Daniel R Cohn

US Patent:

6560958, May 13, 2003

Filed:

Aug 23, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/379003

Inventors:

Leslie Bromberg - Sharon MA
Daniel R. Cohn - Chestnut Hill MA
Alexander Rabinovich - Swampscott MA

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

F01N 300

US Classification:

60275, 60286, 60295, 60301

Abstract:

Emission abatement system. The system includes a source of emissions and a catalyst for receiving the emissions. Suitable catalysts are absorber catalysts and selective catalytic reduction catalysts. A plasma fuel converter generates a reducing gas from a fuel source and is connected to deliver the reducing gas into contact with the absorber catalyst for regenerating the catalyst. A preferred reducing gas is a hydrogen rich gas and a preferred plasma fuel converter is a plasmatron. It is also preferred that the absorber catalyst be adapted for absorbing NO.

US Patent:

6655324, Dec 2, 2003

Filed:

Nov 14, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/990910

Inventors:

Daniel R. Cohn - Chestnut Hill MA
Leslie Bromberg - Sharon MA
Alexander Rabinovich - Swampscott MA
John B. Heywood - Newton MA

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

F02B 4310

US Classification:

123 1A, 123304, 123431, 12356811, 123DIG 12

Abstract:

A hydrogen enhanced gasoline engine system using high compression ratio is optimized to minimize NOx emissions, exhaust aftertreatment catalyst requirements, hydrogen requirements, engine efficiency and cost. In one mode of operation the engine is operated very lean (equivalence ratio Ã=0. 4 to 0. 7) at lower levels of power. Very lean operation reduces NOx to very low levels. A control system is used to increase equivalence ratio at increased torque or power requirements while avoiding the knock that would be produced by high compression ratio operation. The increased equivalence ratio reduces the amount of hydrogen required to extend the lean limit in order to avoid misfire and increases torque and power. The engine may be naturally aspirated, turbocharged, or supercharged.

US Patent:

6718753, Apr 13, 2004

Filed:

Jul 17, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/197391

Inventors:

Leslie Bromberg - Sharon MA
Daniel R. Cohn - Chestnut Hill MA
Alexander Rabinovich - Swampscott MA

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

F01N 300

US Classification:

60275

Abstract:

Emission abatement system. The system includes a source of emissions and a catalyst for receiving the emissions. Suitable catalysts are absorber catalysts and selective catalytic reduction catalysts. A plasma fuel converter generates a reducing gas from a fuel source and is connected to deliver the reducing gas into contact with the absorber catalyst for regenerating the catalyst. A preferred reducing gas is a hydrogen rich gas and a preferred plasma fuel converter is a plasmatron. It is also preferred that the absorber catalyst be adapted for absorbing NO.

US Patent:

6737604, May 18, 2004

Filed:

Aug 17, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/932858

Inventors:

Jeffrey E. Surma - Kennewick WA
Daniel R. Cohn - Chestnut Hill MA

Assignee:

Integrated Environmental Technologies, LLC - Richland WA

International Classification:

B23K 1000

US Classification:

21912137, 21912148, 110346

Abstract:

The system includes a source of solid, liquid or sludge waste and a source of waste gas. A waste conversion device receives the solid, liquid or sludge waste and converts it into a hydrogen-rich gas. An internal combustion engine receives as fuel the hydrogen-rich gas and the waste gas and burns them to produce mechanical work. A generator is operatively connected to the internal combustion engine to generate electricity. Some of the generated electricity may be used to power the waste conversion device. The system allows for high-efficiency, lean-burn operation while reducing the amount of waste converted to hydrogen-rich gas.

US Patent:

6793899, Sep 21, 2004

Filed:

Sep 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/960046

Inventors:

Leslie Bromberg - Sharon MA
Daniel R. Cohn - Chestnut Hill MA
Alexander Rabinovich - Swampscott MA
Nikolai Alexeev - Moscow, RU

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

B01J 804

US Classification:

422188, 422189, 422190, 422184, 422198, 422211, 481279, 48DIG 8, 429 17, 429 19

Abstract:

A plasmatron-catalyst system. The system generates hydrogen-rich gas and comprises a plasmatron and at least one catalyst for receiving an output from the plasmatron to produce hydrogen-rich gas. In a preferred embodiment, the plasmatron receives as an input air, fuel and water/steam for use in the reforming process. The system increases the hydrogen yield and decreases the amount of carbon monoxide.

US Patent:

6881386, Apr 19, 2005

Filed:

May 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/158615

Inventors:

Alexander Rabinovich - Swampscott MA, US
Nikolai Alexeev - Moscow, RU
Leslie Bromberg - Sharon MA, US
Daniel R. Cohn - Chestnut Hill MA, US
Andrei Samokhin - Moscow, RU

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

B01J019/08

US Classification:

42218604, 42218622, 42218625, 42218628, 123 3

Abstract:

A novel apparatus and method is disclosed for a plasmatron fuel converter (“plasmatron”) that efficiently uses electrical energy to produce hydrogen rich gas. The volume and shape of the plasma discharge is controlled by a fluid flow established in a plasma discharge volume. A plasmatron according to this invention produces a substantially large effective plasma discharge volume allowing for substantially greater volumetric efficiency in the initiation of chemical reactions within a volume of bulk fluid reactant flowing through the plasmatron.

US Patent:

7028644, Apr 18, 2006

Filed:

Oct 2, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/677975

Inventors:

Daniel R. Cohn - Chestnut Hill MA, US
Leslie Bromberg - Sharon MA, US
Alexander Rabinovich - Swampscott MA, US
John B. Heywood - Newton MA, US

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

F02B 75/12

US Classification:

123 1A, 12356811, 12340621

Abstract:

A hydrogen enhanced engine system using high compression ratio is optimized to minimize NOx emissions, exhaust aftertreatment catalyst requirements, hydrogen requirements, engine efficiency and cost. In one mode of operation the engine is operated very lean (equivalence ratio φ=0. 4 to 0. 7) at lower levels of power. Very lean operation reduces NOx to very low levels. A control system is used to increase equivalence ratio at increased torque or power requirements while avoiding the knock that would be produced by high compression ratio operation. The increased equivalence ratio reduces the amount of hydrogen required to extend the lean limit in order to avoid misfire and increases torque and power. The engine may be naturally aspirated, turbocharged, or supercharged.

US Patent:

7225787, Jun 5, 2007

Filed:

Apr 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/100026

Inventors:

Leslie Bromberg - Sharon MA, US
Daniel R. Cohn - Cambridge MA, US
John B. Heywood - Newton MA, US

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambirdge MA

International Classification:

F02B 77/04

US Classification:

123198A

Abstract:

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.