Ultra Low HHO Injection

Abstract

An ultra low quantity of HHO gas is introduced to an internal combustion engine to improve fuel economy and/or reduce engine-out emissions, for example in a vehicle or generator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for increasing fuel economy of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 i) introducing in the range of 2-5 liters of HHO gas per hour per liter of displacement of the internal combustion engine; and   ii) combusting a quantity of a carbonaceous fuel in the presence of the introduced HHO gas to increase fuel economy of the carbonaceous fuel by at least 5%.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: electrolyzing an aqueous electrolyte solution at a current draw in the range of 5-15 amps. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein aqueous electrolyte solution comprises less than 3 wt. % of any salt. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyzing has an electrical resistance of less than 3 ohm. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine powers a vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the electrolyzing is onboard the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the electrolyzing comprises electrolysis in the range of 4-10 ounces of the aqueous electrolyte per liter displacement of the internal combustion engine per 10,000 miles traveling distance of the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the vehicle is a class 8 truck. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the introducing comprises depositing air-free portions of the HHO gas in an air stream within 3 inches of at least one combustion chamber inlet orifice of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method reduces one or more engine-out emissions by at least 10%. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more engine-out emissions is a nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the HHO gas is introduced in an amount of less than 250 ppm relative to the weight of the combusted quantity of carbonaceous fuel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method reduces exhaust temperature by at least 30° F. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the in the range of 2-5 liters of the HHO gas stream per hour per liter of displacement of the internal combustion engine is passed through a heat exchanger prior to the introducing. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the heat exchanger receives an engine exhaust stream. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the heat exchanger receives an engine coolant stream. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: delivering HHO gas to a diesel particulate filter (DPF) regenerator system. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the introduced HHO gas is introduced to a first combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine during a portion of an intake stroke of a combustion cylinder, the combustion cylinder comprising the combustion chamber, wherein the during a portion of an intake stroke is when the intake stroke is at an angle in the range of 0-40° from top-dead-center. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine is a gasoline engine. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine is a diesel engine. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the diesel engine is a heavy duty diesel engine sized to produce in the range of 430-500 hp. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine has a displacement in the range of 11-16 liters. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine is sized to produce in the range of 200-250 hp. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the engine has a displacement in the range of 6-11 liters. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine is a generator set engine. 
     
     
         26 . A method for increasing fuel economy of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 combusting a quantity of carbonaceous fuel in at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine in the presence of less than 100 ppm HHO gas during cold start, relative to the quantity of carbonaceous fuel.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the combusting achieves at least 97% complete combustion of the quantity of carbonaceous fuel. 
     
     
         28 . A method for increasing fuel economy of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 i) introducing in the range of 2-5 liters of HHO gas per hour per liter of displacement of the internal combustion engine per 200 hp average output of the internal combustion engine; and   ii) combusting a quantity of a carbonaceous fuel in the presence of the introduced HHO gas to increase fuel economy of the carbonaceous fuel by at least 5%.