It has now been over 25 years since the introduction of the catalytic converter to reduce emissions from the internal combustion engine. It is considered one of the greatest environmental successes of the 20th century, however, new emission control technologies are still being developed to meet ever more stringent mobile source (gasoline and diesel) emissions. This short review will discuss the basis for improvements and highlight technology area, which will require further improvements in emissions and fuel economy. Some of the issues related to fuel cells which some believe may replace the internal combustion engines for automobile applications is also be briefly discussed.

Automobile exhaust catalysts

https://research.birmingham.ac.uk/portal/files/42435840/Injector_deposit_review.pdf

Fuel injector deposits in direct-injection spark-ignition engines

A hydrocarbon reformer system including a first reactor configured to generate hydrogen-rich reformate by carrying out at least one of a non-catalytic thermal partial oxidation, a catalytic partial oxidation, a steam reforming, and any combinations thereof, a second reactor in fluid communication with the first reactor to receive the hydrogen-rich reformate, and having a catalyst for promoting a water gas shift reaction in the hydrogen-rich reformate, and a heat exchanger having a first mass of two-phase water therein and configured to exchange heat between the two-phase water and the hydrogen-rich reformate in the second reactor, the heat exchanger being in fluid communication with the first reactor so as to supply steam to the first reactor as a reactant is disclosed. The disclosed reformer includes an auxiliary reactor configured to generate heated water/steam and being in fluid communication with the heat exchanger of the second reactor to supply the heated water/steam to the heat exchanger.

Integrated hydrocarbon reforming system and controls

An apparatus and a method are disclosed for converting hydrocarbon fuel or an alcohol into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide. The apparatus includes a first vessel (18) having a partial oxidation reaction zone (24) and a separate steam reforming reaction zone (26) that is distinct from the partial oxidation reaction zone. The first vessel has a first vessel inlet (20) at the partial oxidation reaction zone and a first vessel outlet (22) at the steam reforming zone. The reformer also includes a helical tube (32) extending about the first vessel. The helical tube has a first end connected to an oxygen-containing source (42) and a second end connected to the first vessel at the partial oxidation reaction zone. Oxygen gas from an oxygen-containing source can be directed through the helical tube to the first vessel. A second vessel (58) having a second vessel inlet (60) and second vessel outlet (22) is annularly disposed about the first vessel. The helical tube is disposed between the first vessel and the second vessel and gases from the first vessel can be directed through second vessel.

Method and apparatus for converting hydrocarbon fuel into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide

A method is disclosed for synthesizing hydrogen gas from hydrocarbon fuel. A first mixture of steam and a first fuel is directed into a first tube 208 to subject the first mixture to a first steam reforming reaction in the presence of a first catalyst 214. A stream of oxygen-containing gas is pre-heated by transferring heat energy from product gases. A second mixture of the pre-heated oxygen-containing gas and a second fuel is directed into a second tube 218 disposed about the first tube 208 to subject the second mixture to a partial oxidation reaction and to provide heat energy for transfer to the first tube 208. A first reaction reformate from the first tube 208 and a second reaction reformate from the second tube 218 are directed into a third tube 224 disposed about the second tube 218 to subject the first and second reaction reformates to a second steam reforming reaction, wherein heat energy is transferred to the third tube 224 from the second tube 218.

Method for converting hydrocarbon fuel into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide

Study on combustion chamber deposit formation mechanism : influence of fuel components and gasoline detergents

A control method and system for efficient operation of an internal combustion engine by controlling the volume of gas mixture supplied from a car-mounted fuel reformer to the internal combustion engine and the mixing ratio, as well as the volumes of air and fuel supplied to the car-mounted fuel reformer. To be more specific, efficient operation of the internal combustion engine is provided by controlling the mixing ratio of air and liquid fuel supplied to a car-mounted fuel reformer, which produces a hydrogen-containing gas from a liquid fuel through the reaction of partial oxidation, and at the same time adding a controlled volume of air to the hydrogen-containing gas discharged from the car-mounted fuel reformer and supplying the resultant mixture of the hydrogen-containing gas and air to the engine.

Control method and system for car-mounted fuel reformer

Effects of gasoline and gasoline detergents on combustion chamber deposit formation

Method and equipment for control of an internal combustion engine with a fuel-reforming device wherein air passing through the fuel-reforming device is mechanically controlled depending on the volume of air to be sucked into the engine without passing through the fuel-reforming device and is supplied into the air not passing through the fuel-reforming device, upstream of a throttle valve by means of an air pump; the total air volume sucked into the engine is detected; and the volume of fuel matching the total air volume is electrically controlled so that it can be supplied upstream of the fuel-reforming device into the air passing through the fuel-reforming device, and if necessary, also into the air not passing through the fuel-reforming device.

Hirohiko Hoshi

Papers

Study on combustion chamber deposit formation mechanism : influence of fuel components and gasoline detergents

Control method and system for car-mounted fuel reformer

Effects of gasoline and gasoline detergents on combustion chamber deposit formation

Method and equipment for control of internal combustion engine with fuel-reforming device

Effect of Gasoline Components on Exhaust Hydrocarbon Components