Fuel emulsification system

Abstract

A fuel emulsification system includes a first emulsification device and a second emulsification device. The first emulsification device includes a first outlet end, and a first inlet end in fluid communication with an outlet pipe unit of a tank that receives a mixture of combustible fuel and water. The first emulsification device is configured to emulsify the mixture from the tank into a first emulsion, and to output the first emulsion through the first outlet end. The second emulsification device includes a second outlet end, and a second inlet end in fluid communication with the first outlet end for receiving the first emulsion therefrom. The second emulsification device is configured to emulsify the first emulsion into a second emulsion, and to output the second emulsion through the second outlet end.

1 . A fuel emulsification system for forming an emulsion of combustible fuel from a fuel supply and water from a water supply, said fuel emulsification system comprising:
 a fuel-feeding pipe configured to be connected to the fuel supply for feeding combustible fuel;   a water-feeding pipe configured to be connected to the water supply for feeding water;   a tank in fluid communication with said fuel-feeding pipe and said water-feeding pipe for storing a mixture of the combustible fuel from said fuel-feeding pipe and the water from said water-feeding pipe, said tank including an outlet pipe unit configured to output the mixture of the combustible fuel and the water;   a first emulsification device including a first outlet end and a first inlet end that is in fluid communication with said outlet pipe unit of said tank for receiving the mixture of the combustible fuel and the water therefrom, said first emulsification device being configured to emulsify the mixture into a first emulsion and to output the first emulsion through said first outlet end; and   a second emulsification device including a second outlet end and a second inlet end that is in fluid communication with said first outlet end of said first emulsification device for receiving the first emulsion therefrom, said second emulsification device being configured to emulsify the first emulsion into a second emulsion and to output the second emulsion through said second outlet end.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel emulsification system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said outlet pipe unit of said tank includes a first passage and a second passage that is in fluid communication with said first emulsification device;
 said fuel emulsification system further comprising a pre-emulsification device in fluid communication with said first passage for pre-emulsifying the mixture of the combustible fuel and the water stored in said tank into a pre-emulsified mixture that flows back to said tank and mixes with the mixture stored in said tank.   
     
     
         3 . The fuel emulsification system as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a regulating valve disposed between said first and second emulsification devices and fluidly connected to said tank. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel emulsification system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said pre-emulsification device includes a front-end emulsifying mixer in fluid communication with said first passage of said output pipe unit of said tank, and a parallel pair of rear-end emulsifying mixers in a series connection with said front-end emulsifying mixer and in fluid communication with said tank to output the pre-emulsified mixture that flows back to said tank. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel emulsification system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each of said front-end and rear-end emulsifying mixers is independently selected from the group consisting of a multilayer filtering-net type emulsifying mixer, a mechanical stirring emulsifying mixer, an ultrasound emulsifying mixer, an ultrasound pulsed-jet emulsifying mixer, a resonant-whistle type ultrasound emulsifying mixer, a static emulsifying mixer, a pulsed-jet high-shear emulsifying mixer, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel emulsification system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second emulsification device further includes a pair of emulsifying mixers fluidly connected to each other in one of a series connection and a parallel connection. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel emulsification system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein each of said emulsifying mixers of said second emulsification device is independently selected from the group consisting of a multilayer filtering-net type emulsifying mixer, a mechanical stirring emulsifying mixer, an ultrasound emulsifying mixer, an ultrasound pulsed-jet emulsifying mixer, a resonant-whistle type ultrasound emulsifying mixer, a static emulsifying mixer, a pulsed-jet high-shear emulsifying mixer, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The fuel emulsification system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second emulsification devices further includes at least one of a multilayer filtering-net type emulsifying mixer, a mechanical stirring emulsifying mixer, an ultrasound emulsifying mixer, an ultrasound pulsed-jet emulsifying mixer, a resonant-whistle type ultrasound emulsifying mixer, a static emulsifying mixer, and a pulsed-jet high-shear emulsifying mixer. 
     
     
         9 . The fuel emulsification system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a storage tank in fluid communication with said second outlet end of said second emulsification device for storing the second emulsion received therefrom.