Self-Contained Electrolysis Unit

Abstract

A standalone unit is provided to allow for onboard hydrogen generation for engine intake aboard a vehicle such as a heavy duty truck. The hydrogen generation is accomplished by an electrolysis unit, which is rendered operative by integrating it with a vehicle, including electrical connections to the vehicle battery and fluid connections to the intake of the vehicle engine. The electrolysis unit and related electrical and electronic items are housed within an enclosure, with the enclosure being secured to the frame rails of a heavy duty truck by a mounting system. The mounting system does not require the use of drilling or other permanent alterations to be made to the frame rails, and is height-adjustable to provide sufficient clearance for the driveshaft of the heavy duty truck. Utilization of the generated hydrogen results in decreased vehicle emissions and improved fuel economy, available to heavy duty truck via retrofit of the standalone unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A self-contained electrolysis unit comprises:
 an electrolysis unit;   a power source;   a power control module;   a pulse width modulator;   a reservoir;   an exhaust;   a mounting system;   an enclosure;   the reservoir being in fluid communication with the electrolysis unit;   the electrolysis unit being in fluid communication with the exhaust;   the power source being electrically connected to the electrolysis unit through the power control module;   the pulse width modulator being electrically connected between the power control module and the electrolysis unit;   the electrolysis unit, power control module, the pulse width modulator, and the reservoir being housed within the enclosure; and   the mounting system being adjacently connected to the enclosure, wherein the mounting system allows the self-contained electrolysis unit to be secured to a first frame rail and a second frame rail of a heavy duty truck.   
     
     
         2 . The self-contained electrolysis unit as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the electrolysis unit comprises an anode, a cathode, a containment unit, and a fluid-receiving volume; 
 the fluid-receiving volume being positioned within the containment unit; 
 the anode and the cathode being positioned into the fluid-receiving volume; 
 the reservoir being in fluid communication with the fluid-receiving volume; and 
 the power source being electrically connected to the anode and the cathode. 
 
     
     
         3 . The self-contained electrolysis unit as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 a dehumidifying unit; and 
 the dehumidifying unit being in fluid communication between the electrolysis unit and the exhaust, wherein the dehumidifying unit removes moisture from gases generated by the electrolysis unit as gases generated by the electrolysis unit travel to the exhaust. 
 
     
     
         4 . The self-contained electrolysis unit as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 a fluid pump; 
 a pump control module; 
 the fluid pump being housed within the enclosure; 
 the fluid pump being in fluid communication with the reservoir and the electrolysis unit; 
 the fluid pump being electrically connected to the power source; and 
 the pump control module being electronically connected to the fluid pump; 
 
     
     
         5 . The self-contained electrolysis unit as claimed in  claim 4  comprises:
 a pump control module; 
 a control interface; 
 the control interface being mounted on the enclosure; 
 the control interface being electronically connected to the pump control module; and 
 the pump control module being electrically connected to the power source. 
 
     
     
         6 . The self-contained electrolysis unit as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 a control interface; 
 the control interface being mounted on the enclosure; and 
 the control interface being electronically connected to a pulse width modulator control module, wherein the pulse width modulator control module is used to adjust an amperage output from the pulse width modulator. 
 
     
     
         7 . The self-contained electrolysis unit as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the enclosure comprises an external face, a first edge, and a second edge; 
 the mounting system comprises a first lip and a second lip; 
 the first edge and the second edge being positioned opposite each other across the external face; 
 the first lip being connected along the first edge; 
 the second lip being connected along the second edge; and 
 the first lip and the second lip being positioned opposite each other across the enclosure, wherein the first lip and the second lip are respectively positioned atop the first frame rail and the second frame rail of the heavy duty truck and the enclosure is positioned between the first frame rail and the second frame rail. 
 
     
     
         8 . A self-contained electrolysis unit comprises:
 an electrolysis unit;   a power source;   a power control module;   a pulse width modulator;   a reservoir;   an exhaust;   a mounting system;   an enclosure;   the electrolysis unit comprises an anode, a cathode, a containment unit, and a fluid-receiving volume;   the reservoir being in fluid communication with the electrolysis unit;   the electrolysis unit being in fluid communication with the exhaust;   the power source being electrically connected to the electrolysis unit through the power control module;   the pulse width modulator being electrically connected between the power control module and the electrolysis unit;   the electrolysis unit, power control module, the pulse width modulator, and the reservoir being housed within the enclosure;   the mounting system being adjacently connected to the enclosure, wherein the mounting system allows the self-contained electrolysis unit to be secured to a first frame rail and a second frame rail of a heavy duty truck;   the fluid-receiving volume being positioned within the containment unit;   the anode and the cathode being positioned into the fluid-receiving volume;   the reservoir being in fluid communication with the fluid-receiving volume; and   the power source being electrically connected to the anode and the cathode.   
     
     
         9 . The self-contained electrolysis unit as claimed in  claim 8  comprises:
 a dehumidifying unit; and 
 the dehumidifying unit being in fluid communication between the electrolysis unit and the exhaust, wherein the dehumidifying unit removes moisture from gases generated by the electrolysis unit as gases generated by the electrolysis unit travel to the exhaust. 
 
     
     
         10 . The self-contained electrolysis unit as claimed in  claim 8  comprises:
 a fluid pump; 
 a pump control module; 
 the fluid pump being housed within the enclosure; 
 the fluid pump being in fluid communication with the reservoir and the electrolysis unit; 
 the fluid pump being electrically connected to the power source; and 
 the pump control module being electronically connected to the fluid pump. 
 
     
     
         11 . The self-contained electrolysis unit as claimed in  claim 10  comprises:
 a control interface; 
 the control interface being mounted on the enclosure; 
 the control interface being electronically connected to the pump control module; and 
 the pump control module being electrically connected to the power source. 
 
     
     
         12 . The self-contained electrolysis unit as claimed in  claim 8  comprises:
 a control interface; 
 the control interface being mounted on the enclosure; and 
 the control interface being electronically connected to a pulse width modulator control module, wherein the pulse width modulator control module is used to adjust an amperage output from the pulse width modulator. 
 
     
     
         13 . The self-contained electrolysis unit as claimed in  claim 8  comprises:
 the enclosure comprises an external face, a first edge, and a second edge; 
 the mounting system comprises a first lip and a second lip; 
 the first edge and the second edge being positioned opposite each other across the external face; 
 the first lip being connected along the first edge; 
 the second lip being connected along the second edge; and 
 the first lip and the second lip being positioned opposite each other across the enclosure, wherein the first lip and the second lip are respectively positioned atop the first frame rail and the second frame rail of the heavy duty truck and the enclosure is positioned between the first frame rail and the second frame rail. 
 
     
     
         14 . A self-contained electrolysis unit comprises:
 an electrolysis unit;   a power source;   a power control module;   a pulse width modulator;   a reservoir;   an exhaust;   a mounting system;   an enclosure;   a control interface;   the electrolysis unit comprises an anode, a cathode, a containment unit, and a fluid-receiving volume;   the reservoir being in fluid communication with the electrolysis unit;   the electrolysis unit being in fluid communication with the exhaust;   the power source being electrically connected to the electrolysis unit through the power control module;   the pulse width modulator being electrically connected between the power control module and the electrolysis unit;   the electrolysis unit, power control module, the pulse width modulator, and the reservoir being housed within the enclosure;   the mounting system being adjacently connected to the enclosure, wherein the mounting system allows the self-contained electrolysis unit to be secured to a first frame rail and a second frame rail of a heavy duty truck;   the control interface being mounted on the enclosure;   the fluid-receiving volume being positioned within the containment unit;   the anode and the cathode being positioned into the fluid-receiving volume;   the reservoir being in fluid communication with the fluid-receiving volume; and   the power source being electrically connected to the anode and the cathode.   
     
     
         15 . The self-contained electrolysis unit as claimed in  claim 14  comprises:
 a dehumidifying unit; and 
 the dehumidifying unit being in fluid communication between the electrolysis unit and the exhaust, wherein the dehumidifying unit removes moisture from gases generated by the electrolysis unit as gases generated by the electrolysis unit travel to the exhaust. 
 
     
     
         16 . The self-contained electrolysis unit as claimed in  claim 14  comprises:
 a fluid pump; 
 a pump control module; 
 the fluid pump being housed within the enclosure; 
 the fluid pump being in fluid communication with the reservoir and the electrolysis unit; and 
 the fluid pump being electrically connected to the power source; 
 the pump control module being electronically connected to the fluid pump; 
 the control interface being electronically connected to the pump control module; and 
 the pump control module being electrically connected to the power source. 
 
     
     
         17 . The self-contained electrolysis unit as claimed in  claim 14  comprises:
 the control interface being electronically connected to a pulse width modulator control module, wherein the pulse width modulator control module is used to adjust an amperage output from the pulse width modulator. 
 
     
     
         18 . The self-contained electrolysis unit as claimed in  claim 14  comprises:
 the enclosure comprises an external face, a first edge, and a second edge; 
 the mounting system comprises a first lip and a second lip; 
 the first lip and the second lip being positioned opposite each other across the external face; 
 the first lip being connected along the first edge; 
 the second lip being connected along the second edge; and 
 the first lip and the second lip being positioned opposite each other across the enclosure, wherein the first lip and the second lip are respectively positioned atop the first frame rail and the second frame rail of the heavy duty truck and the enclosure is positioned between the first frame rail and the second frame rail.