PROCESS OF PRODUCING HYDROGEN ON BOARD BY A SELF POWERED HYDROLYSIS UNIT IN A MODIFIED FUEL CELL AND ITS USE IN THE NASCENT FORM IN AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

摘要

The invention describes the innovative idea of using nascent hydrogen as a fuel in common rail direct injection engines, whether petrol or diesel. The invention also comprises of the on-board production of hydrogen by hydrolysis. According to this, the hydrogen produced from the hydrolysis unit is firstly, directed towards a modified proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack. The modification of the fuel cell stack has been explained in detail further in the paper. The modification is such that the fuel cell produces electricity to power the hydrolysis unit and the hydrogen used does not form water but retains its identity. This hydrogen is stored as a desired pressure and is later converted into nascent hydrogen that is used as fuel in an internal combustion engine. Nascent hydrogen during combustion produces almost three times the energy as compared to normal molecular hydrogen. This extra energy produced during combustion can be used for the on-board production of hydrogen required. A specially designed hydrolysis unit improves the efficiency of the production of hydrogen and saves the costs of separators. A solution of water and potassium hydroxide is electrolyzed. Batteries and the modified fuel cell stack provide the power for this electrolysis. The produced hydrogen is stored in a storage tank at a suitable pressure. The fuel line of the engine is a common rail direct injection system, which consists of electronic injectors. The fuel line ensures the identity of nascent hydrogen that is the fuel for the engine. An alternator of suitable capacity is used to charge the batteries that power the hydrolysis unit. Drawing NIL Sheets. Total Pages: 10. Fig. Nil