Method and apparatus for advancing air into a fuel reformer by use of a turbocharger

Abstract

A method of operating a power system includes operating a turbocharger so as to produce pressurized air, and advancing the pressurized air into a fuel reformer. The method also includes advancing reformate gas produced by the fuel reformer to a component such as the intake of the engine, an emission abatement device, or a fuel cell. A power system operated by such a method is also disclosed.

1 . A method of operating a fuel reforming system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 operating a turbocharger so as to produce pressurized air, and cadvancing the pressurized air through a fuel reformer.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of advancing a reformate gas produced by the fuel reformer to an intake of an internal combustion engine with the pressurized air.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the reformate gas comprises a hydrogen-rich gas, and    the reformate gas advancing step comprises advancing the hydrogen-rich gas to the intake of the engine with the pressurized air.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of advancing a reformate gas produced by the fuel reformer to an emission abatement device with the pressurized air.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the reformate gas comprises a hydrogen-rich gas, and    the reformate gas advancing step comprises advancing the hydrogen-rich gas to the emission abatement device with the pressurized air.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the turbocharger has a turbine assembly, and    the operating step comprises driving the turbine assembly with exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the fuel reformer comprises a plasma fuel reformer having an air inlet, and    the advancing step comprises advancing the pressurized air through the air inlet of the plasma fuel reformer.    
     
     
         8 . A fuel reforming system, comprising: 
 a turbocharger having a pressurized air outlet, and    a fuel reformer having an air inlet fluidly coupled to the pressurized air outlet.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the fuel reformer has a reformate gas outlet, and    the reformate gas outlet is fluidly coupled to an intake of an internal combustion engine.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the fuel reformer has a reformate gas outlet, and    the reformate gas outlet is fluidly coupled to an emission abatement device.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the turbocharger comprises a turbine assembly having a turbine gas inlet, and    the turbine gas inlet is fluidly coupled to an exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the fuel reformer comprises a plasma fuel reformer.  
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a power system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 operating a turbocharger so as to produce pressurized air, and    advancing a reformate gas from a fuel reformer to a component with the pressurized air.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the advancing step comprises advancing the reformate gas from the fuel reformer to an intake of an internal combustion engine with the pressurized air.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the advancing step comprises advancing the reformate gas from the fuel reformer to an emission abatement device with the pressurized air.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the turbocharger has a turbine assembly, and    the operating step comprises driving the turbine assembly with exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the reformate gas comprises a hydrogen-rich gas, and    the advancing step comprises advancing the hydrogen-rich gas to the component with the pressurized air.