Vehicle powertrain with onboard catalytic reformer

US9617490B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY · US
• Toyota Central Research and Development Labs, Inc. · JP

Inventors

• Brian M. Weiss · Bound Brook, US
• Walter Weissman · Jalan Pedongkelan, US
• Tilman W. Beutel · Neshanic Station, US
• John F. Brody · Bound Brook, US
• Eugine Choi · Marlton, US
• Wenjun Li · Phillipsburg, US
• Paul Dmitri Madiara · Bethlehem, US
• Chris E. Kliewer · Clinton, US
• Karl G. Strohmaier · Hackettstown, US
• Scott J. Weigel · Allentown, US
• Brett T. Loveless · Houston, US
• Makota Koike · Nagakute, JP
• Hiroshi Miyagawa · Nagakute, JP

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 11, 2014
• Grant date: Apr 11, 2017
• Expiry date: Jan 22, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T10/30
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Catalyst compositions suitable for use in the exhaust gas recycle stream of an internal combustion engine are provided. Such catalyst compositions typically provide significant amounts of methane in addition to syngas. A reformer incorporating such a catalyst for use in an exhaust gas recycle portion of an internal combustion engine powertrain is described. A powertrain incorporating such a reformer, a method of increasing the octane rating of an exhaust gas recycle stream, and a method of operating an internal combustion engine using methane-assisted combustion are also described.