Fuel emulsion and method of preparation

Abstract

A fuel emulsion having a three-phase composition, based on at least one hydrocarbon and on water, the fuel emulsion including: a continuous hydrocarbon phase; a phase of cavitation water vapor bubbles dispersed within the continuous hydrocarbon phase; and a phase of water droplets dispersed within the continuous hydrocarbon phase, wherein the emulsion is obtainable by vibroacoustic processing.

1 . A fuel emulsion having a three-phase composition, based on at least one hydrocarbon and on water, the fuel emulsion comprising:
 a continuous hydrocarbon phase;   a phase of cavitation water vapor bubbles dispersed within the continuous hydrocarbon phase; and   a phase of water droplets dispersed within the continuous hydrocarbon phase,   
     wherein the emulsion is obtainable by vibroacoustic processing. 
   
   
       2 . A fuel emulsion according to  claim 1 , wherein the volumetric proportion of cavitation water vapor bubbles ranges from 0.25% to less than 1.5%. 
   
   
       3 . A fuel emulsion according to  claim 1 , wherein the average diameter of water droplets is less than or substantially equal to 1 micron. 
   
   
       4 . A fuel emulsion according to  claim 1 , wherein the average diameter of cavitation water vapor bubbles is less than or substantially equal to 0.2 microns. 
   
   
       5 . A fuel emulsion according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon includes at least one chosen from the list including: diesel oil, heavy oil; furnace oil; biofuel; gasoline; kerosene; and alcohol. 
   
   
       6 . A fuel emulsion according to  claim 1 , wherein the volume ratio of hydrocarbon to water ranges from substantially 90:10 to substantially 70:30. 
   
   
       7 . A method of preparing a fuel emulsion having a three-phase composition, based on at least one hydrocarbon and on water, involving the steps of:
 a. mixing the at least one hydrocarbon and water; and   b. processing the mixture of hydrocarbon and water in a vibroacoustic mixer to yield a three-phased emulsion having a continuous phase of the hydrocarbon and respective dispersed phases of water droplets and cavitation water vapor bubbles.   
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the average diameter of the water droplets is less than or approximately equal to 1 micron. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the average size of the cavitation water vapor bubbles is less than or approximately equal to 0.2 microns. 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the cavitation water bubble phase in the emulsion ranges from substantially less than 1.5% to greater than 0.25% by volume. 
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein mixing the at least one hydrocarbon and water is performed with a volumetric ratio of hydrocarbon to water ranging from substantially 90:10 to substantially 70:30. 
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the hydrocarbon includes at least one chosen from the list including: diesel oil, heavy oil; furnace oil; biofuel; gasoline; kerosene; and alcohol.