Combustion Engine Assembly with an Ethanol Reformer Unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023167789-A1
Application number	US-202217985186-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 11, 2022
Priority date	Nov 30, 2021
Publication date	Jun 1, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

An internal combustion engine assembly is provided with a fuel tank for fuel including ethanol, and a reformer for steam reforming of ethanol that is with an outlet connected to a buffer tank. A first reformer supply duct extends from the fuel tank to the reformer via a fuel evaporator that is in heat exchanging contact with the exhaust gases, for supplying ethanol vapor to the reformer. A second reformer supply duct extends from a water reservoir to the reformer via a water evaporator that is in heat exchanging contact with the exhaust gases. The reformer is in heat exchanging contact with the catalytic converter and is adapted for reforming ethanol and water into syngas including carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and for supplying the syngas via the outlet to the buffer tank. The reformer and the catalytic converter may form an integrated unit.

First claim

1 . An internal combustion engine assembly, comprising:
a fuel tank for containing fuel comprising ethanol, the fuel tank being connected via a fuel supply duct to a fuel inlet of at least one of a number of cylinders, the cylinders being with an outlet connected to an exhaust system comprising a catalytic converter, a reformer for steam reforming of ethanol, being with an outlet connected to a buffer tank, that is connected to a fuel inlet of the cylinders, and a first reformer supply duct extending from the fuel tank to the reformer via a fuel evaporator that is in heat exchanging contact with the exhaust gases, for supplying ethanol vapor to the reformer, and a second reformer supply duct extending from a water reservoir to the reformer via a water evaporator that is in heat exchanging contact with the exhaust gases, for supplying water steam to the reformer, the reformer being in heat exchanging contact with the catalytic converter and being adapted for reforming ethanol and water into syngas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and for supplying the syngas via the outlet to the buffer tank.

2 . The internal combustion engine assembly according to claim 1 , the reformer and the catalytic converter forming an integrated unit.

3 . The internal combustion engine assembly according to claim 1 , comprising an exhaust water condenser receiving at an inlet exhaust gases and being with an outlet connected to the water reservoir.

4 . The internal combustion engine assembly according to claim 3 , the fuel evaporator and the exhaust water condenser forming an integrated unit.

5 . The internal combustion engine assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the buffer tank is connected with an outlet to a combustion device that is in heat conducting contact with the catalytic converter.

6 . The internal combustion engine assembly according to claim 1 , the water reservoir being with a cooling outlet connected to the cylinders for cooling of the cylinders.

7 . A vehicle, comprising:
an internal combustion engine assembly, comprising:
a fuel tank for containing fuel comprising ethanol, the fuel tank being connected via a fuel supply duct to a fuel inlet of at least one of a number of cylinders, the cylinders being with an outlet connected to an exhaust system comprising a catalytic converter,
a reformer for steam reforming of ethanol, being with an outlet connected to a buffer tank, that is connected to a fuel inlet of the cylinders, and
a first reformer supply duct extending from the fuel tank to the reformer via a fuel evaporator that is in heat exchanging contact with the exhaust gases, for supplying ethanol vapor to the reformer, and a second reformer supply duct extending from a water reservoir to the reformer via a water evaporator that is in heat exchanging contact with the exhaust gases, for supplying water steam to the reformer,
the reformer being in heat exchanging contact with the catalytic converter and being adapted for reforming ethanol and water into syngas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and for supplying the syngas via the outlet to the buffer tank.

8 . The vehicle according to claim 7 , the reformer and the catalytic converter forming an integrated unit.

9 . The vehicle according to claim 7 , comprising an exhaust water condenser receiving at an inlet exhaust gases and being with an outlet connected to the water reservoir.

10 . The vehicle according to claim 9 , the fuel evaporator and the exhaust water condenser forming an integrated unit.

11 . The vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein the buffer tank is connected with an outlet to a combustion device that is in heat conducting contact with the catalytic converter.

12 . The vehicle according to claim 7 , the water reservoir being with a cooling outlet connected to the cylinders for cooling of the cylinders.

13 . An assembly, comprising:
a catalytic converter, an ethanol steam reformer, and a housing containing the converter and the reformer, each having separate fluid flows and containing heat exchange means for exchange of heat between the reformer and the converter.

Assignees

• Volvo Car Corp

Inventors

• Rolandson Ola

Classifications

• F02M21/0209 Primary

  Hydrocarbon fuels, e.g. methane or acetylene · CPC title

• F02M25/025

  Adding water · CPC title

• Y02T10/12

  Improving ICE efficiencies · CPC title

• F02M26/36

  with means for adding fluids other than exhaust gas to the recirculation passage; with reformers · CPC title

• F02M26/35

  with means for cleaning or treating the recirculated gases, e.g. catalysts, condensate traps, particle filters or heaters · CPC title