Compact electric appliance providing hydrogen injection for improved performance of internal combustion engines

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for improved electrical appliances which allow for efficient and safe production of hydrogen and oxygen gas for internal combustion engines and the like are disclosed. An appliance for providing gas for combustion may comprise a water inlet, a power source, and an electrolyzer with at least one electrolysis transistor generating hydrogen and oxygen. The appliance may also comprise a gas handling unit for collecting the output of the electrolyzer and transporting it to an engine.

1 . An appliance for providing gas for combustion, comprising:
 a water inlet;   a power source;   an electrolyzer comprising at least one electrolysis transistor generating comingled hydrogen and oxygen; and   a gas handling unit for collecting the output of said electrolyzer and transporting said output to an engine.   
   
   
       2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one electrolysis transistor further comprises:
 a pH neutral electrolyte;   one or more working electrodes for transferring charge to or from water molecules or ions in said electrolyte, wherein said electrodes comprise a cathode and/or an anode; and   one or more gate structures for reducing the voltage necessary for electrolysis.   
   
   
       3 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said gas output is mixed with air to provide a hydrogen-enriched air mixture, said mixture provided to an air intake manifold from where it is directly introduced into the combustion chambers of compression ignited engines or direct injection spark-ignited engines; or further mixed with atomized fuel for injection into the combustion chambers of spark ignited engines. 
   
   
       4 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the architecture of said at least one electrolysis transistor is used to operate at very high current density (>1 A/cm 2 , >2 A/cm 2 , >4 A/cm 2 , >6 A/cm 2 ) simultaneously with high efficiency (>6 A/cm 2  and >40%, >4 A/cm 2  and >50%, >2 A/cm 2  and >60%, >1 A/cm 2  and >70%). 
   
   
       5 . The appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a water purification mechanism for filtering and de-ionizing the water entering the appliance. 
   
   
       6 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said water inlet comprises a control valve for controlling the rate of water flow through said inlet. 
   
   
       7 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said hydrogen is introduced into a fuel-air mixture, with the percentage of said introduced hydrogen being controllable via modulation of the gate and/or anode voltage for various load/demand conditions to increase efficiency and reduce emissions. 
   
   
       8 . The appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a water reservoir for storage and increasing the water capacity of the appliance. 
   
   
       9 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said power source may comprise one or more of the following sources: AC or DC mains, an integrated AC-DC supply, an alternator, a battery, a fuel cell, a solar cell module, and/or the motor generators of regenerative braking systems. 
   
   
       10 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the efficiency of said unit is controllable based on a control voltage and can be increased to greater than 80%. 
   
   
       11 . The appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a sub-unit such as a metal hydride container for the storage of excess hydrogen. 
   
   
       12 . The appliance of  claim 1 , said appliance capable of direct integration into a vehicle or into a stationary engine with an existing water supply. 
   
   
       13 . The appliance of  claim 12 , said appliance further integrated into a marine diesel engine wherein salt water is used as an electrolyte and either the resultant chlorine gas is scrubbed from an air intake system of said engine or the anode material is modified to prevent formation of chlorine. 
   
   
       14 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said engine is an internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       15 . A system for providing gas for combustion, comprising:
 a water supply;   a power source;   an electrolyzer comprising an array of electrolysis transistors for generating comingled hydrogen and oxygen; and   an air intake system for transporting the gas output of said electrolyzer to an engine.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein on-demand generation of hydrogen and/or stoichiometric hydrogen-oxygen mixtures are incorporated to increase system safety by avoiding the need to store hydrogen. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said gas output is mixed with air to provide a hydrogen-enriched air mixture, said mixture provided to said air intake manifold where it is further mixed with fuel for injection into combustion cylinders of an engine. 
   
   
       18 . A method for providing gas for combustion, comprising:
 providing a water source;   providing a power source to activate an appliance;   providing an electrolyzer comprising at least one electrolysis transistor generating hydrogen and oxygen; and   providing a unit for collecting the gas output of said electrolyzer and transporting it to an engine.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing a powered, passive, or manual air compressor for pressurizing said water to allow said appliance to operate at adequate pressure. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing a pressure valve to ensure gases exit said appliance when pressure is high enough. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising a small dead volume above said electrolyzer so only a safety valve will be actuated in the event of a flashback. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising providing a flashback arrestor to prevent flame from entering said electrolysis cells. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing a mix control module to optimize gas mixture to get improved engine efficiency with reduced particulate, hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and NO x  formation. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising an output nozzle array or a single nozzle for ensuring comingled gas velocities remain higher than flame velocity. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing a control module for executing a failsafe algorithm to turn off the system in case said gas is not ignited or there is a flashback. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing a cell flush using air to remove any excess explosive gas mixture from said appliance before appliance is turned off.