An internal combustion engine including a fuel reformation cylinder for reforming a fuel and an output cylinder for yielding an engine power by combusting a fuel or a reformed fuel, wherein at least a part of the surfaces constituting a volume-variable reaction chamber of the fuel reformation cylinder has a highly heat-insulative material.

An internal combustion engine including a fuel reformation cylinder for reforming a fuel and an output cylinder for yielding an engine power by combusting a fuel or a reformed fuel, wherein at least a part of the surfaces constituting a volume-variable reaction chamber of the fuel reformation cylinder has a highly heat-insulative material.

An internal combustion engine in which a fuel reforming operation in a fuel reformation cylinder is not executed and a warming operation for raising the temperature of the fuel reformation cylinder is executed, when a gas temperature of a fuel reformation chamber at a time point when a piston in the fuel reformation cylinder reaches a compression top dead point is estimated to fall short of a reforming operation allowable lower limit gas temperature. For example, EGR gas is introduced to the fuel reformation chamber without cooling the EGR gas. Further, during a predetermined period from the expansion stroke to an exhaust stroke of an output cylinder, exhaust gas warming fuel is supplied to a combustion chamber. Further, the fuel is combusted in the fuel reformation chamber.

An internal combustion engine in which a fuel reforming operation in a fuel reformation cylinder is not executed and a warming operation for raising the temperature of the fuel reformation cylinder is executed, when a gas temperature of a fuel reformation chamber at a time point when a piston in the fuel reformation cylinder reaches a compression top dead point is estimated to fall short of a reforming operation allowable lower limit gas temperature. For example, EGR gas is introduced to the fuel reformation chamber without cooling the EGR gas. Further, during a predetermined period from the expansion stroke to an exhaust stroke of an output cylinder, exhaust gas warming fuel is supplied to a combustion chamber. Further, the fuel is combusted in the fuel reformation chamber.

A control device to be applied to an internal combustion engine having a fuel reformation cylinder and an output cylinder, wherein the compression end gas temperature of the fuel reformation cylinder is adjusted by changing an EGR gas amount, an effective compression ratio, or a polytropic number according to an equivalence ratio in the fuel reformation cylinder so as to achieve a target concentration of a specific gas component in reformed fuel generated in the fuel reformation cylinder. The target concentration is defined according to a required engine power.

A control device to be applied to an internal combustion engine having a fuel reformation cylinder and an output cylinder, wherein the compression end gas temperature of the fuel reformation cylinder is adjusted by changing an EGR gas amount, an effective compression ratio, or a polytropic number according to an equivalence ratio in the fuel reformation cylinder so as to achieve a target concentration of a specific gas component in reformed fuel generated in the fuel reformation cylinder. The target concentration is defined according to a required engine power.

Fuel management system for enhanced operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder. It is preferred that the direct injection occur after the inlet valve is closed. It is also preferred that stoichiometric operation with a three way catalyst be used to minimize emissions. In addition, it is also preferred that the anti-knock agents have a heat of vaporization per unit of combustion energy that is at least three times that of gasoline.

Fuel management system for enhanced operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder. It is preferred that the direct injection occur after the inlet valve is closed. It is also preferred that stoichiometric operation with a three way catalyst be used to minimize emissions. In addition, it is also preferred that the anti-knock agents have a heat of vaporization per unit of combustion energy that is at least three times that of gasoline.

A first engine fuel, for example diesel fuel, is reformed (preferably via steam reforming) to produce syngas for use as a second engine fuel, with the fuels then both being used in an internal combustion engine to perform Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI). The syngas is produced and supplied to the engine as a supercritical fluid, thereby avoiding the pumping losses that would occur if syngas was pressurized for supply/injection. The reforming is done by a reformer which is provided as a unit with the engine (e.g., both the engine and reformer are onboard a vehicle), thereby effectively allowing use of a single fuel for RCCI engine operation.

A first engine fuel, for example diesel fuel, is reformed (preferably via steam reforming) to produce syngas for use as a second engine fuel, with the fuels then both being used in an internal combustion engine to perform Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI). The syngas is produced and supplied to the engine as a supercritical fluid, thereby avoiding the pumping losses that would occur if syngas was pressurized for supply/injection. The reforming is done by a reformer which is provided as a unit with the engine (e.g., both the engine and reformer are onboard a vehicle), thereby effectively allowing use of a single fuel for RCCI engine operation.