An engine system includes an engine configured to combust liquid natural gas and generate an exhaust gas comprising methane; a catalytic reactor coupled downstream of the engine and configured to convert methane into a product through one or more of oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction and steam methane reforming (SMR) reaction; and a recirculation loop configured to recirculate at least a part of the product back to the engine.

A fuel reformer for producing a steam reforming reaction between fuel and water on a reforming catalyst includes a fuel injection part that injects and supplies fuel into the reforming catalyst, a temperature measurement part that measures a temperature of the reforming catalyst, and a determination part that determines whether a process for recovering the reforming catalyst is necessary. The determination by the determination part is made based on a temperature change of the reforming catalyst when the steam reforming reaction is produced.

Methods and systems are provided for controlling the temperature and ratio of gases within a gas mixing tank reservoir and selectively charging/discharging gases from the reservoir to one or both of an intake system or an exhaust system. In one example, a method (or system) may include storing exhaust gas and/or compressed intake air into a gas mixing reservoir, and increasing or decreasing flow of coolant to the reservoir based on engine operating conditions. The stored gases may be discharged to an intake system and/or an exhaust system based on requests from a controller, and coolant flow to the reservoir may be adjusted based on the composition of the gases stored within the reservoir.

An internal combustion engine assembly is provided with a fuel tank for fuel including ethanol, and a reformer for steam reforming of ethanol that is with an outlet connected to a buffer tank. A first reformer supply duct extends from the fuel tank to the reformer via a fuel evaporator that is in heat exchanging contact with the exhaust gases, for supplying ethanol vapor to the reformer. A second reformer supply duct extends from a water reservoir to the reformer via a water evaporator that is in heat exchanging contact with the exhaust gases. The reformer is in heat exchanging contact with the catalytic converter and is adapted for reforming ethanol and water into syngas including carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and for supplying the syngas via the outlet to the buffer tank. The reformer and the catalytic converter may form an integrated unit.

A fuel reforming system includes a fuel injection device capable of injecting fuel into an EGR passage, a reforming catalyst provided in the EGR passage, an oxidation catalyst provided in the vicinity of the reforming catalyst in the EGR, and an air supply device that supplies air to the EGR passage. When clogging occurs in the reforming catalyst and a temperature of the reforming catalyst is less than a first temperature, air is supplied to the EGR passage by the air supply device, and fuel is injected by the fuel injection device. When clogging occurs in the reforming catalyst and the temperature of the reforming catalyst is greater than or equal to the first temperature, air is supplied to the EGR passage by the air supply device, and fuel injection of the fuel injection device is stopped.

A fuel reforming system includes a fuel injection device capable of injecting fuel into an EGR passage, a reforming catalyst provided in the EGR passage, an oxidation catalyst provided in the vicinity of the reforming catalyst in the EGR, and an air supply device that supplies air to the EGR passage. When clogging occurs in the reforming catalyst and a temperature of the reforming catalyst is less than a first temperature, air is supplied to the EGR passage by the air supply device, and fuel is injected by the fuel injection device. When clogging occurs in the reforming catalyst and the temperature of the reforming catalyst is greater than or equal to the first temperature, air is supplied to the EGR passage by the air supply device, and fuel injection of the fuel injection device is stopped.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for increasing the level of hydrogen produced in an exhaust gas recirculation pathway within an internal combustion engine. A hydrocarbon water gas shift reformer is positioned in series with a water gas shift reformer within the exhaust gas recirculation pathway to improve the yield of hydrogen and to improve the relative efficiency of both catalytic procedures.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for increasing the level of hydrogen produced in an exhaust gas recirculation pathway within an internal combustion engine. A hydrocarbon water gas shift reformer is positioned in series with a water gas shift reformer within the exhaust gas recirculation pathway to improve the yield of hydrogen and to improve the relative efficiency of both catalytic procedures.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an engine with reforming cylinders which are fuel reforming devices capable of supplying a reformed fuel according to the outputs of outputting cylinders. The engine is provided with the outputting cylinders for burning the fuel and the reforming cylinders which are the fuel reforming devices for reforming the fuel through the reciprocating motions of pistons. The amount of reformed fuel supplied to all the outputting cylinders is changed according to the outputs of the outputting cylinders while maintaining the amount of supplied fuel and the amount of suctioned gas, which are supplied into one reforming cylinder.

A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that includes an EGR channel and an EGR valve is configured, when the internal combustion engine is in a warm-up process and when an intake air flow rate that is a flow rate of air supplied to the internal combustion engine main body is less than or equal to a predetermined value, to open the EGR valve with a minute opening degree that is an opening degree smaller than a minimum opening degree of the EGR valve with which a condensed water in an exhaust-channel-side portion that is a portion of the EGR channel on a side closer to the exhaust channel relative to the EGR valve flows into an intake-channel-side portion that is a portion of the EGR channel on a side closer to the intake channel relative to the EGR valve.