GB2065763A - A hot fuel gas generator - Google Patents

A hot fuel gas generator Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2065763A
GB2065763A GB7942581A GB7942581A GB2065763A GB 2065763 A GB2065763 A GB 2065763A GB 7942581 A GB7942581 A GB 7942581A GB 7942581 A GB7942581 A GB 7942581A GB 2065763 A GB2065763 A GB 2065763A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
pressure vessel
heat exchanger
valve
generator
fins
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB7942581A
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Econo Fuel Systems Inc
Original Assignee
Econo Fuel Systems Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Econo Fuel Systems Inc filed Critical Econo Fuel Systems Inc
Priority to GB7942581A priority Critical patent/GB2065763A/en
Publication of GB2065763A publication Critical patent/GB2065763A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02MSUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M31/00Apparatus for thermally treating combustion-air, fuel, or fuel-air mixture
    • F02M31/02Apparatus for thermally treating combustion-air, fuel, or fuel-air mixture for heating
    • F02M31/16Other apparatus for heating fuel
    • F02M31/18Other apparatus for heating fuel to vaporise fuel
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02MSUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M25/00Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture
    • F02M25/022Adding fuel and water emulsion, water or steam
    • F02M25/032Producing and adding steam
    • F02M25/035Producing and adding steam into the charge intakes
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02MSUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M31/00Apparatus for thermally treating combustion-air, fuel, or fuel-air mixture
    • F02M31/02Apparatus for thermally treating combustion-air, fuel, or fuel-air mixture for heating
    • F02M31/12Apparatus for thermally treating combustion-air, fuel, or fuel-air mixture for heating electrically
    • F02M31/125Fuel
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02TCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/10Internal combustion engine [ICE] based vehicles
    • Y02T10/12Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A generator for producing hot fuel gas for an internal combustion engine 75 comprising a closed pressure vessel 10 having a heat exchanger 16 including, an electric heating element 25, fins 18 on said heat exchanger, said fins extending to the walls of said pressure vessel and staggered openings in said fins to form a passageway therethrough means 51 for continuously injecting a predetermined amount of a liquid hydrocarbon into said pressure vessel, a valve 20 positioned in an opening in said pressure vessel, and in communication with the intake manifold 41 of said internal combustion engine 75 and a linkage, 45, 48, 49 for moving said valve from a closed position to an open position in conjunction with the engine combustion air throttle. Means 50 is arranged to continuously inject a predetermined amount of water into the pressure vessel, the steam/vaporised fuel mixture passing via filter 22 to chamber 11a. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A hot fuel gas generator This invention relates to fuel systems and vaporizing devices therein for internal combustion engines, and more particularly fuel gas generators.
Fuel systems for internal combustion engines have generally used carburetors in which gasoline is sprayed into a stream of air and divided into a series of fine droplets approaching vaporization and conveyed to the point of combustion. Only those molecules at the surface of the gasoline droplets are in a position to react with another species and incomplete combustion results because the very short time allowed is insufficient for more than a little vaporization of the fuel to occur. The prior art engines therefore exhaust large quantities of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen, all of which are undesirable atmospheric pollutants.
The hot fuel gas generator described herein simultaneously vaporizes the liquid fuel and water at high temperatures so that the fuel mixture in its heated pressurized gaseous state achieves practically complete combustion in the internal combustion engine due to the spacing of the molecules resulting from the heat and superheated steam.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a generator for producing hot fuel gas for an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a throttle valve and an accelerator and linkage connecting said accelerator to said throttle valve; said generator comprising a closed pressure vessel, a heat exchanger in said vessel, fins on said heat exchanger, said fins extending to the walls of said pressure vessel and having staggered openings in said fins to form a passageway, means for continuously injecting a predetermined amount of a liquid hydrocarbon into said pressure vessel, a valve positioned in an opening in said pressure vessel, means establishing communication between said valve and said intake manifold, means for moving said valve from a closed position to an open position, said means for moving said valve being connected to said linkage and arranged to move said valve simultaneously with said throttle valve.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a generator for producing hot fuel gas for an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a throttle valve and an accelerator and linkage connecting said accelerator to said throttle valve, said generator comprising a closed pressure vessel (at least a portion of which is of a tubular configuration), a heat exchanger disposed in said pressure vessel in the tubular configuration thereof, said heat exchanger having a chamber formed therein and a plurality of spaced fins thereon, said fins extending to the walls of the pressure vessel, the area of said spaced fins substantially matching the area of said tubular portion of said pressure vessel, electric resistance heating means in said chamber in said heat exchanger, means for energizing said heating means to generate and maintain temperatures between 5000F and 8000F in said heat exchanger, separate means for simultaneously continuously injecting predetermined amounts of liquid hydrocarbon and water into said closed pressure vessel adjacent one end of said heat exchanger, passageways formed in said fins by staggered openings in oppositely disposed relation in alternate fins so as to create a tortuous passageway in said pressure vessel incorporating the areas between said spaced fins, at least one partition in said pressure vessel dividing said vessel into at least first and second chambers in adjacent relation, said heat exchanger being located in the first one of said chambers, a valve positioned in an opening in said partition, means for moving said valve from a closed position to an open position, said means for moving said being connected to said linkage and arranged to move said valve simultaneously with said throttle valve and means establishing communication between said second chamber and said intake manifold.
In a preferred embodiment of a hot fuel gas generator according to the invention, gasoline and water are simultaneously vaporized to produce a hot gaseous fuel under pressure and regulated as to temperature volume and flow is in direct communication with the inlet manifold of the engine. A throttle valve and linkage controls the combustion air and a valve in the generator controls the hot fuel gas flow to the intake manifold and is actuated by the throttle valve linkage. The partial vacuum resulting from the operation of the internal combustion engine moves the combustion air with the hot gaseous fuel from the generator to the areas of combustion in the engine. The complete vaporization of the liquid fuel and the water is caused by high temperature heat from an external source under controlled pressure and volume conditions.
Gasoline or other fuel in a ratio of 80% to 95% to water 5% to 20% makes a highly satisfactory hot gaseous fuel.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross sectional side elevation of a hot fuel gas generator; Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional detail on line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a back elevation of a portion of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of a fuel system and an internal combustion engine and incorporating the generator of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a cross sectional side view of a fuel introducing fitting used in the fuel system of Figure 5.
By referring to the drawings and Figure 1 in particular, it will be seen that the hot fuel gas generator comprises a multi-chambered pressure vessel in the form of a hollow body member generally indicated by the numeral 10, the main portion of which has a heat exchange chamber 11 therein. A bottom closure 12 closes the bottom end of the heat exchange chamber 11 and a secondary hollow body member 13 is secured to the upper end of the body member 10 and a third hollow body member 14 is secured to the upper end of the secondary hollow body member 13. An upper closure 15 is affixed to the upper end of the third hollow body member 14.An integral multiple finned heat exchanger 16 is positioned in the heat exchange chamber 11 and it defines a central tubular cavity 17 surrounded by a plurality of vertically spaced integral fins 18 which extend from a location spaced with respect to the lower end of the central tubular cavity 17 to a point near the upper end thereof. The upper end of the heat exchanger 16 has a top portion 19 which is apertured as at 20 to receive a fitting 21 which in turn mounts a filter 22. By referring to Figures 1 and 3, it will be seen that each of the integral fins 18 has a corner thereof cut away as at 23 with the cut away corners alternating in oppositely disposed relation so that a tortuous passageway is created by establishing communication with the spaces 24 between each of the vertically spaced fins 1 8. The fins 18 substantially fill the heat exchanger chamber 11.
An electrically energized heating element 25 is positioned in the cavity 17 which extends vertically throughout the length of the multiple finned heat exchanger 16. The lower end of the heating element 25 extends through an aperture in the bottom closure 12 and electrical conductors 26 extend therefrom as hereinafter described.
Still referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the secondary hollow body member 13 is apertured as at 27 to receive a valve body 28 which in turn has a valve element 29 mounted therein for vertical movement. The valve element 29 which may be seen in greater detail in Figure 2 of the drawings, has a closed bottom end and a hollow interior defining a passageway 30. The upper portion of the valve element 29 is of reduced diameter to create a chamber 31 thereabout and within the upper portion of the valve body 28. Openings 32 in the upper portion of the valve element 29 establish communication between the passageway 30 therein and the chamber 31.A vertical slot 33 is formed in the lower portion of the valve element 29 inwardly from the lower end thereof and is in communication with the vertical passageway 30, the arrangement being such that when the valve element 29 is moved downwardly from the position seen in Figure 2, the slot 33 will begin to clear the lower end of the valve body 28 and permit flow of fuel gas from the upper end 11 A of the heat exchanger chamber 11 to flow into the vertical passage 30 and outwardly through the openings 32 into the chamber 31.A secondary vertical slot 34 in the valve body 28 inwardly of the ends thereof is positioned so that when the valve element 29 has moved downwardly as hereinafter described, the chamber 31 is extended downwardly and comes into communication with the secondary vertical slot 34 whereupon gaseous fuel can flow therethrough and through an opening 35 in a partition 36 in the secondary hollow body member 13. A duel valve is thus provided.
An apertured fitting 37 in a side wall of the secondary hollow body member 13 establishes communication with a tube 38, see Figure 1, which extends to a fitting 39, see Figure 6, which incorporates a Venturi 40 positioned immediately adjacent the inlet manifold 41 of an internal combustion engine.
Still referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the upper end of the valve element 29 extends vertically into a third chamber 42 defined by the third hollow body member 14 and the top closure 15 heretofore referred to and it is provided at its uppermost end with a button 43 which positions a spring 44 between the same and the upper surface of the valve body 28. The spring 44 normally biases the valve element 29 upwardly to a closed position with respect to both of the valve passageways therethrough as seen in Figure 2 of the drawings.
An arm 45 has its free end 46 positioned for sliding engagement with the upper surface of the button 43 and is attached at its other end to a shaft 47 which extends outwardly of the third hollow body member 14 and the outer end of the shaft 47 has a depending secondary arm attached thereto as seen in Figure 4 of the drawings so that movement from the throttle linkage of the internal combustion engine as hereinafter described, imparted the secondary arm 48 by linkage 49 will actuate the valve element 29.
By referring again to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that a pair of liquid receivers 50 and 51 are mounted in heat exchanging relation against the outer sides of the hollow body member 10. The liquid receiver 50 is apertured and provided with a fitting 52 by which water is delivered from a suitable source under a suitable pressure, for example a water tank holding two gallons more or less and a pump means for delivering the water to the liquid receiver 50 at approximately 2 PSI pressure. A U-shaped tubular fitting 53 extends from the bottom of the liquid receiver 50 to and communicates with a water delivery fitting 54 in the bottom closure 12, the inner or upper portion of which mounts a pair of vertically extending tubes 55 and 56 respectively.
The tube 55 is positioned within the tube 56 and is shorter than the tube 56 so that its upper end is spaced with respect to an upper end closure 57 on the tube 56. Thus water delivered from the liquid receiver 50 through the U-shaped tubular fitting 53, flows upwardly through the tube 55 out of its upper end and downwardly inside the tube 56 and out of the lower portion thereof through an opening 58 which communicates with the lower portion of the heat exchange chamber 1 The tubes 55 and 56 are appropriately sized to provide a desirable metering action to insure the delivery of only the desirable amount of water to the hot fuel gas generator.
Still referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the liquid receiver 51 has an inlet fitting 59 in communication with the same through which gasoline or any other liquid hydrocarbon is delivered to the liquid receiver 51.
A pump such as the fuel pump on a conventional automobile engine is arranged to deliver the gasoline or other liquid hydrocarbon at a pressure of substantially 2 Ib PSI. Gasoline entering the liquid receiver 51, like the water entering the liquid receiver 50, is heated by its association with the heated hollow body member 10 and the gasoline flows from the liquid receiver 51 through a secondary U-shaped tubular fitting 60, the other end of which communicates with the lower portion of the hollow body member 10 and the heat exchange chamber 11 therein.
It will thus be seen that water and gasoline or any other liquid hydrocarbon are delivered to the bottom portion of the heat exchange chamber 11 in the hollow body member 10 of the device, and a desirable ratio has been determined to be between 5% to 20% water and 80% to 95% gasoline or other liquid hydrocarbon.
The heating element 25 which is electrically actuated as hereinbefore described, is adapted to operate at a surface temperature of between 7000F and 8000F and since it is in intimate contact with the cavity 1 7 in the multiple finned heat exchanger 16, the fins 18 operate at a temperature between 5000F and 7000F which is suitable for simultaneously vaporizing water and gasoline in the device.
A control thermostat 61 is positioned in the heat exchange chamber 11 and serves to control the operation of the heating element 25 as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
It will thus be seen that water and gasoline or another liquid hydrocarbon, such as diesel fuel, furnace oil, kerosene, or the like delivered to the bottom portion of the heat exchange chamber 11 of the device, must flow upwardly in a tortuous passageway formed by the multiple vertically spaced fins 1 8 which have cut away oppositely disposed corners alternately in the arrangement.
During the upward flow of the water and liquid hydrocarbon, they are both vaporized and the hereinbefore mentioned advantages of wide molecular separation occurs. The hot fuel gas then flows through the aperture 20 in the top portion 19 of the multiple finned heat exchanger 16 through the filter 22 and into the upper portion 11 A of the heat exchange chamber 11. It is then controlled by the valve element 29, which as hereinbefore described, is directly controlled by linkage to the throttle linkage of the internal combustion engine on which the device is installed.
In order that an automotive engine equipped with a device embodying the invention can be started when cold, an auxiliary vaporization device is provided and placed in communication with the heat exchange chamber 11 hereinbefore described. Still referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the auxiliary vaporization device comprises a hollow body member 61 which has a closed lower end 62 and an apertured closure 63 on its upper end. A secondary multiple finned heat exchanger 64 is positioned in the hollow body member 61 of the auxiliary vaporization device and like the multiple finned heat exchanger 16 hereinbefore described, defines a central tubular cavity 65 in which an electrically actuated heating element 66 is positioned. Electrical conductors 67 of the heating element 66 extend to a suitable power supply as hereinafter described.An inlet opening 68 is positioned in the bottom portion of the hollow body member 61 and an inlet fitting 69 is in communication therewith and is controlled by a solenoid valve or the like and it extends to a source of gasoline or other liquid hydrocarbon, such as the fuel pump of an automobile engine.
An outlet opening 70 is formed in the upper portion of the hollow body member 61 and a tube 71 establishes communication between the outlet opening 70 and an inlet opening 72 in the hollow body member 10 and in direct communication with the upper portion of the heat exchange chamber 11 and immediately below the top portion 19 of the multiple finned heat exchanger 16 therein. The opposite corners of fins 73 on the secondary heat exchanger 64 are cut away in exactly the same manner as the opposite corners are cut away at 23 in the fins 18 of the multiple finned heat exchanger 16 as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings so that a tortuous passageway is formed upwardly from the bottom 62 of the auxiliary vaporization device to the upper end thereof.
The hollow body member 61 is largely filled by the secondary heat exchanger 64 and its plurality of vertically spaced fins and the remaining area holds an ounce or less of gasoline or other liquid hydrocarbon. Actuation of the heating element 66 occurs simultaneously with the actuation of the heating element 25 hereinbefore referred to as upon turning the ignition key and engaging the starter in the automobile engine equipped with the device.Substantially instantaneous vaporization of the small amount of liquid hydrocarbon in the auxiliary vaporization device formed by the hollow body member 61 occurs and the vaporized gasoline or other liquid hydrocarbon flows immediately into the upper portion of the heat exchange chamber 11 upwardly through the filter 22 and through the valve body 28 when the valve element 29 is moved responsive to movement of the throttle linkage by the accelerator pedal in the automobile. The hot vaporized gasoline flows immediately into the intake manifold 41 of the engine of the automobile and the same thereby starts instantly.Within a minute, more or less, the main heating element 25 has began producing the hereinbefore described mixture of steam and gasoline vapor which then flows by the same passageways to the internal combustion engine and suitable temperature sensors disconnect the' heating element 26 of the auxiliary vaporization device.
By referring now to Figure 5 of the drawings, it will be seen that a block diagram represents an internal combustion engine 75 having an inlet manifold 41 which extends upwardly and mounts the fitting 39 by which the hot fuel gas from the generator is delivered thereto. The hot fuel gas enters the fitting 39 by the pipe 38 which communicates with the hollow body member 10 as hereinbefore described. The combustion air is controlled by a conventional throttle valve 76 which is located below an air cleaner 77, the throttle valve 76 having linkage 49 which extends to the secondary arm 48 of the hot fuel gas generator and to the accelerator pedal of the automobile in which the internal combustion engine is located.The arrangement is such that the movement of the accelerator moves the linkage 49 and simultaneously opens and closes the throttle valve 76 controlling the main combustion air and the valve element 29 in the generator which controls the hot fuel gas. In order that a desirable ratio can be established, the secondary arm 48 is provided with an adjustable connection means for the throttle linkage 49 as best seen in Figure 4 of the drawings, and by referring thereto it will be seen that a threaded shaft 78 is mounted on brackets 79 on the secondary arm 48 and an apertured block 80 is engaged thereon. The apertured block 80 pivotally mounts a fitting 81 which is secured to the end of the throttle linkage 49.Rotation of the threaded shaft 78 will accordingly provide a desirable adjustment between the throttle linkage 49 and the valve in the generator and will provide for an idling setting, as will occur to those skilled in the art.
By referring again to Figure 6 of the drawings, it will be seen that the hot fuel gas delivered to the fitting 39 by the pipe 38 from the generator, flows into the upper end of the inlet manifold 41 by way of circumferentially spaced apertures in the Venturi 40 in the fitting 39.
In the present disclosure the combustion air throttle valve has been referred to as being located above the fitting in which the hot fuel gas is delivered to the inlet manifold and it will occur to those skilled in the art that it can alternately be located therebelow if desired.
A modification in the means of delivering and metering the water and the gasoline or other liquid hydrocarbon to the device may be made and for example the tubes 55 and 56 hereinbefore described in Figure 1 of the drawings as providing a metering control of the water introduced into the heat exchange chamber 11 may be dispensed with and the water delivered directly into the lower portion of the heat exchange chamber 11 by utilizing the water delivery fitting 54 as a metering device. As illustrated and hereinbefore described, the multiple fins 1 8 are provided with a series of registering drilled openings for the reception of the tube 56 in intimate relation to the fins 1 8 so that heat exchange would take place between the fins 18 and the tube 56.
A still further change may be made in the manner in which the water and the liquid fuel are delivered to the liquid receivers 50 and 51 and delivered therefrom to the heat exchange chamber 11. Direct communicating passages may be substituted for the U-shaped tubular members 53 and 60 respectively.
Those skilled in the art will observe that negative pressures existing in the inlet manifold 41 as a result of the movement of the pistons in the cylinders of the internal combustion engine 75 extend by way of the fitting 39 to the interior of the secondary hollow body member 13 so that the hot fuel gas generated by the generator will move directly into the cylinders of the engine 75.
Operating an internal combustion engine with the generator in a fuel system as described herein, requires only actuating the ignition switch and starter of the engine whereupon the heating elements 66 and 25 are energized.
Simultaneously variable delivery pumps, not shown, and which may be combined in a single unit, move water and gasoline or another liquid hydrocarbon into the liquid receivers 50 and 51 and the hollow body member 61. The very small capacity of the hollow body member 61 results in the instant vaporization of the gasoline delivered thereto which then flows as hereinbefore described into the engine so that the same starts immediately even when cold. The water and gasoline or other liquid fuel being delivered to the hollow body member 10, are simultaneously vaporized as they move upwardly in the tortuous passageway formed by the vertically spaced fins 1 8 and the resulting hot fuel gas is made available in suitable quantities for operating the engine under all driving conditions.
It will thus be seen that the hot fuel gas generator disclosed herein with reference to the drawings comprises a substantial improvement over the prior art devices in that cold start capabilities are realized and ample volume of hot fuel gas is made available and direct control of the fuel gas is linked to the throttle linkage which simultaneously controls the combustion air throttle valve of the engine.
Tests of conventional automobiles and engines equipped with the hot fuel gas generator disclosed herein with reference to the drawings show near zero levels of atmospheric pollutants in the exhaust, which eliminates the need of any catalytic converters or other devices which attempt to treat the effect and not the cause.
The tests also indicate a substantial increase in miles per gallon obtained from the hot fuel gas generated by a generator according to the invention as compared with the same amount of fuel supplied to the same engine in the same vehicle through a conventional carburetor. For example a 1977 eight-cylinder Chevrolet achieves between 38 and 45 miles per gallon of gasoline under various road conditions and loads as compared with its EPA rating.
The conductors 26 and 67 extend to the usual battery and/or alternator and have switches to control the energization of the heating elements 25 and 66 respectively. The switches are controlled by the ignition switch and/or temperature responsive devices in the heat exchange chamber 11. It has been determined that a generator embodying the invention will operate with a reasonable degree of efficiency when it is supplied with only gasoline or another liquid hydrocarbon. The anti-knock qualities which are obtained through the addition of the water as aforesaid are lost and the unburned hydrocarbon emissions and carbon monoxide are increased somewhat without the additional molecular spread of the hydrocarbon which is obtained by the superheated steam in the preferred embodiment of the invention, as disclosed with reference to the drawings.
Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. A generator for producing hot fuel gas for an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a throttle valve and an accelerator and linkage connecting said accelerator to said throttle valve; said generator comprising a closed pressure vessel, a heat exchanger in said vessel, fins on said heat exchanger, said fins extending to the walls of said pressure vessel and having staggered openings in said fins to form a passageway, means for continuously injecting a predetermined amount of a liquid hydrocarbon into said pressure vessel, a valve positioned in an opening in said pressure vessel, means establishing communication between said valve and said intake manifold, means for moving said valve from a closed position to an open position, said means for moving said valve being connected to said linkage and arranged to move said valve simultaneously with said throttle valve.
2. A generator as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein separate means is provided for continuously injecting a predetermined amount of water into said closed pressure vessel.
3. A generator as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said means for injecting said liquid hydrocarbon and said means for injecting said water deliver said hydrocarbon and water adjacent one end of said heat exchanger and said valve is positioned adjacent the opposite end of said heat exchanger.
4. A generator as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, comprising heating means located in said heat exchanger.
5. A generator as claimed in Claim 4 as appended to Claim 2, wherein said means for continuously injecting said liquid hydrocarbon and said water operate simultaneously and wherein temperature responsive means in said pressure vessel is arranged to control said heating means.
6. A generator as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein said heating means comprises an electric resistance heating element positioned in a bore in said heat exchanger and wherein means is provided for energizing said heating means to maintain temperatures between 5000 and 8000F.
7. A generator as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said pressure vessel is tubular and of a uniform inner diameter in the area of said heat exchanger.
8. A generator for producing hot fuel gas for an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a throttle valve and an accelerator and linkage connecting said accelerator to said throttle valve, said generator comprising a closed pressure vessel (at least a portion of which is of a tubular configuration), a heat exchanger disposed in said pressure vessel in the tubular configuration thereof, said heat exchanger having a chamber formed therein and a plurality of spaced fins thereon, said fins extending to the walls of the pressure vessel, the area of said spaced fins substantially matching the area of said tubular portion of said pressure vessel, electric resistance heating means in said chamber in said heat exchanger, means for energizing said heating means to generate and maintain temperatures between 5000F and 8000F in said heat exchanger, separate means for simultaneously continuously injecting predetermined amounts of liquid hydrocarbon and water into said closed pressure vessel adjacent one end of said heat exchanger, passageways formed in said fins by staggered openings in oppositely disposed relation in alternate fins so as to create a tortuous passageway in said pressure vessel incorporating the areas between said spaced fins, at least one partition in said pressure vessel dividing said vessel into at least first and second chambers in adjacent relation, said heat exchanger being located in the first one of said chambers, a valve positioned in an opening in said partition, means for moving said valve from a closed position to an open position, said means for moving said valve being connected to said linkage and arranged to move said valve simultaneously with said throttle valve and means establishing communication between said second chamber and said intake manifold.
9. A generator as claimed in Claim 8, wherein a secondary closed pressure vessel of relatively smaller size than said first mentioned closed pressure vessel is positioned adjacent said first mentioned closed pressure vessel, the generator comprising means establishing communication between said secondary closed pressure vessel and said first mentioned pressure vessel, a secondary heat exchanger in said secondary closed pressure vessel, said secondary heat exchanger having a chamber formed therein and a plurality of spaced fins thereabout, electric resistance heating means in said secondary heat exchanger, means for energizing said heating means in said secondary heat exchanger to generate and maintain temperatures between 5000F and 8000F in said heat exchanger, means for injecting predetermined amounts of a liquid hydrocarbon into said secondary pressure vessel adjacent one end of said secondary heat exchanger, passageways formed in said fins in oppositely disposed relation in alternate fins so as to create a tortuous passageway in said secondary pressure vessel incorporating the areas between said spaced fins of said secondary heat exchanger, said secondary pressure vessel arranged to hold approximately one ounce of a liquid hydrocarbon whereby energization of said electric resistance heating means in said secondary heat exchanger results in substantially instantaneous vaporization of said liquid hydrocarbon and the delivery thereof to said first mentioned pressure vessel.
10. A generator for producing hot fuel gas, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB7942581A 1979-12-11 1979-12-11 A hot fuel gas generator Withdrawn GB2065763A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB7942581A GB2065763A (en) 1979-12-11 1979-12-11 A hot fuel gas generator

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB7942581A GB2065763A (en) 1979-12-11 1979-12-11 A hot fuel gas generator

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2065763A true GB2065763A (en) 1981-07-01

Family

ID=10509751

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB7942581A Withdrawn GB2065763A (en) 1979-12-11 1979-12-11 A hot fuel gas generator

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2065763A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2136050A (en) * 1983-03-02 1984-09-12 Alan Edward Didlick Petrol engine vaporised fuel system
GB2144799A (en) * 1983-08-02 1985-03-13 Andrade Gonzalo Moreano Internal-combustion engines
GB2169654A (en) * 1985-01-12 1986-07-16 Genie Economy Components Ltd Treating charge supplied to an i c engine

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2136050A (en) * 1983-03-02 1984-09-12 Alan Edward Didlick Petrol engine vaporised fuel system
GB2144799A (en) * 1983-08-02 1985-03-13 Andrade Gonzalo Moreano Internal-combustion engines
GB2169654A (en) * 1985-01-12 1986-07-16 Genie Economy Components Ltd Treating charge supplied to an i c engine
US4748961A (en) * 1985-01-12 1988-06-07 Headley Ronald G A Internal combustion engines
GB2169654B (en) * 1985-01-12 1989-05-04 Genie Economy Components Ltd Internal combustion engines

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4114566A (en) Hot fuel gas generator
US4112889A (en) Fuel system and vaporizer for internal combustion engines
US4548187A (en) Internal combustion engine for alternative fuels
US4197819A (en) Hot fuel gas generator
US7478628B2 (en) Vapor and liquid fuel injection system
US4515135A (en) Hot fuel gas generator
US3851633A (en) Fuel system for an internal combustion engine
US4023538A (en) Hot fuel gas generator
US4068639A (en) Automobile engine economizer
US4050419A (en) Hot fuel gas generator
US4628871A (en) Fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine
US4356805A (en) Fuel vaporizing device
US6843236B1 (en) Multi-phase fuel system
US4883040A (en) Fuel vaporizer
US6758194B2 (en) Parallel vaporized fuel system
US4167166A (en) Hot air vaporization system for an internal combustion engine
US4350134A (en) Method and apparatus for producing an air/fuel vapor mixture
US4333422A (en) Hot fuel gas generator with dual controls
US4665879A (en) Fuel evaporation apparatus and method
EP0008312A1 (en) Internal combustion engine fuel economy system
US4452215A (en) Fuel system for internal combustion engines
GB2065763A (en) A hot fuel gas generator
US4168685A (en) Fuel metering device for internal combustion engines and fuel systems incorporating such device
US4386593A (en) Fuel-air injection control system for internal combustion engines
GB2048375A (en) A hot I.C. engine fuel gas generator and control valve

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)