IT201800007572A1 - KIT FOR ONE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. - Google Patents

Description

KIT FOR ONE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

The present invention refers to a kit for an internal combustion engine.

In the state of the art, on-board vehicle kits for treating exhaust fumes comprising carbon dioxide emitted by an internal combustion engine of a vehicle are known. These kits are used to treat vehicle engine exhaust fumes to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the engine into the atmosphere. These kits include selective capture means for extracting carbon dioxide from the exhaust fumes such as, for example, adsorbent materials or materials with selective permeability, means for compressing a volume of carbon dioxide thus extracted and finally means for storing carbon dioxide on board the vehicle. thus compressed and / or liquefied.

Disadvantageously, the known apparatuses do not work efficiently and considerable difficulties remain which result in one or more drawbacks, such as the persistence of a considerable amount of carbon dioxide in the vehicle exhaust fumes, an excessively high operating temperature of the engine, problems of corrosion linked to the presence of liquid condensates that are generated inside the apparatus, the need to carry out very close periodic maintenance of the selective capture means, the considerable increase in the weight of the vehicle, thus decreasing its efficiency, storage means that they have a very large volume compared to the space available on the vehicle, particularly energy-intensive storage means because they must be maintained either at low temperatures to keep carbon dioxide in the liquid phase or at particularly high pressures to be able to store sufficient quantities in the gaseous phase in acceptable volumes.

There are also known apparatuses for recirculating a percentage of engine exhaust fumes, which are adapted to reduce the operating temperatures of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle and reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxides. These recirculation apparatuses do not allow to have in the exhaust gases a concentration of carbon dioxide suitable for allowing storage.

One of the purposes of the present invention consists in realizing a kit for an internal combustion engine which allows to make the separation and / or storage of carbon dioxide produced by said engine more effective and efficient and to drastically reduce the quantity emitted into the atmosphere with the exhaust fumes. Other purposes of the present invention, connected with the realization of the kit, are the reduction of the presence of liquid condensates in the exhaust fumes, as well as the reduction of periodic maintenance, of the weight and of the volumetric dimensions of the means of confinement and storage of the exhaust gases. , making the engine more energy efficient.

In accordance with the invention, this purpose is achieved with a kit according to claim 1.

A further object of the present invention consists in providing a method which allows to make the separation and / or storage of carbon dioxide produced by said engine more effective and efficient and to drastically reduce the quantity emitted into the atmosphere with the exhaust fumes. furthermore, an object of the present invention is a method which allows to reduce the presence of liquid condensates in the exhaust fumes, reduce periodic maintenance, drastically reduce the weight and volume dimensions of the means of confinement and storage of the exhaust gases, making more energetically efficient the kit that implements the method itself.

In accordance with the invention, this other object is achieved with a method according to claim 10.

Other features are provided in the dependent claims.

In accordance with the present invention, the term "air" as used herein in the description and in the claims, refers to any gaseous mixture comprising mainly (for at least 98% by volume on an anhydrous basis) molecular oxygen and molecular nitrogen, whether present in nature or derived from natural air through processes of filtration, purification or partial separation of the components. According to literature, the normal composition of the air in the atmosphere at sea level includes oxygen and nitrogen in a volumetric ratio approximately 21/79. For the purposes of this application, enriched air is considered to be air with an oxygen content> 23% v / v and impoverished air that with an oxygen content <19% v / v.

In accordance with the present invention, the volumes of fluids as reported herein in the description and in the claims, are understood indifferently as such or referred to an arbitrary unit of time in the case of flows and processes or methods conducted continuously.

In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, the use of the terms "comprising" and "containing" means that the options described, for example concerning the steps of a method or process or the components of a product or device, they are not necessarily exhaustive. However, it is important to note that the embodiments of the invention are also to be considered included in the scope of the present patent application in which the term "comprising" refers to the options described, for example concerning the steps of a method or a process or the components of a product or device, should be interpreted as "which essentially consists of" or "which consists of", even if not explicitly stated.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the following, exemplary and non-limiting description, referring to the attached schematic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram of a system of a kit according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a diagram of an installation of the kit according to a first alternative.

With reference to the aforementioned figures and in particular to Figure 1, a kit 100 is shown for an internal combustion engine 200 of a vehicle suitable for storing on board the vehicle the carbon dioxide produced by the internal combustion engine 200.

The kit 100 for the internal combustion engine 200 of the vehicle is a system mounted in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine 200. One part of the kit 100 is mounted upstream of the internal combustion engine 200, another part of the kit 100 is mounted downstream of the internal combustion engine 200.

As shown in particular in Figure 1, the kit 100 comprises an air inlet 10 and a fuel inlet 20 mounted upstream. The air that is received from the air inlet 10 is atmospheric air and substantially comprises molecular oxygen and molecular nitrogen, i.e. an original percentage by volume of molecular oxygen and an original percentage by volume of molecular nitrogen. Typically from atmospheric measurements, the original percentage by volume of molecular oxygen in anhydrous air is between 20 and 22%, for example 21%, while the original percentage by volume of molecular nitrogen is between 78 and 80%, for example example 79%. As is well known to the skilled in the art, small variations in these percentages are possible depending on the environmental and geographical characteristics of the place where the measurement is made.

The air inlet 10 and the fuel inlet 20 are connected in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine 200.

As fuel inlet to the fuel inlet 20 is meant any fuel used for internal combustion engines 200 such as diesel oil, methane, LPG or petrol.

The internal combustion engine 200 produces an exhaust smoke comprising carbon dioxide. The combustion reaction can be represented in simplified form with the following formula:

with x greater than or equal to 1 and y normally between x and 4x,

where CxHy, e.g. C8H18, represents a generic hydrocarbon constituting the fuel that is fed to the internal combustion engine 200 from the fuel inlet 20, O2 is molecular oxygen that is inserted into the internal combustion engine 200 from the air inlet 10, CO2 is anhydride carbon, H2O is molecular water. The elements of the formula are multiplied by their respective stoichiometric chemical reaction factors.

The exhaust smoke coming out of the internal combustion engine 200 substantially comprises molecular nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapor. It may also include minor quantities (usually less than 1%) of nitrogen oxides and unburnt hydrocarbons, as well as any residual molecular oxygen.

The exhaust smoke is then channeled into an outlet duct 30 of kit 100.

The outlet conduit 30 is connected in fluid communication with an exhaust smoke recirculation valve 40 of the kit 100.

The exhaust smoke recirculation valve 40 directs a fraction of the exhaust smoke, which is recirculating exhaust smoke, again to the internal combustion engine 200 and directs another fraction of the exhaust smoke, which is exhaust smoke. exhaust to an exhaust duct 31 of the kit 100. The exhaust duct 31 can also be called an exhaust duct 31.

The exhaust smoke recirculation valve 40 allows the recirculating exhaust smoke to be directed several times according to a multiplicity of operating cycles, or continuously.

In accordance with the present invention, said exhaust smoke recirculation valve 40 can be a two-way valve positioned upstream of said mixing device 60, preferably coupled with a second two-way valve downstream of the exhaust duct 31 and upstream of the possible compressor 70, which acts directly on the flow of the recirculating exhaust smoke and indirectly regulates, by difference, the flow of the exhaust smoke. Alternatively, said valve 40 may be a three-way valve (or equivalent device), positioned at the point of separation of the streams of said recirculating exhaust smoke and said exhaust smoke, which can act on both flow streams. called currents. Said valve 40 is preferably piloted by a suitable control unit capable of managing the transitional phase from the moment the engine is started up to the achievement of the operating conditions. Control units of the aforesaid type are commercially available or easily derivable, with normal engineering methods, from known or commercially available devices. Said control unit can be the control unit 301 shown in Figures 1, 2 or 3.

Downstream of the internal combustion engine 200, an energy recovery device 201 can optionally be provided, which can be, for example, a heat exchanger to recover a part of the heat from the exhaust smoke, or a device for energy recovery. kinetics of gases, such as, for example, a turbine connected to a dynamo to produce electricity, or to a compressor in the case of turbocharged vehicles. According to a particular aspect of the present invention, both of the aforesaid thermal and mechanical devices can also be present.

A device 17 is preferably inserted downstream of the energy recovery device 201 for the eventual discharge of water and / or other condensates of the kit 100. Said discharge device 17 is arranged between the internal combustion engine 200 and the recirculation valve of the exhaust smoke 40 and advantageously allows to discharge at least a fraction of the water produced by internal combustion by the internal combustion engine 200.

Downstream of the internal combustion engine 200 there may be a gas sensor 90 which, in the engines of vehicles such as for example petrol cars, is, for example, a lambda probe, which measures the presence of molecular oxygen in the exhaust smoke. The gas sensor 90 is logically connected to a control unit 301 of the vehicle which adjusts the mixture ratio between air and incoming fuel within an optimum efficiency range according to the characteristics of the internal combustion engine 200 and any catalyst present. In the case of gasoline engines, the control unit 301 controls the flow of fuel entering the fuel inlet 20, based on the flow of air entering the air inlet 10.

Upstream of the internal combustion engine 200 the kit 100 comprises a gas separation device 50 and a gas mixer 60.

The gas separation device 50 is arranged in fluid communication between the air inlet 10 and the internal combustion engine 200 through said gas mixer 60.

The gas separation device 50 receives incoming air from the air inlet 10. The gas separation device 50 separates the incoming air into two volumes of air: a first volume of air and a second volume of air.

The first volume of air is enriched with molecular oxygen, in fact the first volume of air comprises a first volume percentage of molecular oxygen and a first volume percentage of molecular nitrogen. The first percentage by volume of molecular oxygen is higher than the original percentage by volume of molecular oxygen of the incoming air and the first percentage by volume of molecular nitrogen is lower than the original percentage by volume of molecular nitrogen in the incoming air.

The second volume of air is poor in molecular oxygen, in fact the second volume of air comprises a second volume percentage of molecular oxygen and a second volume percentage of molecular nitrogen. The second percentage by volume of molecular oxygen is lower than the original percentage by volume of molecular oxygen of the incoming air and the second percentage by volume of molecular nitrogen is higher than the original percentage by volume of molecular nitrogen in the incoming air.

The gas separation device 50 directs the first volume of molecular oxygen enriched air towards the mixing device 60.

The gas separation device 50 directs the second volume of molecular oxygen-poor air outwards into the atmosphere.

The gas separation device 50 can be a polymeric separation membrane, a membrane made of ceramic material or a membrane of another nature. Devices of this type are known and commercially available for other applications.

In particular, the gas separation device 50 can be constituted by hollow fiber membranes comprising a plurality of hollow fibers. The incoming air enters the hollow fibers and the gases included in the incoming air are separated due to different diffusion rates and different molecule sizes. Normally, in commercially available membrane devices, molecular oxygen transits faster than nitrogen through the membrane. On one side of the gas separation device 50 comes out the first volume of air, enriched with molecular oxygen, and on the other the second volume of air (depleted) enriched with molecular nitrogen and poor in molecular oxygen.

The use of flat or rolled membranes is also envisaged.

When the gas separation device 50 is a membrane, the first volume of air can be enriched with molecular oxygen by passing, for example, from the 21% atmospheric percentage to the first 50% by volume molecular oxygen percentage. Preferred concentrations of molecular oxygen in said first volume of air are greater than 25% and preferably between 30 and 90%, more preferably between 40 and 70%, by volume.

Correspondingly, the second volume of molecular nitrogen-enriched and molecular oxygen-depleted air preferably comprises a volume percentage of molecular nitrogen greater than 83%, preferably equal to or greater than 90% and less than 99%.

The separation membranes advantageously work better by pre-compressing the incoming air that arrives from the air inlet 10 by means of a compressor device 75.

In general, it is possible to provide that the compressor device 75 is arranged upstream of the gas separation device 50 to compress the air arriving from the air inlet 10.

It is also advantageous to provide that a water discharge device 15 is arranged downstream of the compressor device 75. The water discharge device 15 is arranged in fluid communication downstream of the compressor device 75 and allows at least a percentage of steam to be discharged. water condensing from the incoming air from the air inlet 10 after the compressor device 75. The water discharge device 15 is a water vapor condensate drain.

Preferably, the incoming air is compressed at pressures between 0.2 MPa and 1.5 MPa.

In the presence of the compressor device 75, a decompression valve 45 is mounted at the outlet from the gas separation device 50, which decompresses the second volume of air poor in molecular oxygen, releasing it to the outside, into the atmosphere 300. Alternatively, at the outlet of the gas separation device 50, on the discharge line into the atmosphere of said second volume of air, there may be a device for recovering the kinetic energy of the gas (not shown in the figures), following expansion to produce, for example for example electrical energy by means of a dynamo or mechanical energy by means of a turbo compressor.

According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, it is possible that said gas separation device 50 comprises several membranes in series, interspersed with compression devices, in order to obtain a greater oxygen enrichment of said first volume of air. skilled in the art selects, according to methods known in the technology of gas separation on semipermeable membrane, the optimal combination of membranes and compressors, as well as the pressure values acting on each membrane, in order to obtain the desired level of oxygen enrichment of the first volume of air.

The first volume of air, enriched with molecular oxygen, is sent from the gas separation device 50 to the gas mixer 60. Said first volume of air may or may not be under pressure.

The gas mixing device 60 is arranged in fluid communication between the gas separation device 50 and the internal combustion engine 200.

Furthermore, the gas mixing device 60 is connected in fluid communication with the recirculation valve 40 of the exhaust smoke coming from the internal combustion engine 200.

The gas mixing device 60 mixes the first volume of air with the recirculating exhaust smoke from the exhaust smoke recirculation valve 40, generating a gas mixture.

The gas mixture comprises a percentage by volume of molecular oxygen close to the original atmospheric percentage by volume of molecular oxygen, where by next we mean a percentage by volume of molecular oxygen close to atmospheric or within a range of percentage by volume of molecular oxygen such as to allow operation of the internal combustion engine 200 or within an optimum efficiency range of the vehicle catalyst. The range of percentages by volume of molecular oxygen such as to allow the operation of the internal combustion engine 200 or to optimize the efficiency of the vehicle catalyst depends on the technical characteristics of the internal combustion engine 200 or of the catalyst and can be determined by the technician based on the information provided by the manufacturers. It is normally less than 22%, preferably between 18 and 22% by volume with respect to the total volume of the gas mixture.

The gas mixing device 60 sends the gas mixture towards the internal combustion engine 200.

In order to advantageously monitor the percentage by volume of molecular oxygen of the gas mixture sent to the internal combustion engine 200 by the gas mixing device 60, the presence of a gas sensor 91 is preferably provided.

In this preferred case, the gas sensor 91 is arranged in fluid communication between the mixing device 60 and the internal combustion engine 200.

The gas sensor 91 measures at least a percentage by volume of molecular oxygen of the gas mixture leaving the gas mixing device 60.

The gas sensor 91 and the valve 40 are in logical communication with a vehicle control unit 301. The gas sensor 91 will regulate the flow of the recirculating exhaust smoke by acting on the recirculation valve 40 via the control unit 301 so as to guarantee the required oxygen percentage.

Preferably, for Otto cycle combustion engines (petrol engines) the control unit 301, in logical connection with the gas sensor 90 downstream of the engine 200, also regulates the flow of fuel coming from the fuel inlet 20. mode, the control unit 301 adjusts the mixture ratio between air and fuel, that is, between comburent and fuel, in such a way that the internal combustion engine 200 can operate efficiently or the catalyst of the vehicle can operate efficiently.

Even more advantageously, to reduce the carbon dioxide released into the environment by the system comprising said kit 100 and said engine 200, it is preferably provided that downstream of the exhaust duct 31, the kit 100 also comprises a compressor device 70, a water discharge 16 and a compressed gas storage device 80.

The water discharging device 16 is arranged in fluid communication downstream of the compressor device 70. The water discharging device 16 discharges at least a percentage of the volume of water from exhaust fumes coming from the exhaust pipe 31 and directed towards the tank storage 80.

The water discharge device 16 is a condensate drain.

The compressor device 70 is arranged in fluid communication with the exhaust duct 31 and the water discharge device 16.

The compressor device 70 compresses the exhaust exhaust smoke that comes out of the exhaust duct 31.

Advantageously, the water discharge device 16 allows to reduce the volume of water sent to the storage device 80, significantly reducing the risk of clogging and / or corrosion phenomena.

Advantageously, the storage device 80 stores the exhaust exhaust smoke compressed by the compressor device 70.

The storage device 80 comprises at least one tank which allows the compressed exhaust fumes to be stored by means of the compressor device 70. This tank can possibly be filled with adsorbent material designed to facilitate the storage of CO2, increasing its storable volumes or allowing a lower pressure. storage.

Advantageously, the presence in the exhaust fumes of a high concentration of CO2, obtained by means of the kit and the method in accordance with the present invention, allows large quantities of gaseous carbon dioxide to be stored by simple compression in volumes reasonably compatible with transport on board. of a vehicle, thus avoiding the use of heavy and energy-intensive coolers, otherwise necessary to bring the fumes to the liquefaction temperature of the carbon dioxide and thus be able to store it in a liquid state. Subsequently, once filled, the tank of the storage device 80 can be emptied at service stations prepared for the purpose, or it can be replaced with an empty one, leaving the full tank outside the vehicle for subsequent unloading and treatment of the gas contained. .

The subject of the present invention is also a method for reducing the emission of carbon dioxide produced by an internal combustion engine 200, preferably by compression and storage in a suitable storage device 80, said engine being preferably mounted on board a vehicle. The method is implemented by the kit 100 mounted in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine 200.

The method comprises a series of steps which are described below in succession, but which operate simultaneously when the engine 200 is running: a step of receiving incoming air from the air inlet 10 and receiving fuel from the fuel intake fuel inlet 20; a gas separation step by the gas separation device 50 to separate the incoming air in the first volume of molecular oxygen-enriched air and in the second volume of molecular oxygen-poor air.

Thereafter there is a mixing step by means of the gas mixing device 60 which mixes the first volume of molecular oxygen enriched air from the gas separation device 50 with the recirculating exhaust smoke from the smoke recirculation valve of exhaust 40.

In succession there is a step for sending the gas mixture leaving the gas mixing device 60 and the fuel towards the internal combustion engine 200.

Thereafter, the method comprises a step of channeling the exhaust smoke comprising carbon dioxide produced by the internal combustion engine 200 into the outlet duct 30.

The method comprises a step of intercepting the recirculating exhaust smoke by recirculating part of the exhaust smoke to the internal combustion engine 200 by means of the exhaust smoke recirculation valve 40 and the gas mixer 60, and allowing the the remainder, as exhaust smoke, towards the exhaust duct 31 of kit 100.

Once fully operational, the amount of recirculating exhaust smoke that is recycled to the engine 200 is preferably from 30 to 85, more preferably from 35 to 60% by volume with respect to the total volume of the exhaust smoke exiting the engine through the duct 30.

When fully operational, according to the method of the present invention, the composition, on an anhydrous basis, of the exhaust smoke coming out of the engine 200 (coinciding with the composition of the exhaust and recycling exhaust smoke) preferably comprises a carbon dioxide content of between 25 and 90% by volume, more preferably between 40 and 80% by volume, with respect to the total volume of the anhydrous exhaust gas.

Preferably, even more advantageously, the method also comprises an additional step of subsequent compression of the exhaust smoke by means of the compressor device 70. Thereafter, according to this preferred embodiment, the method comprises a step for storing the exhaust smoke. compressed by the compressor device 70 by means of the storage device 80.

Advantageously, the kit 100 allows the carbon dioxide produced by an internal combustion engine to be stored in a simple and effective way, preferably on board a vehicle, and drastically reduces the amount of this gas emitted into the atmosphere.

Advantageously, the kit 100 reduces the presence of liquid condensates, decreases periodic maintenance, drastically decreases the weight and volume of the storage device tank 80, making the storage of carbon dioxide produced by the motor 200 more energy efficient.

Advantageously, the use of air enriched with molecular oxygen allows the percentage of molecular nitrogen to be reduced and the carbon dioxide fraction in the exhaust gases to be increased, allowing a greater quantity of carbon dioxide to be stored in the storage device 80 on board the vehicle. equal pressure. Alternatively, and even more advantageously, the kit 100 and the method in accordance with the present invention allow high quantities of carbon dioxide to be stored on board at considerably reduced pressures compared to vehicles not equipped with the kit, thus advantageously reducing the weight of the containers. pressure needed. This makes it possible to ensure adequate travel autonomy of the vehicle before exhaust and / or treatment of the gas, without substantially modifying the mechanical and operating characteristics of the internal combustion engine 200.

As an alternative to a motor vehicle it is possible to mount the kit 100 with any internal combustion engine 200 of any vehicle.

Still alternatively it is possible to provide that the kit 100 can be mounted with any internal combustion engine 200, even an internal combustion engine 200 which is not mounted with a vehicle, for example a stationary internal combustion engine. Advantageously, the kit 100 for this type of use allows it to be very compact compared to the state of the known art and to drastically reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from the exhaust smoke in the external environment.

Alternatively, it is possible to provide that for diesel engines 200 there is no gas sensor 90 or relative control unit for controlling the carburation.

Alternatively, it is possible to provide that the kit 100 is provided with a single control unit, suitably programmed, for the different functions of regulating the quantities of air and fuel supplied and of the recirculating smoke.

Still alternatively, the gas separation device 50 can be constituted by PSA modules, an English acronym which stands for Pressure Swing Adsorbtion. The PSA modules selectively adsorb under pressure one of the two components present in the incoming air from the air inlet 10. In this case it is envisaged to pre-compress the incoming air by means of the compressor device 75 up to pressures preferably between 0 , 2 and 1 MPa. PSA modules can produce the first volume of air significantly enriched in oxygen with the first volume percentage of molecular oxygen around 90% and above, expelling the second volume of oxygen-poor air into the atmosphere.

Alternatively for industrial applications which are not linked to vehicles, but which include internal combustion engines 200, it is possible to provide that the gas separation device 50 separates the first volume of air rich in molecular oxygen from the second volume of air poor in molecular oxygen through a fractional distillation process. The incoming air from the air inlet 10 must be cooled to liquefy, in order to be subsequently distilled. Also for kits 100 mounted with internal combustion engines 200 of any type, it is possible to provide that the gas separation device 50 is a membrane or a plurality of membranes or are PSA modules.

Still alternatively, it is possible to provide that the kit 100 does not mount any compressor device 75 and that the air entering the air inlet 10 directly reaches the gas separation device 50. In this alternative, the weight of the kit 100 advantageously decreases to due to the fact of not having the compressor device 75 which pre-compresses the incoming air.

In the latter alternative where there is no compressor device 75 upstream of the gas separation device 50, it is possible to advantageously provide that the kit 100 comprises the insertion of a vacuum pump between the gas separator device 50 and the motor. internal combustion 200 to direct a sufficient flow of air to the engine.

It is also possible to provide in a further alternative that the compressor device 75 operates without the water discharge device 15 when the gas separation device 50 has no contraindications to the presence of water.

A possible variant of the kit according to the present invention provides that there is no water discharge device 16 mounted upstream of the exhaust fumes compressor device 70. In this further alternative, the compressor device 70 is arranged in fluid communication between the exhaust duct 31 and the storage device 80.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the exhaust smoke of the engine 200, comprising a high percentage of carbon dioxide compared to the exhaust of the traditional engine, is partially (e.g. 10 to 90%, preferably 15 to 60% ) compressed and stored in the tank of the device 80, while the remainder is discharged into the atmosphere. It is thus possible to achieve an advantageous compromise which allows a significant portion of the exhaust smoke to be stored using reasonable volumes and pressures of the storage device 80 (in relation to the volumes available on the vehicle), while allowing a satisfactory autonomy of the vehicle modified with Kit 100, before discharging and / or treating the stored exhaust smoke.

In a further variant of the method according to the present invention, the exhaust exhaust smoke, comprising a high concentration of CO2, after compression, can be cooled with a refrigerant system, before or after loading into the tank 80, to the temperature of liquefaction of CO2 in order to allow the discharge of non-condensed nitrogen and the obtainment of CO2 even more concentrated and possibly in the liquid state. With the method of the present invention it is therefore possible to sequester the CO2 produced by the exhaust of an engine 200, with the use of significantly reduced volumes and pressures compared to the methods known in the art, and a considerable energy saving.

The diagram shown in Figure 2 represents a further alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, where the kit 100 comprises a second gas separation device 51 arranged in fluid communication between the compressor device 70 and the storage device 80. The second gas separator 51 receives the compressed exhaust exhaust smoke from the compressor device 70. The second gas separator 51 further separates the incoming compressed exhaust smoke into two volumes of gas: a first volume of gas and a second volume of gas. The first volume of gas comprises a third volume percent of molecular nitrogen and the second volume of gas comprises a fourth volume percent of molecular nitrogen. The fourth volume percentage of molecular nitrogen of the second volume of gas is higher than the third volume percentage of molecular nitrogen of the first volume of gas, in this way, even more advantageously, the percentage by volume of molecular nitrogen present is further reduced. in the first volume of compressed gas to be sent to the storage device 80, further reducing the volume of the tank of the storage device 80 required for the same amount of carbon dioxide stored. The second gas separation device 51 directs the latter first volume of compressed gas towards the storage device 80. According to this further alternative of the kit and method according to the present invention, the exhaust gas is first compressed up to pressures not exceeding 2 MPa and preferably between 0.2 and 1.5 MPa, in the compressor 70 placed upstream of the second gas separation device 51, and subsequently compressed up to the final storage pressure, for example between 10 and 20 MPa, by means of a further compressor device 71, located downstream of the second gas separation device 51 and before the storage device 80.

Alternatively, it is also possible to provide that downstream of the exhaust duct 31, the kit 100 does not include any water discharge device 16, no compressor device 70 and no storage device 80. In this alternative, the exhaust smoke with a reduced concentration of molecular nitrogen and with an increased concentration of carbon dioxide which is emitted from the exhaust duct 31, can be advantageously treated with other methods of separation and / or confinement of carbon dioxide and other harmful components contained in the exhaust gas, such as oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter, such as, for example, absorption or adsorption on materials suitable for the purpose.

EXAMPLES

To illustrate, let's consider a vehicle as a petrol-powered car. An average fuel consumption of around 2.3 kg / h can reasonably be assumed. In order for the car's internal combustion engine 200 to burn this fuel flow efficiently, approximately 5.5 Nm <3> / h of molecular oxygen is required, where Nm <3> / h represents a flow measured in normalized cubic meters hourly. By normalized cubic meters we mean a corresponding quantity of substance that occupies a volume of one cubic meter under normal conditions, that is, at the conventional temperature values of 0 ° C (273.15 K) and absolute pressure of 101 kPa (1 atm ). We assemble the kit 100 of the present invention equipped with a storage device with the internal combustion engine 200, fueled by petrol, of the car and we estimate the values of the observables of the kit 100 of the present invention.

It can reasonably be assumed that the storage device (80) has a volume of 100 liters and a maximum operating pressure of 20 MPa. Under these conditions it is possible to recover a volume of exhaust gas equal to 20 Nm3. In the examples below, the compressed exhaust smoke that is stored by the storage device 80 does not account for water, as it is assumed to be completely discharged from the water exhaust devices 16 and 17. It is also considered that the other components of the smoke of compressed exhaust exhaust, such as molecular oxygen, are present in traces of less than 1% by volume.

Example 1

According to a first example, the gas separation device 50 is a molecular oxygen and nitrogen separation membrane, PRISM® Model PA4050-N1 series, supplied by Airproduct. The first volume of air leaving the gas separation device 50 and directed towards the mixing device 60, has a flow rate of 18.5 Nm <3> / h and comprises a first percentage of 30% by volume of molecular oxygen equal to a flow rate of 5.5 Nm <3> / h and a first percentage of 70% by volume of molecular nitrogen equal to a flow rate of 13.0 Nm <3> / h.

According to this first example, the compressed exhaust smoke which is stored by the storage device 80 has a flow rate of 16.6 Nm <3> / h and comprises a percentage of 22.2% by volume of carbon dioxide equal to a flow rate of 3.7 Nm <3> / h and a percentage of 77.8% by volume of molecular nitrogen equal to a flow rate of 13.0 Nm <3> / h. Based on these results and assuming a continuous and constant operation of the vehicle and the transfer of all compressed exhaust smoke into the storage tank 80, the filling of the latter to a maximum pressure of 20 MPa would take place in 70 minutes. After this time it is possible to empty or replace the storage tank (80) at a specialized facility, for the subsequent treatments of the sequestered CO2.

Example 2

According to a second example, the gas separation device 50 is a molecular oxygen and nitrogen separation membrane, PRISM® Model PA4030-N1 series, supplied by Airproduct. The first volume of air leaving the gas separation device 50 and directed towards the mixing device 60, has a flow rate of 13.9 Nm <3> / h and comprises a first percentage of 40% by volume of molecular oxygen equal to a flow rate of 5.5 Nm <3> / h and a first percentage of 60% by volume of molecular nitrogen equal to a flow rate of 8.4 Nm <3> / h.

According to this second example, the compressed exhaust smoke that is stored by the storage device 80 has a flow rate of 12.0 Nm <3> / h and comprises a percentage of 30.8% by volume of carbon dioxide equal to a flow rate of 3.7 Nm <3> / h and a percentage of 69.2% by volume of molecular nitrogen equal to a flow rate of 8.4 Nm <3> / h. Based on these results and assuming a continuous and constant operation of the vehicle and the transfer of all compressed exhaust smoke into the storage tank 80, the filling of the latter to the maximum pressure of 20 MPa would take place in 100 minutes. After this time it is possible to empty or replace the storage tank (80) at a specialized facility, for the subsequent treatments of the sequestered CO2.

Example 3

According to a third example, the gas separation device 50 is a molecular oxygen and nitrogen separation membrane, PRISM® Model PA4050-P3 series, supplied by Airproduct. The first volume of air leaving the gas separation device 50 and directed towards the mixing device 60, has a flow rate of 11.0 Nm <3> / h and comprises a first percentage of 50% by volume of molecular oxygen equal to a flow rate of 5.5 Nm <3> / h and a first percentage of 50% by volume of molecular nitrogen equal to a flow rate of 5.5 Nm <3> / h.

According to this third example, the compressed exhaust smoke which is stored by the storage device 80 has a flow rate of 9.2 Nm <3> / h and comprises a percentage of 40.0% by volume of carbon dioxide equal to a flow rate of 3.7 Nm <3> / h and a percentage of 60.0% by volume of molecular nitrogen equal to a flow rate of 5.5 Nm <3> / h. On the basis of these results and assuming a continuous and constant operation of the vehicle and the transfer of all the compressed exhaust smoke into the storage tank 80, the filling of the latter to the maximum pressure of 20 MPa would take place in 130 minutes, corresponding to a significant autonomy of the vehicle. After this time it is possible to empty or replace the storage tank (80) at a specialized facility, for the subsequent treatments of the sequestered CO2.

Example 4

According to a fourth example, the gas separation device 50 is a molecular oxygen and nitrogen separation membrane, PRISM® Model PA4050-P3 series, supplied by Airproduct.

The first volume of air leaving the gas separation device 50 and directed towards the mixing device 60, has a flow rate of 11.0 Nm <3> / h and comprises a first percentage of 50% by volume of molecular oxygen equal to a flow rate of 5.5 Nm <3> / h and a first percentage of 50% by volume of molecular nitrogen equal to a flow rate of 5.5 Nm <3> / h.

According to this fourth example, the exhaust exhaust smoke is compressed and sent to a gas separation device 51. This gas separation device 51 is a gas separation membrane, PRISM® Model PA3030-N1 series, supplied by Airproduct .

The exhaust smoke coming out of the condensate separator 16 and directed towards the gas separation device 51, has a flow rate of 9.2 Nm <3> / h of exhaust smoke which comprises a percentage of 40, 0% by volume of carbon dioxide equal to a flow rate of 4.0 Nm <3> / h and a percentage of 60.0% by volume of molecular nitrogen equal to a flow rate of 5.2 Nm <3> / h.

The first volume of gas leaving the gas separation device 51 and directed towards the compressor 71 for storage in the tank 80 has a flow rate of 4.0 Nm <3> / h and includes a first percentage of 73% by volume of carbon dioxide equal at a flow rate of 2.9 Nm <3> / h and a first percentage of 27% by volume of molecular nitrogen equal to a flow rate of 1.1 Nm <3> / h. The first volume of gas leaving the gas separation device 51 contains an amount of CO2 that is equal to 81% of that produced by the internal combustion engine.

Based on these results and assuming a continuous and constant operation of the vehicle and the transfer of all the compressed exhaust smoke into the storage tank 80, the filling of the latter to the maximum pressure of 20 MPa would take place in 300 minutes. After this time it is possible to empty or replace the storage tank (80) at a specialized facility, for the subsequent treatments of the sequestered CO2.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept; furthermore, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the technical requirements.

Claims (17)

CLAIMS 1. Kit (100) for an internal combustion engine (200) producing an exhaust smoke comprising carbon dioxide, said kit (100) being mounted in fluid communication with said internal combustion engine (200), said kit (100) including: - an air inlet (10) and a fuel inlet (20), said air comprising an original percentage by volume of molecular oxygen and an original percentage by volume of molecular nitrogen, - an outlet duct (30) of said exhaust smoke of said engine (200), said outlet duct (30) being connected in fluid communication with an exhaust smoke recirculation valve (40) adapted to direct a fraction of said exhaust smoke, which is recirculating exhaust smoke, to said internal combustion engine (200) and another fraction of said exhaust smoke, which is exhaust exhaust smoke, to an exhaust duct (31) of said kit (100), characterized in that said kit (100) comprises: - a gas separation device (50) and a gas mixing device (60), said gas separation device (50) being arranged in fluid communication between said outlet inlet for air (10) and said gas mixing device (60), and said gas mixing device (60) being arranged in fluid communication between said gas separation device (50) and said internal combustion engine (200) , and being also connected in fluid communication with said exhaust smoke recirculation valve (40), where: - said gas separation device (50) is adapted to separate said air entering the intake (10) into two volumes of air, one of which is a first volume of air comprising a first percentage by volume of molecular oxygen and a first percentage by volume of molecular nitrogen, where said first percentage by volume of molecular oxygen is higher than the original percentage by volume of molecular oxygen of the incoming air and where said first percentage by volume of molecular nitrogen is lower than the original percentage by volume of nitrogen molecular air inlet, said gas separation device (50) being adapted to direct said first volume of air towards the gas mixing device (60), and - said gas mixing device (60) is able to mix said first volume of air with said recirculating exhaust smoke coming from said exhaust smoke recirculation valve (40) generating a mixture of gases, said gas mixing device ( 60) being able to send said gas mixture towards the internal combustion engine (200). 2. Kit (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a compressor device (70) arranged in fluid communication downstream of said exhaust duct (31) and a storage device (80) arranged in fluid communication downstream of said compressor device (70), said compressor device (70) being adapted to compress said exhaust exhaust smoke, said storage device (80) being adapted to store said compressed exhaust exhaust smoke. Kit (100) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a gas sensor (91) arranged in fluid communication between said gas mixing device (60) and said internal combustion engine (200) , said gas sensor (91) being able to measure at least a percentage by volume of molecular oxygen of said gas mixture leaving said gas mixing device (60), said gas sensor (91) being in logical communication with a control unit (301) of the vehicle, where said control unit (301) being adapted to regulate the flow of the recirculating exhaust smoke leaving the exhaust smoke recirculation valve (40). Kit (100) according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that it comprises a compressor device (75) arranged upstream of said gas separation device (50), said compressor device (75) being able to compress said air arriving from said air inlet (10). Kit (100) according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that it comprises a water discharge device (15) arranged in fluid communication between said air inlet (10) and said separation device gas (50), said water discharge device (15) adapted to discharge at least a percentage of volume of water from the incoming air coming from said air inlet (10). Kit (100) according to any one of claims 2 or 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one water discharge device (15, 16) arranged in fluid communication downstream of said compressor device (70, 75), said water discharge device (15, 16) adapted to discharge at least a percentage of volume of water from air or gas leaving said compressor device (70, 75). Kit (100) according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that it comprises a water discharge device (17) arranged in fluid communication between said internal combustion engine (200) and said smoke recirculation valve exhaust (40). Kit (100) according to any one of claims 2-7, characterized in that it comprises a second gas separation device (51) arranged in fluid communication between said compressor device (70) and said storage device (80) , said second gas separation device (51) being adapted to receive said compressed exhaust smoke from said compressor device (70), said second gas separation device (51) being adapted to separate said compressed exhaust smoke into entry into two volumes of gas, a first volume of gas and a second volume of gas, where the first volume of gas comprises a third volume percentage of molecular nitrogen and where the second volume of gas comprises a fourth volume percentage of molecular nitrogen , where the fourth volume percentage of molecular nitrogen of the second gas volume is higher than the third volume percentage of molecular nitrogen of the first gas volume, called second dis positive gas separation (51) being able to direct said first volume of gas towards said storage device (80). 9. Method for reducing the carbon dioxide emission produced by an internal combustion engine (200), said method being implemented by a kit (100) mounted in fluid communication with said internal combustion engine (200), said method comprising a series of phases in succession, - a phase of receiving incoming air from an air inlet (10) of the kit (100) and receiving fuel from a fuel inlet (20) of the kit (100), said air comprising an original percentage by volume of molecular oxygen and an original percentage by volume of molecular nitrogen, - a step of burning said fuel in said internal combustion engine (200) with production of an exhaust smoke comprising carbon dioxide, - a step of channeling said exhaust smoke comprising carbon dioxide produced by said internal combustion engine (200) in an outlet duct (30) of the kit (100), - a phase of interception of a fraction of said exhaust smoke, which is a recirculating exhaust smoke, making it recirculate towards said internal combustion engine (200) by means of an exhaust smoke recirculation valve (40) of the kit (100) and passing another fraction of said exhaust smoke, which is exhaust exhaust smoke, to an exhaust duct (31) of the kit (100), characterized in that said method comprises - a step of gas separation by a gas separation device (50) of the kit (100), said gas separation step being between said step of receiving incoming air and said step of sending air towards said internal combustion engine (200), wherein said gas separation device (50) separates said incoming air into two volumes of air, one of which is a first volume of air comprising a first volume percentage of molecular oxygen and a first percentage by volume of molecular nitrogen, where said first percentage by volume of molecular oxygen is higher than the original percentage by volume of molecular oxygen of the incoming air and where said first percentage by volume of molecular nitrogen is lower than the original percentage by volume of molecular nitrogen of the incoming air, - a mixing step by means of a gas mixing device (60) which mixes said first volume of air coming from said gas separation device (50) with said recirculating exhaust smoke coming from said recirculating smoke valve discharge (40) to obtain a gas mixture, said mixing step being subsequent to said gas separation step, - a step for sending said mixture of gas and said fuel towards the internal combustion engine (200). 10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises - a compression step of said exhaust exhaust smoke by means of a compressor device (70) of the kit (100), said compression step being in succession to said interception step, - a storage step of said exhaust smoke compressed by said compressor device (70) by means of a storage device (80) of the kit (100), where said storage step is subsequent to said compression step. Method according to any one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that it comprises - a step of measuring at least a percentage by volume of molecular oxygen of said gas mixture leaving said gas mixing device (60) by means of a gas sensor (91) of the kit (100) arranged in fluid communication between said gas mixing device (60) and said internal combustion engine (200), - a step of communicating said measurement of said at least a percentage by volume of molecular oxygen of said gas mixture leaving the gas mixing device (60) to a control unit (301) of the vehicle, - a phase of regulation by the control unit (301) of the flow of the recirculating exhaust smoke leaving the exhaust smoke recirculation valve (40). Method according to any one of claims 9-11, characterized in that it comprises - a step of compressing said air arriving from said air inlet (10) by means of a compressor device (75) of the kit (100) arranged upstream of said gas separation device (50), where said compression step precedes said gas separation step. 13. Method according to any one of claims 9-12, characterized in that it comprises - a step of discharging at least a percentage of volume of water from the incoming air coming from said inlet for air (10) by means of a water discharging device (15) of the kit (100) arranged in communication with fluid between said air inlet (10) and said gas separation device (50), where said discharge step is subsequent to said inlet air reception step. 14. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises - a step of discharging at least a percentage of the volume of water from the gas at the outlet to said compressor device (70, 75) of the kit (100) by means of a water discharge device (15, 16) arranged in fluid communication downstream of said compressor device (70, 75). Method according to any one of claims 9-14, characterized in that it comprises a post-combustion discharge step of at least a percentage of the volume of water from exhaust fumes leaving said internal combustion engine (200) by means of a water discharge device (17) arranged in fluid communication between said internal combustion engine (200) and said exhaust smoke recirculation valve (40), where said post-combustion exhaust step is between said channeling step said exhaust smoke and said stage of interception of said recirculating exhaust smoke. Method according to any one of claims 10-15, characterized in that it comprises - a second gas separation step by means of a second gas separation device (51) of the kit (100) arranged in fluid communication between said compressor device (70) and said storage device (80), said second phase gas separation being prior to the storage step, said second gas separation device (51) receives said exhaust exhaust smoke compressed by said compressor device (70), said second gas separation device (51) being adapted to separating said incoming compressed exhaust smoke into two volumes of gas, a first volume of gas and a second volume of gas, where the first volume of gas comprises a third volume percentage of molecular nitrogen and where the second volume of gas comprises a fourth volume percentage of molecular nitrogen, where the fourth volume percentage of molecular nitrogen of the second gas volume is greater than the third volume percentage of molecular nitrogen of the first v volume of gas, said second gas separation device (51) directs said first gas volume towards said storage device (80). Method according to any one of the preceding claims 9 to 16, wherein said mixing step by means of a gas mixing device (60) produces a gas mixture in which the percentage by volume of molecular oxygen is close to original atmospheric percentage by volume of molecular oxygen.