Device for producing an air/hydrocarbon mixture

Abstract

A device for producing an air/hydrocarbon mixture has an atomizing arrangement ( 10 ) with a hydrocarbon feed means ( 14 ) and with an air feed means ( 16, 18, 20 ) for producing the air/hydrocarbon mixture by atomizing liquid hydrocarbon. A heating arrangement ( 37 ), with which hydrocarbon ( 28 ) applied to the surface ( 26 ) of the first air flow guiding element ( 22 ) can be heated, is provided in a first air flow guiding element ( 22 ). The heated and consequently less viscous hydrocarbon ( 28 ) is moved to an atomizing lip ( 30 ) by corresponding air flows, which are generated by the air flow space areas ( 18, 20 ), and is atomized there, so that an air/hydrocarbon mixture suitable for combustion or reforming is formed.

1 . A device for producing an air/hydrocarbon mixture, comprising 
 an atomizing arrangement with a hydrocarbon feed means and with a air feed means for producing the air/hydrocarbon mixture by atomizing liquid hydrocarbon; and    a heating arrangement provided for heating the hydrocarbon prior to the atomization.    
   
   
       2 . A device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said hydrocarbon feed means comprises at least one tubular feed area heated by means of said heating arrangement.  
   
   
       3 . A device in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said feed area comprises a venturi section.  
   
   
       4 . A device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said atomizing arrangement comprises at least one air flow guiding element having a surface, past which the air can flow; and said hydrocarbon feed means delivers the liquid hydrocarbon onto said surface of said air flow guiding element; and the hydrocarbon on said surface of said air flow guiding element is heated by said heating arrangement.  
   
   
       5 . A device in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said air flow guiding element is heated by said heating arrangement.  
   
   
       6 . A device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said heating arrangement comprises at least one heating element arranged in said air flow guiding element.  
   
   
       7 . A device for producing an air/hydrocarbon mixture, comprising 
 an atomizing arrangement with a hydrocarbon feed means and with an air feed means for producing the air/hydrocarbon mixture by atomizing liquid hydrocarbon; and    a space area, to which the air/hydrocarbon mixture is fed;    at least one receiving element in said space area for taking up liquid hydrocarbon from the air/hydrocarbon mixture.    
   
   
       8 . A device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said, at least one receiving element is provided at at least one wall defining said space area.  
   
   
       9 . A device in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising a deflecting element deflecting the flow of the air/hydrocarbon mixture wherein said, at least one receiving element is arranged at said deflecting element.  
   
   
       10 . A device in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising a deflecting element deflecting the flow of the air/hydrocarbon mixture wherein said, at least one receiving element is arranged at said deflecting element.  
   
   
       11 . A device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said, at least one receiving element absorbs liquid hydrocarbon.  
   
   
       12 . A device in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said, at least one receiving element absorbs liquid hydrocarbon.  
   
   
       13 . A device in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said, at least one receiving element absorbs liquid hydrocarbon.  
   
   
       14 . A device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said at least one receiving element is made of a porous material.  
   
   
       15 . A device in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising a heating arrangement for heating the hydrocarbon prior to the atomization.  
   
   
       16 . A device in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said hydrocarbon feed means comprises at least one tubular feed area heated by means of said heating arrangement.  
   
   
       17 . A device in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein said feed area comprises a venturi section.  
   
   
       18 . A device in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said atomizing arrangement comprises at least one air flow guiding element having a surface, past which the air can flow; and said hydrocarbon feed means delivers the liquid hydrocarbon onto said surface of said air flow guiding element; and the hydrocarbon on said surface of said air flow guiding element is heated by said heating arrangement.  
   
   
       19 . A device in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein said air flow guiding element is heated by said heating arrangement.  
   
   
       20 . A device in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein said heating arrangement comprises at least one heating element arranged in said air flow guiding element.  
   
   
       21 . A heater device comprising: a device for producing an air/hydrocarbon mixture, with an atomizing arrangement with a hydrocarbon feed means and with a air feed means for producing the air/hydrocarbon mixture by atomizing liquid hydrocarbon; and means for at least partially reducing the entrainment of larger hydrocarbon particles in the air/hydrocarbon mixture including at least one of: a heating arrangement provided for heating the hydrocarbon prior to the atomization, and a space area, to which the air/hydrocarbon mixture is fed with at least one receiving element in said space area for taking up liquid hydrocarbon from the air/hydrocarbon mixture.  
   
   
       22 . A heater device according to  claim 21 , further comprising a combustion chamber receiving said air/hydrocarbon mixture.  
   
   
       23 . A reformer device comprising: a device for producing an air/hydrocarbon mixture, with an atomizing arrangement with a hydrocarbon feed means and with an air feed means for producing the air/hydrocarbon mixture by atomizing liquid hydrocarbon; and means for at least partially reducing the entrainment of larger hydrocarbon particles in the air/hydrocarbon mixture including at least one of: a heating arrangement provided for heating the hydrocarbon prior to the atomization, and a space area, to which the air/hydrocarbon mixture is fed with at least one receiving element in said space area for taking up liquid hydrocarbon from the air/hydrocarbon mixture.  
   
   
       24 . A reformer device according to  claim 23 , further comprising a reformer module receiving said air/hydrocarbon mixture.