Coolant-to-catalyst fuel modification method and apparatus

Abstract

A catalytic apparatus for efficient pre-combustion refinement of fossil fuel in vehicular engines, including an elongated outer metal pipe containing an elongated stainless steel inner tube of smaller diameter. The outer pipe is crimped or welded onto the inner tube to create a fuel chamber with connectors for the inflow and outflow of fossil fuel therethrough. The fuel chamber contains at least three catalytic elements each comprised of a different metal selected from the group Au, Cu, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Zn and platiniridium, which may be electroplated small-pore screens. As engine coolant is diverted through the inner tube, excess heat is transferred to the inflowing fuel. The fuel is forced to flow in close proximity to the inner tube for maximum convection, and through the catalytic elements before flowing out through the fuel line to the fuel injectors for more efficient combustion. Also disclosed is a method of pre-combustion fuel refinement consisting of the steps of transferring excess heat from engine coolant through a tube disposed through an inlet and outlet of a fuel chamber. In the chamber the heated fossil fuel is forced through the catalytic elements described before returning to the fuel line for injection and combustion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for pre-combustion treatment of fossil fuel comprising:
 an elongated pipe having a first end and a second end;   an elongated tube having a first end for inflow of engine coolant and a second end for outflow of said engine coolant, the elongated tube disposed within the elongated pipe, the first and second ends of the tube extending outwardly from respective first and second ends of the pipe, the first and second ends of the pipe being impermeably connected to respective first and second ends of the elongated tube forming a chamber between the outer surface of the elongated tube and inner surface of the elongated pipe, the elongated pipe further including a first fuel-line connector for inflow of fossil fuel and a second fuel-line connector for outflow of fossil fuel from the chamber; and   at least one catalytic element made of metal selected from the group consisting of: Au, Cu, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Zn, and platiniridium, the catalytic element disposed within the chamber in such that fossil fuel flows through the at least one catalytic element.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the catalytic element further comprises at least three different catalytic elements each comprised of a different metal selected from the group consisting of: Au, Cu, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Zn and platiniridium. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is configured and dimensioned to be connected in-line to a heater hose of a combustion engine. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first, the second, and the third catalytic elements are wrapped together in any sequence around the outer surface of the elongated tube within the chamber such that the fossil fuel flows through each of the first, the second, and the third catalytic elements. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least three catalytic elements are Cu, Ni, and Zn. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the metal is electroplated on the at least one catalytic element. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one catalytic element is a metallic screen. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including at least one flow control member disposed upon the outer surface of the elongated tube and extending perpendicularly therefrom within the chamber to the inner wall of the elongated pipe and defining at least two fuel sub-chambers. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said catalytic elements are dimensioned to fit within said sub-chambers. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a grounding stud located on an outer surface of the elongated tube. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a fourth catalytic element formed from Au. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a fourth catalytic element formed from Pt. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a fourth catalytic element formed from Au and a fifth catalytic element formed from Pt. 
     
     
         14 . A method of pre-treating fossil fuel prior to combustion in an engine comprising:
 providing an apparatus including:
 a chamber with a fossil fuel inflow port and a fossil fuel outflow port, 
 a tube extending through the chamber, and 
 at least one catalyst containing a metal selected from the group consisting of: Au, Cu, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Zn, and platiniridium disposed in the chamber in thermal communication with the tube; 
   directing a flow of engine coolant through the tube to heat the at least one catalyst; and   directing a flow of fossil fuel through the inlet port, through the chamber in contact with the at least one catalyst and out the outlet port to pre-treat the fossil fuel prior to combustion of the fuel in the engine.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the catalyst is in contact with the outer surface of the tube and the step of directing a flow of coolant through the tube comprises directing a full volume flow of heated coolant through the tube to heat the catalyst. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the catalyst is in contact with the outer surface of the tube and the step of directing a flow of coolant through the tube comprises directing a full volume flow of heated coolant from a vehicle heater hose through the tube to heat the catalyst. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further including grounding the apparatus using a grounding stud located on an outer surface of the chamber.