Abstract:
A portable on-demand hydrogen supplemental system is provided for producing hydrogen gas and injecting the hydrogen gas into the air intake of internal combustion engines. Hydrogen and oxygen is produced by an electrolyzer from nonelectrolyte water in a nonelectrolyte water tank. The hydrogen gas is passed through a hydrogen gas collector. Nonelectrolyte water mixed with the hydrogen gas in the hydrogen gas collector is passed back thru the tank for distribution and water preservation. The system can be powered by the vehicles alternator, a stand-alone battery, waste heat or solar energy. The system utilizes an an onboard diagnostic (OBD) interface in communication with the vehicle&#39;s OBD terminal, to regulate power to the system so that hydrogen production for the engine only occurs when the engine is running. The hydrogen gas is produced it is immediately consumed by the engine. No hydrogen is stored on, in or around the vehicle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/842,102, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/224,338, filed Sep. 2, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,449,736; which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/790,398, filed May 28, 2010; which is a non-provisional of application Ser. No. 61/313,919, filed Mar. 15, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to hydrogen generation devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable hydrogen supplemental system that can be used with internal combustion engines for increased fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    There are a number of devices on the market that create HHO gas, otherwise known as Brown&#39;s gas, which is used as a supplement to gasoline and diesel engines. HHO gas consists of two parts hydrogen to one part oxygen. These devices typically comprise an electrolyzer which decomposes water into hydrogen and oxygen. An example is U.S. Pat. No. 3,368,696. The electrolyzer typically uses an electrolyte, most notably KOH, Potassium hydroxide, or baking soda. A voltage is placed across the device to produce the HHO gas. The main problem with HHO systems is that they produce hydrogen and oxygen in a combined gas stream. The hydrogen and oxygen gases are not generally separated from each other. In the case of modern gasoline powered vehicles, this extra oxygen is detected by the vehicle&#39;s oxygen sensors which communicate this extra oxygen level to an on-board computer, namely an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) of the vehicle. When the ECU detects this extra oxygen, it is a signal that the engine is running lean and the ECU adds more gasoline to the engine. This also negates most of the fuel efficiency gains. Also, the energy required to produce the hydrogen can create a substantial load on the electrical system of the vehicle if not regulated properly. Similar to running the air conditioner in any vehicle, the additional electrical load causes the miles per gallons to be reduced. Even though the hydrogen typically boosts the efficiency and miles per gallon of the vehicle, the additional electrical load on the vehicle to create the hydrogen is usually great enough to minimize or in many cases negate most or all of mileage gains of the vehicle, depending upon the vehicle&#39;s alternator output. 
         [0006]    Exhaust emissions are becoming an issue due to environmental concerns. Internal combustion engines are inherently inefficient. In an internal combustion engine, 100% of the fuel that goes into the combustion chamber is not burned during the combustion process for neither gasoline nor diesel engines. The exhaust for all internal combustion engines includes carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen. For gasoline engines, a catalytic converter is used to convert some of the toxic by-products of the combustion to less toxic substances by way of catalysed chemical reactions. The combustion process in diesel engines is different from that of gasoline engines. Gasoline engines use a spark plug to initiate the combustion of gasoline whereas diesel engines use compression to initiate the combustion of the diesel fuel. Because of the difference in the combustion process of diesel engines, the exhaust from diesel engines also contains a mixture of gases and very small particles that can create a health hazard when not properly controlled. Diesel particulate matter is a part of a complex mixture that makes up diesel exhaust. 
         [0007]    Diesel exhaust is composed of two phases either gas or particle and both phases contribute to the risk. The gas phase is composed of many of the urban hazardous air pollutants, such as acetaldehyde, acrolein, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The particle phase also has many different types of particles that can be classified by size or composition. The size of diesel particulates that are of greatest health concern are those that are in the categories of fine, and ultrafine particles. The composition of these fine and ultrafine particles may be composed of elemental carbon with adsorbed compounds such as organic compounds, sulfate, nitrate, metals and other trace elements. Diesel exhaust is emitted from a broad range of diesel engines; the on-road diesel engines of trucks, buses and cars and the off-road diesel engines that include locomotives, marine vessels and heavy duty equipment. 
         [0008]    The current technology to reduce particulate matter is either particulate exhaust filters or exhaust systems that attempt to burn the particulate matter once it reaches the exhaust. The use of exhaust filters may require active monitoring to determine whether the exhaust filters have reached their maximum capacity. Further, the exhaust systems that burn the particulate matter are typically complex and expensive system. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention relates to a portable and compact, on-demand hydrogen supplemental system for producing hydrogen gas and injecting the hydrogen gas into the air intake of internal combustion engines, for vehicles and other applications. Hydrogen and oxygen is produced by an electrolyzer at low temperatures and pressure from nonelectrolyte water in a nonelectrolyte water tank. The hydrogen gas is passed through a hydrogen gas collector. Nonelectrolyte water mixed with the hydrogen gas in the hydrogen gas collector is passed back through the nonelectrolyte water tank for distribution and water preservation. Nonelectrolyte water mixed with the oxygen gas produced by the electrolyzer is also passed back through the nonelectrolyte water tank. The hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas travel in separate directions, therefore the gases are kept separate. In the case of gasoline or diesel engines, the hydrogen gas is directed to the air intake of the engine while the oxygen gas is returned to the nonelectrolyte water tank to be vented to the atmosphere. The system can be powered by the vehicles alternator, a standalone battery, waste heat or solar energy. The system utilizes an engine sensor or an onboard diagnostic (OBD) interface in communication with the vehicle&#39;s OBD terminal, to regulate power to the system and therefore hydrogen production for the engine only occurs when the engine is running. Therefore, as the hydrogen gas is produced it is immediately consumed by the engine. No hydrogen is stored on, in or around the vehicle. 
         [0010]    Particulate matter emissions can be reduced to nearly zero when the proper amount of hydrogen is employed to burn the fuel more efficiently in the combustion chamber. Utilizing this methodology, particulate matter reduction or elimination can be accomplished with both old and new diesel engines with the use of hydrogen. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The foregoing and a better understanding of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of example embodiments and the claims when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, all forming a part of the disclosure of this invention. While the foregoing and following written and illustrated disclosure focuses on disclosing example embodiments of the invention, it should be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and the invention is not limited thereto, wherein in the following brief description of the drawings: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a detailed drawing of a front view of a portable hydrogen supplemental system showing a water tank and other components of an interior housing design according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a detailed drawing of a bottom side view of the portable hydrogen supplemental system according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a detailed drawing of a rear side view of the portable hydrogen supplemental system according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a sub-housing assembly, housing the control circuit and other electrical components of the portable hydrogen supplemental system, according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the operation and details of a PEM electrolyzer according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 6A-B  are diagrams of an embodiment of a float assembly of a water tank of the portable hydrogen supplemental system, according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a view of the portable hydrogen supplemental system showing an embodiment of a hydrogen gas collector, according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 8A-D  are diagrams illustrating the operation and details of the hydrogen gas collector of  FIG. 7 , according to the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a schematic showing a portable hydrogen supplemental system installed in a typical vehicle according to the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a diagram of an embodiment of an internal combustion engine receiving hydrogen from the portable hydrogen supplemental system, according to the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a diagram of an embodiment of a control circuit of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    The present invention as will be described in greater detail below provides an apparatus, method and system, particularly, for example, a hydrogen supplemental system used to increase the fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions for internal combustion engines. The present invention provides various embodiments as described below. However it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but could extend to other embodiments as would be known or as would become known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0024]    Various components of a portable hydrogen supplemental system  1  are discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 . The present invention as shown in  FIG. 1  provides the portable hydrogen supplemental system  1  which includes a housing unit  2  as outlined via the dashed line shown, that can be secured in the trunk or other flat surface of a vehicle by mounting brackets and fastening units. Inside the housing unit  2  are an electrolyzer  5  and a nonelectrolyte water tank  6  positioned above the electrolyzer  5 . The nonelectrolyte water tank  6  is configured to receive nonelectrolyte water  9  therein from an external water source (not shown) via an external water supply connector  10 , for supplying the nonelectrolyte water  9  to the electrolyzer  5 . The nonelectrolyte water tank  6  is arranged above the electrolyzer  5 , in such a manner as to supply the nonelectrolyte water  9  to the electrolyzer  5  by gravity. The nonelectrolyte water tank  6  is supported in the housing unit  2  above the electrolyzer  5  by support  3 . The housing unit  2  further includes a separate sub-housing assembly  4  for housing electrical components of the portable hydrogen supplemental system  1 . The housing unit  2  is designed to be readily removable from the vehicle. 
         [0025]    The nonelectrolyte water tank  6  includes a cover  11  covering a top surface of the nonelectrolyte water tank  6 , the cover  11  including a fill spout  12  and spout cover  12   a  at a top portion thereof for receiving nonelectrolyte water  9  in the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  and filling the nonelectrolyte water tank  6 , and a water supply fitting  13  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) positioned on a rear side of the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  connected to a tube or other supply means  14  that is in turn connected to a water inlet fitting  15  on a pump device  16  for pumping the nonelectrolyte water  9  into the electrolyzer  5 . It should be noted that the pump device  16  is provided to maintain a predetermined water pressure of the nonelectrolyte water  9  being supplied to the electrolyzer  5 . However, if the water pressure is not an issue, the pump device  16  is an optional element. Nonelectrolyte water  9  is then supplied to the electrolyzer  5  by a tube or other supply  18  connected to the electrolyzer  5  via a connector means  20 . The electrolyzer  5  decomposes nonelectrolyte water  9  into hydrogen gas H 2  and oxygen gas O 2  when received from the nonelectrolyte water tank  6 . The electrolyzer  5  also includes a hydrogen gas outlet fitting  22  (as depicted in  FIG. 2 ) connected via tubes or additional supply means  23  and a fitting  24 , to a hydrogen gas collector  25  formed at a rear side of the nonelectrolyte water tank  6 . Details of the hydrogen gas collector  25  will be discussed below with reference to FIGS.  7  and  8 A- 8 D. Hydrogen gas collected within the hydrogen gas collector  25  is disbursed to the internal combustion engine (i.e., a diesel engine) via a hydrogen outlet fitting  26  and a supply means or other tubing  27 , to a hydrogen outlet  28  disposed at a perimeter of the portable hydrogen supplemental system  1 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment, the hydrogen outlet  28  may be formed below the pump device  16 . Oxygen gas and water mixture generated from the electrolyzer  5  is sent to the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  via an oxygen outlet fitting  29  of the electrolyzer  5  and a supply means or other tubing  30  to a tank fitting  30   a  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0026]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  further includes a float assembly  31  configured to perform a floating operation indicative of a level of the nonelectrolyte water  9  within the nonelectrolyte water tank  6 . Details of the operation of the float assembly  31  will be discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 6A and 6B . A water level sensor  32  is also provided at a bottom surface of the nonelectrolyte water tank  6 , and is configured to magnetically communicate with the float assembly  31 , to determine the level of the nonelectrolyte water  9 . A temperature sensor may also be provided. The temperature sensor may be mounted within the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  or any suitable location within the housing  2  and be configured to sense a temperature of the nonelectrolyte water  9 . A heater may further be provided along a surface of the electrolyzer  5 , mounted to a sub-housing assembly or any other suitable location within the housing  2 , and configured to heat the nonelectrolyte water  9  when it is detected via the temperature sensor that the nonelectrolyte water  9  has dropped below a predetermined temperature (e.g., 32 degrees). The nonelectrolyte water tank  6  may also include a tank vent port (not shown) for releasing oxygen gas within the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  via a tube or other venting means (e.g. in the fill spout cover  12   a,  for example. 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 4 , a main power board  33  is disposed beneath the electrolyzer  5  in the separate sub-housing assembly  4 , for example, of the system  1  and configured to supply power to the system  1  using power received via power terminals  36  and  37  connected to the main power board  33  via negative and positive electrical wiring  38  and  39 . Additional connectors  40   a  and  40   b  are provided for connecting other electrical components of the system  1  thereto (e.g., an on-board diagnostic (OBD) interface). Further, power terminals  36  and  37  are connected to a vehicle battery for supplying power to the system  1 . The sub-housing assembly  4  includes through-holes  41  for dissipating heat and cooling components of the main power board  33 . An optional heat sink may also be provided on the main power board  33  for dissipating heat and cooling components of the main power board  33 . Optional support holes  42  are also provided and configured to receive fastening units (e.g., screws) therein for fastening the sub-housing assembly  4  to the housing unit  2  (i.e., the main housing unit). 
         [0028]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the electrolyzer  5  is operated in reverse of a fuel cell (which is commonly known to produce electricity) to produce hydrogen and oxygen gases. Thus, the electrolyzer  5  essentially operates to decompose nonelectrolyte water  9  into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas and is hereinafter referred to as an electrolyzer  5 . Nonelectrolyte water  9  fills the electrolyzer  5  from the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  and when a voltage, having positive and negative terminals, is placed across the electrolyzer  5  supplied from the main power board  33 , hydrogen and oxygen gases are produced, at different outlets of the electrolyzer  5 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , during operation of the electrolyzer  5 , an oxygen gas and water mixture is generated in the electrolyzer  5  and released from the oxygen gas outlet fitting  29 , through the supply means  30  and into the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  by way of tank fitting  30   a.  Further, hydrogen gas is generated in the electrolyzer  5  and supplied to the hydrogen gas collector  25 . A small amount of nonelectrolyte water  9  will exit from the hydrogen gas outlet fitting  22  as the hydrogen gas is produced. The hydrogen gas collector  25  is configured to collect the hydrogen gas and the nonelectrolyte water  9  outputted from the electrolyzer  5 . Since the oxygen gas and water mixture is released through the supply means  30  into the nonelectrolyte water tank  6 , any nonelectrolyte water  9  of the oxygen gas and water mixture is returned back to the nonelectrolyte water tank  6 . Further, any nonelectrolyte water  9  exiting from the hydrogen gas outlet fitting  22  with the hydrogen gas collected in the hydrogen gas collector  25  is returned to the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  via a water return port  44  of the tank  6 , for returning the nonelectrolyte water  9  by a tube or other supply means  45  and a water tank fitting  46 , to the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  for water preservation. The nonelectrolyte water  9  that comes out of the hydrogen outlet fitting  22  and the oxygen outlet fitting  29  during hydrogen and oxygen production is therefore maintained in the nonelectrolyte water tank  6 . Additional details regarding the hydrogen gas collector  25  will be discussed below with reference to FIGS.  7  and  8 A- 8 D. Based on the configuration of the system  1 , the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas generated in the electrolyzer  5  travel in different directions and are therefore kept separate from each other. 
         [0030]    According to the invention the electrolyzer  5  can, for example, be a proton exchange membrane or polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzer. A PEM electrolyzer includes a semipermeable membrane generally made from ionomers and designed to conduct protons while being impermeable to gases such as oxygen or hydrogen. This is their essential function when incorporated into a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer or of a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer: separation of reactants and transport of protons. 
         [0031]    As known, an electrolyzer is a device that generates hydrogen and oxygen from water through the application of electricity and includes a series of plates through which water flows while low voltage direct current is applied. Electrolyzers split the water into hydrogen and oxygen gases by the passage of electricity, normally by breaking down compounds into elements or simpler products. 
         [0032]    A PEM electrolyzer  50  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The PEM electrolyzer  50  includes a plurality of layers which are non-liquid layers including at least two external layers and an internal layer, including external electrodes  51  disposed opposite to each other one of which is the anode  51   a  and the other of which is the cathode  51   b , electrocatalysts  52   a  and  52   b  disposed respectively on the anode  51   a  and the cathode  51   b,  and a membrane  53  disposed between the electrocatalysts  52   a  and  52   b.  The PEM electrolyzer  50  further includes an external circuit  54  which applies electrical power to the anode  51   a  and the cathode  51   b  in a manner such that electrical power in the form of electrons flow from the anode  51   a,  along the external circuit  54 , to the cathode  51   b  and protons are caused to flow through the membrane  53  from the anode  51   a  to the cathode  51   b.    
         [0033]    The efficiency of a PEM electrolyzer  50  is a function primarily of its membrane and electro-catalyst performance. The membrane  53  includes a solid fluoropolymer which has been chemically altered in part to contain sulphonic acid groups, SO 3 H, which easily release their hydrogen as positively-charged atoms or protons H + : SO 3 H→SO 3   − +H +   
         [0034]    These ionic or charged forms allow water to penetrate into the membrane structure but not the product gases, namely molecular hydrogen H 2  and oxygen O 2 . The resulting hydrated proton, H 3 O + , is free to move whereas the sulphonate ion SO 3   −  remains fixed to the polymer side-chain. Thus, when an electric field is applied across the membrane  53  the hydrated protons are attracted to the negatively charged electrode, known as the cathode  51   b.  Since a moving charge is identical with electric current, the membrane  53  acts as a conductor of electricity. It is said to be a protonic conductor. 
         [0035]    A typical membrane material that is used is called “nafion.” Nafion is a perfluorinated polymer that contains small proportions of sulfonic or carboxylic ionic functional groups. 
         [0036]    Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 5 , nonelectrolyte water  9  enters the electrolyzer  5  and is split at the surface of the membrane  53  to form protons, electrons and gaseous oxygen. The gaseous oxygen leaves the electrolyzer  5  while the protons move through the membrane  53  under the influence of the applied electric field and electrons move through the external circuit  54 . The protons and electrons combine at the opposite surface, namely the negatively charged electrode, known as the cathode  53   b,  to form pure gaseous hydrogen. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , an embodiment of the float assembly  31  includes a shaft  60  and a holding portion  62  housing a magnet  64 . In  FIG. 6A , as a water level of the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  decreases the holding portion  62  housing the magnet  64  travels along the shaft  60  in a downward direction as indicated by the arrow “A” and rests at a bottom portion of the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  when the tank  6  is completely empty. When the holding portion  62  is at or near a rest position on the shaft  60 , a magnetic field produced by the magnet  64  is sensed by the water sensor  32  disposed beneath the nonelectrolyte water tank  6 , to indicate that the water level is low. In  FIG. 6B , as the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  is filled with the nonelectrolyte water  9  from the external water source, the holding unit  62  floats in an upward direction along the shaft  60 , as indicated by the arrow “B.” When the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  is completely filled, the holding portion  62  of the float assembly  31  rests at a top surface of the nonelectrolyte water tank  6 , inside of the fill spout  12 . 
         [0038]    FIGS.  7  and  8 A-D are diagrams illustrating the operation and details of the hydrogen gas collector  25  according to embodiments of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the hydrogen gas collector  25  includes a hydrogen gas collection portion  70 , a cover portion  71  covering a top opening of the hydrogen gas collection portion  70 , a float valve  72  stored within the hydrogen gas collection portion  70 . 
         [0039]    Further, as shown in  FIG. 8A , the hydrogen gas collector  25  further comprises a ball seal  73  stored within the hydrogen gas collection portion  70 . The cover portion  71  comprises a center region  71   a  along an interior surface thereof, housing a protrusion portion  75  extending in a downward direction within the hydrogen gas collection portion  70 . The protrusion portion  75  is configured to receive the ball seal  73  during operation of the hydrogen gas collector  25 . The cover portion  71  further comprises flange portions  76  spaced a predetermined distance apart along the interior surface of the cover portion  71  and surrounding the protrusion portion  75  at the center region  71   a  thereof to direct the ball seal  73  to the center region  71   a  during normal operation of the hydrogen gas collector  25 . The ball seal  73  may be formed of a polystyrene foam material, for example. 
         [0040]    The float valve  72  comprises a valve body  77  having a top portion  77   a  and a lower portion  77   b.  A stopper  79  surrounds a side surface of the bottom portion  77   b . According to one or more embodiments the float valve  72  may be formed of a plastic material and the stopper  79  may be formed of an elastomer material. The present invention is not limited to any particular type of material and may vary accordingly. The hydrogen gas collection portion  70  includes a valve receiving portion  80  for receiving the float valve  72 . The valve receiving portion  80  includes a first receiving section  82  at a top thereof and a second receiving section  83  formed of a through-hole  84  at a bottom thereof. Flange portions  85  are formed between the first receiving section  82  and the second receiving section  83 , and a return outlet  86  which is formed in the water return port  44  of the nonelectrolyte water tank  6 . The top portion  77   a  of the float valve  72  is disposed within the first receiving section  82  and the bottom portion  77   b  of the float valve  72  is disposed within the through-hole  84  of the second receiving section  83 . 
         [0041]    According to one or more embodiments, the hydrogen gas collection portion  70  is configured to receive the hydrogen gas and the small amount of nonelectrolyte water  9  from the electrolyzer  5  via the tubes or additional supply means  23  and the fitting  24  (as depicted in  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0042]    During normal operation of the hydrogen gas collector  25 , as the hydrogen gas collector portion  70  fills with the hydrogen gas and nonelectrolyte water  9 , the nonelectrolyte water  9  therein returns to the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  via the tube or other supply means  45  connected with the water return port  44 , for water preservation. As shown in  FIG. 8A , the ball seal  73  floats as indicated by arrow “A” to a top of the hydrogen gas collection portion  70  as the hydrogen gas collection portion  70  is being filled with the nonelectrolyte water  9  or severe movements of the vehicle jossels the nonelectrolyte water  9  towards the top of the hydrogen gas collection portion  70  of the hydrogen gas collector  25 . 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 8B , in the case of overfill of the hydrogen gas collection portion  70 , the ball seal  73  is guided by the flange portions  76  to the center region  71   a,  and is secured on the protrusion portion  75  formed in the center region  71   a  and rests within the center region  71   a  of the cover portion  71 . 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 8C , when the hydrogen gas collected within the hydrogen gas collection portion  70  is overpressure and the water level in the hydrogen gas collection portion  70  is low, the float valve  72  moves in a downward direction as indicated by arrow “B” and the stopper  79  prevents the hydrogen gas from flowing to the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  via the through-hole  86 . Further, the ball seal  73  does not float upward towards the cover portion  71 . 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 8D , when the nonelectrolyte water  9  of the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  is of a low level causing the float assembly  31  to move downward on the shaft  60 , the water level sensor  32  is triggered to notify an operator of the system  1  of the low water level within the nonelectrolyte water tank  6 . As the water level in the hydrogen gas collection portion  70  increases, the float valve  72  rises, and gradually floats in an upward direction as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , to release the nonelectrolyte water  9  in a downward direction back to the nonelectrolyte water tank  6 . Further, the hydrogen gas is released in an upward direction towards the hydrogen fitting  26  (as depicted in  FIG. 2 ) and to the hydrogen outlet  28  via the supply means or other tubing  27 . The hydrogen gas H 2  then travels to the internal combustion engine for use during a combustion process thereof. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , a vehicle  90  powered by an engine (e.g., a diesel engine)  92  is equipped with the portable hydrogen supplemental system  1 . Power is supplied to the portable hydrogen supplemental system  1  by a vehicle battery  94  connected to electrical wires  96   a.  The electrical circuit to the portable hydrogen supplemental system  1  includes an on-board diagnostic (OBD) interface  97  in communication with the engine  92  via a vehicle OBD terminal  98  (as depicted in  FIG. 11 ), and in communication with the main power board  33  of the system  1  via electrical wires  96   b.  The OBD interface  97  completes the electrical circuit to the portable hydrogen supplemental system  1  when the engine  92  is running (e.g., based on the rotational speed of the engine  92 ). The vehicle OBD terminal  98  is used to perform self-diagnostic of the vehicle. The OBD terminal  98  enables an operator of the vehicle  90  to access to state of health information for various vehicle sub-systems. Once power is supplied to the portable hydrogen supplemental system  1 , hydrogen gas H 2  flows thru a hydrogen outlet tube  99  connected to the hydrogen outlet  28  of the housing unit  2  to an air intake  100  of the vehicle&#39;s engine  92  and traveling into a combustion chamber  102  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 10  shows the combustion chamber  102  for a gasoline engine, which includes a spark plug  102   a.  However, the same principle applies to a diesel engine, which uses compression to ignite the fuel instead of the spark from the spark plug  102   a.  In both cases, the hydrogen gas H 2  travels into the combustion chamber  102  of the engine  92  and assists with the combustion of fuel therein. Since hydrogen H 2  burns at a faster rate than most fuels, including gasoline and diesel, a larger percentage of the fuel in the combustion chamber  102  is burned because of the presence of the hydrogen H 2  prior to being exhausted from the combustion chamber  102 . The exhaust is then release through an exhaust outlet  103  after the fuel is burned. Since the hydrogen gas H 2  assisted with burning more of the fuel in the combustion chamber  102 , the amount of particulate matter (and other unburned hydrocarbons) exiting the combustion chamber  102  and entering the exhaust outlet  103  is reduced. 
         [0048]    In some embodiments, oxygen gas O 2  (as depicted in  FIG. 5 ) is returned to the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  via the oxygen outlet fitting  29  of the electrolyzer  5  and a supply means or other tubing  30  to tank fitting  30   a  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Optionally, the oxygen gas may be released into the atmosphere via the oxygen outlet  101 , after returning to the nonelectrolyte water tank  6 . The oxygen gas may then be returned back into the atmosphere. According to one or more other embodiments, the two gasses can optionally be combined for diesel engine vehicles or other internal combustion engines without oxygen sensors, if desired. 
         [0049]    The electrical circuit can, for example, be provided by a control circuit  150  as illustrated in  FIG. 11  for controlling the system  1 . The control circuit  150  includes the OBD interface  97  in communication with the vehicle OBD terminal  98  and the main power board  33 . The vehicle battery  94  is connected with the power terminals  36  and  37  at the main power board  33 . The control circuit  150  further includes a communication module  104  equipped with a global positioning system (GPS). According to one or more embodiments, the communication module  104  is a wireless module for wirelessly transmitting vehicle information via the OBD interface  97 . The OBD interface  97  is configured to receive at least one or more data output of the OBD terminal  98 , such as rotational speed (RPM) information, speed information, gas usage information, etc. When it is detected that the vehicle  90  is running, the OBD interface  97  sends a signal via the wire  96   b  to the main control board  33 , to operate the system  1 . For example, when the rotational speed of the engine  92  exceeds a predetermined level, a positive output is sent to the main power board  33 , thereby causing the electrolyzer  5  to operate when the engine  92  is running. The hydrogen gas may be generated based on the vehicle speed or a predetermined RPM of the engine or a combination of other outputs from the OBD terminal  98  such that the electrolyzer  5  is activated to generate hydrogen gas. 
         [0050]    Other components of the system  1  are also connected with the main power board  33  via wires  105 . The other components include the electrolyzer  5 , the water level sensor  32 , a heater  106 , and a temperature sensor  107 . 
         [0051]    According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the OBD interface  97  is in communication with a database  109  (e.g., a web-based database), via the communication module  104 , for receiving vehicle information and system information including status information. The status information may include, for example, water level information from the water level sensor  32  and temperature sensor information from the temperature sensor  107 . The database  109  may further store historical data collected over time to be used to control operation or regulate maintenance of the system  1 . For example, necessary re-filling of the nonelectrolyte water tank  6  may be determined based on the status information of the water level within the nonelectrolyte water tank  6 . 
         [0052]    According to alternative embodiments, in a gasoline or diesel powered engine the electrical power used by the portable hydrogen supplemental system  1  is supplied by the engine alternator. As described above the electrical power is only supplied when the engine is operating and/or a combination of data output from the OBD terminal  98  exceeds a predetermined level. Thus, the load placed on the engine by the portable hydrogen supplemental system  1  is related to the amount of electrical power drawn from the alternator as measured in amps. 
         [0053]    While the invention has been described in terms of its preferred embodiments, it should be understood that numerous modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is intended that all such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.