GB2305970A - Biogas-fuelled i.c. engine, eg for driving a generator, with injection of corrosion-inhibiting oil on shutdown - Google Patents
Biogas-fuelled i.c. engine, eg for driving a generator, with injection of corrosion-inhibiting oil on shutdown Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2305970A GB2305970A GB9620527A GB9620527A GB2305970A GB 2305970 A GB2305970 A GB 2305970A GB 9620527 A GB9620527 A GB 9620527A GB 9620527 A GB9620527 A GB 9620527A GB 2305970 A GB2305970 A GB 2305970A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- biogas
- engine
- intake
- oil
- fuel supply
- 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- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 title abstract description 4
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 title abstract description 4
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 title 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 title 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 title 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 claims description 26
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 abstract description 28
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 abstract description 11
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 10
- RWSOTUBLDIXVET-UHFFFAOYSA-N Dihydrogen sulfide Chemical class S RWSOTUBLDIXVET-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 9
- 239000010687 lubricating oil Substances 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 10
- 230000003472 neutralizing effect Effects 0.000 description 10
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 description 6
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfuric acid Chemical compound OS(O)(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000006227 byproduct Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 3
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000029087 digestion Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 description 2
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 229910000037 hydrogen sulfide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000010815 organic waste Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 2
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910000881 Cu alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 108010044349 Maxitrol Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 229910000978 Pb alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- UCKMPCXJQFINFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulphide Chemical compound [S-2] UCKMPCXJQFINFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002250 absorbent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002745 absorbent Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002378 acidificating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000001298 alcohols Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 1
- UREBDLICKHMUKA-CXSFZGCWSA-N dexamethasone Chemical compound C1CC2=CC(=O)C=C[C@]2(C)[C@]2(F)[C@@H]1[C@@H]1C[C@@H](C)[C@@](C(=O)CO)(O)[C@@]1(C)C[C@@H]2O UREBDLICKHMUKA-CXSFZGCWSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005461 lubrication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229940029062 maxitrol Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 239000002808 molecular sieve Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003345 natural gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007800 oxidant agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- URGAHOPLAPQHLN-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium aluminosilicate Chemical compound [Na+].[Al+3].[O-][Si]([O-])=O.[O-][Si]([O-])=O URGAHOPLAPQHLN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000007790 solid phase Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
- F02B77/00—Component parts, details or accessories, not otherwise provided for
- F02B77/04—Cleaning of, preventing corrosion or erosion in, or preventing unwanted deposits in, combustion engines
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- F02M21/00—Apparatus for supplying engines with non-liquid fuels, e.g. gaseous fuels stored in liquid form
- F02M21/02—Apparatus for supplying engines with non-liquid fuels, e.g. gaseous fuels stored in liquid form for gaseous fuels
- F02M21/0203—Apparatus for supplying engines with non-liquid fuels, e.g. gaseous fuels stored in liquid form for gaseous fuels characterised by the type of gaseous fuel
- F02M21/0215—Mixtures of gaseous fuels; Natural gas; Biogas; Mine gas; Landfill gas
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- F02M21/00—Apparatus for supplying engines with non-liquid fuels, e.g. gaseous fuels stored in liquid form
- F02M21/02—Apparatus for supplying engines with non-liquid fuels, e.g. gaseous fuels stored in liquid form for gaseous fuels
- F02M21/0218—Details on the gaseous fuel supply system, e.g. tanks, valves, pipes, pumps, rails, injectors or mixers
- F02M21/0227—Means to treat or clean gaseous fuels or fuel systems, e.g. removal of tar, cracking, reforming or enriching
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- F02M25/00—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture
- F02M25/06—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture adding lubricant vapours
-
- Y—GENERAL 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
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E50/00—Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
- Y02E50/30—Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
-
- Y—GENERAL 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
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
- Y02T10/10—Internal combustion engine [ICE] based vehicles
- Y02T10/12—Improving ICE efficiencies
-
- Y—GENERAL 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
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
- Y02T10/10—Internal combustion engine [ICE] based vehicles
- Y02T10/30—Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Output Control And Ontrol Of Special Type Engine (AREA)
Abstract
The engine cylinder 20 has an intake 22 which receives a biogas-air mixture from carburettor 24. An acid-neutralizing lubricating oil is supplied to the intake 22 by pump 34 from reservoir 36 each time the ignition is switched off to prevent corrosion of the engine by acid residues when not in use. A timing circuit connected to the ignition system energises the pump 34 and keeps the engine turning for three seconds to ensure that all the cylinders are coated with the oil. Hydrogen sulfides and mercaptans are removed from the biogas by filter 50 and water vapour is removed by a coalescer 44. The filter may take the form of two 208 litre drums mounted on a wooden skid and filled with a porous medium through which the biogas flows from top to bottom.
Description
BIOGAS DRIVEN GZNERAbOR SET
Background Of The Invention
The field of the invention is internal combustion engines fueled by biogas, and particularly, application such as electrical generator sets in which the engine is operated intermittently.
Biogas is produced by the anaerobic digestion of hydrocarbons. Organic waste materials such as wood byproducts (wood chips, sawdust, bark, etc.), public and private landfills, food processing byproducts, waste treatment plants and farm waste, produce biogas comprised mainly of methane and carbon dioxide. Any organic waste that can be processed through an anaerobic digester will produce methane in concentrations ranging from 50% to 80%. Unfortunately, there are other constituents produced by the anaerobic digestion of hydrocarbons, some that are inert and others that can form acids with the water vapor being produced. For example, small quantities of hydrogen sulfide may be produced and form sulfuric acid, and mercaptans, which are alcohols with an OH radical, can also form sulfuric acid. Carbon dioxide, which is produced in significant amounts is an ingredient for carbonic acid.
Biogas is used commercially in three ways. First, it can be burned directly to produce heat. This is the simplest use, since the various constituents are of little concern in the combustion process. Biogas may also be filtered and pumped into natural gas pipelines for widespread distribution. And finally the biogas may be filtereand applied to fuel an internal combustion engine. This latter application is particularly useful because the engine may power a generator which produced electrical energy.
When used to fuel an internal combustion engine, the constituents in biogas can significantly shorten the useful life of the engine. This is particularly true when the engine is operated intermittently. During shutdown, the last few strokes of the engine piston intakes unburned biogas. The various acids discussed above soon form and corrode the surfaces of the cylinder walls, the piston rings, valve seats and spark plug.
These acids leak by the corroded rings into the oil sump where they are pumped throughout the engine. The contaminated oil is particularly corrosive for copper and lead alloy components. As this process occurs, the engine becomes more difficult to start until it eventually fails completely.
A typical prior art biogas driven system is shown schematically in Fig. 1, where the biogas is produced in a digester 10 and stored in a vessel 12. The pressure of the biogas can vary considerably, and a regulator 14 is employed to maintain the gas pressure at a relatively constant level at the input 16 of a carburetor 18. The biogas is mixed wit combustion air in the carburetor 18 and injected into the engine cylinder 20. This basic system may also include a pump which boosts the biogas pressure in applications where the pressure is less than 4 inches of water, and it may include gas filters when corrosive constituents are a known problem. Por example, hydrogen sulfide can be removed using a variety of liquid absorbents and/or solid phase oxidants.Several dry processes are also available using particles of either activated carbon, molecular sieve, or iron sponge to remove the sulfide from biogas.
Summarv Of The Invention
The present invention is a system for fueling an internal combustion engine with biogas in which a neutralizing oil is injected into the biogas intake to coat engine components and protect them from the corrosive effects'of acid. More specifically, the invention includes: an internal combustion engine having an intake for receiving a mixture of biogas and air; a carburetor mixer having an air intake, a biogas intake and an output for delivering a mixture of biogas and air to the engine intake; a reservoir of acid-neutralizing oil, and means for delivering a stream of biogas to the carburetor intake and injecting acid-neutralizing oil from the reservoir into the engine intake when the engine is shut down.
A general object of the invention is to reduce the corrosion of engine components due to acids produced by biogas constituents. By injecting a highly basic lubricating oil into the engine intake, the surface of the engine cylinder walls and piston are coated with oil. Any acids which are formed from biogas constituents are neutralized by the basic nature of the cull, and their,corrosive effects are thus reduced while the engine remains idle.
A more specific object of the invention is to heavily coat engine components with acid neutralizing oil each time the engine is shut down. A timing circuit is operated each time the operator shuts down the engine. This timing circuit keeps the engine operating for a preset time interval and energizes a pump which injects protective oil into the engine. The preset time interval is long enough to insure that all engine components are protected with oil during the subsequent idle period.
Another object of the invention is to provide a cost effective biogas filter which reduces the biogas constituents that lead to engine corrosion. Ordinary drums are used to contain a filter media and the biogas is passed through the filter media on its path to the engine. Moisture is removed from the biogas in a coalescer after passing through the filter media, and the moisture enhances the filtering operation. The useful life of the media is extended by the introduction of air into the drums by a dual action valve which also acts as a pressure relief valve.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration a preferred embodiment of the invention. Such embodiment does not necessarily represent the full scope of the invention, however, and reference is made therefore to the claims herein for interpreting the scope of the invention.
Brief DescriDtion Of The Drawinas
Pig. 1 is a schematic drawing of a typical prior art biogas fuel delivery system;
Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing of a biogas fuel delivery system according to the present invention;
Fig. 3 is an elevation view of a generator set which employs the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the biogas filter which forms part of the system of Fig. 2; and
Fig. 5 is a top view of the biogas filter of Fig. 4.
DescriDtion Of The Preferred Embodiment Referring particularly to Fig. 2, an engine cylinder 20 has an intake 22 which receives a biogas/air mixture from a carburetor 24. The carburetor mixer 24 has an air intake 26 and a biogas intake 28 that connects to an engine gas regulator 30.
The regulator 30 receives biogas at a relatively high pressure (eg. 5 to 15 inches of water) and produces a stream of biogas at its output for the carburetor 24 at a regulated pressure of 5 inches of water.
It is a teaching of the present invention that a neutralizing lubricating oil be injected into the engine intake 22 each time the engine is shut down. A reservoir 36 containing acid neutralizing oil connects to a pump 34, and neutralizing oil isrinjected into the engine intake 22 when the pump 34 is energized. A timing circuit (not shown) connects to the engine ignition system, and when the ignition is turned off, the timing circuit energizes the pump 34 and keeps the engine 20 running for three seconds. This is sufficient time for enough neutralizing oil to be injected to coat the surfaces of all engine cylinders.
The oil has a total basic number ("TBN") that is greater than 14, and when it mixes with any acids that form from biogas constituents, they are neutralized and become far less corrosive.
An oil commercially available from the Marvel Oil Company, Inc.
of Port Chester, New York, and sold under the trademark "Marvel
Mystery Oil" is used in the preferred embodiment. A neutralizing oil is also used in the engine crankcase 40 for engine lubrication, and an impregnated acid neutralizing filter 42 is used to clean the crankcase oil.
To remove water vapor from the biogas, a coalescer 44 is connected to the input of the engine regulator 30. Water vapor that condenses in the coalescer 44 is removed through a drain.
The coalescer 44 is designed for a flow rate large enough to prevent restriction of the biogas fuel flow down to biogas pressures as low as two inches of water.
To filter the hydrogen sulfides and mercaptans out of the biogas fuel, a biogas filter 50 is connected to the input of the coalescer 44. As will be explained in more detail below, the preferred embodiment of this filter 50 is constructed of two 55 gallon drums which are filled with filter media such as "Porostone" or "Iron Sponge" commercially available from Connel GPM, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois. This filter media removes most of the hydrogen sulfides and mercaptans from the moist biogas as it flows through the filter 50.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, an internal combustion engine 100 is employed to drive an electrical generator 106. This generator set is operated when there is a sufficient supply of biogas, and then it is shut down for a period of time while the biogas supply is replenished. This intermittent engine operation has proven to be a particularly challenging situation because raw biogas is left in the engine cylinders after each shut down and acidic byproducts are produced which are highly corrosive. In a typical farm application, for example, the generator may operate for a period of four hours and then be shut down for twenty hours.
Referring particularly to Fig. 3, the generator set includes a model LSG-423 four cylinder, turbocharged engine 100 manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. The engine 100 is mounted on a frame 102 which also supports a radiator 104, an electrical generator 106 and an enclosure 108 for the associated control circuitry. The engine 100 rotates the generator shaft (not shown) and the generator 106 produces electricity that is regulated and distributed by the electronics inside the enclosure 108.
Combustion air for the engine 10.0 is received through an air filter 100 and is coupled to the air intake on a first carburetor/mixer 113. The carburetor/mixer 113 receives biogas fuel through intake hose 116. The output of carburetor/mixer 113 is applied to the air inlet on a second carburetor/mixer 114.
The carburetor/mixer 114 also receives biogas fuel through the intake hose 116. The air/fuel mixture from the second carburetor/mixer 114 is applied to the fuel intake port of each engine cylinder. The first carburetor/mixer 113 is a model CA/25m which is commercially available from Impco Technologies,
Inc. of Cerritos, California and the second carburetor/mixer 114 is a model 100 also available from Impco Technologies.
The biogas is supplied to the carburetor/mixers 113 and 114 through shut-off valves 127 and a supply pipe 128 that connects to a solenoid valve 129. The solenoid valve 129 is a shut-off valve No. 821460 commercially available from ASCO Company and it is electrically operable when the engine is shut down to shut off the biogas fuel supply as quickly as possible. This minimizes the amount of unburned biogas constituents that are deposited in the engine during its idle periods. Biogas is delivered to the solenoid valve 129 by a gas regulator 130. The regulator 130 is a model ES-307 commercially available from Maxitrol Company of
Southfield, Michigan, and it is operable to regulate biogas pressure in the supply pipe 128 to 3 to 6 inches of water.
The regulator 130 is mounted to the frame 102 such that its diaphragm (not shown in the drawings) is oriented in a substantially vertical plane. While the diaphragm need not be vertical, it is important that the regulator 130 be mounted such that fluids in the biogas stream flowing through it will not *pool" on the diaphragm and hinder its operation.
The biogas is supplied to the regulator 130 through a pipe 132 that connects to the output of a coalescer 134. The coalescer 134 is comprised of filter commercially available from Pall Process Filtration Company of East Hills, New York. As the moist biogas passes through this filter, water vapor condences and flows out through a drain located at the bottom of the coalescer 134. The biogas fuel is fed to the coalescer 134 through a line 136.
The protective neutralizing oil used to practice the present invention is stored in a reservoir 138 mounted to the side of the radiator 104. A pump 140 is mounted to the reservoir 138 and receives oil therefrom through line 142. A pump 140 and integral reservoir 138 commercially available from J.D. Whitney & Company as stock number 17BJ9165T is employed. The output of pump 140 connects through an oil line 144 to a solenoid valve 146 mounted to the engine 100. The output of the solenoid valve is in turn connected through an oil line 148 to the output of carburetor mixer 114. The oil line 148 is connected to feed oil directly into the engine fuel intake manifold. The solenoid valve 146 is an electrically operated valve available from Blackstone
Corporation as part No. 2526, which is closed to prevent neutralizing oil from being drawn into the engine while it is running.
Both the solenoid valve 146 and pump 140 are connected to the engine ignition system through a timing circuit (not shown in the~drawings). When the ignition system is turned off by the operator to shut down the generator set, the timing circuit immediately opens the solenoid valve 146 and energizes the pump 140 for a period of three seconds. After this preset time period, the ignition system is deenergized, the solenoid valve 146 is closed and the oil pump 140 is turned off. During this three second interval, enough oil is pumped into the engine to lubricate each cylinder wall, rings and valve stem. This protects these engine components from the corrosive effects of biogas constituents that form while the engine is idle.
Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, the biogas filter connected to supply line 136 is comprised of two 55 gallon drums 150 and 152 mounted on end to a wood shipping skid 154. The drums 150 and 152 are fastened to the skid 154 by steel bands 160 and 162 which wrap around both drums and hold them against a central wooden drum separator 164. Blocks 155 at the base of the drums 150 and 152 also provide restraint.
The drums 150 and 152 are filled with a filter media as described above, and the moist biogas is introduced at openings in the top if each drum through a two inch PVC inlet pipe 156. A shut-off valve 157 connects the pipe 156 to the biogas source.
Outlets near the bottom of each drum 150 and 152 are connected to the fuel line 136 through a two inch PVC outlet pipe 158. In the preferred embodiment the filters formed by drums 150 and 152 are connected in parallel as shown to provide the needed capacity for a 30 kW generator set. It can be appreciated that additional filters can be connected in parallel or serial as may be required at the particular installation.
It is well known that the addition of approximately 2% oxygen or 5% air into the filter media will extend its useful life by a factor of three. To introduce air into the drums 150 and 152 during normal operation, a unique dual action drum vent valve 170 is connected to the intake pipe 156. The dual action valve 170 is commercially available from Global Occupational
Safety National Distribution Centers as Model L1812. It performs the function of a pressure relief valve when the internal drum pressure exceeds 5 psi. In addition, however, this valve 170 allows air into the drums 150 and 152 at a rate of 4 gallons per minute. This translates to .5 cubic feet per minute of air which is the desired 5% for a biogas fuel rate of 10 cubic feet per minute. This is the proper rate for fuel and air for a 30 kW generator set, and when larger generator sets are powered, additional dual action valves may be used to maintain the 5% air level at the corresponding higher fuel rates.
Claims (8)
1. A biogas fuel supply system for providing fuel to the intake of an internal combustion engine, which comprises:
a carburetor having an air intake and a biogas intake, the carburetor being operable to mix air with a stream of biogas supplied to the carburetor biogas intake and deliver the mixture to said engine intake;
a reservoir for storing acid-neutralizing oil; and
an injector coupled to the reservoir for receiving acidneutralizing oil and injecting it into the engine intake for a preset time interval when the engine is shut down.
2. The biogas fuel supply system as recited in claim 1 in which the acid-neutralizing oil has a total base number greater than 14.
3. The biogas fuel supply system as recited in claim 1 in which a regulator is connected to receive the stream of biogas and supply said stream of biogas to the carburetor at a substantially constant pressure.
+. The biogas fuel supply system as recited in dlaim 1 in which the injector includes a pump that is energized for the preset time interval to deliver said oil to the engine intake.
5. The biogas fuel supply as recited in claim 4 in which the injector includes a solenoid valve connected between the pump and the engine intake and which is energized during the preset time interval to allow said oil to flow.
6. The biogas fuel supply system as recited in claim 1 which includes a biogas filter coupled to supply biogas to the biogas intake of the carburetor, the biogas filter including:
a drum containing the filter material and having an input opening located at the top of the drum and an output opening located at the bottom of the drum; and
a valve coupled to the drum for enabling air to enter the drum as biogas flows therethrough to extend the useful life of the filter material therein.
7. The biogas fuel supply system as recited in claim 6 in which the valve is a dual action valve that also operates to relieve pressure in the drum when the pressure exceeds a preset amount.
8. A biogas fuel supply system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in Figs 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US47439595A | 1995-10-02 | 1995-10-02 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9620527D0 GB9620527D0 (en) | 1996-11-20 |
| GB2305970A true GB2305970A (en) | 1997-04-23 |
Family
ID=23883339
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9620527A Withdrawn GB2305970A (en) | 1995-10-02 | 1996-10-02 | Biogas-fuelled i.c. engine, eg for driving a generator, with injection of corrosion-inhibiting oil on shutdown |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2305970A (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2357318A (en) * | 1999-12-15 | 2001-06-20 | Anthony Mark Downing | Conditioning a gas engine with water vapour from injected water |
| WO2002097247A2 (en) * | 2001-05-30 | 2002-12-05 | Reinhold Ficht | Use of internal combustion engines for the combustion of biogas |
| GB2470197A (en) * | 2009-05-12 | 2010-11-17 | John Hayward | Hydrogen sulphide removal |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2244093A (en) * | 1990-05-14 | 1991-11-20 | Outboard Marine Corp | Engine maintainance fluid introduction system |
| WO1996021095A1 (en) * | 1995-01-06 | 1996-07-11 | Kohler Co. | Biogas-driven generator set |
-
1996
- 1996-10-02 GB GB9620527A patent/GB2305970A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2244093A (en) * | 1990-05-14 | 1991-11-20 | Outboard Marine Corp | Engine maintainance fluid introduction system |
| WO1996021095A1 (en) * | 1995-01-06 | 1996-07-11 | Kohler Co. | Biogas-driven generator set |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2357318A (en) * | 1999-12-15 | 2001-06-20 | Anthony Mark Downing | Conditioning a gas engine with water vapour from injected water |
| GB2357318B (en) * | 1999-12-15 | 2003-06-18 | Anthony Mark Downing | Improvements in and relating to gas engines |
| WO2002097247A2 (en) * | 2001-05-30 | 2002-12-05 | Reinhold Ficht | Use of internal combustion engines for the combustion of biogas |
| WO2002097247A3 (en) * | 2001-05-30 | 2003-08-21 | Reinhold Ficht | Use of internal combustion engines for the combustion of biogas |
| GB2470197A (en) * | 2009-05-12 | 2010-11-17 | John Hayward | Hydrogen sulphide removal |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9620527D0 (en) | 1996-11-20 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |