Fuel regenerated non-polluting internal combustion engine

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2. To provide, in an internal combustion engine of

FUEL REGENERATED NON-POLLUTING the type noted, a circulatory system for a working fluid INTERNAL COMBUSTON ENGINE and which includes means for heating the working fluid either from the engine cooling system and/or the en

This application is a division of the co-pending appli gine exhaust.

cation of Curtis E. Bradley, Ser. No. 456,974, filed 3. To provide, in an internal combustion engine of Apr. 1, 1974, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,806 for a "Fuel the character aforesaid, a turbine which is driven by the Regenerated Non-Polluting Internal Combustion En working fluid as it is expanded into gases. This turbine gine.' generator system may be of the type commonly known The present invention relates to internal combustion 10 as a Rankine Cycle.

engines and is concerned primarily with the generation 4. To provide, in an internal combustion engine of of power derived from engine heat to produce an elec the kind described, a generator which is driven by the tric current which decomposes water to provide hydro turbine and which generates a DC current which is gen which is used as fuel for the engine. conducted to an electrolysis cell. 15 5. To provide, in conjunction with an internal com

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

bustion engine of the type noted, a water supply tank

At the present time, the public is confronted with two from which water is passed to the electrolysis cell. basic problems related to the consumption of fuel in an 6. To provide, in conjunction with an internal com internal combustion engine. One of these problems is bustion engine of the character aforesaid, a hydrogen the pollution of the ambient atmosphere by the prod 20 tank into which hydrogen is introduced from the elec ucts of combustion. These noxious products are oxides trolysis cell under pressure.

of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and un 7. To provide, in an internal combustion engine of burned hydrocarbons (HC). Of late, considerable at the kind described, a conduit which conducts hydrogen tention has been devoted in attempt to minimize if not from the electrolysis cell and/or the hydrogen tank to a complete obviate these noxious products of combus 25 hydrogen carburetor.

tion. 8. To provide, in an internal combustion engine of The other problem deals with the conservation of the type noted, a conduit for passing oxygen from the fuel. The country is now faced with an energy shortage electrolysis cell to the air intake of the engine. and much effort has been directed to the broad object 9. To provide, in an internal combustion engine of of regenerating fuel from the heat of the engine, with 30 the character aforesaid, a fuel pump for conducting the regenerated fuel being passed back to the engine hydrocarbon fuel from a fuel tank to a carburetor, a for consumption therein. pump for the working fluid system, a pump for deliver It is now a well recognized phenomenum that when ing water from the water tank to the electrolysis cell, hydrogen is used as a fuel in an internal combustion and a pump for introducing hydrogen into the hydro engine the noxious products of combustion which pol 35 gen tank under pressure. . .. . . lute the atmosphere are reduced to a high degree if not 10. To provide, in an internal combustion engine of completely eliminated. This has been found to be true the kind described, a turbo-generator that is powdered not only when the hydrogen is the only fuel used, but by exhaust gases to provide DC current to an electroly also when the hydrogen is combined with conventional sis cell.

hydrocarbon fuels such as gasoline, diesel oil and the 40 11. To provide, in an internal combustion engine of like. the type noted, a second generator in addition to the The decomposition of water into its components of turbogenerator aforesaid, that is driven by a working oxygen and hydrogen by passing an electric current fluid that is heated by the engine cooling system. therethrough is also a now well recognized phenome Various other more detailed objects and advantages num. Other methods of decomposing water to provide 45 of the invention, such as arise in connection with carry oxygen have also been proposed. One of these is to pass ing out the above ideas in a practical embodiment will, water or steam into contact with heated ferrous balls. in part, become apparent and, in part, be hereafter Moreover, it has been proposed to use hydrogen so stated as the description of the inventive proceeds. generated as a fuel in internal combustion engines. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, from the apparent lack of public acceptance 50 of such technology, it is believed that this failure is due The foregoing objects are achieved by providing an to the highly inefficient nature of such processes. internal combustion engine which includes a cooling The present invention is founded on the basic con system, a fuel intake manifold and an exhaust manifold cept of utilizing heat derived from an internal combus having an exhaust pipe extending therefrom, with a tion engine to generate electric power which decom 55 circulatory system which derives heat from the cooling poses water to provide hydrogen which is used in the system and the exhaust pipe for a working fluid which engine. Thus, air pollution is reduced or avoided to a may be water or freon. A turbine in a Rankine Cycle is large extent and energy is conserved. included in the working fluid system and is operated by OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION the gases derived from heating the working fluid. The 60 working fluid system is closed and also includes a con

With the foregoing conditions in mind, the present denser for converting the gaseous working fluid back to invention has in view the following objectives: its liquid form and a pump for circulating the working 1. To provide an internal combustion engine includ fluid. A generator is driven by the turbine and is con ing means for deriving heat from the engine, utilizing nected by appropriate conductors with an electrolysis this heat to generate an electric current, decomposing 65 cell into which the water is introduced from a water water by passing the electric current therethrough to supply tank.

provide hydrogen, and then using the hydrogen as a Mounted on top of the engine in accordance with fuel in the engine. conventional practice is an air filter, and immediately

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below this air filter are two carburetors which commu DESCRIPTION - FIRST EMBODIMEN nicate with the intake manifold of the engine. One of these carburetors is for conventional hydrocarbon fuel Referring now to the drawings, wherein like refer and the other is for hydrogen. The hydrocarbon fuel is ence characters denote corresponding elements conducted from a supply tank therefor to the carbure 5 throughout the several views, and first to FIG. 1, an tor for hydrocarbon fuel through a conduit including a the fuel is ignited byengine internal combustion of the piston type in which pump. Another conduit extends from the other carbu an engine block represented at 10.is Mounted spark plugs shown as including retor which is for hydrogen to that portion of the elec block 10 is a fuel intake manifold 11 havingon aengine main trolysis cell in which hydrogen is collected. A pump O stem 12 on which is mounted a carburetor or injector connected to this portion of the cell is connected to a 13 for hydrocarbon fuels such as gasoline and a hydro conduit which extends both to the hydrogen carburetor and a tank for receiving hydrogen under pressure. A gen carburetor or injector 14. Both of the carburetors 13 and 14 communicate with stem 12. Mounted above valve is included in this conduit and is operable to carburetors 13 and 14 is an air filter 15 having an air determine when hydrogen is delivered to the hydrogen 15 intake 16.

carburetor. Carried by engine block 10 is an exhaust manifold 17 The air filter includes an air intake and oxygen from from which extends an exhaust pipe 18. Engine block the electrolysis cell is passed to this air intake where it 10 includes a cooling system in accordance with ac is mixed with ambient air to provide oxygen-enriched cepted practice and hence is not herein illustrated. air which is delivered to both carburetors. 20 However, a fan which may be considered as a part of In a modification, a turbo-generator is driven directly the cooling system is illustrated at 19. by gases from the engines exhaust to provide DC cur A closed circulatory system as in a Rankine Cycle for rent to the electrolysis cell. This turbo-generator may a working fluid such as water or freon is designated be used alone or in combination with another generator generally 20. It comprises a conduit 21 which is in heat driven by a turbine which is powered by the working 25 conducting relation to the cooling system of the engine fluid in a closed system that is heated by the engine at the point indicated at 22. It extends to and passes cooling system. through a heat exchanger 23 which is disposed about Now known internal combustion engines may be exhaust pipe 18. From heat exchanger 23 conduit 21 is catalogued into three types. One is the conventional 30 continued to a turbine 24 which is of the kind typified Otto cycle internal combustion engine now widely used by the Rankine Cycle. The working fluid which origi in which the fuel is ignited by spark plugs. The second by theis in nally liquid form is converted into a gaseous state is the well known diesel cycle engine in which the fuel engine and thederived heat from the cooling system of the is ignited by compression of the intaken air gases. The From the latter, anotherpipe exhaust and drives the turbine 24.

conduit 25 extends to a con third is the Brayton cycle turbine type internal combus 35 denser 26 which returns the working fluid to its liquid tion engine in which the fuel is burned at constant form. From condenser 26 another conduit 27 extends pressure to drive a turbine rather than a piston. The to a pump 28, and from the latter a conduit 29 extends present invention is susceptible of embodiment in the to the engine block 10 at a point 30, from whence it is internal combustion engines of each of the above noted connected to conduit 21 at point 22, being in heat types. The invention as applied to the first type is sum 40 conducting relation to the cooling system of the engine. marized in the preceding paragraphs. The apparatus The operation of the closed system 29 may be sum required for a diesel engine is substantially the same, marized by noting that the working fluid in liquid form with the notable exception that the carburetor for the is delivered by pump 28 to that portion of the system hydrocarbon fuel and the fuel intake manifold are re which is in heat conducting relation to the cooling placed by fuel injectors. In the case of the turbine, 45 system of the engine. Thus, the working fluid is heated engine, the working fluid circulatory system, turbine from the latter. It is further heated by heat exchanger included therein, generator, electrolysis cell, fuel Sup23 and this heat transfers the working fluid into a gase ply tank, water supply tank, hydrogen tank and pumps ous state which operates Rankine turbine 24. It is con therefor are the same as described in the preceding ducted in gaseous form to condenser 26 which returns paragraphs. The difference between this embodiment 50 it An to liquid form.

electric generator is indicated at 31 and an elec of the invention and the others resides in the construc tion of the turbine engine. trolysis cell at 32. The electrolysis cell is shown as having two legs 33 and 34. A conductor 35 connects a

For the full and more complete understanding of the terminal 36 of generator 31 to terminal 37, while an invention, reference may be had to the following de 55 other conductor scription and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 38 extends from a terminal 39 of gen erator 31 to a terminal 40 of cell 32. Generator 31

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the essen tial elements of the present invention as applied to a provides

A water

DC current.

supply tank is shown at 41. From the latter conventional internal combustion engine of the piston upstands a pipe 42 which is connected to a pump 43. type in which the fuel is ignited by spark plugs; 60 The latter is electrically driven by current derived from FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view depicting the invention generator 31. From pump 43 a conduit 44 extends to as applied to a turbine engine; the lower portion of electrolysis cell 32 and is effective FIG. 3 is another diagrammatic view of the invention to introduce water into the cell. The direct current as incorporated into a diesel engine; passes through this water and decomposes the water FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a modification of the 65 into its components of hydrogen and oxygen. The hy diesel engine embodiment, and drogen collects in leg 33 and oxygen in leg 34. A pipe FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an embodiment includ 45 extends upwardly from hydrogen leg 33 and in ing a turbo-generator that is powered by exhaust gases. cluded therein is a pump 46 which is electrically driven

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from generator 31. Pipe 45 communicates with a cross justed to provide a desired ratio between the hydrocar conduit 47 at point 48. From the latter, one side of bon fuel and the hydrogen which is delivered to the cross conduit 47 is connected to a conduit,49, which engine.

extends to a hydrogen tank-50. The other side of cross DESCRIPTION - SECOND EMBODIMENT conduit 47 is connected to a hydrogen supply conduit 51 which communicates with hydrogen carburetor 14. This embodiment diagrammatically illustrates the A valve 52 is included in hydrogen supply conduit 51. incorporation of the present invention into an internal It is evident that with generator; 31 in operation, combustion engine of the turbine type as illustrated in hydrogen is provided in leg 33 and with pump 46 in FIG. 2. The turbine engine is represented at 58. It in operation, this hydrogen is either delivered to tank 50 O cludes a casing 59 providing a combustion chamber under pressure or to hydrogen carburetor 14, depend into which fuel is introduced through an intake 60. A ing on whether valve 52 is open or closed. metering control 9 for hydrocarbon fuel is mounted While substantially all of the advantages of the pre over intake 60 as is a metering control 8 for hydrogen. sent invention are obtained if the oxygen resulting from An exhaust pipe 61 extends from casing 59 and dis the decomposition of the water is merely passed to the posed thereabout is a heat exchanger 62, which corre ambient atmosphere, some benefit will be derived sponds to the heat exchanger 23 of FIG. 1. An air in therefrom because of oxygen having a higher density take for engine 58 is represented at 63. The remaining than air which is mostly nitrogen, and which will deliver elements illustrated in FIG. 2, with some exceptions, more pounds of working fluid to the engine to some are the same as the corresponding elements of FIG. 1 what compensate for the lost volume and weight flow 20 and have been so designated by like reference charac resulting from the use of hydrogen gas which is of low ters.

density. Thus, a tube 53 is shown as extending from The working fluid system is somewhat different from oxygen leg 34 of electrolysis cell 32 to air intake 16. that of FIG. 1 and is designated generally 64. It com A fuel supply tank is shown at 54 and extending prises a conduit 65 which extends from pump 28 and therefrom is a feed pipe 55, the upper end of which is 25 passes through heat exchanger 62 and emerges there connected to a hydrocarbon fuel carburetor 13. A fuel from as a conduit 66 which goes to turbine 24. From pump 56 is included in feed pipe 55 and is driven from the latter, another conduit 67 extends to condenser 26. the engine in a conventional manner. Another conduit 68 connects condenser 26 with pump The operation of carburetors 13 and 14 may be con 28.

trolled by a link 57 which may be manually operable or 30 The main difference between the apparatus of that of operable under pressure from hydrogen gas from con FIG. 2 and that of FIG. 1 is the fact that heat is derived duit 47. from the exhaust pipe 61 alone and not from a cooling OPERATION - FIRST EMBODIMENT system of the engine.

The operation of the turbine embodiment is substan

While the manner in which the embodiment of FIG. 35 tially the same as that described above in connection 1 operates is believed to be evident from the illustration with FIG. 1, with the notable exception that the fuel of the drawings and description of parts set forth above, pump indicated at 56 includes a fuel metering control it may be briefly outlined as follows: i governing the rate at which fuel is delivered from fuel With hydrogen available from tank 50, the engine tank 54 to the fuel metering nozzle 9. Also, the hydro may be started on hydrogen alone. This may be accom 40 gen gas is delivered by conduit 51 to a fuel metering plished by opening valve 52 and adjusting linkage 57 so nozzle 8.

that no hydrocarbon fuel is initially delivered to fuel DESCRIPTION - THIRD EMBODIMENT intake manifold 11. Starting by hydrogen is preferred because of its gaseous state and wide flammability This embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 3 and shows range. : , , 45 the invention as applied to a diesel engine. The differ With the engine in operation, the water in the cooling ence between the diesel engine of FIG.3 and the con system of the engine is heated and heat therefrom is ventional engine of FIG. 1 resides in the elimination of conducted to that portion of closed system 20 which is the intake manifold 11 and carburetor 13 which are included in the engine. Exhaust gases are generated replaced by fuel injectors. Thus, manifold 69 is and passed out of exhaust pipe 18. Heat is derived 50 mounted on engine block 10 and receives diesel fuel therefrom by heat exchanger 23 and transferred by from fuel injector pump and distribution supply tank 54 conduction to tube 21 of the closed system. through tube 55. Distribution tubes 70 extend from After the engine is started in operation, pump 56 is manifold 69 to injection ports 71 in block 10. activated to deliver fuel to carburetor 13 and pump 28 The operation of the diesel engine embodiment is the is operated to circulate the working fluid in system 20. 55 same as that of the conventional internal combustion The heat transfers the liquid working fluid into a gase engine of FIG. 1.

ous form to operate turbine 24. The latter drives gener THE DESEL ENGINE MODIFICATION ator 31 to generate a direct current which is conducted to electrolysis cell 32. With generator 31 in operation, Referring more particularly to FIG. 4, a modification pump 43 is also activated to deliver water from tank 41 60 of the diesel engine embodiment is therein illustrated in to cell32. This water is decomposed by the direct cur which hydrogen gas is delivered directly to injection rent passing therethrough which results in decomposi ports in the engine block rather than to the air intake. tion of the water into its oxygen and hydrogen compo Conduit 51 is connected to a hydrogen fuel injector ments. pump and distribution manifold 72 from which extend With generator 31 in operation, pump 46 is also 65 four distribution tubes 73 which are connected at their activated to deliver the hydrogen from leg 33 of cell 32 other ends to injection ports 74. either to hydrogen tank 50 or hydrogen carburetor 14. In diesel engines, the fuel is ignited by the heat de After the engine has been started, linkage 57 is ad rived from compressing the air. Hydrocarbon fuels

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have an ignition temperature which is much less than cause various modifications of these details may be that of hydrogen. Thus, hydrogen is delivered to the provided in putting the invention into practice. engine block only in combination with diesel fuel be What is claimed is:

cause, once the fuel is ignited, it will in turn ignite the 1. In an internal combustion engine of the turbine hydrogen gas. 5 type,

THE TURBO-GENERATOR a. a turbine block providing a combustion chamber, b. an exhaust pipe extending from said block and

Referring now to FIG. 5, a modification is therein communicating with said combustion chamber; illustrated in which a turbo-generator is driven directly c. a closed system for a working fluid including a by exhaust gases. Thus, engine block 10 is shown as 10 pump for circulating the working fluid through the having the usual exhaust manifold 17 from which ex system, a turbine which is operated by the working tends an exhaust pipe 18. Mounted on exhaust pipe 18 fluid when in a gaseous state and a condenser for and in communication therewith is a turbine 75 which returning the working fluid from a gaseous state to is powered by the exhaust gases from pipe 18. Spent a liquid;

exhaust gases pass out of turbine 75 at gas discharge 15 d. a heat exchanger disposed about said exhaust pipe 76. A generator 77 is driven by a turbine 75. Generator and through which said closed system passes to 77 is connected by conductors 78 to the electrolysis derive heat from the exhaust pipe and heat the cell 32 which is not illustrated in FIG. 5, but corre working fluid;

sponds to cell 32 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. e. a generator driven by said turbine to produce a DC It is believed that the turbo generator method of 20 f. an electric current;

providing a direct current for the electrolysis cell when electrolysis cell containing water and connected used alone with present certain advantages. However, to said generator so that the DC current therefrom to improve its efficiency, it also may be used in combi decomposes the water into oxygen and hydrogen; nation with a closed circuit working fluid system which g. a water tank for supplying water to said electrolysis derives heat from the cooling system of the engine, with 25 cell;

h. a fuel intake on said turbine block and communi the heated working fluid driving the turbine of the cating with said combustion chamber; Rankine Cycle. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the closed i. a hydrogen metering control communicating with system for the working fluid comprises a conduit 79 said fuel intake;

which extends from a condenser 26 to a pump 28 and j. a conduit extending from said electrolysis cell to from the latter another conduit 80 extends to a point 81 30 said hydrogen metering control which conveys where it enters and passes through engine block 10 in a hydrogen from the cell to the metering control; position closely adjacent to the cooling system of the k. a fuel tank for a hydrocarbon fuel; engine, whereby the working fluid in conduit 80 derives l. a hydrocarbon fuel metering control on said fuel heat from the engine cooling system. Conduit 80 passes 35 intake communicating with said combustion cham out of the engine block at point 82 from which point it ber and connected to said hydrocarbon fuel tank; takes the form of conduit 83 which is connected to m. linkage connected to said metering controls oper turbine 24. From turbine 24 another conduit 85 ex able to vary the ratio of hydrogen and hydrocarbon tends to the other end of condenser 26. Generator 84 is fuel which is introduced into the combustion cham connected to electrolysis cell 32 in the same manner as ber of said turbine block, and illustrated and described in connection with FIGS. 1, 2 40 n. an air intake on said block and communicating and 3. with said combustion chamber. While preferred specific embodiments are herein 2. The turbine type combustion engine of claim 1, disclosed, it is to be clearly understood that the inven together with an oxygen conduit extending from said tion is not to be limited to that exact constructions, 45 electrolysis cell to said air intake. mechanisms and devices illustrated and described be 2 : k sk