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(11) | EP 2 610 475 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC |
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| (54) | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CHANGING THE MOLECULAR COMPOSITION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON FUEL |
| (57) The invention relates to engine building, in particular to technologies for producing
liquid fuel of improved quality. The invention makes it possible to improve the chemical
structure of the fuel and to increase the combustion heat thereof. The method for
changing the structure of the molecular composition of liquid hydrocarbon fuel under
the action of an electric field comprises placing the fuel between electrodes to which
an electric potential is fed. The parameters of the alternating electric field and
the fuel mass in the treatment zone are determined according to an empirical equation.
The device comprises a body with electrodes for acting with an electric field on the
stream of fuel in a treatment chamber. The body is one of the electrodes, and the
other internal electrode is placed in the treatment chamber and is arranged coaxially
with respect to the body. The electrode power source is in the form of an alternating
voltage generator. The internal electrode is hollow. An additional electrode which
is electrically connected to the body is placed coaxially within the internal electrode. |
Scope of Use
[0001] The invention relates to the technology for improved quality liquid hydrocarbon fuel generation and can be used in various industrial processes, such as petrochemical industry, as well as for the preparation of liquid hydrocarbon fuel for the combustion process in a variety of power plants in order to increase efficiency and improve environmental performance.
Prior Knowledge
[0002] There is a method of electrical processing of liquid fuel and a liquid fuel activator (patent RU No 2032107, cl. F02M 27/04, published on 27/03/1995).
[0003] According to this method, liquid fuel before dispersing is activated in the 250-300 Hz and 20-25 kV pulse current electric field and separated into flows of opposite polarity.
[0004] Liquid fuel activator comprises of a housing with inlet and outlet pipes, electrodes placed inside the activator and connected to a source of high voltage, and a semi-permeable membrane to separate the charged currents.
[0005] The disadvantages of this method and the activator are as follows:
- separation of the processed fuel into two bipolar flows does not ensure a full processing of the entire fuel flow, as after fractionation only a part of the processed fuel is combusted;
- use of the 250-300 Hz and 20-25 kV pulse current electric field reduces operational safety of the equipment used.
[0006] The closest to the claimed method in regards to the technical substance and the achieved result is the method of fuel processing, which consists of passing the fuel flow through the fuel pipe section with variable frequency AC voltage electrodes. A layer of dielectric material is placed in the processing chamber between electrodes of different polarities. The parameters of electromagnetic effect on fuel are set in accordance with the experimental ratio and the numeric values (patent RU No 20385506, cl. F02M 27/04, published on 27/06/1995 - prototype).
[0007] The disadvantages of this method are as follows. The fuel is further energised and broken into small fractions by the electromagnetic field due to the additional energy potential. Thus, due to the smaller fractions of fuel it is combusted more completely without changing the molecular composition of the fuel and increasing its combustion value.
[0008] The closest to the claimed device in regards to the technical substance is the device for the fuel processing containing a chamber-shaped housing with input and output ports and equipped with at least two electrodes of different polarities to use electrostatic field in order to influence a fuel flow in the processing chamber, which are connected to the power supply, thus, the housing serves as one of the electrodes, and the other internal electrode placed in the processing chamber is located coaxially to the housing (patent RU No 2156879, cl. F02M 27/04, published on 27/09/2000 - prototype).
[0009] Disadvantages of this device are as follows:
- use of complex and expensive technology for the production of dielectric material of 4x10-6 to 0.5x10-3 thickness;
- limited application due to the low melting temperature of the dielectric material;
- insufficient mechanical resistance to mechanical abrasion and impurities present in the fuel;
- influencing a fuel flow by the electrostatic field and placing a dielectric material between the electrodes of different polarities does not provide structural changes of the molecular composition of the fuel and the increase of its combustion value.
Disclosure of the Invention
[0010] The technical object of the invention is to create the method of and device for changing the molecular composition of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel in the electric field that improve the chemical structure of fuel and increase its combustion value.
[0011] The object of the invention is achieved by providing the method of changing the molecular composition of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel in the electric field, which involves placing the fuel between the electrodes with electric potential, which, according to the invention, includes parameters of the alternating electric field and the mass of fuel in the processing zone determined in accordance with the following empirical relationship:
where:
f - oscillation frequency of the electric field - 1/s,
E - amplitude of the electric field intensity - V/m,
v - fuel viscosity - m2/s,
σ - electric conductivity of fuel - Ohm-1·m-1,
I - leakage current in the processing zone - A,
M - molecular mass of fissionable hydrocarbons in the processed fuel - amu
[0012] Regarding this method of changing the molecular composition of liquid hydrocarbon fuel under the influence of an electric field, the following conditions are preferable:
- the fuel mass in the processing zone is determined in accordance with the following
ratio:
where:m - fuel mass in the processing zone - kg,
Vc - volume of the processing zone - m3,
Ve - total volume of electrodes placed in the processing zone - m3,
ρ - fuel density - kg/m3;
- fuel processing is carried out in its stationary position relative to the electrodes;
- fuel processing is carried out in the course of its movement through the processing zone.
[0013] The object of the invention is also achieved by creating a device for changing the molecular composition of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel in the electric field, which comprises of a housing with inlet and outlet ports equipped with electrodes to use an electric field in order to influence a fuel flow in the processing chamber, which are connected to the power supply, whereby the housing serves as one of the electrodes, and the other internal electrode placed in the processing chamber is located coaxially to the housing; according to the invention, the power supply is made in the form of the AC generator, and the inner electrode is hollow where an additional electrode electrically coupled to the housing is coaxially placed, whereby the length of the inner electrode corresponds to the following formula:
Where:
L - length of the middle electrode - m,
Q - volume throughput of the processed fuel - m3/s,
v - fuel velocity in the processing chamber - m/s.
[0014] Regarding this device for changing the molecular composition of liquid hydrocarbon fuel under the influence of an electric field, the following conditions are preferable:
- sectional area of the inlet port and sectional area of the processing chamber are determined by the Sin≤Sc ratio, where Sin - sectional area of the inlet port, Sc - sectional area of the processing chamber;
- Inlet and outlet pipes are installed in the housing where inlet and outlet ports are located respectively;
- insulating inserts are installed between the housing and the inner electrode.
- The claimed method and device allow for a change in the molecular composition of liquid hydrocarbon fuels under the influence of an alternating electric field that provides an improvement of the chemical structure of the fuel and increases its combustion value.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0015]
Fig.1 shows a longitudinal section of the device that changes the molecular composition of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel under the influence of an electric field.
Best Mode of Implementation of the Invention
[0016] The claimed method is implemented in the device for changing the molecular composition of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel in the electric field, which contains the housing 1 with inlet and outlet ports 2 and 3, and is equipped with electrodes in order to use an electric field to influence the fuel flow in the processing chamber 4, which are connected to a power source (not shown in the drawing), the housing 1 is one of the electrodes, and the other internal electrode 5 in the processing chamber 4 is located coaxially to the housing 1, the power supply is made in the form of the AC generator, and the inner electrode 5 is hollow where the additional electrode 6 electrically coupled to the housing 1 is coaxially placed, whereby the length of the inner electrode 5 corresponds to the following formula:
[0017] Regarding this device for changing the molecular composition of liquid hydrocarbon fuel under the influence of an electric field, the following conditions are preferable:
- sectional area of the inlet port 2 and sectional area of the processing chamber 4 are determined by the Sin≤Sc ratio;
- Inlet and outlet pipes 7 and 8 are installed in the housing where inlet and outlet ports 2 and 3 are located respectively;
- insulating inserts 9 are installed between the housing 1 and the inner electrode 5.
[0018] The claimed method is implemented in the device for changing the molecular composition of liquid hydrocarbon fuel under the influence of an electric field as follows.
[0019] Fuel is supplied through the inlet port 2 of the inlet pipe 7 to the processing chamber 4 and divided into two flows: first flow - between the housing 1 and the inner electrode 5, second flow - between the inner electrode 5 and the additional electrode 6. Change of the molecular composition of the processed fuel occurs under the influence of an alternating electric field produced on the internal electrode 5. In addition, the molecules of heavy hydrocarbons, the carbon skeleton of which consists of 18 or more carbons, are split into lighter molecules, the carbon skeleton of which consists of 5÷10 carbons. The resulting light molecules are mostly alkanes, which have a higher combustion value than heavy molecules and are oxidised during combustion to CO2 and H2O. Restructured fuel leaves the processing chamber 4 through the outlet port 3 of the outlet pipe 8. Insulating inserts 9 allow for the supply of AC electric potential to the inner electrode 5, centering the inner electrode 5 on the longitudinal axis of the processing chamber 4, and determination of the required distance between the housing 1 and the inner electrode 5. Furthermore, the introduction of the additional electrode 6 reduces the electric field intensity and the supply power.
[0020] Technical results of the claimed invention are confirmed by the chemical research data, mass spectrometry and the internal combustion engine indicator diagrams, which showed the decrease of heavy aromatic hydrocarbons and the increase of light alkanes in the processed fuel. In particular, the concentration of decane (C10H22) increased by 3.5 times, the concentration of xylele (C8H10) increased by 8 times, and the concentration of heavy aromatics (C18H20 and C18H22) decreased to zero in the processed fuel. As a result, the combustion value increased by at least 10%. Indicator diagrams of internal combustion engines, which worked on the processed fuel, show a decrease in the time of combustion of fuel mixture in the cylinders of the engine and an increase of the combustion value. Thermotechnical measurements of the boilers showed an increase of the combustion value, an increase of efficiency of the boilers, and a reduction of the toxicity of exhaust gases.
Industrial Applicability
[0021] The use of the claimed invention in various industrial processes, such as petrochemical industry, as well as for preparation of liquid hydrocarbon fuel for the combustion process in a variety of power plants in order to increase efficiency and improve environmental performance, ensures its industrial applicability.
1. The method of changing the molecular composition of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel in
the electric field, which involves placing the fuel between the electrodes with electric
potential and differs in that the parameters of the alternating electric field and
the mass of fuel in the processing zone are determined in accordance with the following
empirical relationship:
where:
where:
f - oscillation frequency of the electric field - 1/s,
E - amplitude of the electric field intensity - V/m,
v - fuel viscosity - m2/s,
σ - electric conductivity of fuel - Ohm-1·m-1,
I - leakage current in the processing zone - A,
M - molecular mass of fissionable hydrocarbons in the processed fuel - amu
2. The method of changing the molecular composition of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel in
the electric field according to paragraph 1, which differs in that the fuel mass in
the processing zone is determined in accordance with the following formula:
where
where
m - fuel mass in the processing zone - kg,
Vc - volume of the processing zone - m3,
Ve - total volume of electrodes placed in the processing zone - m3,
ρ - fuel density - kg/m3;
3. The method of changing the molecular composition of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel in
the electric field according to paragraph 1, which differs in that the fuel processing
is carried out in its stationary position relative to the electrodes.
4. The method of changing the molecular composition of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel in
the electric field according to paragraph 1, which differs in that the fuel processing
is carried out in the course of its movement through the processing zone.
5. The device for changing the molecular composition of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel in
the electric field, which comprises of a housing with inlet and outlet ports equipped
with electrodes connected to the power supply to use an electric field in order to
influence a fuel flow in the processing chamber, whereby the housing serves as one
of the electrodes, and the other internal electrode placed in the processing chamber
is located coaxially to the housing, which differs in that the power supply is made
in the form of the AC generator, and the inner electrode is hollow where an additional
electrode electrically coupled to the housing is coaxially placed, whereby the length
of the inner electrode corresponds to the following formula:
where
where
L - length of the middle electrode - m,
Q - volume throughput of fissionable hydrocarbons in the processed fuel m3/s,
v - fuel velocity in the processing chamber - m/s.
6. The device for changing the molecular composition of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel in
the electric field according to paragraph 5, which differs in that the sectional area
of the inlet port and the sectional area of the processing chamber are determined
by the Sin≤Sc ratio, where Sin - sectional area of the inlet port, Sc - sectional area of the processing chamber.
7. The device for changing the molecular composition of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel in
the electric field according to paragraph 5, which differs in that the inlet and outlet
pipes are installed in the housing where inlet and outlet ports are located respectively.
8. The device for changing the molecular composition of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel in
the electric field according to paragraph 5, which differs in that the insulating
inserts are installed between the housing and the inner electrode.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description