Kunihiko Masunaga

Bio: Kunihiko Masunaga is an academic researcher from Toyota. The author has contributed to research in topics: Internal combustion engine & Diesel fuel. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 14 publications receiving 134 citations.

Cylinder wear mechanism in an EGR-equipped diesel engine and wear protection by the engine oil

Abstract: Piston ring moving zone in the cylinder is one of the most critical lubrication regimes in diesel engines. This area is susceptible to combustion substances. In particular, abnormal wear is occasionally detected due to Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system equipment. In Japan, NO/sub x/ emission requirements for passenger car diesels have become more stringent effective October 1, 1986. OEMs tend to apply EGR systems to reduce NO/sub x/ in exhaust gas. In order to identify the phenomenon of abnormal cylinder wear of EGR equipped engine, engine bench tests were conducted under varied conditions in EGR equipment, cooling water temperature and fuel sulfur content. The test results suggest that wear caused at low temperature is mainly corrosive wear attributable to sulfuric acid formed by reaction with fuel sulfur and condensed water. Engine oil additives behavior against sulfuric acid was studied for control of corrosive wear and excellent CD 10W-30 engine oil was developed by selection of additives from the viewpoint of capability to neutralize sulfuric acid. The developed product demonstrated very good wear protection performance in the bench tests using EGR equipped engines.

Control method and system for car-mounted fuel reformer

Abstract: 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.

Method for producing a combustible gas by partial oxidation for use in internal combustion engines

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine with a combustible gas which comprises the steps of: transforming a refined product of crude oil into a combustible gas in a gas generator by admitting said refined product into said gas generator with 60-120 % of the stoichiometric volume of oxygen needed to oxidize said refined product under the partial oxidation conditions of 400˜800°C with a space velocity ranging from 5000˜50,000 V/VC × hr.sup.-1 ; passing the combustible gas produced to an internal combustion engine to start and operate said internal combustion engine; and discharging the exhaust gases from said internal combustion engine.

Surface coating method by electrolytic polymerization

Abstract: THE PRESENT INVENTION PROVIDES A METHOD OF FORMING AN ELECTROLYTICALLY POLYMERIZED COAT OF VINYL POLYMER ON THE SURFACE OF AN OBJECT, WITH ITS POLYMERIZATION BEING CARRIED OUT UNDER CONTROL BY ADDING ONE OR MORE OF ALCOHOLS, QUINONES AND MERCAPTANS INTO A MONOMER MIXTURE SOLUTION FOR ELECTROLYTIC COATING.

Vehicle-mounted gaseous fuel generator

Abstract: Vehicle-mounted gaseous fuel generator consisting of a primary heat-exchange chamber holding coiled pipes for separately preheating a liquid hydrocarbon and water, a secondary heat-exchange chamber similarly equipped with coiled pipes utilizing the heat of the engine exhaust to heat and vaporize each of the fuel materials which have been preheated in the primary heat-exchange chamber, a reaction-reforming chamber composed of an outer reaction chamber for blending the hydrocarbon vaporized in the secondary heat exchange chamber with air for partial oxidation and an inner steam-reforming catalyst layer through which the combined flow of the partially oxidized gas and the vaporized water is passed to be transformed into an inflammable gas, and an apparatus for collecting the inflammable gas in a gas-collector and transmitting it via the primary heat-exchange chamber to the carburetor of the engine.

Integrated hydrocarbon reforming system and controls

Abstract: 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.

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

Abstract: 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.

Hydrogen enriched natural gas as a motor fuel with variable air fuel ratio and fuel mixture ratio control

Abstract: A hydrogen and natural gas fuel mixture for internal combustion engines is provided for vehicle engines such as those used in standard production engines for automobiles, trains and lawn mowers The gaseous fuel for operating a vehicle combustion engines includes approximately 21 to 50% Hydrogen and the rest natural gas constituents such as combinations of Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, Ethane, Propane, Iso-Butane, N-Butane, Iso Pentane, N-Pentane, and Hexanes Plus A fuel mixture of approximately 28 to 36 percent Hydrogen and a air fuel equivalence ratio of approximately 0625 is an extreme lean burn condition that yields hydrocarbon emission levels of less than approximately 104 ppm (084 hm/hp hr) Current internal combustion engines that are in mass production can take this alternative fuel without any substantial modifications to their systems This alternative fuel is lean burning and emits emissions that are below current legal standards The novel fuel mixture can be used in internal combustion engines for automobiles, lawnmowers, and trains A control system for allowing the internal combustion engines to operate at extreme lean burn conditions is also provided for use with both a carburetor and fuel injection system For a carburetor system, a secondary demand regulator system can kick in when a throttle is wide open and will allow additional fuel to pass through the system to meet instantaneous power demands such that occur when full throttle depression is insufficient for severe grade climbing, expressway merging, passing and the like The fuel injection system can also be programed with a control algorithm that will select air fuel ratios The computer control can increase fuel with respect to air when the throttle reaches a selected point of travel The computer control can also dynamically change the hydrogen and natural gas fuel mixture ratio dynamically while the vehicle is being operated based on engine power demands and emissions