Infrared Aided Fuel Emulsion

Abstract

This invention relates to a system and a method for generating emulsified fuels for improved fuel efficiency of combustion devices with reduced specific fuel consumption rate and emissions, comprising at least a continuous phase fuel, a dispersed phase component, and an infrared radiation source whose infrared radiation spans at least a portion of 3-16 micrometers wavelength spectrum. In said system the continuous phase fuel and/or dispersed phase component are exposed to said infrared before or during emulsification. The continuous phase fuel may be selected from fossil fuels, biofuels, alcohol fuels, vegetable oils, or any combustible liquid fuels, while the dispersed phase component may be oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, propane, butane, any petroleum gas, hydrogen peroxide, or water. The emulsified fuels can be used in combustion devices such as internal combustion engines, boilers, burners, or gas turbines.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A system for generating emulsified fuel to be burned in a combustion device, comprising:
 a mixing chamber including first and second inlets and an outlet; a continuous phase fuel supply in fluid communication with the first inlet; a dispersed phase component supply in fluid communication with the second inlet; an injector disposed between the dispersed phase component supply and the second inlet; and an infrared radiation source disposed upstream of the outlet, said source emitting infrared that spans at least a portion of 3-16 micrometers wavelength spectrum.   
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 14  wherein said infrared radiation source is disposed upstream of the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 14  wherein said continuous phase fuel is fossil fuel, biofuel, alcohol fuel, or vegetable oil. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 14  wherein said dispersed phase component is natural gas, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, or carbon monoxide. 
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 14  wherein said dispersed phase component is methane, propane, or butane. 
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 14  wherein said dispersed phase component is hydrogen peroxide or water. 
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 14  wherein said combustion device is internal combustion engine, boiler, burner, or gas turbine. 
     
     
         21 . A system according to  claim 14  wherein said infrared radiation source consists of at least one ceramic composite that emits infrared at said wavelengths. 
     
     
         22 . A system according to  claim 21  wherein said ceramic composite comprises pyroelectric material. 
     
     
         23 . A system according to  claim 14  wherein said infrared radiation source being disposed in direct contact with or at proximity of said continuous phase fuel and/or said dispersed phase component. 
     
     
         24 . A system according to  claim 14  wherein said infrared radiation source is placed at exterior of a nonmetal fuel line, module, or accessory of said combustion device. 
     
     
         25 . A system according to  claim 14  wherein said infrared radiation source is disposed at inside of an accessory or module in the fuel delivery system of said combustion device, said accessory being tank, pump, line, filter, injector, add-on retrofit, and the like. 
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein said ceramic composite comprises a mixture of infrared metal oxides having a specific spectral luminance in said wavelength spectrum. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 22 , wherein said pyroelectric material is tourmaline. 
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the injector is a high pressure injector, said injector providing homogenizing energy to emulsify at least a portion of the continuous phase fuel with at least a portion of the dispersed phase component. 
     
     
         29 . A system for generating emulsified fuel to be burned in a combustion device, comprising:
 a mixing chamber;   a continuous phase fuel supply in fluid communication with the mixing chamber;   a dispersed phase component supply in fluid communication with the mixing chamber;   an injector disposed between the dispersed phase component supply and the mixing chamber; and   an infrared radiation source, said infrared radiation source emitting infrared that spans at least a portion of 3-16 micrometers wavelength spectrum.