Engine System With Exhaust-Cooled Fuel Processor

Abstract

An engine system comprises a fuel processor that is supplied with air and a fuel stream to produce a hydrogen-containing gas stream. The fuel processor comprises a housing, and at least a portion of the housing is located within an exhaust stream conduit from the engine. During operation of the engine, heat transfer between the fuel processor and the engine exhaust stream occurs. An exhaust after-treatment assembly is located downstream of the fuel processor and is connected to selectively receive hydrogen-containing gas stream from the fuel processor.

1 . An engine system comprising:
 (a) an engine that during operation produces an exhaust stream;   (b) an exhaust stream conduit connected to receive said exhaust stream from said engine;   (c) an exhaust after-treatment assembly for at least periodically reducing regulated emissions in said exhaust stream, and   (d) a fuel processor for producing a product stream, said fuel processor further comprising:
 (i) a housing, and 
 (ii) an oxidant inlet conduit fluidly connected to receive an air stream and a fuel inlet fluidly connected to receive a fuel stream, 
   wherein at least a portion of said housing is located within said exhaust stream conduit, and wherein said exhaust after-treatment assembly is located downstream of said fuel processor and is connected to selectively receive said product stream from said fuel processor.   
     
     
         2 . The engine system of  claim 1  wherein said housing is located entirely within said exhaust stream conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The engine system of  claim 1  wherein said air stream is supplied by a blower. 
     
     
         4 . The engine system of  claim 1  further comprising a hydrogen-consuming device, wherein said fuel processor further comprises a product stream conduit to supply a hydrogen-containing product stream to said hydrogen consuming device. 
     
     
         5 . The engine system of  claim 1 , wherein said fuel processor is a non-catalytic fuel processor. 
     
     
         6 . An engine system comprising an engine, an exhaust conduit and a fuel processor located within said exhaust conduit, said fuel processor comprising an interior reaction chamber, wherein said interior reaction chamber is fluidly connected to receive fuel from a fuel supply subsystem and an oxidant from an oxidant supply subsystem located external to said exhaust conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The engine system of  claim 6  wherein said oxidant supply subsystem is located external to said engine. 
     
     
         8 . A method of operating an engine system comprising an engine, an exhaust after-treatment assembly, and a fuel processor comprising a housing and an interior reaction chamber, said method comprising:
 (a) operating said engine system to produce an engine exhaust stream;   (b) directing at least a portion of said engine exhaust stream to at least one exhaust after-treatment device in said exhaust after-treatment assembly, for reducing regulated emissions in said engine exhaust stream;   (c) introducing a fuel and an air stream into said interior reaction chamber of said fuel processor and operating said fuel processor to produce a product stream; and   (d) at least periodically introducing at least a portion of said product stream into said exhaust after-treatment device for heating or regenerating said exhaust after-treatment device,   wherein during operation of said engine at least a portion of said engine exhaust stream flows over at least a portion of said fuel processor housing.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein after said engine has been shut off, said fuel processor is operated to produce and introduce at least a portion of said product stream into said exhaust after-treatment assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein, prior to starting operation of said engine, said fuel processor is operated to produce and introduce at least a portion of said product stream into said exhaust after-treatment assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein during start-up of said engine, said fuel processor is operated to produce and introduce at least a portion of said product stream into said exhaust after-treatment assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said fuel processor is operated to produce and introduce at least a portion of said product stream into said exhaust after-treatment assembly when said exhaust after-treatment assembly is below a threshold temperature value. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said fuel processor is located within an exhaust conduit from said engine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said fuel processor interior reaction chamber does not receive said engine exhaust stream from said exhaust conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said product stream is introduced into a hydrogen-consuming device other than the exhaust after-treatment assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said product stream is a hydrogen-containing gas stream. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said product stream is a flue gas stream. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said air stream is supplied by an air blower.