US20110210008A1

US20110210008A1 - Hydrogen carburetor for generating hydrogen to run an internal combustion engine and method thereof

Info

Publication number: US20110210008A1
Application number: US12/597,907
Authority: US
Inventors: Sounthirarajan Kumarasamy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-10-30
Filing date: 2009-09-07
Publication date: 2011-09-01
Also published as: WO2010049944A1; WO2010049944A4

Abstract

A hydrogen carburetor for generating hydrogen to run an internal combustion engine and method thereof are described. In one embodiment, the system includes a heat absorber tank coupled to said engine to absorb heat energy exhausted by the engine during runtime; a water tank to supply distilled water to said heat absorber tank, wherein the distilled water is heated up using the absorbed heat energy; a steam electrolysis chamber to split hydrogen and oxygen gases from the injected heated distilled water by porous electrolysis, wherein heated distilled water is injected when the temperature in the chamber rise to a threshold value; a temperature sensing controller coupled to said chamber to sense the temperature in the chamber; a hydrogen compressor connected to a porous anode element of said chamber to collect and compress the generated hydrogen; and a fuel storage tank to store the hydrogen gas and to supply the hydrogen to the internal combustion engine through an engine carburetor or a fuel injector or a fuel air mixer. In another embodiment, the method involved thereof is described.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to internal combustion engines [ICE]. Particularly, the present invention relates to a hydrogen carburetor for generating hydrogen from the heat energy exhausted by an internal combustion engine to run the internal combustion engine and the method involving thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

Today, the two major problems confronted with the use of conventional fuels such as petrol and diesel to run internal combustion engines are pollution and conservation of such fuels. The pollution in the environment is created primarily due to the products of combustion such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen; hydrocarbons etc., which are released by the internal combustion engines running on conventional fuels.
Further, the problem with the conventional fuels is, they are becoming extinct and thus, much effort has been directed to the broad object of generating alternative fuels such as hydrogen and in turn used to run internal combustion engines. When hydrogen is used as the fuel to run the internal combustion engine, the noxious products of combustion which pollute the atmosphere are reduced to a high degree.
Presently, the generation of hydrogen gas through high temperature electrolysis method to run the internal combustion engine is a known phenomenon, wherein the method of decomposition of water into oxygen and hydrogen using an electric current is followed. However, present methods utilize an additional high voltage heat engine to split the water into hydrogen and oxygen gases and hence involve a significant cost. Also, the known methods are not efficient in maintaining hydrogen storage level and the hydrogen production rate, which may lead to risks.
Therefore, there is a need for an efficient and economical system for generating hydrogen to run the internal combustion engine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. One of the benefits of hydrogen powered ICEs is that they perform well under all weather conditions, require no warm-up, have no cold-start issue and are highly efficient [upto 45% as recently achieved]. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a hydrogen carburetor for generating hydrogen from the heat energy exhausted by an internal combustion engine and in turn to run the internal combustion engine by the generated hydrogen. Thus, an efficient and economical system which uses the heat energy exhausted by the internal combustion engine during runtime to generate hydrogen, without using much power from the external power supply is described. When the temperature of the H20 atoms raises, the viscosity of this H20 atoms slows down. Hence, a low amount of electrical energy is enough to split-up hydrogen atoms.
In one aspect, a hydrogen carburetor system for generating hydrogen to run an internal combustion engine includes a heat absorber tank coupled to said engine to absorb heat energy exhausted by the engine during runtime; a water tank to supply distilled water to said heat absorber tank, wherein the distilled water is heated up using the absorbed heat energy; a steam electrolysis chamber to split hydrogen and oxygen gases from the injected heated distilled water by porous electrolysis, wherein heated distilled water is injected when the temperature in the steam electrolysis chamber rise to a threshold value; a temperature sensing controller coupled to said chamber to sense the temperature in the steam electrolysis chamber; a hydrogen compressor connected to a porous anode element of said chamber to collect and compress the generated hydrogen; and a fuel storage tank to store the compressed hydrogen and to supply the hydrogen to the internal combustion engine through an engine carburetor or a fuel injector or a fuel air mixture.
Accordingly the present invention describes the system, wherein the system is initiated by a power distributor which distributes the power to the temperature sensing controller, the water flow injector, the porous electrolysis elements and the gas pressure controller, wherein the power distributor is a source of DC power supply, which is obtained by dynamo.
Accordingly the present invention describes the system, wherein the fuel storage tank includes a gas pressure regulator to regulate the generation of the hydrogen gas by controlling the flow of heated distilled, water to the steam electrolysis chamber, according to the volume of hydrogen in the fuel storage tank and the requirement of the internal combustion engine.
Accordingly the present invention describes the system wherein the steam electrolysis chamber comprises an electrolysis plugging device and heat insulating cover, wherein said electrolysis plugging device comprises porous anode and porous cathode elements, and wherein the heat insulating cover is used to cover outer surface of steam electrolysis chamber to avoid heat losses. The porous anode element includes a heating stick to speed up the generation of hydrogen.
In another aspect, a method for generating hydrogen to run an internal combustion engine includes steps of: initiation of the system by a power distributor, absorbing heat energy exhausted by the internal combustion engine during runtime in a heat absorber tank, supplying distilled water to said heat absorber tank; heating said water using the absorbed heat energy, sensing the temperature in the steam electrolysis chamber for controlling the flow of heated distilled water into the steam electrolysis chamber, injecting heated distilled water into the steam electrolysis chamber when the temperature in the steam electrolysis chamber raises to a predetermined threshold temperature, separating hydrogen and oxygen gases formed in the steam electrolysis chamber by porous electrolysis, wherein the porous electrolysis method separates hydrogen and oxygen gases from the injected heated distilled water, compressing and storing the generated hydrogen, eliminating rest of gases formed in the porous electrolysis; and releasing the required compressed hydrogen to said internal combustion engine.
The systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be implemented in any means for achieving various aspects. Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

Example embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system of hydrogen carburetor for generating hydrogen gas to run the internal combustion engine, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a set-up for porous electrolysis in a steam electrolysis chamber, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a process flow chart depicting the release of the Hydrogen gas to the internal combustion engine based on the requirement through the engine carburetor or fuel air mixture or fuel injector.

Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood however that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. The following description and drawings are not to be construed as limiting the invention and numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention, as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. However in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention in detail.
The present invention describes a hydrogen carburetor for generating hydrogen using the heat exhausted by the internal combustion engine by porous electrolysis method and in-turn running the internal combustion engine using the generated hydrogen, and the method involved thereof. The word ‘gas’ and the phrase ‘hydrogen gas’ is used interchangeably through out the document. Also, the word ‘engine’ and the phrase ‘internal combustion engine’ are used interchangeable through out the document.
FIG. 1 illustrates a system (100) of hydrogen carburetor for generating hydrogen gas to run the internal combustion engine, in accordance with the present invention. Particularly, the system (100) includes an internal combustion engine (102), a power distributor (104), a temperature sensing controller (106), a heat absorber tank (108), a water tank (110), a steam electrolysis chamber (112), an engine's exhausting gas outlet (113), a tile pipe (114), a water flow injector (115), a porous anode element (116A), a porous cathode element (116B), a hydrogen compressor (118), a belt (120), a radiator fan shaft wheel (122), a fuel storage tank (126) having non-return inlet valve (124) and non-return outlet valve (128), a gas pressure regulator (130), and an engine carburetor or a fuel injector or a fuel air mixture (132) which are coupled as shown in FIG. 1.
In one exemplary implementation, the heat absorber tank (108) and the steam electrolysis chamber (112) are coupled to the internal combustion engine (102) to absorb the exhausted heat of the internal combustion engine (102), such that the heat exhausted by the engine (102) is utilized completely, wherein the steam electrolysis chamber (112) is coupled to the engine's exhausting gas outlet (113) as shown in FIG. 1. The water tank (110) is connected to the heat absorber tank (108) to supply distilled water. Further, the outlet of the heat absorber tank (108) is coupled to the steam electrolysis chamber (112) through the water flow injector (115). Furthermore, the steam electrolysis chamber (112) includes the porous anode element (116A) and the porous cathode element (116B). In one example embodiment, the steam electrolysis chamber (112) is fitted in-between the engine's exhausting gas outlet (113) and inlet of the tile pipe (114). The steam electrolysis chamber (112) is described in detail in FIG. 2.
Further, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the hydrogen compressor (118) includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the hydrogen compressor (118) is connected to the porous anode element (116A) of the steam electrolysis chamber (112) and the outlet of the hydrogen compressor (118) is connected to the non-return inlet valve (124) of the fuel storage tank (126). In one exemplary implementation, the hydrogen compressor (118) includes a piston and is made gas-tight by piston rings. The energy for said piston movement is derived from the rotation of the radiator fan shaft wheel (122), which exists in all conventional systems, through the belt (120) as shown in FIG. 1.
In one example implementation, the fuel storage tank (126) includes the gas pressure regulator (130). Further, the non-return outlet valve (128) of the fuel storage tank (126) is coupled to the internal combustion engine (102) through the engine carburetor or fuel injector or fuel air mixture (132). The fuel storage tank (126) is made up of stainless steel material.
In operation, the power distributor (104) is the main power source which initiates the system (100), wherein the power distributor (104) is a source of DC power supply. In one example embodiment, the power distributor (104) receives power from a dynamo. Initially, the temperature sensing controller (106) receives the power from the power distributor (104). In these embodiments, the system (100) is initiated by the power distributor (104) which distributes the power to the temperature sensing controller (106), the water flow injector (115), the porous electrolysis elements (116A and 116B) and the gas pressure regulator (130) as shown in FIG. 1. It is to be appreciated that the amount of power required for the system (100) is less, i.e., a D C of required minimum volt ampere is sufficient, which is obtained by dynamo.
Further in operation, the fuel storage tank (126) contains a significant amount of hydrogen gas which is required to start the internal combustion engine (102) initially. The heat absorber tank (108) absorbs heat energy exhausted by the internal combustion engine (102) during runtime. The water tank (110) supplies distilled water to said heat absorber tank (108). In one embodiment, the heat absorber tank (108) heats the distilled water using the absorbed heat energy and the heated distilled water is injected to the steam electrolysis chamber (112) through the water flow injector (115).
In one embodiment, the heated distilled water is injected to the steam electrolysis chamber (112) through the water flow injector (115), according to the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing controller (106) and the speed of the internal combustion engine (102) as regulated by the gas pressure regulator (130). In one exemplary implementation, the water flow injector (115) includes a nozzle and a valve, which is used to inject the heated distilled water into the steam electrolysis chamber (112). In these embodiments, the water flow injector (115) includes an electromagnetic coil to operate a plunger and the heated distilled water is injected into the steam electrolysis chamber (112) according to the speed of the plunger. The power distributor (104) provides power required for continuous working of the electromagnetic coil.
Further, the temperature sensing controller (106) includes a sensing lead which helps in sensing the internal temperature of the steam electrolysis chamber (112), and when the temperature rises to a predetermined threshold temperature (around 95° C.) in the steam electrolysis chamber (112), it triggers the flow of heated distilled water flow into the steam electrolysis chamber (112). The steam electrolysis chamber (112) splits the injected heated distilled water into hydrogen and oxygen gases by porous electrolysis. In one embodiment, the hydrogen and oxygen are separated through the respective porous anode element (116A) and cathode element (116B) inside the steam electrolysis chamber (112). The rate of production of hydrogen gas is regulated by the gas pressure regulator (130) according to the volume of the hydrogen gas in the fuel storage tank (126) and the requirement of hydrogen gas by the engine (102).
Further in operation, the hydrogen compressor (118) receives and compresses the generated hydrogen from the porous anode element (116A). In one example embodiment, the hydrogen compressor (118) increases the pressure of the hydrogen gas thorough compression. The piston in the hydrogen compressor (118) transfers force from expanding gas in the hydrogen compressor (118) to the crankshaft for the purpose of compressing or ejecting the hydrogen gas. Further, the compressed hydrogen gas is passed to the fuel storage tank (126), wherein the hydrogen gas gets stored, through the non-return inlet valve (124).
In one example embodiment, the gas pressure regulator (130) regulates the generation of hydrogen gas by regulating the injecting rate of heated distilled water through the water flow injector (115) to the steam electrolysis chamber (112) based on volume of hydrogen gas in the fuel storage tank (126). In other words, the generation of the hydrogen gas is regulated by the gas pressure regulator (130) to avoid risks.
Furthermore in operation, the fuel storage tank (126) releases the required hydrogen gas to the internal combustion engine (102) through the engine carburetor or the fuel injector or the fuel air mixture (132), to run the internal combustion engine (102). In one example embodiment, the hydrogen gas pressure regulator (130) controls the non-return outlet valve (128) of the fuel storage tank (126) to automatically cut off the flow of gas to the engine (102) at a certain pressure, thereby controlling the flow of gas into the internal combustion engine (102).
FIG. 2 illustrates a set-up for porous electrolysis in a steam electrolysis chamber (i.e., the steam electrolysis chamber (112) of FIG. 1), in accordance with the present invention. In one example implementation, the steam electrolysis chamber (112) is coupled to an internal combustion engine's exhausting gas outlet (i.e., the internal combustion engine exhausting gas outlet (113) of FIG. 1) to absorb the exhausted heat by an engine (i.e., the internal combustion engine (102) of FIG. 1). The said chamber (112) is made up of light weighted stainless steel material. The steam electrolysis chamber (112) includes the electrolysis plugging device and a heat insulating cover (202). The electrolysis plugging device includes two splitting units called an anode splitting unit and a cathode splitting unit. Both said splitting units are fabricated with porous carbon electrolyte elements. In the porous anode element (i.e., the porous anode element (116A) of FIG. 1), a low watts heating stick (204) is embedded which is used to speed up the hydrogen generation. The said splitting units are electrically connected to a power distributor (i.e., the power distributor (104) of FIG. 1) as shown in FIG. 2. The heat insulating cover (202) forms outer surface of the steam electrolysis chamber (112) in order to avoid heat losses.
In operation, when the heated distilled water is injected to the steam electrolysis chamber (112) through a water flow injector (i.e., the water flow injector (115) of FIG. 1), the porous electrolysis process takes place, wherein the water is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen elements. The generated hydrogen at the porous anode element (116A) is stored and compressed in a hydrogen gas compressor (i.e., the hydrogen gas compressor (118) of FIG. 1) and the oxygen gas is eliminated. It is to be appreciated that the low watts heating stick (204), which is embedded in the anode splitting element speed up the process. A gas pressure regulator (i.e., the gas pressure regulator (130) of FIG. 1) regulates the volume of gas generation according to the volume of hydrogen gas stored in a fuel storage tank (i.e., the fuel storage tank (126) of FIG. 1) and the requirement of the engine (102), through the water flow injector (115).
FIG. 3 is a process flow chart (300) of an exemplary method for generating hydrogen gas for running an internal combustion engine (i.e., the internal combustion engine (102) of FIG. 1), in accordance with the present invention. In step 302, the system is initiated by a power distributor (i.e., the power distributor (104) of FIG. 1). In step 304, heat energy exhausted by the internal combustion engine (102) during runtime is absorbed by a heat absorber tank (i.e., the heat absorber tank (108) of FIG. 1). In step 306, the distilled water is supplied to said heat absorber tank (108). In step 308, said distilled water is heated using the stored exhausted heat energy. In step 310, heated water is injected into a steam electrolysis chamber (i.e., the steam electrolysis chamber (112) of FIG. 1) when the temperature in the steam electrolysis chamber (112) rise to a predetermined threshold temperature. The steam electrolysis chamber (112) absorbs heat from the exhausted heat by the engine (102) to raise the temperature in the chamber (112). In one exemplary implementation, the temperature in the steam electrolysis chamber (112) is sensed using the temperature sensing controller (i.e., the temperature sensing controller (106) of FIG. 1). In one example embodiment, the predetermined threshold value includes a temperature of 95° C.
In step 312, element gases formed in the steam electrolysis chamber (112) are separated by porous electrolysis. In one embodiment, the element gases include hydrogen and oxygen. In step 314, the generated hydrogen gas formed at the porous anode element (i.e., the porous anode element (116A) of FIG. 1) is compressed by a hydrogen compressor (i.e., the hydrogen compressor (118) of FIG. 1) and the oxygen gas formed at the porous cathode element (i.e., the porous cathode element (116B) in the porous electrolysis is eliminated. In one exemplary embodiment, a heating stick (i.e., the heating stick (204) of FIG. 2) is used to speed up the porous electrolysis process, and thus there is no need for any additional heater in the steam electrolysis chamber (112). In step 316, the compressed hydrogen gas is provided to the fuel storage tank (i.e., the fuel storage tank (126) of FIG. 1). In step 318, the required compressed hydrogen is released to said internal combustion engine (102) through an engine carburetor (i.e., the engine carburetor or the fuel injector or the fuel air mixture (132) of FIG. 1).
It is advantageous that the above mentioned method provides most of the energy needed to split the distilled water using the heat energy exhausted by the engine, thereby reducing the overall external energy requirement. Further, the system can be implemented over the existing internal combustion engines. The described hydrogen carburetor can be implemented in automobiles, ship engines, domestic and industrial power generation engines etc. Further, the present invention provides balance in hydrogen storage level and the hydrogen production rate, thus providing the safer system.
In addition, it is clear that the present invention and its advantages are not limited to the above described embodiments only. With minor modifications, substitutions and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in the claims. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded as illustrative examples of the invention, rather than in restrictive sense.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A hydrogen carburetor system for generating hydrogen to run an internal combustion engine comprising:

a heat absorber tank coupled with the internal combustion engine to absorb heat energy exhausted by the internal combustion engine during runtime;

a water tank to supply distilled water to the heat absorber tank, wherein the heat absorber tank heats the distilled water using the absorbed heat energy;

a steam electrolysis chamber to split hydrogen and oxygen gases from the heated distilled water by porous electrolysis, wherein the steam electrolysis chamber includes:

an electrolysis plugging device including a porous anode element and a porous cathode element, and wherein the porous anode element and the porous cathode element separate hydrogen gas and oxygen gas respectively, and wherein the porous anode element includes a heating stick to speed up generation of the hydrogen gas.

12. The hydrogen carburetor system of claim 11, wherein the heat absorber tank includes a water flow injector for injecting heated distilled water into the steam electrolysis chamber when the temperature of the steam electrolysis chamber rises to a predetermined threshold value.

13. The hydrogen carburetor system of claim 12, wherein the hydrogen carburetor system further comprises:

a temperature sensing controller coupled with the steam electrolysis chamber to sense the temperature in the steam electrolysis chamber to control the flow of water into the steam electrolysis chamber according to the predetermined threshold value;

a hydrogen compressor connected to the porous anode element of the steam electrolysis chamber to collect and compress the generated hydrogen gas; and

a fuel storage tank having an inlet valve and an outlet valve, wherein the inlet valve is coupled with the hydrogen compressor to receive and store the compressed hydrogen gas and the outlet valve is coupled with the internal combustion engine through a mixing device to release the required amount of hydrogen gas to run the internal combustion engine.

14. The hydrogen carburetor system of claim 13, wherein the fuel storage tank includes a gas pressure regulator to regulate generation of hydrogen gas by controlling flow of heated distilled water to the steam electrolysis chamber according to the volume of hydrogen gas in the fuel storage tank and the requirement of the internal combustion engine.

15. The hydrogen carburetor system of claim 14, wherein the hydrogen carburetor system is powered by a power distributor which distributes power to the temperature sensing controller, the water flow injector, the porous anode element, and the porous cathode element, and the gas pressure regulator, wherein the power distributor is a source of DC power which is obtained by dynamo.

15. The hydrogen carburetor system of claim 11, wherein the steam electrolysis chamber is coupled with an exhaust of the internal combustion engine.

17. The hydrogen carburetor system of claim 11, wherein the steam electrolysis chamber comprises a heat insulating cover to cover the outer surface of the steam electrolysis chamber to avoid heat losses.

18. The hydrogen carburetor system of claim 13, wherein the inlet valve and the outlet valve of the fuel storage tank are non-return valves.

19. The hydrogen carburetor system of claim 13, wherein the mixing device is one of an engine carburetor, a fuel injector or a fuel air mixing device.

20. The hydrogen carburetor system of claim 14, wherein the gas pressure regulator releases hydrogen gas from the fuel storage tank to the internal combustion engine through the mixing device.

21. A method for generating hydrogen to run an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

initiating a system by a power distributor;

absorbing heat energy exhausted by the internal combustion engine during runtime by a heat absorber tank;

supplying distilled water to the heat absorber tank;

heating the distilled water using the absorbed heat energy;

sensing the temperature in a steam electrolysis chamber for controlling the flow of heated distilled water into the steam electrolysis chamber;

injecting the heated distilled water into the steam electrolysis chamber when the temperature in the steam electrolysis chamber reaches a threshold temperature;

separating hydrogen and oxygen gases from the heated distilled water in the steam electrolysis chamber by porous electrolysis, wherein the steam electrolysis chamber comprises an electrolysis plugging device including a porous anode element and a porous cathode element, and wherein hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are separated by the porous anode element and the porous cathode element separate respectively, and wherein the porous anode element includes a heating stick to speed up the generation of hydrogen gas hydrogen and oxygen from the injected heated distilled water;

compressing and storing the generated hydrogen gas;

eliminating other gases formed during the porous electrolysis; and

releasing the required compressed hydrogen to said internal combustion engine.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising introducing exhaust from the combustion engine into the steam electrolysis chamber to heat the steam electrolysis chamber.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the threshold value is approximately 95° C.

24. A system comprising:

means for producing heated water using heat energy produced by an internal combustion engine;

means for introducing the heated water into an electrolysis chamber;

means for splitting the heated water into hydrogen and oxygen gases by porous electrolysis in the electrolysis chamber;

means for capturing the hydrogen gas produced in the electrolysis chamber; and

means for introducing the hydrogen gas into the combustion engine for use as fuel to run the combustion engine.

25. The system of claim 24 further comprising means for controlling the production of hydrogen gas.

26. The system of claim 24 further comprising means for storing the captured hydrogen gas.

27. The system of claim 26 further comprising means for compressing the hydrogen gas for storage in the storing means.

28. The system of claim 24 further comprising means for heating the separating means.

29. The system of claim 24 further comprising power distributing means.