WO2014006632A2

WO2014006632A2 - A system and method thereof, for operating a fuel engine using water

Info

Publication number: WO2014006632A2
Application number: PCT/IN2013/000303
Authority: WO
Inventors: Parsottam Premjibhai PIPALIA; Jignesh Parsottam PIPALIA
Original assignee: Pipalia Parsottam Premjibhai; Pipalia Jignesh Parsottam
Priority date: 2012-07-05
Filing date: 2013-05-08
Publication date: 2014-01-09
Also published as: WO2014006632A3

Abstract

A system (100) for generating hydrogen gas by electrolysis of water for fueling an engine is disclosed. The system (100) comprises a power regulator (142) to regulate the flow of an electric current from a battery source to a water tank (124) provided in communication with engine (130). The water tank (124) has a positive side (102) and a negative side (1 12) defined by a partition plate (145), each of the positive side (102) and the negative side (112) include a plurality of electricity conductors (122).The electricity conductors (122) on the positive side (102) receive the electric current in the water tank (124), on passing the electric current the water in the water tank (124) undergoes electrolysis to generate oxygen gas at the positive side (102) and hydrogen gas at the negative side (112), the hydrogen gas is then supplied to the engine (130) via the hydrogen flow path (148).

Description

A SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF FOR OPERATING A FUEL ENGINE USING WATER

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an environment-friendly fuel engine system. Particularly, the present invention relates to an environment-friendly fuel engine system having an engine fueled by hydrogen. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for use in combustion engines for generating hydrogen from electrolysis of water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION & PRIOR ART

A gasoline/diesel engine, which is gasoline-fueled or diesel-fueled, has been widely used as a source of power for driving an internal combustion engine. A mixture of gasoline/diesel, which is the prime fuel, and air, is generally combusted to put the engine into motion. However, with the high costs of crude oil and the growing concerns over the greenhouse gases emitted by the combustion of these carbon-containing fuels, there is a keen interest in fueling the internal combustion engine with alternative fuels. In the recent years, efforts have been made to commercialize a technology for adding hydrogen to the fuel- air mixture. It is also estimated that hydrogen will be increasingly used as automobile fuel not only in gasoline engines, diesel engines, hydrogen engines, and other internal combustion engines, but also in fuel cells for use in electric automobiles and other hydrogen-powered apparatus other than engines.

Hydrogen due to the absence of carbon does not produce pollutants such as hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), and produces water upon combustion. That is, when hydrogen burns, it combines with oxygen in the air to form water, thereby presenting no environmental pollution hazard.

In reality, however, the technology concerning a hydrogen supply method is still not established. Further, because of its properties of combustion, especially its low flammability, engines using hydrogen as fuel must be operated under special air to fuel ratios. After mixing with air, the fuel is injected into a combustion chamber to drive the cylinders. Hydrogen is a combustible substance that involves a danger of explosion when mixed with air at predetermined mixing ratios. Thus, right control over the air to fuel ratio is necessary. Also, it is found that the hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines suffer from a lower power , output compared to gasoline or diesel powered engines.

Hydrogen being a gaseous fuel takes up much of the volume in the fuel cylinder, particularly when compared to dense fuels like gasoline and diesel. Therefore, when hydrogen is to be supplied to an internal combustion engine, fuel cell, or the like, it is necessary that the vehicle carry hydrogen or hydrogen- generating raw fuel. More specifically, when the vehicle is to carry hydrogen, hydrogen-rich gas is compressed to a high-pressure gas or liquefied and filled into a steel cylinder (e.g., high-pressure tank or liquid hydrogen tank).

An alternative is to use a hydrogen storage alloy or hydrogen adsorption material for storing the hydrogen. When the vehicle is to carry raw fuel, the vehicle incorporates methanol, gasoline, or other hydrocarbon as the raw fuel and a hydrogen generator for generating hydrogen-rich gas by steam- reforming the raw fuel. However, if the vehicle carries hydrogen that is compressed into a high-pressure tank, the hydrogen storage amount is small because the high-pressure tank has a thick wall and cannot provide an adequate inner volume although the tank is large. When the fuel in the tank is used up, it must be refilled. Therefore, the promotion of automobiles using the hydrogen engines depends critically on the availability of a hydrogen filling bays at a common gas station, which till date is not common due to the added risk involved. If the vehicle carries liquid hydrogen, the overall energy efficiency is not high because it entails a vaporization loss and requires a large amount of energy for liquefaction. If the hydrogen storage alloy or hydrogen adsorption material is used, the resulting hydrogen storage density is inadequate and it is very difficult to control hydrogen storage and adsorption. It is also necessary to furnish facilities for compressing, liquefying, and storing hydrogen. Meanwhile, when the vehicle?, carries raw fuel, a single fuel refill provides a longer traveling distance than the use of hydrogen. Also, the hydrocarbon raw fuel can be transported and otherwise handled more easily than the hydrogen-rich gas.

One example of such hydrogen using internal combustion engine is described in> US7654232 in which a hydrogen engine system for driving an engine with hydrogen gases as a fuel comprises a hydrogenated liquid fuel tank which holds a hydrogenated liquid fuel in a liquid phase, a preheater in which the hydrogenated liquid fuel is preheated by a dehydrogenated fuel from a hydrogen feed unit, a vaporizer in which the preheated hydrogenated liquid fuel is vaporized by exhaust gases of the engine, and a hydrogen feed unit in which the vaporized hydrogenated liquid fuel and exhaust gases of the engine are transported to generate hydrogen gases by dehydrogenation.

Another such internal combustion engine using hydrogen is disclosed in US8118012 in which the internal combustion engine is powered by using a hydrocarbon fuel and hydrogen gas as fuels and includes a fuel injection device that injects liquid fuel, a hydrogen-blended fuel in which hydrogen gas is contained in the form of minute bubbles in a liquid fuel, that is supplied to the fuel injection device. The hydrogen-blended fuel is stored in a tank. Hydrogen gas that has escaped from the hydrogen-blended fuel in the fuel tank is fed to a minute-bubble producing device, which forms the fuel gas into minute bubbles and mixes the minute bubbles back into the hydrogen-blended fuel.

From the art it is apparent that there is no convenient method for generating and supplying hydrogen gas to the combustion engine. More often, a raw hydrocarbon fuel is used to generate hydrogen-rich gases which are then used to work the engine. Alternatively, hydrogen is used along with a hydrocarbon fuel.. There is therefore a need to provide a system and method thereof for generating hydrogen gas for working a combustion engine, which is simple, efficient, safe, environment-friendly, and cost-effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome the afore-said drawbacks in the related art to efficiently generate a large amount of hydrogen gas and to achieve a compatible system for installing on an automobile.

Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a practicable environment-friendly engine system in which the hydrogen gas fuelling the engine is generated from water by electrolysis. Therefore, only a water fuel tank has to be refilled with water. Further, the engine system is similar to the known fuel engines in structure, and therefore it can be installed in conventional automobile bodies easily.

These objects and other advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention which is a system for generating hydrogen gas by electrolysis of water for fueling an engine, said system comprising a power regulator in operative communication with a dash board to continuously receive an engine operation data and provide electric current regulated based on said engine operation data from a battery source to a water tank provided in operative communication with an engine; said water tank having a positive side and a negative side defined by a partition plate allowing a partial communication between said positive side and said negative side, each of said positive side and said negative side including a plurality of electricity conductors, the electricity conductors on said positive side are provided in operative communication with said power regulator to receive said electric current in said water tank and the electricity conductors on said negative side are provided in operative communication with an engine earthing, where on passing said electric current the water in said water tank undergoes electrolysis to generate oxygen gas at said positive side and hydrogen gas at said negative side, said hydrogen gas is thereby supplied to the engine via the hydrogen flow path. ,

Typically, the hydrogen gas is conveyed to said engine via a safety point having a gas overflow safety valve.

The system comprises an oxygen outlet on said positive side. Further, the system comprises a water inlet and a water drain plug on said negative side. The said power regulator is adapted to regulate said electric current based on the engine load.

The present invention discloses a method for operating an engine by using hydrogen fuel, said method comprising the following steps:

^■ receiving an engine operation data in a power regulator;

^■ providing electric current regulated based on said engine operation data from a battery source to a water tank via said power regulator;

^■ electrolyzing the water in said water tank to oxygen gas and hydrogen gas, wherein, said water tank includes a positive side and a negative side defined by a partition plate allowing a partial communication between said positive side and said negative side, each of said positive side and said negative side including a plurality of electricity conductors, the electricity conductors on said positive side receive said electric current in said water tank and the electricity conductors on said negative side are provided in operative communication with an engine earthing; and

■ conveying the hydrogen gas to the engine.

The method further comprises conveying the oxygen gas inside the automobile to freshen the ambience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING

The present invention will be described here below with reference to the following drawings, in which,

FIGURE 1, illustrates a schematic of the system according to the present invention for generating hydrogen by electrolysis of water for fueling an engine. FIGURE 2, illustrates a schematic of the system for operating a fuel engine using water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which is illustrated in use as a system for generating hydrogen by electrolysis of water for fueling an engine. Reference to this embodiment and the use thereof does not limit the scope of the invention in any way and is to be considered as illustrative with the only purpose of exemplifying the invention.

Any water, like plain water, mineral water, distilled water, sea water, clean water or unclean water, in a 12V battery generates two points, viz. a positive point and a negative point. At these two points, made of copper or lead material sticks of positive and negative, the direct current (DC) of the battery is at minimum 12V and voltage can be varied as per requirement. Thus, the DC electro current can be varied with the quantity of water. The positive and the negative points are placed in water to generate two molecules of hydrogen and one molecule of oxygen. This dissociation can be obtained slow or fast by passing the DC current. Addition of few drops of sulfuric acid in water fastens the process. Once the water is used up, new water can be added to obtain hydrogen and oxygen from water. To run, the engine, two strokes and four strokes, fuel like petrol, diesel, crude, kerosene, gas, LPG, CNG, hydrogen, etc., are used. The hydrogen generated from the water can be utilized as fuel for these engines.

The hydrogen and oxygen obtained from the water by way of fuel gas direct or as per system of each engine and requirement thereof, cannot be stored, therefore there is no oxygen point,- thus not hazardous. The oxygen can be collected and can be sprayed in the automobile via the air conditioning to keep the travelers fresh and happy/laughing.

By this way, any two stroke and four stroke cycle, water cooled or air cooled, petrol (50 cc - 5000 cc) engine can be run. By simply making, minor alterations, any petrol engine can be run using the present system. Thus, two wheelers, four wheelers, three wheelers, motor bikes, generators, industry engine can be made to run using the present system, as per its power capacity requirement. In a four-stroke diesel engine about 30 to 35 % of fuel can be saved. In petrol, gas, crude oil, LPG, CNG, LNG, etc. about 60 to 75 % fuel can be saved.

The engine is started on petrol/diesel, and thereafter the water mode is switched on. As soon as the switch is made, the battery current gets started and the water molecule is dissociated into hydrogen and oxygen. This takes around 2 - 3 minutes depending upon the speed and the engine load. After this time, only that much power is generated which this switch regulator passes on. Therefore, after 2 - 3 minutes, the petrol/diesel engine is converted into hydrogen gas fuelled engine. The system further comprises an electronic unit for controlling the operation. When the engine is being shut, the water mode is switched off. Once again when the engine is started, it will first start on petrol/diesel and then switch to the hydrogen gas by using the water. The present system does not store the hydrogen gas produced; therefore there is no need of fuel capacity tank. Thus, the risks involved in using hydrogen gas as fuel are eliminated. Hydrogen engine works like power and when given directly to the engine, the pollutants given out at the exhaust are reduced. Therefore, the present system is environment-friendly. The present invention envisages a hydrogen gas fuelled engine using water to run a two-stroke or four-stroke petrol/diesel engine of 50 cc to 5000 cc. The system of the present invention can be used in any type of automobile or vehicle, such as motor-bike, mopeds, cars, ships and the like. The system of the present invention can also be used in industry engines, agricultural devices, and generators. Referring to FIGURE 1, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the system for operating a fuel engine using water, in accordance with the present invention. The system, generally referenced by numeral 100 in FIGURE 1, comprises a power regulator 142 in communication with a dash board 136, having minimum 12. V power battery in operative communication with a positive side 102 of a water tank 124; a negative side 112 in operative communication with the positive side 102; a HDT/LDT partition plate 145 for separating the positive side 102 and the negative side 112; water tank inlet 108.¾ for filling the water; a water drain plug 120; a hydrogen outlet 114; lead or copper electricity conductors 122 for the power supply line; lead or copper , electricity conductors 122 for negative supply (earthing); water supply 118; dash board of the engine or vehicle 136; wiring harness 140 connecting the dash board 136 to the water tank 124; ignition 138 connecting the dash board 136 to. the regulator 142; gas idle rpm high rpm unit and safety point 132; gas overflow safety valve 134; final hydrogen gas outlet engine intake side 126; engine gas mixer 128; water tank top level indicator 144; water tank bottom level indicator 146; negative working harness 149; positive working harness 150; oxygen outlet 147 on positive side 102; final hydrogen gas path 148 on negative side 112; and engine 130. The material used for the water tank 124 is HDT or LDT, which can bare high temperatures. The tank 124 is made as per size of the engine, e.g. one liter tank for motor-bikes and four liter tank for vehicles. For heavy machines, the capacity of the tank can be still higher. The tank can be conveniently replaced in case of damage. On starting, the engine 130 will start on petrol, irrespective of the engine type MPFI or carburetor model. The system 100 can be used on water cooled and air cooled engines. On start-up, a connection is initiated with the power control regulator 142 through the positive line 102 of the battery, and current enters the water tank 124. The power regulator 142 is provided in operative communication with the dash board 136 to continuously receive an engine operation data and provide electric current regulated based on the engine operation data from a battery source to a water tank 124. The water tank 124 is provided in operative communication with an engine 130. The water tank 124 comprises the positive side 102 and the negative side 112 defined by the partition plate 145 which allows a partial communication between the positive side 102 and the negative side 112. The electricity conductors 122 on the positive side 102 are provided in operative communication with the power regulator 142 to receive the electric current in the water tank 124. The electricity conductors 122 on the negative side 112 are provided in operative communication with an engine earthing 149 for safety. On passing the electric current the water in the water tank 124 undergoes electrolysis to generate oxygen gas at the positive side 102 and hydrogen gas at the negative side 112. The hydrogen gas is then supplied to the engine 130 via the hydrogen flow path 148. A safety point 132 having a gas overflow safety valve 134 is provided in the flow path 148.

At regulator points 104, 106 and 110 in the water tank 124, the lead or copper electricity conductors 122 are fitted, where the water is filled. In this water, slowly or speedily, power is passed through. Within 2 to 3 minutes, power is generated from the water in the form of oxygen and hydrogen. Both these forms, enter the engine mixer 128 via the hydrogen outlet 114 and the final hydrogen gas outlet engine intake side 126. On receiving the forms, the engine operation is converted to gas from petrol/diesel. For slow speeds, the engine runs using the regulator 104, for medium speeds the engine runs using the regulator 106 and for high speeds the engine runs using the regulator 110. When speed gets suddenly cut off, the gas so generated is passed into the atmosphere through the gas overflow safety valve 134, thereby avoiding any damage.

Referring to FIGURE 2, there is disclosed another embodiment of the system for operating a fuel engine using water, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2, comprises a water power unit 1 with water inner unit 2; Ignition cable wire 3 is connected to positive inner point 5 and negative cable wire 4 is connected to negative inner point 6 of the water power unit 1; Water drain point

7 is at lower side of the water power unit 1 and water over flow and safety point

8 at upper side of the water power unit 1; Water level indicator 9 comprises of water minimum level point 10 and water maximum level point 11 to the inner side of the water power unit 1; A water power unit 1 further comprises unit positive side 12 and unit negative side 13; Auto ON/OFF Switch 14 displaced on top cover 15 of the water unit; Water 16 is filled up in the water power unit 1 < by water filling point (inlet) 17. A water power unit 1 further comprises oxygen < outlet point 18 positive side and hydrogen outlet point 19 negative side at the top cover 15 of the water power unit. Figure 2, further comprises inner unit oxygen part positive side 20 and inner unit hydrogen part negative side 21; inner unit oxygen out point positive 22 and inner unit hydrogen out point negative 23 displaced on water inner unit 2.

Figure 2 discloses a method of separating oxygen and hydrogen from water. On starting of engine along with ignition power supply in water power unit 1 voltage is obtained by water electrolysis process with DC electric liquid battery with positive and negative ends. Inner water unit 2 comprises of two parts viz. positive part 20 and negative part 21where process of separation of oxygen and hydrogen took place. From positive part of the unit 20 oxygen and from negative part of the unit 21 hydrogen are obtained from the outlets 22 and 23 respectively. Oxygen and hydrogen thus obtained is in the ratio of 1 :2, therefore size of the hydrogen part is twice the size of oxygen part. The separated fresh hydrogen is thus used in the fuel system in air intake for the fuel conversion in the engine. Hydrogen is not stored in any tank thus avoiding fatal accidents and oxygen is dissolved in environment. Thus each four stock petrol/ diesel engine gets vacuum from water in power unit and converted into vacuum hydrogen engine air in take thus engine gets power efficiency immediately and decreases load on engine and engine runs smoothly and silently. This result in less fuel consumption and more power and fuel efficiency in the system.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure water power units are in the range of 3watts to 200 watts and 76.2 M.M to 1000.0M.M as per the size of the two or four stroke engines.

The system of the present invention gives 45 to 75 % reduction in fuel consumption in petrol powered engines. The average reduction in fuel consumption is 60 % (i.e. +/- 15 %) Where, in addition, the power produced is given through an air intake point to reduce the diesel consumption by 25 to 65 %. The average diesel consumption is 30 % (i.e. +/- 15 %). However, a portion of the diesel will be required to run the engine.' The system of the present invention gives atleast 25% power efficiency in the two-stroke or four-stroke petrol/diesel engines.

Embodiments of the present invention are applicable for a wide number of uses and other embodiments may be developed beyond the embodiments discussed heretofore. Only the most preferred embodiments and their uses have been described herein for purpose of examples, illustrating the advantages over the prior art obtained through the present invention; the invention is not limited to these specific embodiments or their specified uses. Thus, the forms of the invention described herein are to be taken as illustrative only and other embodiments may be selected without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is to be understood that the system can be manufactured in virtually any shape or size, the system having applicability in any instance where hydrogen generated from water by electrolysis is used to fuel an engine. It should also be understood that additional changes and modifications, within the scope of the invention, will be apparent to one skilled in the art and that various modifications to the construction described herein may fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A system (100) for generating hydrogen gas by electrolysis of water for fueling an engine, said system (100) comprising a power regulator (142) in operative communication with a dash board (136) to continuously receive an engine operation data and provide electric current regulated based on said engine operation data from a battery source to a water tank (124) provided in operative communication with an engine (130); said water tank (124) having a positive side (102) and a negative side (112) defined by a partition plate (145) allowing a partial communication between said positive side (102) and said negative side (112), each of said positive side (102) and said negative side (1 12) including a plurality of electricity conductors (122), the electricity conductors (122) on said positive side (102) are provided in operative communication with said power regulator (142) to receiye said electric current in said water tank (124) and the electricity conductors (122) on said negative side (112) are provided in operative communication with an engine earthing (149), where on passing said electric current the water in said water tank (124) undergoes electrolysis to generate oxygen gas at said positive side (102) and hydrogen gas at said negative side (112), said hydrogen gas is thereby supplied to the engine (130) via the hydrogen flow path (148).

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 , in which the hydrogen gas is conveyed to said engine (130) via a safety point (132) having a gas overflow safety valve (134). .

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, in which an oxygen outlet (147) is provided on said positive side (102).

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, in which a water inlet (108) and a water drain plug (120) are provided on said negative side (1 12).

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, in which said power regulator (142) is adapted to regulate said electric current based on the engine load.

6. A system for generating hydrogen gas by electrolysis of water for fueling an engine, comprising a water power unit 1 with water inner unit 2; Ignition cable wire 3 is connected to positive inner point 5 and negative cable wire 4 is connected to negative inner point 6 of the water power unit 1; Water drain point

8 at upper side of the water power unit 1; Water level indicator 9 comprises of water minimum level point 10 and water maximum level point 11 to the inner side of the water power unit 1; A water power unit 1 further comprises unit positive side 12 and unit negative side 13; Auto ON/OFF Switch 14 displaced on top cover 15 of the water unit; Water 16 is filled up in the water power unit 1 by water filling point (inlet) 17. A water power unit 1 further comprises oxygen outlet point 18 positive side and hydrogen outlet point 19 negative side at the top cover 15 of the water power unit; inner unit oxygen part positive side 20 antl inner unit hydrogen part negative side 21; inner unit oxygen out point positive 22 and inner unit hydrogen out point negative 23 displaced on water inner unit 2.

7. A method for operating an engine by using hydrogen fuel, said method comprising the following steps:

■ receiving an engine operation data in a power regulator;

■ providing electric current regulated based on said engine operation data from a battery source to a water tank via said power regulator; ^■ electrolyzing the water in said water tank to oxygen gas and hydrogen gas, wherein, said water tank includes a positive side and a negative side defined by a partition plate allowing a partial communication between said positive side and said negative side, each of said positive side and said negative side including a plurality of electricity conductors, the electricity conductors on said positive side receive said electric current in said water tank and the electricity conductors on said negative side are provided in operative communication with an engine earthing; and

^■ conveying the hydrogen gas to the engine.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, which comprises conveying the oxygen gas inside the automobile to freshen the ambience.

9. The method as claimed in any of the above claims, which comprises of two-stroke or four-stroke petrol/diesel engines gives atleast 25% power efficiency in the said system.

10. The method as claimed in any of the above claims, which comprises of two-stroke or four-stroke petrol/diesel engines where the average diesel consumption is 30 % (i.e. +/- 15 %) and the average reduction in fuel consumption is 60 % (i.e. +/- 15 %).