Method and apparatus for trapping and purging soot from a fuel reformer
US7244281B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 24, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jul 17, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 3, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC01B2203/1676
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A plasma fuel reformer assembly for producing reformate gas includes a fuel reformer having an air/fuel input assembly, an electrode assembly, and a soot trap positioned downstream of the electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode and a second electrode that is spaced apart from the first electrode. The fuel reformer further includes a reformer controller electrically coupled to the air/fuel input assembly. The reformer controller includes a processing unit electrically connected to a memory unit. Stored in the memory unit is a plurality of memory instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to: operate the air/fuel input assembly so as to advance a first air/fuel mixture with a first air-to-fuel ratio into the fuel reformer, determine if a soot purge of the soot trap is to be performed and generate a purge-soot signal in response thereto, and operate the air/fuel input assembly so as to advance a second air/fuel mixture having a second air-to-fuel ratio greater than the first air-to-fuel ratio into the fuel reformer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.