Emission system, apparatus, and method

Abstract

An emission reduction apparatus is provided that includes a fuel conversion unit configured to convert a first portion of fuel from a fuel tank into a set of reducing agents that includes hydrogen, an exhaust path configured to convey an exhaust stream containing nitrogen oxides away from an engine, a transport system configured to transport each of a second portion of fuel from the fuel tank, the set of reducing agents, and the hydrogen into the exhaust path such that a mixture is formed, and the catalytic material configured to aid in a conversion of at least a portion of the nitrogen oxides in the exhaust stream of the mixture into nitrogen.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a fuel conversion unit configured to convert a first portion of fuel from a fuel tank into a set of reducing agents, wherein the set of reducing agents comprise hydrogen;   an exhaust path configured to convey an exhaust stream away from an engine, wherein the exhaust stream comprises nitrogen oxides;   a transport system configured to transport each of a second portion of fuel from the fuel tank and the set of reducing agents into the exhaust path such that a mixture is formed, wherein the mixture comprises the second portion of fuel, the set of reducing agents, and the exhaust stream; and   a catalytic material positioned within the exhaust path and configured to aid in a conversion of at least a portion of the nitrogen oxides in the mixture into nitrogen, wherein the conversion reduces a quantity of the nitrogen oxides in the exhaust stream.   
   
   
       2 . The emission reduction apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a control component configured to adjust a rate at which the fuel conversion unit converts the first portion of fuel into the set of reducing agents such that a quantity of the hydrogen produced is manipulated. 
   
   
       3 . The emission reduction apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first and second portion of fuel is a first and second portion of diesel fuel, respectively. 
   
   
       4 . The emission reduction apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a state conversion unit configured to transform the second portion of fuel into a gas before the second portion of fuel enters into the exhaust stream. 
   
   
       5 . The emission reduction apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an oxygen intake configured to transport oxygen into the fuel conversion unit to initiate catalytic partial oxidation to convert the first portion of fuel from the fuel tank into the set of reducing agents, wherein the hydrogen in the mixture increases a rate of the conversion of the mixture over the catalytic material within the exhaust path. 
   
   
       6 . The emission reduction apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fuel conversion unit is configured to initiate auto-thermal cracking to convert the first portion of fuel from the fuel tank into the set of reducing agents, wherein the set of reducing agents further comprises secondary hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. 
   
   
       7 . The emission reduction apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the fuel conversion unit is further configured to convert at least a portion of the secondary hydrocarbons into hydrogen such that a rate of the conversion of the mixture is increased, wherein the conversion of the mixture is aided by the catalytic material. 
   
   
       8 . The emission reduction apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a water gas shift catalyst to convert a portion of the reducing agents from the fuel conversion unit into additional hydrogen. 
   
   
       9 . A method comprising:
 converting a first portion of fuel from a fuel supply to a plurality of first reductants;   passing the plurality of first reductants into an exhaust stream, wherein the exhaust stream comprises a plurality of nitrogen oxides;   transforming a second portion of liquid fuel from the fuel supply into a gaseous fuel; and   passing the plurality of first reductants, the exhaust stream, and the gaseous fuel over a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) component such that a portion of the plurality of nitrogen oxides is converted into nitrogen.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the first portion of fuel from the fuel supply is converted to the plurality of first reductants by passing the first portion from the fuel supply over a fuel conversion unit. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 passing a quantity of oxygen over the fuel conversion unit such that hydrogen is produced;   regulating the quantity of oxygen passing over the fuel conversion unit such that the production of the hydrogen is regulated; and   regulating the first portion of fuel from the fuel supply passing through the fuel conversion unit such that the production of the hydrogen is regulated.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising regulating the transformation of the second portion of liquid fuel from the fuel supply into the gaseous fuel such that the conversion of the plurality of nitrogen oxides into nitrogen is regulated. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising ceasing the conversion of the first portion of fuel to the plurality of first reductants based on one of an exhaust stream temperature and a nitrogen oxide concentration in the exhaust stream. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein converting the first portion of fuel from the fuel supply to the plurality of first reductants comprises implementing at least one of auto thermal cracking and catalytic partial oxidation. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the first and second portion of fuel is diesel fuel. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 converting a portion of the first portion of fuel into hydrogen; and   passing the hydrogen over the SCR component to increase a reaction rate at which the portion of the plurality of nitrogen oxides is converted into the nitrogen.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising increasing a temperature of a catalyst in a fuel conversion unit to increase production of the hydrogen. 
   
   
       18 . A method comprising:
 acquiring a first portion of fuel from an engine supply fuel tank;   converting the first portion of fuel into at least a plurality of reductants;   mixing the plurality of reductants and a quantity of gaseous fuel from a second portion of fuel from the engine supply fuel tank with an engine exhaust containing nitrogen oxides to create a first mixture comprising the plurality of reductants, the quantity of gaseous fuel, and the engine exhaust; and   catalyzing a chemical reaction in the first mixture over a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) unit, wherein the chemical reaction reduces at least a portion of the nitrogen oxides in the first mixture to nitrogen.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the at least a plurality of reductants comprises a quantity of hydrogen, and wherein the quantity of hydrogen increases a rate at which the nitrogen oxides reduce over the SCR unit. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising at least one of:
 adjusting the quantity of hydrogen produced during the conversion of the first portion of the fuel such that a rate of the reduction of the at least a portion of the nitrogen oxides in the first mixture to the nitrogen is regulated; and   adjusting the quantity of gaseous fuel mixed with the plurality of reductants and the exhaust stream such that the rate of the reduction of the at least a portion of the nitrogen oxides in the first mixture to the nitrogen is regulated.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the engine supply fuel tank holds fuel that contains diesel. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of reductants comprises secondary hydrocarbons. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising:
 converting the secondary hydrocarbons to hydrogen; and   mixing the hydrogen with the first mixture to increase a rate at which the nitrogen oxides reduce over the SCR unit.