Method of fueling an internal combustion engine using pressurized and heated fuel

Abstract

A method of operating an internal combustion engine comprises the steps of (a) pressurizing a liquid fuel to a pressure above 150 psig; (b) heating the liquid fuel to a temperature above 500° F. to produce a heated liquid fuel; (c) suddenly reducing the pressure of the heated liquid fuel sufficiently to vaporize the heated liquid fuel to form a vaporized hot fuel; (d) combining the vaporized hot fuel with oxygen to form a vaporized hot fuel/oxygen mixture; (e) introducing the vaporized hot fuel/oxygen mixture into the internal combustion engine; and (f) combusting the vaporized hot fuel/oxygen mixture within the internal combustion engine.

1 . A method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of:
 (a) pressurizing a liquid fuel to a pressure above 150 psig;   (b) heating the liquid fuel to a temperature above 500° F. to produce a heated liquid fuel;   (c) suddenly reducing the pressure of the heated liquid fuel sufficiently to vaporize the heated liquid fuel to form a vaporized hot fuel;   (d) combining the vaporized hot fuel with oxygen in a mixing chamber disposed upstream of the internal combustion engine, to form a vaporized hot fuel/oxygen mixture;   (e) introducing the vaporized hot fuel/oxygen mixture into the internal combustion engine; and   (f) combusting the vaporized hot fuel/oxygen mixture within the internal combustion engine.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the liquid fuel is pressurized in step (a) to a pressure between about 150 psig and about 600 psig. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the liquid fuel is pressurized in step (a) to a pressure between about 250 psig and about 500 psig. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the liquid fuel is pressurized in step (a) to a pressure between about 350 psig and about 450 psig. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the liquid fuel is heated in step (b) to a temperature between about 500° F. and about 800° F. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the liquid fuel is heated in step (b) to a temperature between about 600° F. and about 700° F. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pressure of the heated liquid fuel is suddenly reduced in step (c) to a pressure between about 20 psig and about 60 psig. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the combining of the vaporized hot fuel with oxygen to form a vaporized hot fuel/oxygen mixture in step (d) is performed within a mixing chamber, wherein the introduction of the vaporized hot fuel/oxygen. mixture into the internal combustion engine in step (e) is accomplished via an intake manifold and wherein the intake manifold is encapsulated within the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         9 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the liquid fuel is gasoline which is pressured in step (a) to a pressure between about 150 psig and about 600 psig. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the liquid fuel is gasoline which is pressured in step (a) to a pressure between about 250 psig and about 500 psig. 
     
     
         13 . The method of claim wherein the liquid fuel is gasoline which is pressured in step (a) to a pressure between about 350 psig and about 450 psig. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the liquid fuel is gasoline which is heated in step (b) to a temperature between about 500° F. and about 800° F. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the liquid fuel is gasoline which is heated in step (b) to a temperature between about 600° F. and about 700° F. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the liquid fuel is gasoline which is reduced in pressure in step (c) to a pressure between about 20 psig and about 60 psig. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the liquid fuel is gasoline and wherein the internal combustion engine comprises an intake manifold encapsulated within the mixing chamber.