226 results about "Fuel conversion" patented technology

According to an embodiment, a biomass conversion subsystem produces methane and / or alcohol and residual biomass. A pyrolysis or a gasification subsystem is used to produce thermal energy and / or process gasses. The thermal energy may be stored thermal energy in the form of a pyrolysis oil. A fuel conversion subsystem produces liquid hydrocarbon fuels from the methane and / or alcohol using thermal energy and / or process gasses produced by the gasification or pyrolysis subsystem. Because the biomass production system integrates the residual products from biomass conversion and the residual thermal energy from pyrolysis or gasification, the overall efficiency of the integrated biomass production system is greatly enhanced.

Internal combustion (“IC”) engine system for high fuel conversion efficiency and low exhaust emissions, particularly although not exclusively with gaseous fuels. An IC engine operates at approximately stoichiometric (λ=1) air / fuel mass ratios. A higher-than-normal compression ratio for typical stoichiometric operation is possible for the engine, due to the introduction of an inert (i.e., not chemically reactive in the combustion process) gas into the air / fuel mixture. The inert gas slows the combustion rate to avoid uncontrolled combustion rates and engine “knock.” The elevated compression ratio yields higher fuel conversion efficiency. Stoichiometric air / fuel ratio permits catalytic processing of the exhaust gas stream to reduce CO, NOx, and HC emissions via a combination of non-selective catalytic reduction process.

The invention provides a NOx adsorber aftertreatment system for internal combustion engines which utilizes a plasma fuel converter operatively coupled to at least one NOx adsorber to aid in the regeneration of the NOx adsorber. Fuel and engine exhaust is injected into a plasma fuel converter upstream of a NOx absorber producing reductant such as H2, and CO, which are inlet into the NOx absorber. Reductants such as H2 and CO acting along and together help to efficiently regenerate the NOx Adsorber which in turn releases exhausts products such as CO2 and N2. Using the reductants generated by the plasma fuel converter NOx adsorbers, catalytic soot filter, and the like can be regenerated at exhaust temperatures less than 250° C. The plasma fuel converter, NOx adsorber regenerating aftertreatment system of the present invention may be used with any suitable control system.

A fuel conversion reactor includes a shell-and-tube heat exchanger for controlling the temperature of a hot gaseous mixture produced by catalytic or non-catalytic reaction of a fuel with a gaseous fluid, and for controlling the temperature of the gaseous fluid and / or the fuel prior to the reaction. The reactor is either a catalytic or non-catalytic burner, or a fuel reformer for converting a fuel to hydrogen. A preferred reactor includes an outer shell having first and second ends and an inner surface, a primary inner shell extending into the outer shell, the primary inner shell defining a heat exchanging chamber and having primary and secondary ends, and a secondary inner shell having a first end located adjacent the secondary end of the primary inner shell. One or more outlet apertures are formed between the two inner shells for passage of the gaseous fluid out of the heat exchanging chamber. There are also a plurality of heat exchange tubes extending through the heat exchanging chamber between first and second tube sheets and connected to same. The first tube sheet is mounted in the primary inner shell while the second tube sheet is connected to the secondary inner shell. The tubes form passages for flow of the hot gaseous mixture in heat exchange contact with the gaseous fluid through the heat exchanging chamber, thereby preheating the gaseous fluid prior to reaction with the fuel. The adjacent ends of the inner shells form a disconnected joint and the secondary inner shell is free to move relative to the primary inner shell upon thermal expansion of the tubes.