Title: Apparatus and method for operating a fuel reformer to generate multiple reformate gases
Abstract: A fuel reformer is operated in one mode of operation to generate and supply a particular quantity and/or composition of reformate gas to a first component such as a NOX trap, and then is operated in a different mode of operation to generate and supply and different quantity and/or composition of reformate gas to a different component such as a soot particulate filter. In a similar manner, the fuel reformer is operated in one mode of operation to generate and supply a particular quantity and/or composition of reformate gas to a fuel cell, and then is operated in a different mode of operation to generate and supply and different quantity and/or composition of reformate gas to an emission abatement device. A method of operating a fuel reformer is also disclosed.
Patent Number: 7,014,930 Issued on 03/21/2006 to Daniel, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Daniel; Michael J. (Indianapolis, IN);
Bauer; Shawn D. (Indianapolis, IN)
|
| Assignee:
|
Arvin Technologies, Inc. (Troy, MI)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
245921 |
| Filed:
|
September 18, 2002 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
429/17; 429/13; 429/19; 429/22; 429/23 |
| Current Intern'l Class: |
H01M 8/04 (20060101) |
| Field of Search: |
429/19,22,23,13,17
123/3,1A
60/274,275,286,301,303,299,295,311
180/651,652,653,309
422/186.21,186.22,183,182,186.03,186.04
|
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|
Primary Examiner: Bell; Bruce F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Parent Case Text
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/351,580, entitled "Apparatus and Method for Operating
a Fuel Reformer to Provide Reformed Gas to Both a Fuel Cell and an Emission Abatement
Device," filed on Jan. 25, 2002 by Michael J. Daniel, Rudolf M. Smaling, Kurt S.
Tyler, and Shawn D. Bauer, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A method of operating an onboard fuel reforming assembly comprising the steps of:
operating an onboard fuel reformer so as to generate a first reformate gas having
a first composition during a first period of time,
advancing the first reformate gas to a first component during the first period
of time,
operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate a second reformate gas
having a second composition different from the first composition during a second
period of time, and
advancing the second reformate gas to a second component during the second period
of time.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the first component comprises a fuel cell and the second component comprises
an emission abatement device,
the first reformate gas advancing step comprises advancing the first reformate
gas to the fuel cell, and
the second reformate gas advancing step comprises advancing the second reformate
gas to the emission abatement device.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first reformate gas is richer in hydrogen
than is the second reformate gas.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the first component comprises a fuel cell and the second component comprises
an intake of an internal combustion engine,
the first reformate gas advancing step comprises advancing the first reformate
gas to the fuel cell, and
the second reformate gas advancing step comprises advancing the second reformate
gas to the intake of the engine.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the onboard fuel reformer comprises a plasma fuel reformer having a plasma-generating assembly,
the step of operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate the first reformate
gas comprises advancing the first reformate gas through a catalyst downstream of
the plasma-generating assembly, and
the step of operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate the second
reformate gas comprises bypassing the second reformate gas around the catalyst.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the onboard fuel reformer comprises a plasma fuel reformer,
the step of operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate the first reformate
gas comprises advancing a first air/fuel mixture having a first air-to-fuel ratio
into the plasma fuel reformer, and
the step of operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate the second
reformate gas comprises advancing a second air/fuel mixture having a second air-to-fuel
ratio into the plasma fuel reformer.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the onboard fuel reformer comprises a plasma fuel reformer having a power supply
associated therewith,
the step of operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate the first reformate
gas comprises operating the power supply so as to supply electrical power at a
first power level to the plasma fuel reformer, and
the step of operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate the second
reformate gas comprises operating the power supply so as to supply electrical power
at a second power level to the plasma fuel reformer.
8. An onboard fuel reforming assembly, comprising:
an onboard fuel reformer,
an electrically-controlled flow diverter valve, and
an electronic control unit electrically coupled to the onboard fuel reformer
and the flow diverter valve, the electronic control unit comprising (i) a processor,
and (ii) a memory device electrically coupled to the processor, the memory device
having stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor,
cause the processor to:
(a) operate the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate a first reformate gas
having a first composition during a first period of time,
(b) position the flow diverter valve so as to advance the first reformate gas
to a first component during the first period of time,
(c) operate the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate a second reformate gas
having a second composition different from the first composition during a second
period of time, and
(d) position the flow diverter valve so as to advance the second reformate gas
to a second component during the second period of time.
9. The onboard fuel reforming assembly of claim 8, wherein:
the first component comprises a fuel cell for generating electrical power, and
the second component comprises an emission abatement device for treating exhaust
gases from an internal combustion engine.
10. The onboard fuel reforming assembly of claim 8, wherein the first reformate
gas is richer in hydrogen than is the second reformate gas.
11. The onboard fuel reforming assembly of claim 8, wherein:
the first component comprises a fuel cell for generating electrical power, and
the second component comprises an intake of an internal combustion engine.
12. A method of operating an onboard fuel reforming assembly comprising the steps of:
operating an onboard fuel reformer so as to generate a first quantity of reformate
gas during a first period of time,
advancing the first quantity of reformate gas to a first component during the
first period of time,
operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate a second quantity of reformate
gas different from the first quantity of reformate gas during a second period of
time, and
advancing the second quantity of reformate gas to a second component during the
second period of time.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein:
the first component comprises a fuel cell and the second component comprises
an emission abatement device,
the step of advancing the first quantity of reformate gas comprises advancing
the first quantity of reformate gas to the fuel cell, and
the step of advancing the second quantity of reformate gas comprises advancing
the second quantity of reformate gas to the emission abatement device.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein:
the first component comprises a fuel cell and the second component comprises
an intake of an internal combustion engine,
the step of advancing the first quantity of reformate gas comprises advancing
the first quantity of reformate gas to the fuel cell, and
the step of advancing the second quantity of reformate gas comprises advancing
the second quantity of reformate gas to the intake of the internal combustion engine.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein:
the first component comprises a NO
X trap and the second component
comprises a soot particulate filter,
the step of advancing the first quantity of reformate gas comprises advancing
the first quantity of reformate gas to the NO
X trap, and
the step of advancing the second quantity of reformate gas comprises advancing
the second quantity of reformate gas to the soot particulate filter.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein:
the onboard fuel reformer comprises a plasma fuel reformer,
the step of operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate the first quantity
of reformate gas comprises operating the plasma fuel reformer so as to generate
the first quantity of reformate gas, and
the step of operating the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate the second
quantity of reformate gas comprises operating the plasma fuel reformer so as to
generate the second quantity of reformate gas.
17. An onboard fuel reforming assembly, comprising:
an onboard fuel reformer,
an electrically-controlled flow diverter valve, and
an electronic control unit electrically coupled to the onboard fuel reformer
and the flow diverter valve, the electronic control unit comprising (i) a processor,
and (ii) a memory device electrically coupled to the processor, the memory device
having stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor,
cause the processor to:
(a) operate the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate and advance a first quantity
of reformate gas to a first component during a first period of time, and
(b) operate the onboard fuel reformer so as to generate and advance a second
quantity of reformate gas different from the first quantity of reformance gas to
a second component during a second period of time.
18. The onboard fuel reforming assembly of claim 17, wherein:
the first component comprises a fuel cell for generating electrical power, and
the second component comprises an emission abatement device for treating exhaust
gases from an internal combustion engine.
19. The onboard fuel reforming assembly of claim 17, wherein:
the first component comprises a fuel cell for generating electrical power, and
the second component comprises an intake of an internal combustion engine.
20. The onboard fuel reforming assembly of claim 17, wherein:
the first component comprises a NO
X trap for removing NO
X from
an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, and
and the second component comprises a soot particulate filter for removing soot
particulate from the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine.
21. The onboard fuel reforming assembly of claim 17, wherein the onboard fuel
reformer comprises a plasma fuel reformer.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE
Cross reference is made to copending U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 10/246,298
entitled "Apparatus and Method for Operating a Fuel Reformer to Provide Reformate
Gas to Both a Fuel Cell and an Emission Abatement Device" and Ser. No. 10/246,118
entitled "Combination Emission Abatement Assembly and Method of Operating the Same",
each of which is assigned to the same assignee as the present application, each
of which is filed concurrently herewith, and each of which is hereby incorporated
by reference.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present disclosure relates to generally to a fuel reformer, and more particularly
to an apparatus and method for operating a fuel reformer to provide reformate gas
to both a fuel cell and an emission abatement device.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
A fuel reformer is operated to reform a hydrocarbon fuel into a reformate gas.
In the case of an onboard fuel reformer such as a fuel reformer associated with
a vehicle or a stationary power generator, the reformate gas produced by the fuel
reformer may be utilized as fuel or fuel additive in the operation of an internal
combustion engine. The reformate gas may also be utilized to regenerate or otherwise
condition an emission abatement device associated with an internal combustion engine
or as a fuel for a fuel cell.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
According to one illustrative embodiment, there is provided a power system
having a fuel reformer, an emission abatement device, and a fuel cell. The fuel
reformer reforms hydrocarbon fuels so as to produce a reformate gas which is supplied
to both the emission abatement device and the fuel cell.
According to a more specific illustrative embodiment, there is provided
a vehicle system of an on-highway truck having a fuel reformer configured to reform
hydrocarbon fuel into a reformate gas, an emission abatement device for treating
the emissions from an internal combustion engine, and a fuel cell for generating
electrical power. The reformate gas from the fuel reformer is supplied to both
the emission abatement device and the fuel cell. In such a way, the reformate gas
may be utilized to regenerate or otherwise condition the emission abatement device
during operation of the engine, while also being utilized to operate the fuel cell
during inoperation of the engine. Electrical power from the fuel cell may be used
to power an electrically-powered cab heating and cooling assembly with the need
to idle the engine.
According to another illustrative embodiment, a single fuel reformer is
utilized to regenerate or otherwise condition a combination emission abatement
assembly having a number of different devices for treating a number of different
exhaust effluents from the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine.
According to a more specific illustrative embodiment, the combination emission
abatement assembly has a NO
X trap and a soot particulate filter. In
such a case, the reformate gas from the fuel reformer is used to selectively regenerate
both the NO
X trap and the soot particulate filter.
According to another illustrative embodiment, a fuel reformer is operated
in different modes of operation to generate and supply different quantities and/or
compositions of reformate gas to different components.
According to a more specific exemplary embodiment, the fuel reformer is
operated in one mode of operation to generate and supply a particular quantity
and/or composition of reformate gas to a NO
X trap, and then is operated
in a different mode of operation to generate and supply and different quantity
and/or composition of reformate gas to a soot particulate filter. In a similar
manner, the fuel reformer is operated in one mode of operation to generate and
supply a particular quantity and/or composition of reformate gas to a fuel cell,
and then is operated in a different mode of operation to generate and supply and
different quantity and/or composition of reformate gas to an emission abatement device.
The above and other features of the present disclosure will become apparent from
the following description and the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a fuel reforming assembly having a plasma
fuel reformer under the control of an electronic control unit;
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of the plasma fuel reformer of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of a power system;
FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of the power system of FIG. 3 as used in
the construction of a vehicle;
FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram of another embodiment of a power system;
FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of the power system of FIG. 5 as used in
the construction of a vehicle;
FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a soot particulate filter that
may be utilized in the construction of the power systems of FIGS. 3-6;
FIG. 8 is a simplified block diagram of a combination emission abatement assembly;
FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of the combination emission abatement
assembly of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a simplified block diagram of a system having a pair of the combination
emission abatement assemblies of FIG. 9 positioned in a parallel arrangement; and
FIG. 11 is view similar to FIG. 10, but showing a system which has a pair of
plasma fuel reformers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As will herein be described in more detail, a fuel reformer, according to the
concepts of the present disclosure, may be utilized to generate and supply a reformate
gas to both a fuel cell and an emission abatement device. In such a way, the fuel
reformer may be used to sustain operation of the fuel cell, while also regenerating
or otherwise conditioning the emission abatement device. In the case of when the
fuel reformer is a component of a vehicle system (e.g., an on-highway truck) or
a stationary power generator, the fuel reformer allows for the treatment of exhaust
gases from the internal combustion engine of the vehicle or power generator during
operation of the engine, while also allowing for the production of electrical power
by the fuel cell during inoperation of the engine (i.e., when the engine is not running).
A fuel reformer, according to further concepts of the present disclosure, may
also
be utilized to regenerate or otherwise condition a combination emission abatement
assembly having a number of different devices for treating a number of different
exhaust effluents from the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. For example,
the fuel reformer is operated to generate and supply a reformate gas to an emission
abatement assembly having a NO
X trap and a soot particulate filter.
In such a case, the reformate gas from the fuel reformer is used to selectively
regenerate both the NO
X trap and the soot particulate filter.
A fuel reformer, according to additional concepts of the present disclosure,
may
be operated in different modes of operation to generate and supply different quantities
and/or compositions of reformate gas to different components. For example, in the
case of when the fuel reformer is operated to generate and supply reformate gas
to both a NO
X trap and a particulate filter, the fuel reformer may be
operated in one mode of operation to generate and supply a particular quantity
and/or composition of reformate gas to the NO
X trap, and then be operated
in a different mode of operation to generate and supply a different quantity and/or
composition of reformate gas to the particulate filter. A similar control scheme
may also be utilized in the case of use of the fuel reformer to generate and supply
reformate gas to both a fuel cell and an emission abatement device. In particular,
the fuel reformer may be operated in one mode of operation to generate and supply
a particular quantity and/or composition of reformate gas to the fuel cell, and
then be operated in a different mode of operation to generate and supply a different
quantity and/or composition of reformate gas to the emission abatement device.
The fuel reformer described herein may be embodied as any type of fuel reformer
such as, for example, a catalytic fuel reformer, a thermal fuel reformer, a steam
fuel reformer, or any other type of partial oxidation fuel reformer. The fuel reformer
of the present disclosure may also be embodied as a plasma fuel reformer. A plasma
fuel reformer uses plasma to convert a mixture of air and hydrocarbon fuel into
a reformate gas which is rich in, amongst other things, hydrogen gas and carbon
monoxide. Systems including plasma fuel reformers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,425,332 issued to Rabinovich et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,250 issued to Rabinovich
et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,784 issued to Bromberg et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,554
issued to Cohn, et al., the disclosures of each of which is hereby incorporated
by reference.
For purposes of the following description, the concepts of the present disclosure
will herein be described in regard to a plasma fuel reformer. However, as described
above, the fuel reformer of the present disclosure may be embodied as any type
of fuel reformer, and the claims attached hereto should not be interpreted to be
limited to any particular type of fuel reformer unless expressly defined therein.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an exemplary embodiment
of a plasma fuel reforming assembly
10 having a plasma fuel reformer
12
and a control unit
16. The plasma fuel reformer
12 reforms (i.e.,
converts) hydrocarbon fuels into a reformate gas that includes, amongst other things,
hydrogen and carbon monoxide. As such, the plasma fuel reformer
12, as described
further herein, may be used in the construction of an onboard fuel reforming system
of a vehicle or a stationary power generator. In such a way, the reformate gas
produced by the onboard plasma fuel reformer
12 may be utilized as fuel
or fuel additive in the operation of an internal combustion engine thereby increasing
the efficiency of the engine while also reducing emissions produced by the engine.
The reformate gas produced by the onboard plasma fuel reformer
12 may also
be utilized to regenerate or otherwise condition an emission abatement device associated
with the internal combustion engine. In addition, if the vehicle or the stationary
power generator is equipped with a fuel cell such as, for example, an auxiliary
power unit (APU), the reformate gas from the onboard plasma fuel reformer
12
may also be used as a fuel for the fuel cell.
As shown in FIG. 2, the plasma fuel reformer
12 includes a plasma-generating
assembly
42 and a reactor
44. The reactor
44 includes a reactor
housing
48 having a reaction chamber
50 defined therein. The plasma-generating
assembly
42 is secured to an upper portion of the reactor housing
48.
The plasma-generating assembly
42 includes an upper electrode
54
and a lower electrode
56. The electrodes
54,
56 are spaced
apart from one another so as to define an electrode gap
58 therebetween.
An insulator
60 electrically insulates the electrodes from one another.
The electrodes
54,
56 are electrically coupled to an electrical
power supply
36 (see FIG. 1) such that, when energized, an electrical current
is supplied to one of the electrodes thereby generating a plasma arc
62
across the electrode gap
58 (i.e., between the electrodes
54,
56).
A fuel input mechanism such as a fuel injector
38 injects a hydrocarbon
fuel
64 into the plasma arc
62. The fuel injector
38 may be
any type of fuel injection mechanism which injects a desired amount of fuel into
plasma-generating assembly
42. In certain configurations, it may be desirable
to atomize the fuel prior to, or during, injection of the fuel into the plasma-generating
assembly
42. Such fuel injector assemblies (i.e., injectors which atomize
the fuel) are commercially available.
As shown in FIG. 2, the plasma-generating assembly
42 has an annular air
chamber
72. Pressurized air is advanced into the air chamber
72 through
an air inlet
74 and is thereafter directed radially inwardly through the
electrode gap
58 so as to "bend" the plasma arc
62 inwardly. Such
bending of the plasma arc
62 ensures that the injected fuel
64 is
directed through the plasma arc
62. Such bending of the plasma arc
62
also reduces erosion of the electrodes
56,
58. Moreover, advancement
of air into the electrode gap
58 also produces a desired mixture of air
and fuel ("air/fuel mixture"). In particular, the plasma reformer
12 reforms
or otherwise processes the fuel in the form of a mixture of air and fuel. The air-to-fuel
ratio of the air/fuel mixture being reformed by the fuel reformer is controlled
via control of the fuel injector
38 and an air inlet valve
40. The
air inlet valve
40 may be embodied as any type of electronically-controlled
air valve. The air inlet valve
40 may be embodied as a discrete device,
as shown in FIG. 2, or may be integrated into the design of the plasma fuel reformer
12. In either case, the air inlet valve
40 controls the amount of
air that is introduced into the plasma-generating assembly
42 thereby controlling
the air-to-fuel ratio of the air/fuel mixture being processed by the plasma fuel
reformer
12.
The lower electrode
56 extends downwardly into the reactor housing
48.
As such, gas (either reformed or partially reformed) exiting the plasma arc
62
is advanced into the reaction chamber
50. A catalyst
78 may be positioned
in the reaction chamber
50. The catalyst
78 completes the fuel reforming
process, or otherwise treats the gas, prior to exit of the reformate gas through
a gas outlet
76. In particular, some or all of the gas exiting the plasma-generating
assembly
42 may only be partially reformed, and the catalyst
78 is
configured to complete the reforming process (i.e., catalyze a reaction which completes
the reforming process of the partially reformed gas exiting the plasma-generating
assembly
42). The catalyst
78 may be embodied as any type of catalyst
that is configured to catalyze such reactions. In one exemplary embodiment, the
catalyst
78 is embodied as substrate having a precious metal or other type
of catalytic material disposed thereon. Such a substrate may be constructed of
ceramic, metal, or other suitable material. The catalytic material may be, for
example, embodied as platinum, rhodium, palladium, including combinations thereof,
along with any other similar catalytic materials. As shall be discussed below in
greater detail, the plasma fuel reformer
12 may be embodied without the
catalyst
78.
As shown in FIG. 2, the plasma fuel reformer
12 has a temperature sensor
34 associated therewith. The temperature sensor
34 is used as a feedback
mechanism to determine the temperature of a desired structure of the plasma fuel
reformer
12 or the gas advancing therethrough. For example, the temperature
sensor
34 may be used to measure the temperature of the reformate gas being
produced by the plasma fuel reformer
12, the ambient temperature within
the reaction chamber
50, the temperature of the catalyst
78, etcetera.
The temperature sensor
34 may be located in any number of locations. In
particular, as shown in solid lines, the temperature sensor
34 may be positioned
within the reaction chamber
50 at location in operative contact with the
a structure (e.g., the catalyst
78 or the walls of the reaction chamber
50) or a substance (e.g., the gas in the reaction chamber
50). To
do so, the temperature sensor
34 may be positioned in physical contact with
the structure or substance, or may be positioned a predetermined distance away
from the structure or out of the flow of the substance, depending on the type and
configuration of the temperature sensor.
Alternatively, the temperature of the desired structure or substance
may be determined indirectly. In particular, as shown in phantom, the temperature
sensor
34 may be positioned so as to sense the temperature of the reformate
gas advancing through the reaction chamber
50 or a gas conduit
80
subsequent to being exhausted through the outlet
76. Such a temperature
reading may be utilized to calculate the temperature of another structure such
as, for example, the catalyst
78 or the reactor housing
48. Conversely,
the temperature sensor
34 may be positioned to sense the temperature of
the reactor housing
48 with such a temperature reading then being correlated
to the temperature of the reformate gas. In any such case, an indirect temperature
sensed by the temperature sensor
34 may be correlated to a desired temperature.
As shown in FIG. 1, the plasma fuel reformer
12 and its associated components
are under the control of the control unit
16. In particular, the temperature
sensor
34 is electrically coupled to the electronic control unit
16
via a signal line
18, the fuel injector
38 is electrically coupled
to the electronic control unit
16 via a signal line
20, the air inlet
valve
40 is electrically coupled to the electronic control unit
16
via a signal line
22, and the power supply
36 is electrically coupled
to the electronic control unit
16 via a signal line
24. Moreover,
as will herein be described in greater detail, a number of other components associated
with the plasma fuel reformer
12 may also be under the control of the control
unit
16, and, as a result, electrically coupled thereto. For example, a
flow diverter valve for selectively diverting a flow of reformate gas from the
plasma fuel reformer
12 between any number of components may be under the
control of the control unit
16. Similarly, a flow diverter valve for selectively
diverting a flow of exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine between any
number of components may also be under the control of the control unit
16.
Although the signal lines
18,
20,
22,
24 (and
any of the signal lines used to couple other devices to the control unit) are shown
schematically as a single line, it should be appreciated that the signal lines
may be configured as any type of signal carrying assembly which allows for the
transmission of electrical signals in either one or both directions between the
electronic control unit
16 and the corresponding component. For example,
any one or more of the signal lines
18,
20,
22,
24
(or any other signal line disclosed herein) may be embodied as a wiring harness
having a number of signal lines which transmit electrical signals between the electronic
control unit
16 and the corresponding component. It should be appreciated
that any number of other wiring configurations may also be used. For example, individual
signal wires may be used, or a system utilizing a signal multiplexer may be used
for the design of any one or more of the signal lines
18,
20,
22,
24 (or any other signal line). Moreover, the signal lines
18,
20,
22,
24 may be integrated such that a single harness or system is
utilized to electrically couple some or all of the components associated with the
plasma fuel reformer
12 to the electronic control unit
16.
The electronic control unit
16 is, in essence, the master computer responsible
for interpreting electrical signals sent by sensors associated with the plasma
fuel reformer
12 and for activating electronically-controlled components
associated with the plasma fuel reformer
12 in order to control the plasma
fuel reformer
12, the flow of reformate gas exiting therefrom, and, in some
cases, an exhaust gas flow from an internal combustion engine. For example, the
electronic control unit
16 of the present disclosure is operable to, amongst
many other things, determine the beginning and end of each injection cycle of fuel
into the plasma-generating assembly
42, calculate and control the amount
and ratio of air and fuel to be introduced into the plasma-generating assembly
42, determine the temperature of the reformer
12 or the reformate
gas, determine the power level to supply to the plasma fuel reformer
12,
determine which component (e.g., a NO
X trap, a particulate filter, or
a fuel cell) to supply the reformate gas to, determine the composition or quantity
of reformate gas to be generated and supplied to a particular component.
To do so, the electronic control unit
16 includes a number of electronic
components commonly associated with electronic units which are utilized in the
control of electromechanical systems. For example, the electronic control unit
16 may include, amongst other components customarily included in such devices,
a processor su
