Method and system for catalytic gasification of liquid fuels

Abstract

The present invention is a method and a system for the gasification of a liquid fuel and includes providing a supply of a liquid fuel and an oxidant, atomizing the liquid fuel and mixing it with the oxidant, catalytically reacting the fuel oxidant mixture, and providing an ignition source for initiating the catalytic reaction. A hydrocarbon fuel can be mixed with oxygen, as a constituent of air, preferably forming a fuel rich fuel air mixture that passes through a catalytic reactor having an ultra-short channel length metal monolith substrate. The fuel air mixture is vaporized and partially oxidized.

1 . A method for gasification of a liquid fuel comprising: 
 a. providing a supply of a liquid fuel;    b. providing a supply of an oxidant;    c. atomizing the liquid fuel;    d. mixing the atomized fuel with the oxidant;    e. catalytically reacting the fuel oxidant mixture; and    f. providing an ignition source for initiating the catalytic reaction.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the liquid fuel comprises hydrocarbons.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the oxidant is a constituent of air.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the additional step of introducing water to the fuel oxidant mixture.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the water is introduced in the form of steam.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of mixing the atomized fuel with the oxidant further comprises forming a fuel rich fuel oxidant mixture.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of catalytically reacting the fuel oxidant mixture includes providing a catalytic reactor comprising an ultra-short channel length reactor substrate.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of providing a catalytic reactor further comprises providing a plurality of the substrates thereby providing void volumes in random order.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of providing a catalytic reactor further comprises providing a catalyst on at least a portion of the substrate, the catalyst comprising one of the metals of group VIII of the periodic system of elements.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the substrate is provided in a coiled configuration.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the substrate is mounted to avoid bypass of the substrate by the fuel oxidant mixture.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of providing an ignition source for initiating the catalytic reaction further comprises providing a glow plug.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of catalytically reacting the fuel oxidant mixture includes vaporizing and partially oxidizing the fuel oxidant mixture.  
     
     
         14 . A system for gasification of a liquid fuel comprising: 
 a. a supply of a liquid fuel;    b. a supply of an oxidant;    c. a fuel nozzle for atomizing the liquid fuel;    d. a mixing region for mixing the atomized fuel with the oxidant;    e. a catalytic reactor for catalytically reacting the fuel oxidant mixture; and    f. an ignition source for initiating the catalytic reaction.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the liquid fuel comprises hydrocarbons.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the oxidant is a constituent of air.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a supply of water and introducing the water to the mixing region.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the water is in the form of steam.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the mixing region further comprises forming a fuel rich fuel oxidant mixture.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the catalytic reactor comprises an ultra-short channel length reactor substrate.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the catalytic reactor further comprises a plurality of the substrates thereby providing void volumes in random order.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the catalytic reactor further comprises a catalyst on at least a portion of the substrate, the catalyst comprising one of the metals of group VIII of the periodic system of elements.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the substrate defines a coiled configuration.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the substrate is mounted to avoid bypass of the substrate by the fuel oxidant mixture.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the ignition source comprises a glow plug.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a supply of coolant for cooling the fuel nozzle.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the catalytic reactor for catalytically reacting the fuel oxidant mixture further comprises vaporizing and partially oxidizing the fuel oxidant mixture.  
     
     
         28 . A system for gasification of a liquid fuel comprising: 
 a. means for providing a supply of a liquid fuel;    b. means for providing a supply of an oxidant;    c. means for atomizing the liquid fuel;    d. means for mixing the atomized fuel with the oxidant;    e. means for catalytically reacting the fuel oxidant mixture; and    f. means for an ignition source for initiating the catalytic reaction.    
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the means for atomizing the liquid fuel comprises a fuel nozzle.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the means for mixing the atomized fuel with the oxidant further comprises a means for forming a fuel rich fuel oxidant mixture.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the means for catalytically reacting the fuel oxidant mixture comprises a catalytic reactor that comprises an ultra-short channel length reactor substrate.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the catalytic reactor further comprises a plurality of the substrates thereby providing void volumes in random order.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the catalytic reactor further comprises a catalyst on at least a portion of the substrate, the catalyst comprising one of the metals of group VIII of the periodic system of elements.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the substrate defines a coiled configuration.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the substrate is mounted to avoid bypass of the substrate by the fuel oxidant mixture.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the means for an ignition source for initiating the catalytic reaction comprises a glow plug.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 28  further comprising a means for cooling the means for atomizing the liquid fuel.