Patent ID: 8887697

Claim:
A system for achieving efficient combustion of hydrocarbon fuel in an internal combustion engine, said system consisting of at least (a) an infrared radiation source that emits infrared at wavelengths covering at least a portion of 3-20 micrometers wavelength range; said infrared radiation source being disposed in contact with or at proximity of the hydrocarbon fuel so that the fuel can be excited by said infrared prior to combustion; (b) a hydrogen source that provides hydrogen gas to be burned along with the infrared-excited hydrocarbon fuel in engine cylinder, the hydrogen gas is provided in an amount proportional to the type of engine and hydrocarbon fuel used, in a range of 5-15% in energy fraction; (c) a valve for introducing the hydrogen gas into the engine cylinder during an induction stroke or a compression stroke; and (d) an injector for introducing the infrared-excited hydrocarbon fuel into the engine cylinder near the end of a compression stroke, whereby the infrared-excited hydrocarbon fuel is injected and diffused into the compressed and heated homogeneous mixture of hydrogen gas and air in the engine cylinder, creating a condition for the simultaneous burning of the hydrogen gas and the infrared-excited hydrocarbon fuel and for increased power and reduced combustion knock and nitric oxide emission.