Fuel composition

Abstract

A fuel composition for use in an internal combustion engine comprising at least one liquid fuel and at least one gaseous fuel, the gaseous fuel having an effective solubility in the liquid fuel at twenty degrees Celsius and one atmosphere in the range of 0.0000001 g/kg to 0.0002 g/kg, wherein dispersion of the gaseous fuel within the liquid fuel before introduction of the fuel composition to the injection system of the engine is such that molecules of the liquid and gaseous fuels are substantially equidistant one from another, liquid from liquid and gas from gas, within a variance preferably of no more than one hundred percent (±100%), more preferably of no more than fifty percent (±50%), and most preferably of no more than twenty-five percent (±25%), whereby the fuel composition is substantially homogeneous so as to promote the atomization of the liquid fuel and thus improve combustion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An internal combustion engine fuel composition comprising:
 at least one liquid fuel; and   at least one gaseous fuel, the gaseous fuel having an effective solubility in the liquid fuel at twenty degrees Celsius and one atmosphere in the range of 0.0000001 g/kg to 0.0002 g/kg, wherein dispersion of the gaseous fuel within the liquid fuel before introduction of the fuel composition to an internal combustion engine is such that molecules of the liquid and gaseous fuels are substantially equidistant one from another, liquid from liquid and gas from gas, within a variance of no more than one hundred percent (±100%),   whereby the fuel composition is substantially homogeneous before being introduced to the internal combustion engine such that upon injection the rapid expansion of the gaseous fuel dispersed within the liquid fuel promotes the atomization of the liquid fuel and thus improves combustion, and   wherein the time between mixture of the gaseous fuel into the liquid fuel to form the fuel composition and introduction of the fuel composition into the internal combustion engine is at least 10 milliseconds.   
     
     
         2 . The internal combustion engine fuel composition of  claim 1  wherein the fuel composition is formed within a volume that is at least 10 in 3 , whereby homogeneity of the fuel composition before introduction to the internal combustion engine is further promoted. 
     
     
         3 . The internal combustion engine fuel composition of  claim 1  wherein the pressure within a fuel delivery system for the internal combustion engine between the point of mixture of the gaseous fuel into the liquid fuel to form the fuel composition and introduction of the fuel composition to the internal combustion engine is between approximately 100 psi and 2,000 psi (0.7 to 13.8 MPa). 
     
     
         4 . The internal combustion engine fuel composition of  claim 3  wherein the fuel composition is in a supersaturated state before introduction to the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         5 . The internal combustion engine fuel composition of  claim 4  wherein the gaseous fuel is selected from the group consisting of methane and natural gas and the nominal injection pressure of the internal combustion engine is at least approximately 2.000 psi, whereby the gaseous fuel is pressurized beyond the nucleation threshold pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The internal combustion engine fuel composition of  claim 4  wherein the gaseous fuel is selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, and oxygen and the nominal injection pressure of the internal combustion engine is at least approximately 3,000 psi, whereby the gaseous fuel is pressurized beyond the nucleation threshold pressure. 
     
     
         7 . The internal combustion engine fuel composition of  claim 4  wherein the gaseous fuel is hydrogen and the nominal injection pressure of the internal combustion engine is at least approximately 4,000 psi, whereby the gaseous fuel is pressurized beyond the nucleation threshold pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The internal combustion engine fuel composition of  claim 1  wherein the gaseous fuel is selected having a spontaneous nucleation threshold pressure beneath the nominal injection pressure of the internal combustion engine, whereby further atomization is achieved upon injection as the gaseous fuel comes out of solution and reforms. 
     
     
         9 . The internal combustion engine fuel composition of  claim 1  wherein the temperature of the fuel composition at all points between mixture of the gaseous fuel into the liquid fuel to form the fuel composition and introduction of the fuel composition to the internal combustion engine is between −200° C. and 350° C. (−320 to 662° F.). 
     
     
         10 . A method of forming a fuel composition for use in an internal combustion engine comprising at least one liquid fuel and at least one gaseous fuel, comprising the steps of:
 controlling the inflow of gaseous fuels to form a liquid-gaseous fuel mixture;   co-mixing the liquid and gaseous fuels to form a liquid-gaseous fuel mixture:   pressurizing the liquid-gaseous fuel mixture; and   providing the liquid and gaseous fuels within a fuel delivery system of the internal combustion engine a soak time to reach a point of saturation or equilibrium, such time being at least 10 milliseconds, whereby homogeneity of the fuel composition before introduction to the internal combustion engine is promoted.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing the liquid and gaseous fuels a soak time further comprises substantially continuously circulating the liquid-gaseous fuel mixture within the fuel delivery system, whereby dispersion of the gaseous fuel within the liquid fuel is further encouraged by both the passage of time and by agitation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing the liquid and gaseous fuels a soak time further comprises passing the liquid-gaseous fuel mixture through a volumetric expansion within the fuel delivery system of at least 10 in 3  (163.87 cc), whereby dispersion of the gaseous fuel within the liquid fuel is further encouraged by both the passage of time and by agitation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of pressurizing the liquid-gaseous fuel mixture further comprises maintaining a pressure within the fuel delivery system of between approximately 100 psi and 2,000 psi (0.7 to 13.8 MPa). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising maintaining a temperature of the fuel composition between mixture of the gaseous fuel into the liquid fuel to form the fuel composition and introduction of fuel composition to the internal combustion engine between −200° C. and 350° C. (−320° to 662° F.).