US 11,982,240 B2
Ammonia fuelled engine
David M. Heaton, Peterborough (GB); and Mark J. Kennedy, Nottingham (GB)
Assigned to Perkins Engines Company Limited, Peterborough (GB)
Filed by Perkins Engines Company Limited, Peterborough (GB)
Filed on Apr. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/135,299.
Claims priority of application No. 2206313 (GB), filed on Apr. 29, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0349334 A1, Nov. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. F02M 31/18 (2006.01); F02D 19/06 (2006.01); F02M 21/02 (2006.01)
CPC F02D 19/0644 (2013.01) [F02D 19/0605 (2013.01); F02D 19/0671 (2013.01); F02M 21/0206 (2013.01); F02M 31/18 (2013.01); F01N 2240/02 (2013.01); F01N 2240/30 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An internal combustion engine assembly comprising a fuel reformer and a combustion chamber and a controller, wherein:
the fuel reformer comprises a first channel and a second channel, a portion of the second channel being in a spiral configuration with a portion of the first channel to facilitate heat exchange between the first channel and the second channel, wherein:
the first channel comprises a first reformer inlet, a catalyst selected to reform ammonia to hydrogen and nitrogen, and a first reformer outlet; and
the second channel comprises a second reformer inlet and a second reformer outlet; and
the fuel reformer is configured to:
(a) receive ammonia via the first reformer inlet;
(b) pass the ammonia over the catalyst; and
(c) output a first mixture comprising ammonia, hydrogen and nitrogen via the first reformer outlet, wherein the composition of the first mixture depends on a first reformer temperature of the first channel;
the combustion chamber comprises a first chamber inlet and a first chamber outlet; wherein the combustion chamber is configured to:
(a) receive via the first combustion chamber inlet the first mixture from the first reformer outlet;
(b) receive an oxidant;
(c) combust the first mixture in the oxidant to produce heat and a first product; and
(d) output the first product from the combustion chamber via the first chamber outlet;
the fuel reformer is further configured to receive the first product via the second reformer inlet such that the first reformer temperature of the first channel depends on a temperature of the first product in the second channel; and
the controller is configured to control operation of the internal combustion engine assembly such that engine load exceeds a load threshold.