Method and device for the production of gases rich in hydrogen

Gases rich in hydrogen for driving motor vehicle engines can be produced by injecting water into a mixture of air and hydrocarbon fuel, at the ignition of which very hot combustion gases have resulted through partial oxidation, where-by the water is transformed into steam by the hot gases. After injection of additional hydrocarbon fuel, the gas rich in hydrogen forms by steam fission. Several types of such a hydrogen generator, which is compact and suitable for passenger cars, are described. Preheating of the gases and the transmission of them as well as devices for the sensing of the temperatures are intended to assure the right moment for the injections. The complicated design and construction necessary until now for hydrogen generators is eliminated because a partial oxidation process is used to generate the energy which is required for the steam fission reaction. (UWI)