched water molecules at the exact moment they are needed in the combustion chamber. This continuous generation ensures that the proportion of energy-enriched water molecules remains high throughout the combustion process, maintaining optimal combustion efficiency and complete fuel burnout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 reduces fuel consumption and pollutant emissions by enhancing combustion efficiency, minimizing power consumption, and maintaining a high proportion of energy-enriched water molecules, which act as ignition seeds for complete and long-lasting combustion, while keeping the equipment and energy expenditure low.

Implementation Method 1

a gas mixture produced by electrolysis of water that is additionally fed to the fossil fuel in the engine combustion chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrolysis: Electrolysis

Implementation Method 2

an electrolysis device operated with a pulsating current and containing energy-enriched, gaseous browns gas containing water molecules

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrolysis with pulsating current: Electrolysis

Implementation Method 3

the evenly distributed in the fuel-air mixture energy-enriched, gaseous water molecules only as the fuel f igniting starting or ignition nuclei are used for an early and long-lasting intensive and complete combustion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP3380713B1Method for operating an internal combustion engine with a gas mixture supplied to the combustion air and produced by water electrolysis, and assembly and electrolysis device for carrying out said method
Publication Date: 2022.01.26 HMT HYDROMOTIVE GMBH
  • EP3380713B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3380713B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3380713B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

During operation of an internal combustion engine with a hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture, which is additionally supplied to the fossil fuel in the engine combustion chamber and is produced by an electrolysis device associated with the internal combustion engine, the amount of air, which is sucked into the intake tract of the engine according to the respective engine operation, is measured and, per unit of volume of combustion air which has been sucked respectively, a limited amount of Browns gas, which always acts as an additive and is produced by an electrolysis device with a pulsating current, is supplied to the combustion air while being still in the state of formation and during a time-limited short duration of existence of energy-charged gaseous water molecules. The proportion of the amount of Browns gas, which has been distributed in the fuel during the combustion process, is limited to such an extent that the energy-enriched, gaseous water molecules contained in the Browns gas are only used as starting or ignition germs for igniting the fuel for an early-onset and long-lasting intensive and complete combustion. Another object of the invention is an assembly which is connected to the electrolysis device for generation and supply of Browns gas to the combustion air as a function of engine operation.