Daniel A Norton

US Patent:

20100140137, Jun 10, 2010

Filed:

Dec 10, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/331622

Inventors:

Gregg A. Deluga - Playa del Rey CA, US
Dan Hancu - Clifton Park NY, US
Jin Ki Hong - Cypress CA, US
Daniel G. Norton - Niskayuna NY, US
Rick B. Watson - Missouri City TX, US
Arturo Vazquez - Santa Fe Springs CA, US
Ramanathan Subramanian - Orange CA, US

International Classification:

C10G 11/00
B01J 21/04
B01J 23/60
B01J 23/46
B01J 23/42
B01J 23/656
B01J 23/63
B01J 19/00

US Classification:

208113, 502355, 502325, 502304, 502339, 502329, 502303, 422211, 422177

Abstract:

A reductant producing apparatus and method is provided, the apparatus includes a catalyst attached to an encasement. The encasement has a first and second intake formed therein that are fluidly coupled to the catalyst. The first intake configured to allow entry of a hydrocarbon fuel into the encasement. The second intake is configured to allow entry of oxygen into the encasement. The catalyst is configured to catalyze an autothermal reaction to convert a mixture into a plurality of reductants comprising a plurality of hydrocarbons having a hydrocarbon chain length that is less than a hydrocarbon chain length of hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon fuel. The mixture comprises the hydrocarbon fuel and the oxygen, and the mixture has a carbon-to-oxygen ratio that is greater than a one-to-one ratio.