Method and apparatus for membrane separation of air into nitrogen and oxygen elements for use in internal combustion engines
US7100543B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 25, 2002 |
| Grant date | Sep 5, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 1, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/12
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and apparatus for reducing the emissions and improving the performance of an internal combustion engine (40). An input air stream is separated into an oxygen-enriched air stream and a nitrogen-enriched air stream. The nitrogen-enriched air stream is received by a holding chamber (35). The oxygen-enriched air and a combustible fuel are provided to a combustion chamber (45) of the internal combustion engine (40) and a combustion process is initiated. After a predefined time delay, a volume of nitrogen-enriched air is provided from the holding chamber (35) to the combustion chamber (45) to be used during the rest of the combustion process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.