DE102019107872A1 - Gas generator for generating hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas and device for fuel enrichment for an internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas generator operating on the principle of water electrolysis, which provides a water-oxygen mixed gas (8) with a largely constant amount per unit of time, and a device for enriching the fuel in internal combustion engines. The gas generator comprises an electrolysis cell (1) which is filled with a water-containing electrolyte (7) and has a stack of a plurality of geometrically identical electrolysis compartments (13). The device for fuel enrichment with the gas generator is not only suitable for reducing the fuel consumption of internal combustion engines, but also for improving exhaust gas values and reducing combustion residues in engine compartments.

Description

The invention relates to a gas generator for generating a water-oxygen mixed gas which can be added to the fuel-air mixture of internal combustion engines by means of a device for fuel enrichment.

It is known to generate hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas by means of so-called HHO cells, which split water into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis. The electrodes, which are designed as plates in these cells, are located in a gas-tight container (wet cell) or form a gas-tight container (dry cell) themselves.

While a wet cell holds the electrolyte in a kind of tub, the dry cell has to be constantly fed with water to prevent it from drying out and overheating. The water can flow into the interior of the dry cell due to gravity from a water tank connected to the cell via a water inlet, which is attached above the dry cell.

Every type of HHO cell has anodically and cathodically polarized electrodes, which are arranged at a small distance from one another (usually 1.5 mm - 3 mm). The electrodes of a dry cell are provided with holes or slits at the top and bottom so that the water can be distributed throughout the cell and the hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas can escape. The electrodes are kept at a distance from one another with a rubber seal in the form of a ring. Electrodes and rubber rings thus form the vessel of the dry cell in which the water is electrolyzed. Each dry cell has a water inlet (below) and a gas outlet (above). The cell and the water tank form a cycle in which water flows continuously from the water tank into the cell and at the same time the hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas, mixed with water, flows back into the water tank. In addition to supplying the dry cell with water, this circuit also serves to cool it.

By enriching the fuel-air mixture in the intake tract of an internal combustion engine with the hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas, it is possible to reduce the consumption of the original fuel through the more effective combustion of the enriched fuel in the combustion chamber. A gas generator with an HHO cell, which is used for fuel enrichment in internal combustion engines, is disclosed, for example EP 1 967 614 A2 .

A disadvantage of the HHO dry cells currently available on the market is that there are large differences in performance with regard to mixed gas generation between identical products. In addition, known HHO dry cells tend to overheat.

It is therefore the object of the invention to eliminate these disadvantages and to provide a gas generator operating on the principle of water electrolysis, which supplies hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas with a largely constant amount per unit of time (gas rate).

This object is achieved by a gas generator with the characterizing features of claim 1 and a device for fuel enrichment according to claim 9; Expedient developments of the invention are listed in claims 2 to 8 and 10.

According to the invention, the gas generator for generating a hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas comprises an electrolysis cell filled with a water-containing electrolyte. This has a stack of several parallel, electrically conductive electrode plates. Each of the electrode plates has a defined electrode spacing from each of its adjacent electrode plates in the stack. The electrode spacing is set by means of an electrically insulating spacer arranged in each case in the area of the plate edges between the adjacent electrode plates. The dimensional tolerance of the electrode spacing is ± 0.1 mm and the maximum parallelism deviation of the opposing surfaces of two adjacent electrode plates in the stack is 0.1 mm.

Each of the spacers is a circumferential seal of an electrolysis compartment which is formed between two adjacent electrode plates and is filled with the electrolyte. In the electrolysis compartments the decomposition of the water in the electrolyte into hydrogen and oxygen takes place on the electrode plates during normal operation. Distilled water, for example, serves as the electrolyte; preferably a two percent aqueous potassium hydroxide solution is used.

Each of the electrode plates has at least one electrode plate opening which ensures the flow of the electrolyte between the electrolysis compartments.

In order to split the water content of the electrolyte electrolytically, the electrolysis cell is connected in a known manner to a direct current source which provides the electrical energy for the water electrolysis. The electrolysis cell can be operated with an operating voltage of 12 V or 24 V and a current of 20 A, which is common in motor vehicle operation.

The device for fuel enrichment for an internal combustion engine has, in addition to the gas generator, a gas supply line for supplying the hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas into an intake tract of the internal combustion engine. The hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas flow through the gas supply line can be regulated by means of a metering valve, which is controlled by a control device, that is, a fuel-air mixture flowing in the intake tract is mixed with the hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas in one by means of the control device and the metering valve specified amount per unit of time (gas rate) enriched.

The electrical energy can be provided by means of an electricity generator connected to the internal combustion engine and / or a battery or an accumulator.

One advantage of the disclosed gas generator is that the mixed gas is generated with a high degree of constancy or only slight fluctuations in the gas rate. As a result of the structurally identical or identical electrolysis compartments, very homogeneous conditions prevail within the electrolysis cell of the gas generator. This prevents overheating in certain areas - followed by a drop in gas generation. This constancy of gas generation has a particularly advantageous effect on differences between structurally identical designs of gas generators: gas generators produced according to the disclosure show hardly any construction or batch fluctuations.

By means of the device according to the invention for fuel enrichment, it is possible to achieve fuel savings of 30% to 35%. Due to the more efficient combustion in the fuel chamber of an internal combustion engine, it requires less original fuel to provide the same power. The standard regulators of the internal combustion engines throttle the fuel supply when the hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas is added, which ultimately results in fuel savings (per unit of time).

Experience has shown that the energy gain from the more efficient combustion exceeds the energy requirement of a power generator connected to the internal combustion engine. Thus there is a positive overall energy balance when using the device for fuel enrichment.

The heating of the internal combustion engine is also reduced, so that - particularly in the case of agricultural machinery - longer operating times are possible with intensive use of the internal combustion engines.

The enrichment of fuel with the hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas also lowers the proportion of unburned fuel in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engines by up to 80% and thus contributes - in addition to reducing the amount of exhaust gas itself - to reducing the environmental impact of internal combustion engines. In addition, as a result of the lower heating of the internal combustion engine, the nitrogen oxide content (NO _x ) in the exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine is also reduced.

Another positive effect is keeping the combustion chamber clean. Internal combustion engines that run on enriched fuel show fewer deposits of combustion residues (for example soot). This delays the age-related / wear-related degradation of machine performance.

In one embodiment, the stack of the electrode plates in the electrolysis cell of the gas generator has at least one stack unit with an anodically polarized electrode plate, a cathodically polarized electrode plate and one or more unpolarized electrode plates. The unpolarized electrode plates are arranged between the two polarized electrode plates. Advantageously, there are five non-polarized electrode plates between the two polarized electrode plates when an operating voltage of 12 V is applied, and nine non-polarized electrode plates when an operating voltage of 24 V is applied. In general, a voltage difference between adjacent electrode plates of approximately 2 V is desirable.

The electrode plate openings can be aligned, i.e. H. be arranged in a row or line one above the other in the stack of the electrode plates. Alternatively, staggered arrangements of the electrode plate openings of adjacent electrode plates are also possible, which, for example, cause a meandering or vortex-like gas or electrolyte flow in the electrolytic cell.

The electrode plates preferably have an electrode spacing of 1.0 mm.

The plate thickness of the electrode plates is also preferably 1.0 mm.

A suitable material for the electrode plates is stainless Cr-Ni steel.

The mean roughness (R _a ) of the plate surfaces of the electrode plates is advantageously at most 0.2 μm. The preferred surface quality can be achieved by polishing the plate surfaces. In addition, the plate edges of the electrode plates should be deburred.

Elastomers are suitable as spacer materials, in particular reinforced elastomers that contain a fabric insert, for example.

In one embodiment, the gas generator further comprises an electrolyte container at least partially filled with the electrolyte. The electrolytic cell has a bottom plate with a bottom passage and a top plate with a top passage. The electrolysis tank is arranged above or above the cover plate of the electrolysis cell. A ceiling and a bottom line are attached to the electrolyte container, the top line being connected to the top passage of the electrolysis cell and the bottom line being connected to the bottom passage of the electrolysis cell. This embodiment ensures that the electrolytic cell is continuously fed with electrolyte or that the electrolyte filling is maintained in the electrolytic cell.

According to one embodiment, the device for fuel enrichment has an intermediate storage container integrated or interposed in the gas supply line for preventing a liquid flow through the gas supply line and for temporarily storing the hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas produced. If the (liquid) electrolyte gets into the mixed gas line, for example when the electrolyte flows around the inlet to the mixed gas line in the electrolysis tank as a result of a tilting movement or inclination of the device, it is sucked into the intake tract of the internal combustion engine. The intermediate storage tank interposed in the mixed gas line interrupts this electrolyte flow through the mixed gas line; the electrolyte that is sucked in collects in the intermediate storage tank and, due to gravity, flows back into the electrolyte tank from the intermediate storage tank located above the electrolyte tank.

• 1: die Vorrichtung zur Kraftstoffanreicherung mit Gasgenerator im Längsschnitt,
• 2: den Gasgenerator im Längsschnitt, und
• 3: den Gasgenerator im Querschnitt.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the schematic drawings. To show:

• 1 : the device for fuel enrichment with gas generator in longitudinal section,
• 2 : the gas generator in longitudinal section, and
• 3 : the gas generator in cross section.

The device for fuel enrichment according to 1 includes next to the gas generator with the electrolysis cell 1 and the electrolyte container 2 , also the mixed gas line 22nd , the intermediate storage container 3 , the dosing valve 5 as well as the control device 4th .

The electrolytic cell 1 is with the electrolyte container 2 by means of the ceiling pipe 20th and the ground pipe 21st connected, the ceiling pipe 20th at the ceiling outlet 16 the ceiling tile 14th and the ground pipe 21st at the floor outlet 17th the base plate 15th are attached. Because the one with the electrolyte 7th partially filled electrolyte containers 2 above or above the electrolytic cell 1 is positioned, the electrolyte flows 7th via the ceiling pipe 20th and the ground pipe 21st into the electrolysis cell due to gravity 1 . The electrolytic cell 1 is always with electrolyte in this hydraulically connected system 7th filled, provided there is enough electrolyte 7th in the electrolyte container 2 is available.

The electrolyte 7th is a two percent potassium hydroxide solution made from distilled water and potassium hydroxide. In the electrolytic cell 1 arises after applying an electrical voltage to the anodically polarized electrode plates 10.1 and the cathodically polarized electrode plates 10.2 by the electrolytic decomposition of the water in the electrolyte 7th in hydrogen and oxygen. Both gases appear as a hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas 8th from the electrolytic cell 1 via the ceiling opening 16 and the ceiling pipe 20th and get into the electrolysis tank 2 in the ceiling area of which they collect.

The hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas 8th is by means of the mixed gas line 22nd from the electrolyte container 2 diverted. Via the dosing valve 5 becomes the hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas 8th in the intake tract 6th the internal combustion engine to the fuel-air mixture 9 admit and mix with this.

The dosing valve 5 is with the control device 4th connected. The amount of the hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas added 8th to the fuel-air mixture 9 is - adapted to the respective internal combustion engine - by means of the control device 4th and the dosing valve 5 regulated.

In the mixed gas line 22nd is the intermediate storage container 3 integrated, the hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas 8th intermittently catches. When using the device for fuel enrichment in or on motor vehicles, the above the electrolyte container prevents 2 arranged intermediate storage container 3 that the electrolyte 7th to the dosing valve 5 is sucked in and into the intake tract 6th got. If the vehicle tilts or is tilted, in extreme cases the electrolyte may leak 7th into the intermediate storage container 3 come; direct suction of the electrolyte 7th from the electrolyte container 2 in the intake tract 6th is through the from the intermediate storage container 3 interrupted mixed gas line 22nd prevented.

The electrolytic cell 1 points - see 2 . - between the ceiling plate 14th (with the Ceiling passage 16 ) and the base plate 15th (with the floor passage 17th ) the stack of electrode plates 10 on. The electrode plates 10 are by means of the spacers designed as a circumferential seal 12 Cut. The space between two adjacent electrode plates 10 , within the circumferential seal, forms one of the electrolysis compartments 13 .

The electrode plates 10 are 1 mm thick Cr-Ni steel sheets with a polished plate surface; they have an electrode gap S. of 1 mm. The ceiling tile 14th and the bottom plate 15th are made of polyamide.

The one through the ceiling tile 14th and the bottom plate 15th stacks of electrode plates closed at the top and bottom 10 and spacers 12 is by means of the fasteners 18th each in the form of a threaded rod with nuts connected to both ends of the threaded rod. Each threaded rod is surrounded by an insulating protective sheath (not shown). The electrolysis cell is through these screw connections 1 constructed as a compact, detachable unit.

The the stack of electrode plates 10 surrounding wall 19th prevents access from outside.

Each of the electrode plates 10 each has two electrode plate openings 11 , which are each arranged in a line in the stack one above the other (in alignment) (in 2 shown as dotted lines).

The electrolyte 7th (not shown in 2 ) either reaches the ceiling opening 16 or the floor outlet 17th and then the electrode plate openings 11 in each of the electrolysis compartments 13 .

The electrode plates 10 are divided into the anodically polarized electrode plates 10.1 , the cathodically polarized electrode plates 10.2 as well as the unpolarized electrode plates 10.3 . In the stack of electrode plates 10 these form several stacking units, each with an anodically polarized electrode plate 10.1 , a cathodically polarized electrode plate 10.2 and five interposed, unpolarized electrode plates 10.3 include.

The electrical contact with direct current is made via the terminals of the polarized electrode plates protruding from the side of the stack 10.1 , 10.2 . Batteries, accumulators or power generators, for example, can be used as direct current sources. In the 2 shown electrolytic cell 1 is designed for an operating voltage of 12 V.

The top view representation of the electrolytic cell 1 according to 3 corresponds to those of the reference numerals 2 . The electrode plates 10 have a square basic shape; the polarized electrode plates 10.1 , 10.2 also have laterally protruding connections for electrical contacting. The the stack of electrode plates 10 surrounding peripheral wall 19th is interrupted in the area of these connections, instead of the peripheral wall 19th a (not designated) cap is applied.

The outer contour of the spacers 12 corresponds to the shape of the electrode plates 10 ; they lie entirely in the edge area of the electrode plates 10 on.

The two circular electrode plate openings 11 are spaced from each other on the diagonal of the square electrode plate 10 arranged.

For even locking of the ceiling panel (not shown) 14th , the base plate 15th and the electrode plates interposed therebetween 10 and spacers 12 serve the eight circumferentially distributed fastening elements 18th .

List of reference symbols

1

Electrolytic cell

2

Electrolyte container

3

Intermediate storage container

4th

Control device

5

Dosing valve

6

Intake track of an internal combustion engine

7th

electrolyte

8th

Hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas

9

Fuel-air mixture

10

Electrode plate

10.1

Electrode plate, anodically polarized

10.2

Electrode plate, cathodically polarized

10.3

Electrode plate, not polarized

11

Electrode plate breakthrough

12th

Spacers

13

Electrolysis compartment

14th

Ceiling plate

15th

Base plate

16

Ceiling passage

17th

Floor passage

18th

Fasteners

19th

Perimeter wall

20th

Ceiling pipe

21st

Ground pipe

22nd

Mixed gas line

S.

Electrode gap

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• EP 1967614 A2 [0005]

Claims (10)

Gas generator for generating a hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas (8), comprising an electrolysis cell (1) filled with a water-containing electrolyte (7), which has a stack of several parallel, electrically conductive electrode plates (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) , in which - Each of the electrode plates (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) has a defined electrode spacing (S) from each of its adjacent electrode plates (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3), which is established by means of a gap between the adjacent electrode plates (10, 10.1 , 10.2, 10.3) arranged electrically insulating spacer (12) is set, the dimensional tolerance of the electrode distance (S) ± 0.1 mm and the maximum parallelism deviation of the opposite surfaces of two adjacent electrode plates (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) in the stack 0 , Is 1 mm; - each of the spacers (12) is a circumferential seal of an electrolysis compartment (13) which is formed between two adjacent electrode plates (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) and is filled with the electrolyte (7); and - Each of the electrode plates (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) has at least one electrode plate opening (11) for the flow of the electrolyte (7) between the electrolysis compartments (13). Gas generator after Claim 1 , characterized in that the stack of the electrode plates (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) has at least one stack unit with an anodically polarized electrode plate (10, 10.1), a cathodically polarized electrode plate (10, 10.2) and one or more unpolarized electrode plates (10 , 10.3), the unpolarized electrode plates being arranged between the two polarized electrode plates (10, 10.1, 10.2). Gas generator after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the electrode plate openings (11) are arranged in alignment in the stack of electrode plates (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3). Gas generator according to one of the Claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that the electrode plates (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) have an electrode spacing (S) of 1.0 mm. Gas generator according to one of the Claims 1 to 4th , characterized in that the electrode plates (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) have a plate thickness of 1.0 mm. Gas generator according to one of the Claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that the electrode plates (10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3) consist of stainless Cr-Ni steel sheet, the plate surfaces having an average roughness of at most 0.2 µm. Gas generator according to one of the Claims 1 to 6th , characterized in that the spacers (12) consist of a fabric-reinforced elastomer. Gas generator according to one of the Claims 1 to 7th , further comprising an electrolyte container (2) at least partially filled with the electrolyte (7), characterized in that the electrolytic cell (1) has a base plate (15) with a base passage (17) and a cover plate (14) with a ceiling passage (16) having, a ceiling line (20) and a bottom line (21) for the constant supply of the electrolytic cell (1) with the electrolyte (7) being attached to the electrolysis tank (2) arranged above the cover plate (14) of the electrolytic cell (1), wherein the ceiling duct (20) is connected to the ceiling passage (16) of the electrolytic cell (1) and the floor duct (21) is connected to the floor passage (17) of the electrolytic cell (1). Device for fuel enrichment for an internal combustion engine, comprising a gas generator according to one of the Claims 1 to 8th as well as a gas feed line (22) for feeding the hydrogen-oxygen mixed gas (8) into an intake tract (6) of the internal combustion engine, with the hydrogen being supplied by means of a metering valve (5) arranged in the gas feed line (22) and controlled by a control device (4) Oxygen mixed gas flow can be regulated through the gas supply line (22). Device for fuel enrichment according to Claim 9 , characterized in that the gas supply line (22) has an intermediate storage container (3) which prevents the flow of liquid.

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