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. The engine exhaust may be recycled through the electrolyzer where it is converted to hydrogen and oxygen. A water reservoir in fluid communication with the electrolyzer maintains the water level in the electrolyzer. The hydrogen and oxygen generated by the electrolyzer may be routed to the internal combustion engine and provide the fuel for the engine. Hydrogen and oxygen not consumed by operation of the engine is stored in separate pressurized storage tanks. Expanders lower the pressure of pressurized hydrogen and oxygen for use to power the engine and provide electric power to the electrolyzer.

1 . A fuel system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 (a) an air intake port open to the atmosphere;   (b) a hydrogen storage tank containing pressurized hydrogen operatively connected to said engine;   (c) an electrolyzer for generating hydrogen and oxygen;   (d) a water reservoir in fluid communication with said electrolyzer;   (e) electric circuit means for providing electric power to said electrolyzer;   (f) conduit means for routing pressurized hydrogen to said engine; and   (g) wherein said conduit means includes expanders disposed therein adapted to lower the pressure of said pressurized hydrogen routed to said engine.   
   
   
       2 . The fuel system of  claim 1 , including an engine exhaust conduit for recycling engine exhaust to said electrolyzer to generate hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis. 
   
   
       3 . The fuel system of  claim 2 , wherein said engine exhaust is passed through a condenser and condensed into water. 
   
   
       4 . The fuel system of  claim 3 , including means for injecting water into said engine exhaust conduit for cooling exhaust vapor from said engine. 
   
   
       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 hydrogen storage tank to said engine and a second conduit for routing hydrogen from said electrolyzer to said engine. 
   
   
       7 . The fuel system of  claim 6 , including a first compressor disposed in said first conduit operatively connected to said hydrogen storage tank. 
   
   
       8 . The fuel system of  claim 1 , including an engine exhaust conduit for venting exhaust vapor generated by said engine into the atmosphere. 
   
   
       9 . The fuel system of  claim 1 , wherein oxygen produced by said electrolyzer is routed through an expander and an air mixer prior to venting into the atmosphere. 
   
   
       10 . The fuel system of  claim 1 , wherein said electric circuit means includes a first electric circuit electrically coupling said expanders with said electrolyzer. 
   
   
       11 . The fuel system of  claim 10 , wherein said electric circuit means includes a second electric circuit electrically coupling said electrolyzer to an external power source. 
   
   
       12 . The fuel system of  claim 10 , wherein said first electric circuit includes at least two expanders electrically coupled to said electrolyzer. 
   
   
       13 . The fuel system of  claim 11 , including an electrical receptacle for connecting said second electric circuit to an external power source. 
   
   
       14 . The fuel system of  claim 1 , wherein said water reservoir includes a fill port for adding water to said water reservoir. 
   
   
       15 . The fuel system of  claim 1 , including:
 (a) an oxygen/air storage tank containing pressurized oxygen and air operatively connected to said engine;   (b) oxygen/air conduit means for routing pressurized oxygen and air to said engine; and   (c) wherein said oxygen/air conduit means includes expanders disposed therein adapted to lower the pressure of pressurized oxygen and air routed to said engine.   
   
   
       16 . The fuel system of  claim 15 , wherein said oxygen/air conduit means includes a first oxygen/air conduit for routing an oxygen and air mixture from said oxygen/air storage tank to said engine and a second oxygen/air conduit for routing oxygen from said electrolyzer to said engine. 
   
   
       17 . The fuel system of  claim 16 , including an oxygen/air compressor disposed in said first oxygen/air conduit operatively connected to said oxygen/air storage tank. 
   
   
       18 . The fuel system of  claim 16 , including an air mixer disposed in said first oxygen/air conduit. 
   
   
       19 . The fuel system of  claim 15 , including an expander housing for housing said expanders and wherein said expander housing includes multiple inlet ports in selective fluid communication with a hydrogen outlet port and an oxygen/air outlet port. 
   
   
       20 . A fuel system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 (a) an oxygen storage tank containing pressurized oxygen operatively connected to said engine;   (b) a hydrogen storage tank containing pressurized hydrogen operatively connected to said engine;   (c) an electrolyzer for generating hydrogen and oxygen;   (d) a water reservoir in fluid communication with said electrolyzer;   (e) electric circuit means for providing electric power to said electrolyzer;   (f) conduit means for routing pressurized hydrogen and oxygen to said engine; and   (g) wherein said conduit means includes expanders disposed therein adapted to lower the pressure of said pressurized hydrogen and oxygen routed to said engine.   
   
   
       21 - 30 . (canceled)