Engine systems and methods of operating an engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016010600-A1
Application number	US-201514859865-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 21, 2015
Priority date	Jun 30, 2011
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention is a unique method for operating an engine. Another embodiment is a unique engine system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for engines and engine systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for operating an engine, comprising:
providing a combustion chamber of the engine with a fuel; starting the engine using the fuel; starting a reformer, wherein the reformer is configured to reform at least some of the fuel; transitioning from the provision of fuel to the combustion chamber to a provision of reformed fuel; providing only reformed fuel to the combustion chamber; and venting an excess of reformed fuel produced by the reformer, during the transitioning.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the combustion chamber is a pre-combustion chamber.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transitioning is performed after the reformer has reached a catalytic auto-ignition temperature.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the engine is an internal combustion engine.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fuel is natural gas.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reformer is a catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) reformer.

7 . An engine system, comprising:
an engine; a compressor operative to pressurize an oxidant; a reformer in fluid communication with the compressor and a source of fuel, wherein the reformer is configured to receive the oxidant and fuel received from the source of fuel, and to reform the fuel; a cooler in fluid communication with the reformer and configured to reduce the temperature of the reformed fuel output by the reformer; and a combustion chamber of the engine in fluid communication with the cooler, wherein the combustion chamber is configured to receive the cooed reformed fuel from the cooler.

8 . The engine system of claim 7 , wherein the reformer is a catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) reformer.

9 . The engine system of claim 7 , wherein the combustion chamber is a pre-combustion chamber.

10 . The engine system of claim 7 , wherein the engine is a piston engine.

11 . The engine system of claim 7 , further comprising an engine air intake, wherein the compressor is configured to increase the pressure of the oxidant to above the pressure at the engine air intake.

12 . The engine system of claim 7 , further comprising an engine air intake and a valve in fluid communication between the reformer and the air intake, wherein the valve is configured to control an amount of flow of the reformed fuel to the combustion chamber by venting a portion of the reformed fuel to the air intake.

13 . The engine system of claim 12 , wherein the valve is configured to increase a vented amount of the reformed fuel in response to a decrease in engine power output; and wherein the valve is configured to decrease a vented amount of the reformed fuel in response to an increase in engine power output.

14 . The engine system of claim 7 , further comprising a valve configured to control an amount of fuel supplied to the reformer.

15 . The engine system of claim 13 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the reformed fuel exiting the reformer, wherein the valve is configured to control the amount of fuel supplied based on the temperature of the reformed fuel exiting the reformer.

16 . The engine system of claim 7 , further comprising a valve system configured to transition between 100% unreformed fuel and 0% reformed fuel supplied to the combustion chamber and 0% unreformed fuel and 100% reformed fuel supplied to the combustion chamber.

17 . The engine system of claim 7 , wherein the reformer includes a catalyst, further comprising a heating system configured to heat the catalyst to a catalytic auto ignition temperature prior to, during or after startup of the engine.

Assignees

• Lg Fuel Cell Systems Inc

Inventors

• Scotto Mark Vincent

Classifications

• F01N3/0205

  using heat exchangers · CPC title

• F02B43/12

  Methods of operating · CPC title

• F01N2570/12

  Hydrocarbons · CPC title

• F01N3/20

  specially adapted for catalytic conversion (F01N3/22 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02M27/02 Primary

  by catalysts · CPC title