Abstract:
A plasma fuel reformer (12) reforms hydrocarbon fuels to produce a reformed gas which is supplied to the intake of an internal combustion engine, an emission abatement device, or a fuel cell. The plasma fuel reformer (12) includes a catalytic substrate (20) positioned in the reaction chamber of the plasma fuel reformer (12) to facilitate the reforming process of gas exiting the plasma-generating assembly of the reformer (12). A method of operating a plasma fuel reformer (12) is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A fuel reforming assembly (10) has a control unit (16) electrically coupled to a temperature sensor (34) to determine the temperature of a catalyst (78) positioned in the reaction chamber (44) of a plasma fuel reformer (12). Based on the temperature of the catalyst (78), operation of the reformer's plasma-generating assembly (42) may be selectively actuated and deactuated. A method of operating a plasma fuel reformer (12) is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A plasma fuel reformer includes an electrode assembly having a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode is spaced apart from the first electrode to define an electrode gap. A catalyst is positioned downstream of the electrode assembly. A filter is positioned between the electrode assembly and the catalyst.
Abstract:
A plasmatron (10) reforms hydrocarbon fuels so as to produce a reformed gas, which is supplied to a remote device such as an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell. The plasmatron (10) includes an air jacket (16), which removes heat from the reaction chamber (20) of the plasmatron (10) and supplies heated air to the plasma-generating assembly (12) of the plasmatron (10). A method of operating a plasmatron (10) is also disclosed.
Abstract:
An apparatus for removing particulate soot from an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine (12, 50) includes a particulate filter assembly having a catalyst (14, 74) and a soot filter (16, 76) positioned downstream of the catalyst (14, 74) for trapping soot particles therein. Hydrogen gas is introduced into the exhaust gas at a location upstream of the catalyst (14, 74). The catalyst (14, 74) catalyzes an exothermic oxidation reaction between the hydrogen gas and oxygen in the exhaust gas. Heat from this exothermic oxidation reaction is transferred to the soot filter (16, 76) thereby igniting the soot particles trapped therein. A method for regenerating a particulate filter assembly is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A method of operating a power system (10) including a fuel reformer (11) and an internal combustion engine (12) is disclosed. The engine is shutdown subsequent to shutdown of the fuel reformer (11). A fuel reformer system for supplying a reformate gas to the engine is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A method of operating a fuel reformer (12) to regenerate a NO x trap (14) includes operating the fuel reformer (12) to produce a reformate gas (22) comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide and advancing reformate gas (22) through the NO x trap (14) so as to regenerate the NO x trap (14). The method further includes determining if a SO x regeneration of the NO x trap is to be performed and generating a SO x -regeneration control signal (30) to response thereto. The temperature of the NO x trap (14) is raised and reformate gas is advanced into the NO x trap (14) in response to the SO x -regeneration signal so as to remove SO x from within the NO x trap (14). A fuel reformer system (36) is also disclosed.
Abstract translation:操作燃料重整器(12)以再生NOx捕集器(14)的方法包括操作燃料重整器(12)以产生包含氢气和一氧化碳的重整气体(22),并通过NOx捕集器推进重整气体(22) (14),以便再生NOx捕集器(14)。 该方法还包括确定是否要执行NOx捕集器的SOx再生并产生一个SOx再生控制信号(30)以对其进行响应。 NO x捕集器(14)的温度升高,并且重整气体响应于SOx再生信号而进入NOx捕集器(14),从而从NOx捕集器(14)内去除SOx。 还公开了一种燃料重整器系统(36)。