Ford Motor Company Limited

Joseph T Kummer

Haren S Gandhi

Mordecai Shelef

Henryk K Stepien

Hsien C Yao

Djong-Gie Oei

Halina S Wroblowa

Matthew A Dzieciuch

A porous or nonporous hydrophilic, insoluble electrolyte allows a reducing condition to be produced at a negative electrode from a low content of moisture in the electrolyte and reduces oxidants by catalyzed production of water. A constant current with a low voltage is applied between a positive catalyzed electrode and a negative catalyzed electrode, each separated by a hydrophilic, insoluble, cationic exchange electrolyte therebetween containing moisture. The cell may consist of corrugated sheets of electrolyte, opposite sides of which may carry the catalytic electrode material; air to be treated is moved across the negative electrode only.

Electrochemical process and apparatus for reducing oxidants of vehicle

This specification teaches a method for treatment of exhaust gases which if left untreated can generate, upon full oxidation, temperatures in a range of from about 1600.degree. F. to about 2700.degree. F. over an oxidizing catalyst. The method has the following steps. An internal combustion engine (10) is operated under conditions in which there is insufficient oxygen to oxide all the hydrocarbon present in the fuel. The exhaust gases so-developed are passed into an exhaust manifold (12) and then through an exhaust pipe (14) to an oxidation catalyst (16) whose primary oxidation catalyst is palladium. An air pump (20) generates a supply of oxygen which can supply up to about 80% of the oxygen required to combust fully all of the hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide contained in the exhaust gases when the internal combustion engine is operating in a wide-open throttle condition. A portion of the generated oxygen supply is directed by means of an air line (24) into the exhaust manifold where the oxygen oxidizes any of the hydrocarbons and oxidizes a portion of the carbon monoxide. A remaining portion of the generated oxygen supply is directed by an air line (26) into the exhaust gases in the exhaust pipe just prior to passing over the oxidation catalyst. When the internal combustion engine is operated at wide-open throttle conditions, all but a small amount of the carbon monoxide in the exhaust gases is fully oxidized and all of the oxides of nitrogen are reduced to nitrogen at a time when the internal combustion engine is producing a very large amount of oxides of nitrogen.

Method for treatment of exhaust gases

A rechargeable cell is disclosed which is characterized in the following manner. A positive electrode is formed from a manganese oxide electrode material. This manganese oxide electrode material contains a heavy metal selected from the group comprising lead, bismuth, and mixtures of lead and bismuth. The cell also contains a negative electrode of zinc. A separator is provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. An alkaline electrolyte consisting essentially of an alcohol and an alkaline hydroxide is also contained in the rechargeable cell in contact with both the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

Rechargeable zinc/manganese dioxide cell

A chemically regenerable redox fuel cell is disclosed. This fuel cell is one in which the oxidant is oxygen and the fuel is hydrogen. A catholyte solution is used. The catholyte solution is one which is reoxidized from a reduced state to an oxidized state by direct exposure of the catholyte solution to oxygen. An anolyte solution is also used. This anolyte solution is one which is reduced from an oxidized state to a reduced state by direct exposure of the catholyte solution to hydrogen. Structure is provided for containing in separate containers the catholyte solution and the anolyte solution, and for providing oxygen to the catholyte solution and hydrogen to the anolyte solution. A suitable cationic exchange membrane is housed in a housing and provided with volumes on opposite sides of the membrane for the catholyte solution and anolyte solution so that the necessary exchanges may take place to form the redox cell. All necessary plumbing and electrical systems are provided to supply the catholyte and anolyte solutions to the cationic exchange membrane and to obtain from the exchange which takes place at the membrane the electrical potential generated.

Chemically regenerable redox fuel cell and method of operating the same

A catalyst system and method of making the same is taught for treating exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. A catalyst system includes a substrate and a washcoat on the substrate. The washcoat is formed of zirconia. A catalyst is placed on the washcoat consisting of rhodium metal or rhodium metal with another catalyst metal. By using zirconia as a washcoat, the rhodium is not dissolved into the washcoat during periods when the catalyst system is subjected to high temperature oxidizing conditions, as is the case when a gamma alumina washcoat is used.

Catalyst of rhodium on zirconia

A fuel cell construction of economical design is disclosed. In the construction, a honeycomb separator is used to define a plurality of compartments which are separated from one another by a porous cell wall. Electrolyte is provided in the cell walls while alternate compartments of the cell contain either an oxidant or a fuel for the fuel cell. The cells contain suitable electrochemical catalyst materials on the walls thereof and electrode structures in the cells so that the oxidation of the fuel may take place in the electrolyte found in the cell walls in order to generate current for the cell. In accordance with preferred teachings, the separator is an extruded ceramic material such as used for the substrate of automotive catalytic converters.

Fuel cell

A catalyst system is taught for treating exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. The catalyst system includes a substrate and a wash coat on the substrate. The wash coat is formed substantially of alpha phase alumina. A catalyst is placed on the wash coat consisting of rhodium metal or rhodium metal with another catalyst metal. By using alpha phase alumina as the wash coat, the rhodium is not dissolved into the wash coat during periods when the catalyst system is subjected to high temperature oxidizing conditions.

Catalyst of rhodium on alpha alumina-coated substrate

A high power, low total energy storage battery is disclosed. The basic portion of the battery is a honeycomb separator which defines a plurality of rather small compartments. Alternate compartments throughout the separator are made to be anode compartments or cathode compartments by inserting electrodes, electrolyte and electrochemical materials in the various compartments. A preferred honeycomb separator is the honeycomb structure used as a support for an automotive exhaust catalyst.

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Ypsilanti, MI, United States of America

Joseph T Kummer