Internal-combustion engines – Combined devices – Generating plants
Patent
1986-08-29
1988-08-16
Cross, E. Rollins
Internal-combustion engines
Combined devices
Generating plants
123DIG12, F02B 4308
Patent
active
047636106
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a gas generator and in particular to an electrolysis unit which is particularly, but not exclusively, for converting water into hydrogen and oxygen for use in conjunction with hydrocarbon fuel in prime movers, stationary engines, ships, furnaces, power stations and other applications. The invention further relates to an engine assembly utilising the gas generator.
It has been proposed hitherto to utilise hydrogen gas in conjunction with petrol in internal combustion engines as a petrol-saving measure. Typically, this has been carried out by producing the gas in relatively small quantities and storing the gas in a suitable container from which it is fed to the engine. However, hydrogen gas stored in that way is dangerous and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrolysis unit which will enable gas, typically hydrogen gas, to be produced in relatively large quantities thereby avoiding the need to use a storage tank for the gas in the vehicle.
According to one feature of the invention I provide an engine assembly comprising an engine, a fuel container for the engine, an electrolysis unit, an electrical supply for the electrolysis unit, and a mixing chamber in which gas generated by the electrolysis unit can be intermixed with fuel from the fuel container prior to combustion in the engine.
According to a further feature of the invention there is provided an electrolysis unit comprising a container, an electrolyte in the container and first and second sets of electrodes immersed in the electrolyte which receive electrical current. In use the electrical potential across the first set of electrodes may be different from the electrical potential across the second set of electrodes, and the different sets of electrodes may be brought into operation successively or in combination to provide extra gas output as engine speed rises. At least part of the oxygen is used to convert the pollutants produced in the cylinder from the combustion of the hydrocarbon fuel i.e. nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide, into non-polluting oxides, and if this chemical combination occurs in an engine cylinder not only is the exhaust pollution reduced, but extra power is created in the cylinder. There may also be re-combination of hydrogen and oxygen in the combustion chamber, also to produce power. To avoid the water produced by this re-combination from inhibiting sparking, as a further feature of my invention I provide spark electrodes disposed to be self-freeing of water, i.e. generally horizontally or substantially-horizontally such that the water formed drops fee or vibrates free to fall away.
It has been found that an electrolysis unit in accordance with the invention is particularly efficient and, by using a suitable electrical potential, e.g. provided by a rectified current derived from an alternator of the kind described in my co-pending application No. 2120865A, will provide sufficient gas to meet engine demand thereby avoiding the need to use an intermediate storage reservoir.
Preferably, a third set of electrodes is provided in the container and is immersed in the electrolyte.
Preferably, the unit is mounted in a motor vehicle and is connected to a fuel system whereby the gas, in use, is introduced into the fuel system for introduction into an iternal combustion engine. In such a case, the gas may be fed to the fuel system, e.g. a carburetor, through non-return means such as a water valve.
Where the unit is mounted in a vehicle, the electrical current may be derived from an alternator driven by the engine. Current derived from the alternator is preferably rectified to produce the electrical current necessary for powering the electrolysis unit.
An electrolysis unit in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typical electrolysis unit in accordance with the invention showing electrical connections, and
FIG. 2 is an elevation of the unit of FIG. 1 showing diagrammatically the conn
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