Motor vehicles – Power – Electric
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-19
2003-08-26
Rice, Kenneth R. (Department: 3627)
Motor vehicles
Power
Electric
C180S309000, C180S065230
Reexamination Certificate
active
06609582
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a power generation system and method, and especially relates to a hybrid electric powertrain having an engine configured to produce reformate to feed a solid oxide fuel cell.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Alternative transportation fuels have been represented as enablers to reduce toxic emissions in comparison to those generated by conventional fuels. At the same time, tighter emission standards and significant innovation in catalyst formulations and engine controls has led to dramatic improvements in the low emission performance and robustness of gasoline and diesel engine systems. This has certainly reduced the environmental differential between optimized conventional and alternative fuel vehicle systems. However, many technical challenges remain to make the conventionally fueled internal combustion engine a nearly zero emission system having the efficiency necessary to make the vehicle commercially viable.
Alternative fuels cover a wide spectrum of potential environmental benefits, ranging from incremental toxic and CO
2
emission improvements (reformulated gasoline, alcohols, LPG, etc.) and to significant toxic and CO
2
emission improvements (natural gas, DME, etc.). Hydrogen is clearly the ultimate environmental fuel, with potential as a nearly emission free internal combustion engine fuel (including CO
2
if it comes from a non-fossil source). Unfortunately, the market-based economics of alternative fuels or new power train systems are uncertain in the short to mid-term.
The automotive industry has made very significant progress in reducing automotive emissions for both the mandated test procedures and the “real world”. This has resulted in some added cost and complexity of engine management systems, yet those costs are offset by other advantages of computer controls: increased power density, fuel efficiency, drivability, reliability and real-time diagnostics.
Future initiatives to require zero emission vehicles appear to be taking us into a new regulatory paradigm where asymptotically smaller environmental benefits come at a very large incremental cost. Yet, even an “ultra low emission” certified vehicle can emit high emissions in limited extreme ambient and operating conditions or with failed or degraded components.
What is needed in the art is a power generation system having essentially zero emissions, high efficiency, and compatibility with existing fuels and infrastructure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present system and method relate to an engine configured and operated to produce a hydrogen rich engine exhaust and to oxygen enrichment devices to further optimize production of hydrogen rich engine exhaust. The present hydrogen rich exhaust engines include a free piston gas generator with rich homogenous charge compression ignition, an oxygen generator and rich internal combustion engine cylinder system, and a rich inlet turbo-generator system with exhaust heat recovery. Oxygen enrichment devices include pressure swing absorption (PSA) with oxygen selective materials, oxygen separators such as an SOFC oxygen separator and an oxygen separator utilizing a ceramic membrane and differential pressure to drive oxygen across the membrane.
The present invention further relates to a power generation system and method employing the present hydrogen rich exhaust engines and oxygen enrichment devices, and especially relates to a hybrid electric powertrain having an engine configured to produce reformate to feed a solid oxide fuel cell. The power generation system comprises an engine having an intake and an exhaust, wherein said engine is configured to produce a hydrogen rich engine exhaust; an air supply in fluid communication with said engine intake; a fuel supply in fluid communication with said engine intake; at least one SOFC having an air intake in fluid communication with an air supply, a fuel intake in fluid communication with said engine exhaust, a SOFC effluent and an air effluent.
The method comprises supplying at least a first portion of fuel and a first portion of air to an engine, wherein said engine is configured to produce a rich engine exhaust; reacting said first portion of fuel and said first portion of air in said engine to produce a hydrogen rich engine exhaust; introducing said hydrogen rich engine exhaust to a fuel intake of a SOFC; introducing a second portion of air to an air intake of said SOFC; and ionizing oxygen in the second portion of air such that the ionized oxygen migrates to the fuel side of the SOFC where it reacts with said hydrogen rich engine exhaust to produce a SOFC effluent.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4481772 (1984-11-01), Benaroya
patent: 5339634 (1994-08-01), Gale et al.
patent: 5413879 (1995-05-01), Domeracki et al.
patent: 5482791 (1996-01-01), Shingai et al.
patent: 5541014 (1996-07-01), Micheli et al.
patent: 5678647 (1997-10-01), Wolfe et al.
patent: 5727385 (1998-03-01), Hepburn
patent: 5811201 (1998-09-01), Skowronski
patent: 5832880 (1998-11-01), Dickey
patent: 5867982 (1999-02-01), Tengblad et al.
patent: 5968680 (1999-10-01), Wolfe et al.
patent: 6138454 (2000-10-01), Fournier et al.
patent: 6213234 (2001-04-01), Rosen et al.
patent: 6230494 (2001-05-01), Botti et al.
patent: 6260520 (2001-07-01), Van Reatherford
patent: 6286482 (2001-09-01), Flynn et al.
Botti Jean Joseph
Grieve Malcolm James
Miller Carl Elmer
Cichosz Vincent A.
Delphi Technologies Inc.
McClellan James S.
LandOfFree
Power generation system and method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Power generation system and method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Power generation system and method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3125610