EP0832351A1

EP0832351A1 - Fuel treatment device

Info

Publication number: EP0832351A1
Application number: EP96920914A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Richard Aird Mcfadzean
Original assignee: U-Nike Multifuel Systems Ltd
Current assignee: U-Nike Multifuel Systems Ltd
Priority date: 1995-06-10
Filing date: 1996-06-10
Publication date: 1998-04-01
Also published as: GB9511831D0; AU6230296A; WO1996041943A1

Abstract

A device for conditioning a hydrocarbon based fluid fuel comprises a chamber (25) defining a temporary holding zone of a sufficient volume to retain a volume of fuel in transit therethrough for a period sufficient to permit effective conditioning of the fuel within the holding zone, the chamber having at least one inlet conduit (5) and at least one outlet conduit (10) in communication with said holding zone to permit fluid flow through the holding zone, the largest cross-sectional dimension of the holding zone being greater than the cross-sectional dimension of the outlet conduit, means (30, 45, 60, 70) for applying a magnetic field to the fuel retained in the holding zone and a bridge (90) surrounding the means for applying the magnetic field, the bridge facilitating concentration of the magnetic field in the region of the holding zone.

Description

Fuel Treatment Device

This invention relates to the treatment of hydrocarbon based fuels prior to their consumption by combustion apparatus.

In recent years increasing amounts of legislation have been introduced to reduce the damage to the environment caused by the discharge of waste products generated by combustion processes. An example of the results of such legislation can be found in the current Ministry of Transport (MOT) test for petrol engined road vehicles. The MOT test now requires that the exhaust gasses expelled from the engine be analysed and if their composition fails to comply with government regulations on vehicle emissions the vehicle is deemed unroadworthy. Currently the vehicle can fail if the exhaust contains more than 1200 parts per million of unburned hydrocarbon and/or a carbon monoxide reading of more than 4.5% is recorded. Diesel engined road vehicles have to undergo a similar test where the density of particulate emissions are examined.

Whereas newer vehicles have been designed to accommodate these regulations, for example by the use of efficient fuel injection and engine management systems, older vehicles may require extensive, and indeed expensive, modifications to comply and remain permissible for use on the road.

In addition to the above, as fossil fuel resources become steadily depleted there is much expense involved in finding new fields for exploitation or in re-working fields previously considered uneconomical to exhaust completely. Since this expense is reflected in higher final product price it is highly desirable to both improve the efficiency of the apparatus consuming such fuel and to reduce as far as possible its consumption of hydrocarbon based products as fuel. Attempts have been made to treat hydrocarbon based fuels by subjecting them to a magnetic field. EP-A2-0544395 discloses a method of arranging annular magnetic elements, each with a different internal diameter, about a section of fuel line. A similar method in which bar magnets are retained about a length of fuel pipe is described in US-4711271. A further method of applying a magnetic field to a length of fuel pipe is disclosed in EP-A2-0646548. The above noted patents all relate to apparatus which is installed around existing pipework and hence restricts where the apparatus may be installed.

The inclusion of magnetic elements within fuel delivery pipework is disclosed in GB-A-2155993, US-4372852 and W0- 89/00451. However in each of these cases the inclusion of the magnetic elements results in a restriction in the pipework and hence disrupts the flow of fuel.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least some of the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for conditioning a hydrocarbon based fluid fuel, the device comprising a chamber defining a temporary holding zone of a sufficient volume to retain a volume of fuel in transit therethrough for a period sufficient to permit effective conditioning of the fuel within the holding zone, the chamber having at least one inlet conduit and at least one outlet conduit in communication with said holding zone to permit fluid flow through the holding zone, the largest cross-sectional dimension of the holding zone being greater than the cross-sectional dimension of the outlet conduit, means for applying a magnetic field to the fuel retained in the holding zone and a bridge surrounding the means for applying the magnetic field, the bridge facilitating concentration of the magnetic field in the region of the holding zone. 5

of the present invention;

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a configuration for the external casing of the device of present invention;

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of an arrangement of a plurality of magnetic elements which may be used to provide the magnetic field in the present invention;

Fig. 5 shows an alternative representation of the magnetic elements of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows a frontal view of the magnetic elements of Figs. 4 and 5; and

Figs. 7a-7c show plan views of alternative magnet arrangements.

Referring firstly to figure 1 there is shown a fuel treatment device comprising a chamber 25 defining a temporary holding zone to which is connected an inlet pipe 5 and an outlet pipe 10. The chamber 25 has a volume which is in excess of that of an equivalent length of fuel pipe and sufficient to retain a volume -of fuel in transit therethrough for a period sufficient to permit effective conditioning of the fuel in the holding zone.

The chamber 25 thus serves as a reservoir to hold a supply of magnetically treated fuel. The benefit of the reservoir is utilised when a sudden demand, i.e. sudden acceleration, is placed on the engine to which the fuel treatment device is fitted. When such acceleration occurs the reservoir contains a pre-treated amount of fuel to supply the increased demand. This feature is an advantage over existing fuel treatment devices which utilise a chamber with a volume either less than or equal to an equivalent section of fuel pipe. The chamber 25 is defined by six rectangular steel plates, 2 each of 35, 35' and 35", assembled as shown in figure 1 to provide four sides, a top and a bottom. The faces formed by the plates adjacent to the inlet pipe 5 and the outlet pipe 10 each include an aperture in line with, and substantially the same diameter as, the said pipes.

Incorporated within said chamber 25, and located against the inner top and bottom faces, are two permanent magnets 30 and 30'. The magnets 30 and 30' are substantially the same shape as the chamber 25 but are approximately one third its thickness. Their position is such that they serve to "sandwich" any fluid within the chamber 25. The magnets provide a minimum flux strength of 3000 gauss and may be formed of an earth alloy such as SmCo or NdFeb.

Alternatively, the magnets may be formed from a material of a ceramic nature containing Strontium or Barium such as Strontium Ferrite or Barium Ferrite.

In addition the chamber 25, its connections with the inlet pipe 5 and the outlet pipe 10, and a short portion of each of the said pipes 5, 10 is encased within a protective outer casing 40. The pipes may be manufactured from any suitable non-magnetic material.

In use fuel 15 flows into the chamber 25 via inlet pipe 5. Once in the chamber 25 the fuel is subjected to the magnetic field emanating from the magnets 30 and 30'. The effect of the magnetic field is to alter the molecular structure of the fuel. In particular the magnetic field has the effect of immobilising free radicals present within the fuel. The free radicals within the fuel act upon fuel molecule paired electrons by disrupting them and/or causing them to split. This reduces the number of paired electrons available for combustion. The magnetic field reduces the activity of the free radicals temporarily and thus allows the disrupted electron pairs to re-assemble or re-match. This in turn increases the energy available from the combustion of the 3

Preferably the holding zone has a volume which is significantly greater than the volume of an equivalent length of fuel line.

Conveniently, the magnetic field si supplied by one or more permanent magnets providing a minimum flux strength of 3000 gauss.

The magnetic field may be supplied by any suitable means including, for example, a ferromagnetic steel or alloy, magnetic material of a ceramic nature such as Strontium or Barium, AlNiCo, rare earth alloys composed of Samarium Cobalt (SmCo) or Neodymium (NdFeB) or by electromagnetic induction.

Preferably, the magnetic field is provided by rectangular bar magnets or ring magnets arranged closely around the fuel chamber.

Alternatively, the magnetic field may also be provided by a plurality of magnetic elements arranged in at least one row and surmounted by a mild steel bridge.

Preferably the at least one row of magnetic elements is arranged to provide a tripolar magnet of either North-South- North or South-North-South orientation. The row(s) of magnetic/magnetisable elements may be arranged substantially parallel to one another.

Preferably, the means to concentrate the magnetic field generated by said magnetic/magnetisable elements comprises a three sided bridge. The length of the bridge may exceed that of the row(s) of magnetic/magnetisable elements.

In a preferred embodiment three such tripolar magnets, arranged parallel to one another, are surmounted by a three sided steel bridge and are further provided within a chamber. Fuel entering the chamber via the inlet conduit may pass both between and over the tri-polar magnets before leaving the charnber via the outlet conduit.

Hydrocarbon based fluid fuels with which the device may be used include petrol, diesel, paraffin, liquid petroleum gas, natural gas, fuel oil and nitromethane.

The apparatus may be, for example, any type of internal combustion engine, industrial or marine steam raising plant or an aviation propulsion unit.

The apparatus may be provided within the fuel storage or delivery apparatus of an internal combustion engine, for example it may be contained within or positioned adjacent to carburettor or fuel injection means, housed within a fuel tank, provided around or within a fuel line etc.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of improving the fuel efficiency of an apparatus which relies on combustion of a hydrocarbon based fluid fuel as a source of power, comprising the steps of providing a fuel treatment chamber in the fuel line, providing a holding zone for retaining a sufficient volume of fuel in transit therethrough for a period sufficient to permit effective conditioning of the fuel within the holding zone, said volume being in excess of the actual demand of the combustion apparatus, applying a magnetic field to the fuel retained in the holding zone, concentrating the magnetic field in the region of the holding zone and feeding the magnetically treated fuel to the apparatus for combustion.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment fuel. The fuel thus acted upon 20 is then conveyed from the chamber 25 via outlet pipe 10 and passed to the induction arrangements of the machine or system to which the device is fitted.

The benefits of the device are realised when, after the fuel has been mixed with a suitable oxidising agent (usually air), combustion takes place. The fuel/air mixture burns quicker and more efficiently than that for untreated fuel.

Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the chamber 25 is formed by extending the inlet pipe 5 to communicate with the outlet pipe 10. Thus a cylindrical chamber 50, having substantially the same diameter as the said pipes, is formed. Three annular magnets 45, 45' and 45' ' which have an inside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the chamber 50 are positioned along its length. Said magnets 45, 45' and 45' ' may be fashioned from a solid piece of magnetic material or constructed from an appropriate number of discrete segments assembled to form an annulus. In addition a cylindrical rod 55 is positioned longitudinally along the centreline of the chamber 50. The rod 55 is preferably manufactured from mild steel and acts as a bridge which has the effect of reducing the leakage field from 4 inches to 1/16th of an inch. The rod 55 incorporates three further magnets 60, 60' and 60' ' . The position of rod 55 within the chamber 50 is such that magnets 60, 60' and 60' ' are located concentrically within the annular magnets 45, 45' and 45' ' .

Figure 3 shows a possible arrangement for the outer casing 40 of the fuel treatment device. In use this casing 40 protects the device from any hostile elements present within the environment in which it is installed. For example the casing 40 may serve to protect the device from excessive temperature and vibration if fitted within the engine bay of a motor vehicle. Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a possible arrangement of a plurality of magnetic elements 70 which may be positioned within the chamber 25 to provide a magnetic field. Nine separate magnetic elements 70 each with a north pole and a south pole, are arranged in three rows 75, 80, 85 of three. This arrangement provides an array of three tri-polar magnets. The rows 75, 80, 85 are spaced such that the gaps between the rows 75, 80, 85 are substantially equal to the width of the magnetic elements 70. Within each row 75, 80, 85 the magnetic elements 70 are configured such that the outermost two elements 70a, 70c have their poles facing in the same direction, while the innermost element 70b is positioned with its poles reversed as shown in figures 4 and 5.

Arrows A, B and C indicate the direction of the magnetic field lines emanating from the magnetic elements 70. The rows 75, 80, 85 may be surmounted by a three sided mild steel bridge 90. The height of the bridge 90 above the rows 75, 80, 85 is calculated as 1.5 times the total width of the magnetic elements composing the outermost two rows 75, 85. Hence if the total width of the outer two rows 75, 85 is 6mm then the roof 95 of the bridge 90 should be 9mm above the magnetic elements 70.

The bridge 90 serves to both to concentrate the magnetic field provided by the tripolar magnets and prevent the magnetic field from leaking into metallic objects surrounding the fuel treatment device. The bridge 90 may be made from any magnetic material and tests have shown that optimum results may be obtained by using mild steel with a Carbon content of up to 0.25%.

Referring to Figs 7a to 7c there are shown plan views of three different magnet/bridge configurations.

The length of the bridge may exceed the overall dimensions of the accumulative magnets. The width of the bridge is varied to the overall strength of the magnetic gauss field thus transferring leakage from the north to the south faces which increases the overall gauss field. The depth of the bridge may also exceed the overall dimensions of the accumulative magnets, i.e. one row deep, two rows deep, three rows deep etc.

The fuel chamber is designed to an overall width, depth and length to ensure that the demand never outstrips the capacity of supply (if required fuel can be drawn from any point within the chamber by a non-magnetic tube) .

The magnets may also be formed of rare earth neodymium or samarium cobalt. The dimensions of the magnets may vary. (Alternatively, lesser magnets may be used) . The dressing i.e. the thickness and design of the outer casing is developed to ensure the magnetic field does not exceed these dimensions. All fittings attached to. the device are non-magnetic to eliminate leakage.

The use of such a bridge has been shown in experimental tests to increase the magnetic field strength by 43.5%. An arrangement of three tri-polar magnets placed 3.2mm apart, each tripolar magnet being composed of three 16mm*13mm*3mm Neodymium magnets, has been shown to produce a maximum magnetic field strength of 4960 Gauss. The introduction of a mild steel bridge increases the field strength to 7120 Gauss.

The benefits of installing a fuel treatment device of the type described above may be seen almost immediately by a reduction in harmful emissions. However it has also been found that such fuel treatment devices have a cumulative effect with the beneficial effects increasing with time.

The embodiments of the invention hereinbefore described are given by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specific features illustrated.

Claims

1. A device for conditioning a hydrocarbon based fluid fuel, the device comprising a chamber defining a temporary holding zone of a sufficient volume to retain a volume of fuel in transit therethrough for a period sufficient to permit effective conditioning of the fuel within the holding zone, the chamber having at least one inlet conduit and at least one outlet conduit in communication with said holding zone to permit fluid flow through the holding zone, the largest cross- sectional dimension of the holding zone being greater than the cross-sectional dimension of the outlet conduit, means for applying a magnetic field to the fuel retained in the holding zone and a bridge surrounding the means for applying the magnetic field, the bridge facilitating concentration of the magnetic field in the region of the holding zone.

2. A conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the holding zone has a volume which is significantly greater than the volume of an equivalent length of fuel line.

3. A conditioning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the magnetic field is supplied by one or more permanent magnets providing a minimum flux strength of 3000 gauss.

4. A conditioning device according to claim 3, wherein the permanent magnet(s) is/are formed of an earth alloy.

5. A conditioning device according to claim 4, wherein the earth alloy is SmCo or NdFeB.

6. A conditioning device according to claim 3, wherein the permanent magnet(s) is/are formed from a material of a ceramic nature containing Strontium or Barium.

7. A conditioning device according to claim 6, wherein the material of a ceramic nature is Strontium Ferrite.

8 A conditioning device according to claim 6, wherein the material of a ceramic nature is Barium Ferrite.

9. A conditioning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic field is provided by one or more rectangular bar magnets or ring magnets arranged closely around the holding zone.

10. A conditioning device according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the magnetic field is provided by a plurality of magnetic elements arranged in an array.

11. A conditioning device according to claim 10, wherein the array of magnetic elements is arranged to provide a tripolar magnet of either North-South-North or South-North-South orientation.

12. A conditioning device according to claim 11, wherein three such tripolar magnets are arranged parallel to one another.

13. A conditioning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bridge is formed of mild steel.

14. A conditioning device according any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the bridge exceeds that of the means for applying the magnetic field to the fuel in the holding zone.

15. A method of improving the fuel efficiency of an apparatus which relies on combustion of a hydrocarbon based fluid fuel as a source of power, comprising, providing a fuel treatment chamber in the fuel line, providing a holding zone for retaining a sufficient volume of fuel in transit therethrough for a period sufficient to permit effective conditioning of the fuel within the holding zone, said volume being in excess of the actual demand of the combustion apparatus, applying a magnetic field to the fuel retained in the holding zone, concentrating the magnetic field in the region of the holding zone and feeding the magnetically treated fuel to the apparatus for combustion.