US 12,435,686 B2
Systems and methods for the on-board production of hydrogen from ammonia for fueling an internal combustion engine that requires no fossil fuel promotor
James L. Wall, II, Concord, NC (US)
Assigned to First Ammonia Motors, Inc., Concord, NC (US)
Filed by First Ammonia Motors, Inc., New York, NY (US)
Filed on Jul. 8, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/766,604.
Application 18/766,604 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/241,321, filed on Sep. 1, 2023.
Application 18/241,321 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/986,265, filed on Nov. 14, 2022, granted, now 11,840,449, issued on Dec. 12, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/395,820, filed on Aug. 6, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0360804 A1, Oct. 31, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C01B 3/04 (2006.01); F02M 21/02 (2006.01); F02M 21/06 (2006.01); F02M 27/02 (2006.01)
CPC F02M 21/0227 (2013.01) [C01B 3/047 (2013.01); F02M 21/0206 (2013.01); F02M 21/06 (2013.01); F02M 27/02 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0277 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0811 (2013.01); C01B 2203/085 (2013.01); C01B 2203/1035 (2013.01); C01B 2203/142 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An on-board ammonia cracking system for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, the on-board ammonia cracking system comprising:
an ammonia tank containing liquid ammonia;
a pressure regulator receiving liquid ammonia from the ammonia tank, the pressure regulator outputting gaseous ammonia and residual liquid ammonia;
a heat exchange catalyst unit coupled to the ammonia tank, the heat exchange catalyst unit having an exhaust inlet, an exhaust outlet, an ammonia inlet, and a gas outlet, the exhaust inlet receiving exhaust from the internal combustion engine, and the ammonia inlet receiving gaseous ammonia from the pressure regulator via a first supply path;
an electric catalyst unit coupled in series to the heat exchange catalyst unit via only the gas outlet;
an injection system coupled to the internal combustion engine, the injection system receiving residual liquid ammonia from the pressure regulator via a second supply path; and
a heat exchange unit positioned between the electric catalyst unit and the injection system,
wherein the ammonia undergoes a cracking process in the heat exchange catalyst unit if the exhaust gas has a temperature sufficient to perform ammonia cracking,
wherein the ammonia exits the heat exchange catalyst unit and flows to the electric catalyst unit and undergoes the cracking process in the electric catalyst unit if the exhaust does not have a temperature sufficient to perform ammonia cracking,
wherein hydrogen resulting from ammonia cracking flows from the electric catalyst unit to the heat exchange unit,
wherein heat is transferred from the hydrogen to ammonia within the heat exchange unit, resulting in cooled hydrogen, and
wherein the injection system utilizes the cooled hydrogen as a co-fuel along with the residual liquid ammonia to power the internal combustion engine.