Internal combustion engine fuel supply system

Abstract

A system to supply hydrogen-rich fuel to an internal combustion engine, whereby a hydrogen-rich gas is produced from a liquid raw fuel by a hydrogen generator. The exhaust line of the internal combustion engine contains an exhaust purification system, such as a DeNOx catalytic converter, which is at least temporarily supplied with hydrogen-rich gas through a bypass line. In addition, the exhaust line is in thermal contact with the hydrogen generator in order to recover thermal energy.

1 . A system for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine having an exhaust line, the system comprising: 
 a tank to store raw fuel,    a hydrogen generator to convert the raw fuel to a gaseous hydrogen-rich fuel,    a raw fuel feed line between the tank and the hydrogen generator,    a pump disposed in the raw fuel feed line,    a hydrogen-rich fuel feed line between the hydrogen generator and the internal combustion engine,    an exhaust purification system disposed in the exhaust line,    a hydrogen-rich fuel bypass line configured to connect the hydrogen-rich fuel feed line to one of the exhaust purification system or the exhaust line upstream of the exhaust purification system, and    a valve disposed within the hydrogen-rich fuel bypass line,    wherein the hydrogen generator is in thermal contact with the exhaust line.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an evaporator disposed in the raw fuel feed line between the pump and the hydrogen generator.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the evaporator is in thermal contact with the exhaust line.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the evaporator is in thermal contact with the exhaust line downstream of the hydrogen generator, with respect to the flow direction of the exhaust.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the exhaust line comprises a main exhaust line comprising the exhaust purification system and an exhaust bypass line, wherein both the hydrogen generator and the evaporator are in thermal contact with the exhaust bypass line.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the internal combustion engine has a cooling system and wherein the evaporator is in thermal contact with the cooling system.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger disposed in the hydrogen-rich fuel feed line.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage container connected to the hydrogen-rich fuel feed line.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a raw fuel feed line between the tank and the internal combustion engine.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust purification system comprises a DeNOx catalytic converter.