Hydrogen Fuel System for an Internal Combustion Engine

Abstract

A hydrogen fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes an electrolyzer for generating hydrogen and oxygen gases. A water reservoir in fluid communication with the electrolyzer is provided to maintain the water level in the electrolyzer at an optimum operating level. Hydrogen and oxygen generated by the electrolyzer may be routed to the internal combustion engine to provide the fuel for the engine. Hydrogen and oxygen generated by the electrolyzer which is not consumed by operation of the engine may be stored in pressurized storage tanks for use when required to power the internal combustion engine. Expanders are incorporated in the fuel system of the invention for recovering energy from high pressure high enthalpy process gases for charging the main electrical circuit of the invention. The fuel system includes external ports and electrical outlets for connecting to external water and power sources

1 . A fuel system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: 
 (a) an air intake port open to the atmosphere;    (b) an electrolyzer for generating hydrogen and oxygen;    (c) a water reservoir in fluid communication with said electrolyzer;    (d) electric circuit means for providing electric power to said electrolyzer;    (e) conduit means for routing pressurized oxygen and hydrogen to said engine; and    (f) means for lowering the pressure of said pressurized oxygen and hydrogen to the engine intake pressure.    
   
   
       2 . The fuel system of  claim 1 , including a heat exchanger for recovering heat energy from the engine exhaust.  
   
   
       3 . The fuel system of  claim 2 , including a steam turbine for recovering energy from steam generated by said heat exchanger.  
   
   
       4 . The fuel system of  claim 3 , including an air cooled radiator for cooling steam vapor generated by said heat exchanger.  
   
   
       5 . The fuel system of  claim 2 , including a catalytic converter disposed in said engine exhaust conduit for filtering pollutants from exhaust vapor generated by said engine.  
   
   
       6 . The fuel system of  claim 1 , wherein said conduit means includes a first conduit for routing hydrogen from said electrolyzer to said engine and a second conduit for routing oxygen from said electrolyzer to said engine.  
   
   
       7 . The fuel system of  claim 1  including a fuel mixture comprising pure hydrogen and pure oxygen mixed with air.  
   
   
       8 . The fuel system of  claim 1  wherein kinetic energy from regenerative braking is converted to electric power for charging said electric circuit means.  
   
   
       9 . The fuel system of  claim 8  including wind turbines for generating electric power for charging said electric circuit means.  
   
   
       10 . The fuel system of  claim 8  including at least one hydrogen storage tank containing pressurized hydrogen operatively connected to said engine;