An integrated system of gasoline reformer and three way converter for on-board hydrogen production

On-board exhaust gas assisted gasoline reforming has been investigated using a compact prototype system consisting of a fuel reformer integrated with a three way catalytic converter (TWC) connected to a V6 engine running at homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode, the integrated fuel reformer and TWC were designed and constructed to supply reformed exhaust gas recirculation (REGR) stream to the gasoline-fuelled HCCI V6 engine as supplement fuel to improve engine performance and reduce NO_x emissions. To find the optimum operating conditions of the engine-reformer system (in terms of hydrogen production and thermal efficiency), the effect of oxygen to carbon ratio (O₂/C) in the reactor input mixture, and the different engine operating conditions were investigated. The reactor outlet temperature appears to be strongly correlated to the production of hydrogen, concentrations up to 12.8% of hydrogen in the reformer products were achieved from commercial unleaded gasoline. Uncompleted reforming of gasoline was assumed from significant quantities of hydrocarbons in the product measured by Non-Dispersive Infrared (NDIR). This novel design of an integrated fuel reformer and three-way catalytic converter (TWC) that can be fitted in the EGR loop was applied to extend the lower boundary of the (HCCI) operating window.(author)