JP2006008852A - Method for producing emulsified oil fuel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing emulsified oil fuel that has high improvement effect of fuel consumption efficiency and high dispersion stability. <P>SOLUTION: In this method for producing the emulsified fuel, 5 to 50 % wt. of water or vegetable oil and fuel oil are mixed by means of a stirring machine 1. This stirring machine 1 can relatively rotate and is equipped with: the first member 2 and the second member 3 both of which opposing to each other at a prescribed interval; a flowing pass formed between these opposing members 2, 3; the projection parts 6, 7 arranged in circular rings that constitute a part of the opposing faces; and the indents 82 and 83 that desposed between the projection parts 6, 7, and constitute a part of the flow pass are prepared. The mutually proximal indents 82 on the rotor side and the indents 83 on the stator side are overlapped in the position of the same axis direction and are opened as they oppose to each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing an emulsion fuel in which water or vegetable oil and fuel oil are mixed with a stirrer.

Various emulsion fuels produced by mixing fuel oil such as heavy oil, light oil, kerosene and water have been studied in order to improve fuel consumption and reduce generation of harmful substances in exhaust gas. There are two types of emulsion fuel, an O / W (Oil in Water) type in which oil particles are dispersed in water and a W / O (Water in Oil) type in which water particles are dispersed in oil. Since water and oil usually separate into two phases, a stabilizer or an emulsifier (surfactant, etc.) is added to the emulsion to achieve dispersion stability, and it is sufficient to use a stirrer etc. Need to be mixed. Patent Document 1 describes a method for producing an emulsion fuel using a surfactant set to a predetermined HLB value as an emulsifier. In this patent document 1, as an emulsion fuel manufacturing apparatus, a rotor having a plurality of rod-shaped blades on an outer edge and a rotor having a cylindrical mesh screen are integrally rotated. (See Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-113385 (Claims 1, 3 and 2)

  The emulsion fuel produced by the above-described conventional production apparatus has not been able to sufficiently obtain the effect of improving fuel efficiency. Further, in the above-described conventional technology, although attempts have been made to stabilize the dispersion by considering the HLB value of the surfactant, the dispersion stability is actually poor. Therefore, in the above prior art, by adopting an inline method in which the agitator is directly connected between the fuel tank and the combustion device, a method for supplying the fuel immediately after agitation to the combustion device is adopted, and the oil-water separation phenomenon associated with standing for a long time is avoided. It was necessary to prevent it (see [0019] of Patent Document 1).

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a production method for producing an emulsion fuel that is highly effective in improving fuel efficiency and excellent in dispersion stability.

  The present invention relates to a method for producing an emulsion fuel in which 5 to 50% by weight of water or vegetable oil and fuel oil are mixed with a stirrer, wherein the stirrer has an inlet for fluid to be mixed and an outlet for fluid after mixing. And a first member and a second member that are capable of relative rotation around a predetermined rotation axis and are opposed to each other with a predetermined interval, and formed between the opposed surfaces of the first member and the second member, and from the inflow port A flow path that communicates with the discharge port, a projecting portion that is provided on the first member and the second member coaxially with the rotating shaft, and that is arranged in an annular shape to form a part of the facing surface; And the recesses of the first member and the recesses of the second member that are adjacent to each other overlap each other at the same axial position and each other. With an agitator that is open And wherein the Rukoto.

When stirring with the above stirrer, the fluid is vigorously stirred by the protrusions, and the fluid is given a shearing force between the first member and the second member that rotate relative to each other. In addition, vortices are generated in the recesses constituting a part of the flow path to increase the mixing efficiency. Further, in the process of passing through the flow path, the fluid is transferred between the recesses that are open in the axial positions and facing each other by the action of centrifugal force. Therefore, vortices generated in the recesses collide with each other, and the position exchange by the transfer between the recesses and the above-described shearing force act in combination, so that the mixing is performed extremely efficiently. By such a stirrer, 5 to 50% by weight of water or vegetable oil and fuel oil are stably and finely dispersed, and as a result, an emulsion fuel having excellent fuel efficiency can be produced.
In addition, “weight%” of the above “5 to 50% by weight” means water or vegetable oil with respect to a mixed liquid in which water or vegetable oil and fuel oil are mixed (when the additive is added, the weight of the additive is included). % By weight.

  The recesses are preferably arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction on the first and second members. In this case, a plurality of depressions can be efficiently arranged in the annular projecting portion. Therefore, it becomes possible to provide many dents and to make the flow of fluid more complicated.

  The indentation is preferably spherical. By making it spherical, the generation of vortices is promoted in the recess, and by making it spherical, the curved surface becomes smooth and the retention of fluid can be suppressed, so that the mixing efficiency is increased.

  The outer surface of the protruding portion of the stirrer includes a circumferential surface parallel to the axial direction and a radial plane parallel to the radial direction, and the opposing surface of the first member has a generally conical convex shape. Formed by a plurality of protrusions and recesses arranged in a staircase pattern, and the opposing surface of the second member has a generally conical concave shape corresponding to the opposing surface of the first member And a plurality of the protrusions and the recesses arranged in a step shape, the recess being centered on a line of intersection between the circumferential surface of the protrusions and the radial plane. It is preferable to have a substantially ¼ spherical shape.

  In this case, by combining a stepped conical convex surface and a conical concave surface corresponding to each other, a complicated flow passing through a plurality of steps while reducing the gap between the first member and the second member that rotate relative to each other. A path can be formed. In addition, by providing the depressions in each of the stepped protrusions, many depressions can be efficiently arranged at different positions in the radial direction and the axial direction. Further, by forming the dent into a substantially ¼ spherical shape having a center on the intersection line where the circumferential surface of the projecting portion and the radial plane intersect, the dent becomes a shape opened in both the radial direction and the axial direction. . Therefore, the indentation of the first member and the indentation of the second member overlap each other at the same axial position and radial position, and are opened facing each other in the axial direction and radial direction. The transfer can be performed frequently and complicatedly.

  As described above, according to the manufacturing method of the present invention, the shearing force generated by each member rotating relative to each other, the collision of vortices generated in the recesses, the position exchange by the transfer between the recesses, and the like are combined. It is possible to produce an emulsion fuel excellent in fuel efficiency by stably dispersing 5 to 50% by weight of water or vegetable oil and fuel oil.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a mixing head h portion in an embodiment of a stirrer 1 used in the production method of the present invention. The stirrer 1 includes a rotor 2 as a first member having a substantially conical shape whose apex is downward (upside down), and a stator 3 as a second member having a substantially conical dish shape. The substantially conical convex surface that is the outer surface of the rotor 2 and the substantially conical concave surface that is the inner surface of the stator 3 are in contact with each other.

  The rotor 2 is accommodated inside the stator 3 through a predetermined gap, and the rotor 2 and the stator 3 are provided coaxially with each other. The drive shaft 10 arranged coaxially with the central axis of the rotor 2 and the stator 3 is fastened by the rotor 2 and the bolt 11 at the lower end thereof. A motor 12 (see FIG. 5) not shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the drive shaft 10, and the drive shaft 10 and the rotor 2 are rotated by the motor 12. The stator 3 is integrated with an annular flange 13 provided so as to close the upper surface thereof, and a cylindrical portion 14 extending coaxially with the drive shaft 10 from the flange 13. A bearing 15 is interposed between the shaft 10 and the shaft 10. The drive shaft 10 is supported by the bearing 15 so as to be rotatable with respect to the cylindrical portion 14. Further, the flange 13 is fixed to the main body side of the motor 12 (see FIG. 5) by three tie bars 16 (see FIG. 5, only one is shown in FIG. 1) extending in the axial direction. With the above configuration, the rotor 2 and the stator 3 can be rotated relative to each other. In this way, the mixing head h portion has a structure that is easy to disassemble and clean.

  At the bottom of the stator 3, one inflow port 4 for allowing the fluid to be mixed to flow is provided. The inflow port 4 is a circular hole that penetrates the stator 3, and is provided coaxially with the stator 3. A discharge port 5 for discharging the mixed fluid is provided on the upper side surface of the stator 3. A plurality of discharge ports 5 penetrates the stator 3 and are provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction (see FIG. 5).

  The outer surface of the substantially conical rotor 2 is formed by a plurality of rotor-side protrusions 6 and rotor-side depressions 82 that are conically convex overall and are arranged coaxially and stepwise. The rotor side protrusions 6 are arranged in an annular shape having a predetermined diameter. Hereinafter, the diameter of a circle connecting the projecting ends of a plurality of projecting portions arranged in the same axial direction and arranged in an annular shape will be expressed as a “diameter of the projecting portion”. The rotor-side protrusions 6 arranged at the respective axial positions are arranged upward in the axial direction as the diameter thereof increases. In the present embodiment, the group of the rotor-side protrusions 6 arranged at the same axial position is four groups, but two or more groups are preferable.

  The inner surface of the substantially conical dish-shaped stator 3 is formed by a plurality of stator-side protrusions 7 and stator-side recesses 83 which are conically concave as a whole and are arranged coaxially and stepwise. Similarly to the rotor-side protruding portion 6, the stator-side protruding portion 7 is also arranged on the upper side in the axial direction as the diameter increases. In the present embodiment, the stator side protrusions 7 arranged at the same axial position are made into five groups, but it is preferable that the number is three groups or more. Further, it is preferable that the number of groups of the stator side protrusions 7 is one more than the number of groups of the rotor side protrusions 6 because the rotor side protrusions 6 and the stator side protrusions 7 can be easily combined alternately.

  A rotor side recess 82 is disposed between the rotor side protrusions 6 adjacent in the circumferential direction, and a stator side recess 83 is disposed between the stator side protrusions 7 adjacent in the circumferential direction. These protrusions 6 and 7 can be easily manufactured by forming recesses at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of an annular portion (not shown) protruding in an annular shape.

  Each outer surface of the rotor side protrusion 6 is composed of a rotor side circumferential surface 6a parallel to the axial direction and a rotor side radial plane 6b parallel to the radial direction. Each outer surface of the stator side protruding portion 7 is composed of a stator side circumferential surface 7a parallel to the axial direction and a stator side radial plane 7b parallel to the radial direction.

Thus, the opposing surface of the rotor 2 as the first member and the stator 3 as the second member has a plurality of protrusions 6 and 7 and recesses 82 and 83 that are arranged coaxially and continuously in a staircase pattern. It is formed by.
The opposing surface of the rotor 2 and the opposing surface of the stator 3 have shapes corresponding to each other. In this embodiment, in all the rotor side protrusions 6 and the stator side protrusions 7, the axial width (height) of the rotor side circumferential surface 6a and the axial width (height) of the stator side circumferential surface 7a are the same. The radial width of the rotor side radial plane 6b and the radial width of the stator side radial plane 7b are substantially the same (the rotor side is smaller by the radial interval k). And the group of four rotor side protrusions 6 is 61, 62, 63, 64 in order from the smallest diameter, and the group of five stator side protrusions 7 is 71, 72, 73, 74 in order from the smallest diameter. , 75, the outer diameter d61 of the rotor-side circumferential surface 6a of the first rotor-side protrusion 61, which is the smallest diameter in the group of rotor-side protrusions 6, is the second largest in the group of stator-side protrusions 7. The inner diameter d72 of the stator-side circumferential surface 7a of the small second stator-side protruding portion 72 is substantially the same (the inner diameter d72 is larger than the outer diameter d61 by the radial interval k). Similarly, the outer diameter of the rotor-side circumferential surface 6a of the group of rotor-side protrusions 6 is equal to the stator-side circumferential surface 7a of the group of stator-side protrusions 7 that overlap at the same axial position as the rotor-side protrusion 6. It is substantially the same as the inner diameter. The rotor side radial plane 6b of the rotor side projection 6 and the stator side radial plane 7b of the stator side projection 7 overlapping at the same radial position as the rotor side projection 6 are in the axial direction of distance d. Opposite through an interval. With this configuration, the facing distance between the rotor-side protruding portion 6 and the stator-side protruding portion 7 is reduced, and a strong shearing force is applied to the fluid flowing through the flow path formed between the facing surfaces of the rotor 2 and the stator 3. Is possible.

  Each of the protrusions 6 and 7 is provided with a rotor-side recess 82 and a stator-side recess 83 as recesses provided between the protrusions 6 and 7 and constituting a part of the fluid flow path. . FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the rotor-side depressions 82 when the rotor 2 is viewed from the side facing the stator 3 (the lower side in FIG. 1). FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an arrangement of stator side recesses 83 when viewed from the opposite surface side (upper side in FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 2, the rotor-side depressions 82 are provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction between the rotor-side protrusions 6. Since the size (the diameter of the spherical surface) and the interval of the rotor side indentations 82 are substantially the same, more rotor side indentations 82 are provided toward the outer side in the radial direction. For example, six rotor-side recesses 82 are provided between the first rotor-side protrusions 61 having the smallest diameter in the group of the rotor-side protrusions 6, whereas the second rotor side having the second smallest diameter is provided. Nine rotor side recesses 82 are provided in the protrusion 62.
Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3, the stator side depressions 83 are provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction between the stator side protrusions 7. Since the size (spherical diameter) and interval of the stator side recesses 83 are substantially the same, the more stator side recesses 83 are provided toward the outer side in the radial direction. For example, three stator-side recesses 83 are provided between the smallest-diameter first stator-side projections 71 in the group of stator-side projections 7, whereas the second smallest-diameter second stator side is provided. Six rotor side recesses 82 are provided between the protrusions 72.
Thus, by providing the recesses 82 and 83 between the rotor-side protrusions 6 and the stator-side protrusions 7 at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, a large number of the recesses 82 and 83 can be efficiently arranged. , More complex stirring is possible.

Each of the recesses 8 has a spherical shape with the same diameter. By making it spherical, the generation of vortices is promoted in the recess, and by making it spherical, the curved surface becomes smooth and the retention of fluid can be suppressed, so that the mixing efficiency is increased.
In addition, the recesses 82 and 83 are provided at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction between the rotor-side protrusion 6 and the stator-side protrusion 7 at each position in the axial direction. In this way, the depressions 82 and 83 can be efficiently arranged between the projecting portions 6 and 7 arranged in an annular shape. Therefore, a relatively large number of protrusions 6 and 7 and a relatively large number of depressions 82 and 83 can be provided, and the flow of fluid can be made more complicated.

  Each of the rotor-side indentations 82 provided between the rotor-side protrusions 6 is substantially 1 / centered on an intersection line 6c that is a virtual line where the rotor-side circumferential surface 6a and the rotor-side radial plane 6b intersect. Four spheres are used. Accordingly, the rotor-side recess 82 cuts out the rotor-side circumferential surface 6a in a substantially semicircular shape, and simultaneously cuts out the rotor-side radial plane 6b in a substantially semicircular shape. Similarly, each stator-side depression 83 provided in the stator-side protruding portion 7 has a center on an intersection line 7c that is a virtual line where the stator-side circumferential surface 7a and the stator-side radial plane 7b intersect. / 4 sphere. Accordingly, the stator-side recess 83 cuts out the stator-side circumferential surface 7a in a substantially semicircular shape, and simultaneously cuts out the stator-side radial plane 7b in a substantially semicircular shape. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the adjacent rotor side recess 82 and stator side recess 83 overlap at the same axial position and radial position and are opened facing each other in the axial direction and radial direction. It is in a state. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relative relationship between the rotor side recess 82 and the stator side recess 83 by overlapping FIGS. 2 and 3. However, since the rotor 2 and the stator 3 rotate relative to each other, the relative relationship shown in FIG. 4 appears every predetermined period as the rotor 2 rotates.

  When using the stirrer 1 having the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG. 5, the mixing head h portion of the stirrer 1 is immersed in the liquid 20 to be mixed, the motor 12 is operated, and the drive shaft 10 is connected. The rotor 2 is rotated. If it does so, the rotor 2 will rotate with respect to the stator 3 which does not rotate, and the rotor 2 and the stator 3 will rotate relatively. Thus, the stirrer 1 of this embodiment is used for batch processing.

When the rotor 2 rotates, the liquid 20 is sucked from the inlet 4 according to the principle of the centrifugal pump, and is discharged from the outlet 5 after passing through the flow path formed between the opposed surfaces of the rotor 2 and the stator 3. As shown by the broken line arrows in FIG. 1, in the process from the inlet 4 to the outlet 5, the liquid 20 is alternately transferred between the rotor side recess 82 and the stator side recess 83. That is, the liquid 20 flowing into a certain rotor-side depression 82 is transferred to the stator-side depression 83 having the same axial position as the depression 82 by the action of centrifugal force, and further, the rotor side having the same radial position as the depression 83. It is transferred to the recess 82. Thereafter, the transfer between the recesses is repeated as appropriate. The broken-line arrow in FIG. 1 is a simplified planar arrow for easy understanding. However, since the rotor 2 and the stator 3 are actually rotating relative to each other, the rotor-side recess 82 and the stator side are actually rotated. Transfer to and from the recess 83 is performed with a rotational motion. Then, vortices are generated in the individual depressions 82 and 83, and these vortices collide violently.
In order to enhance the pump function, an impeller (blade) may be added to the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 2.

  Further, since the axial distance d and the radial distance k between the rotor 2 and the stator 3 are set to be relatively narrow, a strong shearing force acts on the liquid 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the rotor-side circumferential surface 6 a and the rotor-side radial plane 6 b of the rotor 2 have a non-recessed portion 21 without a recess, and similarly, the stator-side circumferential surface 7 a of the stator 3. The stator side radial plane 7b also has a non-recessed portion 21 without a recess. Due to the presence of these non-recessed portions 21, the liquid 20 receives a shearing force generated by a gap having an axial interval d or a radial interval k.

The axial interval d and the radial interval k are appropriately set in consideration of various circumstances such as the viscosity of the liquid 20 to be mixed and the particle size of the solute. In general, however, it is preferable that the axial distance d and the radial distance k be relatively narrow because the shearing force acting on the liquid 20 is increased. Accordingly, the axial distance d is preferably 2 mm or less, and more preferably 1 mm or less. However, if the axial distance d is too small, the flow of the liquid 20 may not be smooth, and excessive dimensional accuracy may be required for the rotor 2 and the stator 3, which may increase the cost. It is preferably 0.1 mm or more, more preferably 0.2 mm or more, and further preferably 0.4 mm or more.
The preferable range of the radial interval k is the same as the preferable range of the axial interval d. The preferable range of the minimum clearance distance between the rotor 2 and the stator 3 is also the same as the preferable range of the axial distance d.
In addition, it is good also as the stirrer 1 provided with the adjustment mechanism which can adjust the axial direction space | interval d by making the axial direction relative position of the rotor 2 and the stator 3 variable.

  In the production method of the present invention, 5 to 50% by weight of water or vegetable oil is mixed with the fuel oil. Examples of the fuel oil include gasoline, aviation gasoline, automobile gasoline, industrial gasoline, kerosene, light oil, heavy oil (A heavy oil, B heavy oil, C heavy oil) and the like. As water, ion-exchanged water, tap water, distilled water, or the like can be used as appropriate. As vegetable oil, rapeseed oil etc. can be used, for example. As shown in the experiments described later, in the present invention, particularly good results were obtained when 5 to 50% by weight of water was mixed with A heavy oil.

  In the production method of the present invention, it is preferable to use an additive such as a surfactant in addition to water or vegetable oil and fuel oil because the dispersion stability is increased. As the additive, for example, a surfactant that forms a W / O (Water in Oil) type emulsion can be used.

The effect of the present invention was confirmed by confirming the fuel consumption of the emulsion fuel produced by the production method of the present invention.
As a stirrer in the examples, a fluid division mixing mixer manufactured and sold by ATEC Japan Co., Ltd. was used.
And the emulsion fuel was produced by throwing in tap water and an additive, stirring with the said stirrer in the tank containing A heavy oil (density 0.86g / ml). And the generator was rotated with the diesel engine for a fixed time using this emulsion fuel, and the quantity of the emulsion fuel consumed in the meantime was measured. During the experiment, a constant load was applied to the power generation amount so that the engine output and the power generation amount were always constant. In this measurement, the engine was first rotated for a predetermined time before the measurement, and the measurement was started when the rotation of the engine was stabilized.
When the mixing ratio of tap water was appropriately changed and measured, the fuel consumption was particularly good when the ratio of tap water was 5 to 50% by weight.

It is sectional drawing of the mixing head part of the stirrer used for the manufacturing method which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the arrangement | sequence of the hollow of the rotor part of the stirrer of FIG. It is a top view which shows the arrangement | sequence of the hollow of the stator part of the stirrer of FIG. It is the figure which showed the relative positional relationship of the hollow of a rotor part, and the hollow of a stator part by superimposing FIG. 2 and FIG. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that the liquid is stirred using the stirrer of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Stirrer 2 Rotor (first member)
3 Stator (second member)
4 Inlet 5 Outlet 6, 61-64 Rotor side protrusion (protrusion)
6a Rotor side circumferential surface (circumferential surface parallel to the axial direction)
6b Rotor side radial plane (radial plane parallel to radial direction)
7,71-75 Stator side protrusion (protrusion)
7a Stator side circumferential surface (circumferential surface parallel to the axial direction)
7b Stator side radial plane (radial plane parallel to radial direction)
d Axial spacing 82 Indentation on the rotor side
83 Indentation on stator side

Claims (4)

A method for producing an emulsion fuel in which 5 to 50% by weight of water or vegetable oil and fuel oil are mixed with a stirrer,
The stirrer
A fluid inlet to be mixed and a fluid outlet after mixing;
A first member and a second member that are capable of relative rotation about a predetermined rotation axis and are opposed to each other with a predetermined interval;
A flow path formed between the opposing surfaces of the first member and the second member, and communicating from the inlet to the outlet;
Protrusions arranged in an annular shape that are provided on the first member and the second member coaxially with the rotation shaft and form a part of the facing surface;
A recess provided between the protrusions and constituting a part of the flow path;
With
The indentation of the first member and the indentation of the second member that are close to each other are stirrers that overlap at the same axial position and open to face each other.   2. The method for producing an emulsion fuel according to claim 1, wherein the recesses are arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction on the first and second members.   The method for producing an emulsion fuel according to claim 1, wherein the indentation is spherical. The outer surface of the protruding portion is composed of a circumferential surface parallel to the axial direction and a radial plane parallel to the radial direction,
The opposing surface of the first member is formed by a plurality of the projecting portions and the depressions that are formed in a conical convex shape and arranged in a step shape.
The opposing surface of the second member is formed by a plurality of the projecting portions and the indentations corresponding to the opposing surface of the first member and having a conical concave shape as a whole and arranged in a staircase pattern. And
The said hollow is a substantially 1/4 spherical shape which has a center on the intersection line which the said circumferential surface and the said radial direction plane of the said protrusion part cross | intersect. Method for producing emulsion fuel.

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