Fuel dilution method and combustible mixture resulting therefrom

Abstract

A combustible mixture and method for producing same includes the addition to a fuel of two components: a combustion enhancing catalytic additive, and a volume increasing dilutant. A fuel tank is arranged to feed fuel through its outlet pipe and control valve, to create a stream. An outlet from a pressurized tank of dilutant is directed to the fuel stream through a control valve, and an outlet from a tank of combustion enhancing additive feeds the additive through a control valve into the fuel/dilutant mixture. Finally, the combined fuel/additive/dilutant combustible mixture exits the pipe for storage or combustion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A combustible mixture comprising the combination of a fuel, a combustion enhancing additive, and a dilutant.  
     
     
         2 . The combustible mixture of  claim 1  wherein said combustion enhancing additive comprises a catalytic composition.  
     
     
         3 . The combustible mixture of  claim 2  wherein said catalytic composition comprises a metal oxide catalyst dispersed in an organic carrier.  
     
     
         4 . The combustible mixture of  claim 1  wherein said fuel comprises propane.  
     
     
         5 . The combustible mixture of  claim 4  wherein said combustion enhancing additive comprises a catalytic composition.  
     
     
         6 . The combustible mixture of  claim 5  wherein said catalytic composition comprises a metal oxide catalyst dispersed in an organic carrier.  
     
     
         7 . The combustible mixture of  claim 1  wherein said dilutant comprises 15% to 25% of the mixture.  
     
     
         8 . The combustible mixture of  claim 1  wherein said fuel comprises propane and said dilutant comprises air.  
     
     
         9 . The combustible mixture of  claim 8  wherein the ratio of air dilutant to propane fuel comprises up to 24 cubic feet of air to 1 cubic foot of propane.  
     
     
         10 . The combustible mixture of  claim 9  wherein said combustion enhancing additive comprises a metal oxide catalyst dispersed in an organic carrier.  
     
     
         11 . A method for preparing a diluted combustible mixture from a volume of fuel, comprising the steps of: 
 generating a stream of said fuel;    injecting a measured quantity of a dilutant into said fuel stream; and    injecting a measured quantity of catalytic combustion enhancing additive into said fuel stream.    
     
     
         12 . A method for preparing a diluted combustible mixture of  claim 11  wherein said catalytic composition comprises a metal oxide catalyst dispersed in an organic carrier.  
     
     
         13 . A method for preparing a diluted combustible mixture of  claim 11  wherein said dilutant comprises 15% to 25% of the mixture.  
     
     
         14 . A method for preparing a diluted combustible mixture of  claim 11  wherein said fuel comprises propane and said dilutant comprises air.  
     
     
         15 . A method for preparing a diluted combustible mixture of  claim 14  wherein the ratio of air dilutant to propane fuel comprises up to 24 cubic feet of air to 1 cubic foot of propane.  
     
     
         16 . A method for preparing a diluted combustible mixture from a volume of fuel, comprising the step of mixing together a fuel; 
 a measured quantity of a dilutant; and    a measured quantity of catalytic combustion enhancing additive.    
     
     
         17 . A method for preparing a diluted combustible mixture of  claim 16  wherein said catalytic composition comprises a metal oxide catalyst dispersed in an organic carrier.  
     
     
         18 . A method for preparing a diluted combustible mixture of  claim 16  wherein said dilutant comprises 15% to 25% of the mixture.  
     
     
         19 . A method for preparing a diluted combustible mixture of  claim 16  wherein said fuel comprises propane and said dilutant comprises air.  
     
     
         20 . A method for preparing a diluted combustible mixture of  claim 19  wherein the ratio of air dilutant to propane fuel comprises up to 24 cubic feet of air to 1 cubic foot of propane.