GB2293413A

GB2293413A - Fuel treatment device

Info

Publication number: GB2293413A
Application number: GB9419102A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith George Gibbins
Original assignee: MJM MACHINERY Ltd
Current assignee: MJM MACHINERY Ltd
Priority date: 1994-09-22
Filing date: 1994-09-22
Publication date: 1996-03-27
Also published as: GB9419102D0

Abstract

Two dissimilar metals are contacted by the fuel in a fuel tank or line supplying a combustion engine. The device may comprise a mild steel casing 12, 13, 14, a perforated copper tube 17 and alternate perforated copper and mild steel baffles 18, 19 spaced by a plastics coated ferrous metal spring 20. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: DEVICE TO IMPROVE THE COMBUSTION OF FUEL The invention relates to a device to improve the combustion of fuel.

Various devices to improve the combustion of fuel have been known since the 1930's.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new or improved device.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a device to improve the combustion of fuel comprising two dissimilar metals in contact with fuel to be burnt.

The invention has been found, surprisingly, to provide a number of advantages. These include, cleaner burning of fuel in engines, a significant reduction in exhaust pollutants, especially of particulates generated by diesel engines, and carbon monoxide, and increased fuel efficiency.

One of the two metals may be a ferrous metal, e.g. iron or an iron alloy, and the other a metal higher in the electrochemical series than iron, e.g.

copper.

The two dissimilar metals may be insulated from one another and so the device may provide a galvanic effect between the two metals.

The device may, in use, be located in a fuel tank. Alternatively the device may, in use, be located in a fuel supply line, preferably close to the point of combustion. In each case, the fuel may be, or flow in contact with the two dissimilar metals prior to being introduced into the engine.

A device for use in a fuel supply line may comprise a ferrous metal casing within which is located a copper perforated element such that, in use, the fuel flows around and/or through the perforated element.

Preferably the perforated element comprises a copper perforated tube.

The copper element may be insulated from the ferrous metal casing.

The device may include additional perforated elements comprising copper perforated baffles and ferrous metal perforated baffles, the baffles being located within the copper perforated tube.

Preferably the baffles are arranged such that alternate baffles are copper and ferrous metal. The baffles may be mounted within the tube by a resilient spring means which separates the baffles from the tube and each other.

According to a second aspect of the invention, we provide a method of treating fuel prior to supply of the fuel to a combustion engine, comprising allowing the fuel to contact two dissimilar metals. The two dissimilar metals may be provided by a device according to the first aspect of the invention. Thus the device may provide a galvanic effect.

One embodiment of a device according to the invention will now be described, by way of example only, by reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a longitudinal cross-section of a device according to the invention.

Referring to the figure, a device 10, suitable for location in a fuel supply line, comprises a casing 11 made of mild steel or another ferrous metal, the casing 11 being in the form of a tube 12 having end plates 13, 14. End plate 13 comprises an inlet hole 15 and end plate 14 comprises an outlet hole 16. The inlet hole 15, and outlet hole 16, may be threaded as shown or otherwise may be provided with any suitable fittings for attachment in a fuel line.

Located within the casing 11, is a copper perforated tube 17. The tube 17 is spaced inwardly of the casing 11 and is electrically insulated therefrom.

Thus fuel may pass around the copper tube 17 in contact with both the copper tube 17 and ferrous casing 11. Within the tube 17 are alternate copper perforated baffles 18 and mild steel perforated baffles 19. The baffles 18, 19 are in the form of discs arranged perpendicular to axis A of the tube 17. The baffles 18, 19 are preferably mounted as shown by means of a spring 20 which may be made of ferrous metal. Preferably the copper baffles 18 at least are insulated from the spring 20. This may be achieved by coating the spring 20 in a plastics material.

Hence the baffles 18, 19 are all spaced from the copper tube 17 and can move axially a small amount permitted by the spring.

In use, the device 10 is located in a fuel supply line, preferably as close as possible to the engine. Fuel flows in through the inlet hole 15, through the casing 11 passing through and around the copper perforated tube 17, and through and around the copper perforated baffles 18 and mild steel perforated baffles 19 before exiting the device 10 through the outlet hole 16. The fuel is then supplied via the fuel supply line to a combustion engine.

The device 10 provides a galvanic effect on the fuel which results in improved combustion of the fuel due possibly to increased oxidation. This results in a cleaner engines, reduction of exhaust pollutants, especially particulates generated by diesel engines and carbon monoxide, and improved fuel efficiency.

Some effect is noticeable as soon as the device 10 is fitted, however it takes some time for the device to become fully established and thus the full effect to develop.

Once the device is fully established the effect operates from engine start up and is not dependant on the engine temperature. For instance, independent tests have shown that after fitting of the a device according to the invention to a diesel car and of the order of one hundred miles of urban driving the emissions recorded by a diesel smoke test were reduced by 85%.

The device 10 has been described as being constructed of mild steel and copper, however, it may be constructed of other metals such that it also provides a galvanic effect. In particular, the mild steel may be replaced with an alternative iron alloy and copper with another method higher in the electrochemical series than copper.

Devices according to the invention may be placed in fuel tanks and this also provides the beneficial effects described above. A device in a fuel tank may be in place of a device in a fuel supply line or additional to it. In general devices according to the invention which, in use, will be located in fuel tanks will be of modified or alternative construction to the device 10 described above.

Devices according to the invention may be used with a wide range of fuels e.g. diesel, petrol, both leaded and unleaded, and heating oils.

It will be appreciated that diesel fuel particularly, but all other fuels too, to some extent, contain water. It is believed that it is the presence of this water which allows the fuel to have the effect of an electrolyte in the device, which thus leads to the galvanic effect on the fuel.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A device to improve the combustion of fuel comprising two dissimilar metals which in use are in contact with fuel to be burnt.

2. A device according to Claim 1 in which one of the two metals is a ferrous metal and the other a metal higher in the electrochemical series than iron.

3. A device according to Claim 2 in which the other metal is copper.

4. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 which is adapted in use, to be located in a fuel tank.

5. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 which is adapted, in use, to be located in a fuel supply line.

6. A device according to Claim 5 comprising a ferrous metal casing within which is located a copper perforated element, such that, in use, the fuel flows around and/or through the perforated element.

7. A device according to Claim 6 wherein the copper perforated element comprises a copper perforated tube.

8. A device according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the copper element is insulated from the ferrous metal casing.

9. A device according to Claim 8 which comprises additional perforated elements being copper perforated baffles and ferrous metal perforated baffles, the baffles being located within the copper perforated tube.

10. A device according to Claim 9 wherein the baffles are arranged such that alternate baffles are copper and ferrous metal.

11. A device according to Claim 9 or Claim 10 wherein the baffles are mounted within the tube by a resilient spring means which separates the baffles from the tube and each other.

12. A method of treating fuel prior to supply of the fuel to a combustion engine comprising allowing the fuel to contact two dissimilar metals.

13. A method according to Claim 12 wherein the two dissimilar metals may be provided by a device according to any one of Claims 1 to 11.

14. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.