Methods to reduce combustion time and temperature in an engine
Methods and apparatuses are provided to reduce combustion time and/or combustion temperature in an internal combustion engine. In an exemplary embodiment, intake air and oxygen-rich gas are introduced upstream of a turbofan, wherein the amount of oxygen rich gas is controlled in proportion to the engine speed.
1. A method for reducing combustion time and/or combustion temperature in an internal combustion engine, comprising:
generating, via an electrolysis cell, an oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture;
generating an ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture that includes oxygen ions and hydrogen ions by ionizing the oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture;
replacing a portion of an intake air stream with between 0.01-0.03 liters per minute of the ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture that includes oxygen ions and hydrogen ions per liter of engine displacement; and
controlling a rate of replacing the portion of the intake air stream in relation to engine speed to reduce unburnt fuel at the end of a combustion cycle of the internal combustion engine by more than 10%,
wherein the internal combustion engine is a turbo-charged diesel engine installed on a truck,
wherein the electrolysis cell is equipped with an electrolyte circulation loop comprising a radiator onboard the truck, and
wherein the ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture that includes oxygen ions and hydrogen ions is introduced upstream of a turbofan.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein particulate formation in the internal combustion engine is reduced by greater than 10%.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture that includes oxygen ions and hydrogen ions is generated during operation of the internal combustion engine.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine comprises a controller to measure engine speed and control the rate of replacement of the ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture that includes oxygen ions and hydrogen ions.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising: adjusting a rate of the electrolyzing in proportion to engine speed.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture that includes oxygen ions and hydrogen ions further includes diatomic oxygen and diatomic hydrogen.
7. A method for reducing combustion time and/or combustion temperature in an internal combustion engine, comprising:
electrolyzing, via an electrolyzer equipped with an electrolyte circulation loop comprising a radiator, an electrolyte to generate 0.01-0.03 liters per minute of an oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture per liter of engine displacement;
generating an ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture that includes oxygen ions and hydrogen ions by ionizing the oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture;
introducing at least a portion of the ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture that includes oxygen ions and hydrogen ions into an intake air stream; and
adjusting the at least a portion of the ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture that includes oxygen ions and hydrogen ions in proportion to engine speed to reduce unburnt fuel at the end of a combustion cycle of the internal combustion engine by more than 10%,
wherein the internal combustion engine is a turbo-charged diesel engine installed on a truck,
wherein the ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture that includes oxygen ions and hydrogen ions is generated onboard the truck, and
wherein the ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture that includes oxygen ions and hydrogen ions is introduced upstream of a turbofan.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the electrolyte is electrolyzed during operation of the internal combustion engine.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising: adjusting a rate of the electrolyzing in proportion to the engine speed.
10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising: triggering the electrolyzing when the vehicle is started and turning off the electrolyzing once the vehicle engine is turned off.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the electrolyte is electrolyzed during operation of the internal combustion engine.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising: adjusting a rate of the electrolyzing in proportion to engine speed.
13. The method of claim 7 , further comprising a controller to measure engine speed and control the rate of replacement of the ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture that includes oxygen ions and hydrogen ions.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising: adjusting a rate of the electrolyzing in proportion to engine speed.
15. A method for reducing combustion time and/or combustion temperature in an internal combustion engine, comprising:
generating, via an electrolysis cell, an oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture;
generating an ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture that includes oxygen ions and hydrogen ions by ionizing an oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture;
introducing 0.01-0.03 liters per minute of the ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture that includes oxygen ions and hydrogen ions per liter of engine displacement into an intake air stream upstream of a turbofan; and
adjusting at least a portion of the ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture that includes oxygen ions and hydrogen ions in proportion to engine speed to reduce unburnt fuel at the end of a combustion cycle of the internal combustion engine by more than 10%;
whereby particulate formation in the internal combustion engine is reduced by greater than 10%,
wherein the internal combustion engine is a turbo-charged diesel engine installed on a truck, and
wherein the ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture is generated onboard the truck via an electrolysis cell equipped with an electrolyte circulation loop comprising a radiator.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising a controller to measure engine speed and control the rate of replacement of the ionized oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture that includes oxygen ions and hydrogen ions.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising: adjusting a rate of the electrolyzing in proportion to engine speed.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising: adjusting a rate of the electrolyzing in proportion to engine speed.