Fuel Treatment System and Method

Abstract

The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and methods for treating a fuel prior to ignition in a combustion engine in order to improve efficiency. In one aspect of the invention a throttle valve system that entrains a flow of gas, which can include a fuel, into a structured flow pattern via the inclusion of topological on a surface of the valve body and/or the flow chamber. The topological features can be arranged in a pattern configured to produce movement and/or structured turbulence in a stream of gas that is introduced to the throttle valve. An excitation source that ionizes or cracks species in the gas stream can be optionally utilized.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A throttle valve for an internal combustion engine that combusts a fuel to produce power, comprising:
 a flow chamber configured to direct a stream of mixture comprising gas and fuel to the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine;   a valve body disposed within the flow chamber and axially translatable with respect to the flow chamber for controlling a flow volume of the stream of mixture; and   an excitation mechanism disposed within the flow chamber and configured to at least partially ionize the mixture within the flow chamber.   
     
     
         32 . The throttle valve of  claim 31 , wherein the valve body has a surface feature. 
     
     
         33 . The throttle valve of  claim 32 , wherein the surface feature comprises at least one of a groove, dimple, bump, wedge, and ridge. 
     
     
         34 . The throttle valve of  claim 32 , wherein the surface feature comprises a cavity. 
     
     
         35 . The throttle valve of  claim 34 , wherein the cavity comprises a continuous circumferential groove disposed on the valve body's outer surface, wherein the opening of the groove is smaller than a maximum width of the groove. 
     
     
         36 . The throttle valve of  claim 32 , wherein the excitation mechanism is incorporated within the valve body. 
     
     
         37 . The throttle valve of  claim 36 , wherein an additional excitation mechanism is incorporated within the valve body. 
     
     
         38 . The throttle valve of  claim 36 , wherein an additional excitation mechanism is disposed downstream of the surface feature. 
     
     
         39 . The throttle valve of  claim 38 , wherein the additional excitation mechanism is disposed downstream of the valve body in the flow chamber. 
     
     
         40 . The throttle valve of  claim 32 , wherein the excitation mechanism is disposed on an enclosure of the flow chamber. 
     
     
         41 . The throttle valve of  claim 40 , wherein the excitation mechanism is disposed at close proximity to the surface feature of the valve body. 
     
     
         42 . The throttle valve of  claim 40 , wherein the excitation mechanism comprises small electrodes arranged on a surface of the flow chamber. 
     
     
         43 . The throttle valve of  claim 42 , wherein the small electrodes are arranged in a spiral pattern. 
     
     
         44 . The throttle valve of  claim 42 , wherein the small electrodes are configured to vary power outputs to provide a cascading voltage array. 
     
     
         45 . The throttle valve of  claim 42 , wherein the small electrodes are needle-like that protrudes into the flow chamber. 
     
     
         46 . The throttle valve of claim  30 , wherein the excitation mechanism is disposed upstream of the valve body.