A gas inerting system for an aircraft includes a fuel tank configured to contain a liquid fuel, a fuel vaporization system in fluid communication with the fuel tank and configured to receive the liquid fuel from the fuel tank, a source of air in fluid communication with the fuel vaporization system and configured to deliver air into the liquid fuel to produce the fuel vapor, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the source of air at a location upstream of the fuel vaporization system, and a catalytic oxidation unit in fluid communication with the fuel vaporization system. The heat exchanger is configured to cool the air from the air source. A fluid connection is configured to deliver the fuel vapor to the catalytic oxidation unit.

A gas inerting system for an aircraft includes a fuel tank configured to contain a liquid fuel, a fuel vaporization system in fluid communication with the fuel tank and configured to receive the liquid fuel from the fuel tank, a source of air in fluid communication with the fuel vaporization system and configured to deliver air into the liquid fuel to produce the fuel vapor, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the source of air at a location upstream of the fuel vaporization system, and a catalytic oxidation unit in fluid communication with the fuel vaporization system. The heat exchanger is configured to cool the air from the air source. A fluid connection is configured to deliver the fuel vapor to the catalytic oxidation unit.

The performance of an automotive gasoline fueled spark-ignited internal combustion engine (ICE) optionally operated with a dedicated exhaust gas recycle system is enhanced by reforming the fuel in the presence of injected water to increase the yield of hydrogen which permits higher compression ratios and suppresses engine knock associated with pre-ignition of the fuel. Reforming can occur (a) in the cylinder with the reaction of a fuel-rich mixture and steam from the water injected into the intake manifold of one or more dedicated exhaust gas recirculation cylinders; (b) in a catalytic reformer located upstream of the engine; (c) in a catalytic reformer located downstream of the engine that receives fuel and the exhaust gas stream from the dedicated exhaust gas recirculation cylinder(s), and returns cooled reformate to the intake manifold; and (d) in a catalytic reformer that receives fuel and the exhaust gas stream from the engine exhaust gas manifold, and delivers reformate to the intake manifold.

The performance of an automotive gasoline fueled spark-ignited internal combustion engine (ICE) optionally operated with a dedicated exhaust gas recycle system is enhanced by reforming the fuel in the presence of injected water to increase the yield of hydrogen which permits higher compression ratios and suppresses engine knock associated with pre-ignition of the fuel. Reforming can occur (a) in the cylinder with the reaction of a fuel-rich mixture and steam from the water injected into the intake manifold of one or more dedicated exhaust gas recirculation cylinders; (b) in a catalytic reformer located upstream of the engine; (c) in a catalytic reformer located downstream of the engine that receives fuel and the exhaust gas stream from the dedicated exhaust gas recirculation cylinder(s), and returns cooled reformate to the intake manifold; and (d) in a catalytic reformer that receives fuel and the exhaust gas stream from the engine exhaust gas manifold, and delivers reformate to the intake manifold.

An example engine for producing thrust includes: a fuel supply to supply a fuel; a chamber fluidly coupled to the fuel supply to receive the fuel; an induction heating assembly operatively coupled to the chamber to inductively energize the fuel in the chamber; and an exhaust nozzle coupled to the chamber to receive energized fuel from the chamber to produce thrust.

An example engine for producing thrust includes: a fuel supply to supply a fuel; a chamber fluidly coupled to the fuel supply to receive the fuel; an induction heating assembly operatively coupled to the chamber to inductively energize the fuel in the chamber; and an exhaust nozzle coupled to the chamber to receive energized fuel from the chamber to produce thrust.

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle, system, and method for on-board catalytic upgrading of hydrocarbon fuels. In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle may include, amongst other things, an internal combustion engine configured to provide motive force to the vehicle, an unreformed fuel subsystem, a reformed fuel subsystem, and a fuel system control architecture. The unreformed fuel subsystem may be structurally configured to transfer unreformed hydrocarbon fuel from the on-board point-of-sale fuel tank to the internal combustion engine. The reformed fuel subsystem may be structurally configured to reform hydrocarbon fuel from the on-board point-of-sale fuel tank and transfer reformed fuel to the internal combustion engine along a reformed fuel supply pathway separated from the unreformed fuel supply pathway. The fuel system control architecture may include a reformate flow control device and a cetane rating controller. The cetane rating controller and the reformate flow control device may cooperate to deliver an upgraded hydrocarbon fuel to a combustion zone of the internal combustion engine.

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle, system, and method for on-board catalytic upgrading of hydrocarbon fuels. In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle may include, amongst other things, an internal combustion engine configured to provide motive force to the vehicle, an unreformed fuel subsystem, a reformed fuel subsystem, and a fuel system control architecture. The unreformed fuel subsystem may be structurally configured to transfer unreformed hydrocarbon fuel from the on-board point-of-sale fuel tank to the internal combustion engine. The reformed fuel subsystem may be structurally configured to reform hydrocarbon fuel from the on-board point-of-sale fuel tank and transfer reformed fuel to the internal combustion engine along a reformed fuel supply pathway separated from the unreformed fuel supply pathway. The fuel system control architecture may include a reformate flow control device and a cetane rating controller. The cetane rating controller and the reformate flow control device may cooperate to deliver an upgraded hydrocarbon fuel to a combustion zone of the internal combustion engine.

An improved method and device are provided for forming and/or maintaining a percutaneous access pathway. The device generally comprises an access pathway and attachment device. The provided assembly substantially reduces the possibility of iatrogenic infection while accessing and/or re-accessing a body space.

An igniter apparatus which generates a high speed buoyancy induced vortex to funnel hydrogen and air from the surrounding onto the igniter core where an igniter core heats up to the auto ignition temperature by the exothermic catalytic oxidation of hydrogen on its surface. Water (vapor) is formed as the product, which inhibits the oxidation reaction, if not stripped away from the catalyst surface. The high velocity of the vortex ensures the stripping of the boundary layer of steam that is formed by the reaction, thus ensuring more active sites are available for hydrogen oxidation. The vortex is formed by channeling an upward draft into a vortex by guided fins. The upward draft is formed by a plate, which is also coated with a hydrogen recombination catalyst. The plate becomes hot by the same catalytic oxidation reaction in the presence of air containing hydrogen.