JP2009156237A - Fuel separator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To separate fuel components different in boiling points and octane numbers (ignitability). <P>SOLUTION: A cylindrical separation membrane 6 is arranged in a fuel piping 2, and the inside of the separation membrane is formed as a throttle passage 4, and the inner circumferential surface of the separation membrane 6 is set up to be a super cavitation (S/C) generation section 5. A suction pump 9 is arranged on a fuel taking-out passage 7 extending from an outer circumferential side (a permeation side; separation of a fuel with a low octane number) of the separation membrane 6 to the outside. Further, a branched passage 11 is branched from the fuel taking-out passage 7 at an upstream side of the suction pump 9. A control means (ECU) controls generation of the S/C by adjusting a fuel flow rate in the fuel piping 2 by a flow rate regulation device 3. When the S/C is generated, it collects the fuel with a low boiling point from the fuel taking-out passage 7 by operating the suction pump 9. When the S/C is not generated, it collects the fuel with a high boiling point from the branched passage 11 by stopping the suction pump 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel separator.

  Conventionally, as a method for separating components having different properties from fuel, a method using the distillation characteristics of fuel is known. However, in the fuel separation method using this distillation characteristic, it is necessary to evaporate the fuel, and much energy is consumed during the evaporation. Therefore, this fuel separation method is applied to a vehicle using an engine as a drive source. It is difficult.

  Therefore, in the deaeration apparatus described in Patent Document 1, super cavitation (a phenomenon in which a very low pressure retention cavity close to the saturated vapor pressure of the liquid is generated in the liquid flow path), which is a form of cavitation, is used. A gas in the liquid fuel is deposited in a cavity formed by super cavitation on the peripheral surface, and the deposited gas is continuously deaerated (separated) by a vacuum pump.

On the other hand, in the fuel supply device described in Patent Document 2, the separation means that can be separated into a fuel having a low octane number (RON) and a fuel having a high octane number (RON) and a fuel having a low octane number separated by the separation means are changed to a fuel having a high octane number. By providing the reforming means to improve the quality, a fuel having a higher octane number than the supplied fuel is obtained.
JP 2007-021500 A JP 2006-070148 A

  For example, in the case of a diesel engine, when using a fuel having a low boiling point and a low octane number at low temperature start, the ignitability of the fuel is improved, so that it is possible to suppress the occurrence of soot due to incomplete combustion. In this case, a fuel having a low boiling point is separated from the supplied fuel by using the technique described in Patent Document 1, and further, a fuel having a low octane number is separated from the fuel having a low boiling point by using the technique described in Patent Document 2. Thus, a method of separating a fuel having a lower boiling point than the supplied fuel and a low octane number is also conceivable. However, when fuels having different boiling points and octane numbers are to be separated from the supplied fuel by this method, the fuel separation device becomes large, which causes layout problems when the device is mounted on a vehicle.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a problem, and it aims at providing the compact fuel separation apparatus which isolate | separates the fuel from which a boiling point and an octane number (ignitability) differ from supplied fuel.

  Therefore, in the present invention, a super cavitation generator provided in the fuel pipe and capable of generating super cavitation, and provided in the super cavitation generator, the fuel in the super cavitation generator is permeated or non-permeated depending on the molecular structure. A separation membrane that separates the fuel; a fuel extraction passage that extracts the fuel that permeates the separation membrane; and a negative pressure suction unit that is provided in the fuel extraction passage and sucks the permeated fuel.

  According to the present invention, the fuel having a low boiling point is separated from the supplied fuel in the super cavitation generating portion of the fuel pipe, and the octane number (ignitability) of the fuel having the low boiling point is separated from the fuel having the low boiling point by the separation membrane provided in the cavitation generating portion. By separating different fuels, it is possible to take out fuel having a lower boiling point and a different octane number than the supplied fuel from the permeate side of the separation membrane. Further, since the separation membrane is provided in the fuel pipe, the fuel separation device can be made more compact than when the separation membrane is provided outside the fuel pipe.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a fuel separation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Fuel supplied from the outside (fuel supplied) is stored in a fuel tank 1 provided in a vehicle that uses an engine as a drive source. Here, as specific examples of the supplied fuel, gasoline, ethanol-mixed gasoline, light oil, synthetic light oil (GTL), biodiesel-fuel mixed light oil, and the like can be considered.

Both ends of a fuel pipe 2 are connected to the fuel tank 1, and the supplied fuel can be circulated through the fuel pipe 2.
The fuel pipe 2 is provided with a flow rate adjusting device (flow rate adjusting means) 3 for adjusting the fuel flow rate in the pipe. The flow rate adjusting device 3 is composed of a circulation pump (not shown) and a flow rate control valve (not shown), and the fuel flow rate in the fuel pipe 2 is adjusted by controlling the opening degree of the flow rate control valve. To do. Here, in addition to the above, the flow rate adjusting device 3 may be configured by only a circulation pump, and the fuel flow rate in the fuel pipe 2 may be adjusted by controlling the rotation speed of the circulation pump. Further, the flow rate adjusting device 3 adjusts the fuel flow rate so that the supplied fuel becomes a turbulent flow in the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of the fuel pipe 2.

  Further, the fuel pipe 2 is provided with a throttle passage 4 having a certain length in which a cross-sectional area is rapidly reduced. The flow rate (dynamic pressure) of the supplied fuel flowing through the fuel pipe 2 rapidly increases in the throttle passage 4. Accordingly, the pressure (static pressure) of the supplied fuel flowing in the throttle passage 4 rapidly decreases. For this reason, when the pressure (static pressure) of the supplied fuel flowing through the throttle passage 4 is lower than the saturated vapor pressure of the high vapor pressure fuel (low boiling point fuel) contained in the supplied fuel, the low boiling point fuel starts to vaporize, A stationary cavity containing a low-boiling point fuel is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the throttle passage 4 on the downstream side of the upstream end 4a (peeling point) of the passage 4. The phenomenon that generates the stationary cavity is super cavitation, and the inner peripheral surface of the throttle passage 4 capable of generating the super cavitation becomes the super cavitation generating unit 5.

  The inner peripheral surface (super cavitation generating portion 5) of the throttle passage 4 is composed of a separation membrane 6 that separates fuel by permeation / non-permeation according to the molecular structure of the fuel. That is, a separation membrane 6 formed in a cylindrical shape is provided in the fuel pipe 2, the inside thereof is used as a throttle passage 4, and the inner peripheral surface of the separation membrane 6 is used as a super cavitation generator 5. The outer peripheral side of the separation membrane 6 is a fuel extraction space that is separated from the fuel flow path in the fuel pipe 2 via the separation membrane 6, and this fuel extraction space is opened by an opening provided on the outer wall of the fuel pipe 2. , A fuel extraction passage 7 to the outside.

  In the present embodiment, the separation membrane 6 permeates the straight chain hydrocarbon fuel (normal paraffin hydrocarbon fuel) among the fuels, and the hydrocarbon fuel other than the straight chain hydrocarbon (cyclic hydrocarbon fuel, olefin type). Hydrocarbon fuel, side chain hydrocarbon fuel, and the like), and specifically, a zeolite membrane or the like is used. Due to this characteristic, in this embodiment, it is possible to take out fuel having a lower octane number (higher ignitability) than the supplied fuel through the fuel extraction passage 7 on the permeation side (outer peripheral side) of the separation membrane 6. It is. Here, the fuel taken out in the fuel extraction passage 7 is a fuel with a high vapor pressure (low boiling point fuel) when super cavitation occurs, and a fuel with a low vapor pressure (high boiling point) when super cavitation does not occur. Fuel).

  The fuel take-out passage 7 is provided with a pressure sensor (super cavitation generation detecting means) 8. Based on the output signal of the pressure sensor 8, the inner surface of the throttle passage 4 (super cavitation generating portion 5). It is possible to determine whether or not super cavitation has occurred. That is, when super cavitation occurs, the fuel extraction passage 7 is mainly filled with gas. When super cavitation does not occur, the fuel extraction passage 7 is mainly filled with liquid. Based on the pressure difference from the liquid, it is possible to determine whether super cavitation has occurred.

  The fuel extraction passage 7 is connected to the first permeate side fuel tank 10 via a suction pump (negative pressure suction means) 9 for sucking fuel. A branch passage 11 that branches from the fuel take-out passage 7 upstream from the suction pump 9 is provided, and this branch passage 11 is connected to the second permeate side fuel tank 13 via a check valve 12.

  The flow control device 3 and the suction pump 9 described above are controlled in operation by an engine control unit (ECU; not shown) which is a control means. In addition to the signal from the pressure sensor 8 described above, a signal related to the engine operating state such as the engine speed and the engine torque is input to the ECU.

Next, the fuel separation method in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of fuel separation control in the present embodiment.
In step S101, the ECU determines whether or not the fuel (requested fuel) to be separated from the supplied fuel is a low boiling point fuel. Here, the determination of the required fuel can be performed according to the operating state of the engine as well as according to the remaining amount of fuel in the first permeate side fuel tank 10 and the second permeate side fuel tank 13.

  If it is determined in step S101 that the required fuel is a low boiling point fuel, the flow proceeds to step S102, and the flow rate control device 3 is used to perform fuel flow rate control when super cavitation (S / C) occurs. Note that the fuel flow rate at this time is set to be larger than the fuel flow rate when super cavitation (S / C) described later is not generated.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S103, where it is determined whether or not super cavitation (S / C) has occurred based on the output signal from the pressure sensor 8. If super cavitation (S / C) has not occurred, the process returns to step S103 and the determination is performed again. If super cavitation (S / C) has occurred, the process proceeds to step S104.

  In step S104, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the occurrence of super cavitation (S / C). Here, the predetermined time refers to the fuel pipe 2 due to the negative pressure generated in the super cavitation (S / C) generator 5 by the high boiling point fuel remaining in the fuel extraction passage 7 after super cavitation (S / C) has occurred. It is the time until it is sucked out to the side. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S104 and the determination is performed again. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S105.

In step S105, the suction pump 9 is operated. As a result, the low-boiling point / low-octane fuel is recovered in the first permeate side fuel tank 10 via the fuel extraction passage 7.
If it is determined in step S101 that the required fuel is not a low-boiling point fuel (that is, if it is determined that the required fuel is a high-boiling point fuel), the process proceeds to step S112 and the flow control device 3 is used. The fuel flow control is performed when super cavitation (S / C) is not generated. Note that the fuel flow rate at this time is set to be smaller than the fuel flow rate when super cavitation (S / C) occurs. Thereby, super cavitation (S / C) does not occur in the fuel pipe 2.

  Then, it progresses to step S113 and the suction pump 9 is stopped. At this time, the fuel pressure on the inner peripheral surface (super cavitation generating portion 5) of the throttle passage 4 is higher than the fuel pressure in the fuel take-out passage 7, so that the supplied fuel is separated by the separation membrane 6 due to the difference in these fuel pressures. Then, the high boiling point / low octane number fuel is recovered from the fuel take-out passage 7 through the branch passage 11 to the second permeate side fuel tank 13.

  In this manner, fuels having different boiling points are recovered in the two fuel tanks (the first permeate side fuel tank 10 and the second permeate side fuel tank 13). These fuels and the fuel stored in the fuel tank 1 are selected according to the operating state of the engine and are supplied to the engine via a fuel supply means (not shown).

  In the present embodiment, the more the fuel on the permeate side of the separation membrane 6 is extracted, the higher the octane number of the fuel flowing through the fuel pipe 2 (and the fuel stored in the fuel tank 1). This is because the octane number of the permeate side fuel of the separation membrane 6 is lower than the octane number of the fuel flowing through the fuel pipe 2. This is because the ratio of the octane fuel is decreased and the ratio of the high octane fuel is relatively increased.

  According to the present embodiment, the super cavitation generator 5 provided in the fuel pipe 2 and capable of generating super cavitation and the super cavitation generator 5 are provided, and the fuel of the super cavitation generator 5 is permeated according to the molecular structure. Alternatively, the separation membrane 6 that separates the fuel by non-permeation, the fuel extraction passage 7 that extracts the fuel that permeates the separation membrane, and the negative pressure suction means (suction pump 9) that is provided in the fuel extraction passage 7 and sucks the permeated fuel. ), A low boiling point / low octane fuel can be taken out from the supplied fuel with a compact device. Further, since the separation membrane 6 is provided in the super cavitation generating section 5, a turbulent flow region of fuel is formed on the surface of the separation membrane 6 on the side corresponding to the super cavitation generating section 5. Fuel separation can be performed efficiently.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the control means (ECU) for controlling the generation of super cavitation in the super cavitation generating section 5 and the branch branched from the fuel take-out passage 7 upstream from the negative pressure suction means (suction pump 9). The control means (ECU) operates the negative pressure suction means (suction pump 9) when super cavitation occurs and collects low-boiling point fuel through the fuel take-out passage 7, and sucks negative pressure when super cavitation does not occur. Since the means (suction pump 9) is stopped and the high-boiling point fuel is recovered by the branch passage 11, a high boiling point and low octane number can be obtained from the supplied fuel without providing a plurality of suction pumps 9 on the permeate side of the separation membrane 6. The fuel can be separated from the low boiling point / low octane fuel, and the octane number of the fuel stored in the fuel tank 1 is improved. It can be. In addition, by properly using these three types of fuel (supplied fuel, high-boiling / low-octane fuel, low-boiling / low-octane fuel), fuel is supplied to the engine according to all combustion modes, including compression ignition combustion and flame propagation combustion. Therefore, low fuel consumption and low emission of the engine can be realized. Furthermore, when the combustion mode in the engine is compression ignition combustion or spark ignition combustion, a high boiling point fuel is used when the combustion chamber temperature of the engine is sufficiently high, and a low boiling point fuel is used when the engine is cold started. Depending on the position in the combustion chamber, depending on the temperature of the combustion chamber, the fuel to be supplied to the engine is used properly, the high boiling point fuel is used in the center of the combustion chamber, and the low boiling point fuel is used in the low temperature region near the combustion chamber wall. Since it is possible to use different fuels, good combustion can be realized in the combustion chamber, and soot generation can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the super cavitation generation detecting means (pressure sensor 8) for detecting the occurrence of super cavitation is provided, and the control means (ECU) is configured to detect the super cavitation by the super cavitation generation detecting means (pressure sensor 8). Since the suction pump 9 is operated after a predetermined time has elapsed since the occurrence of the occurrence of the occurrence, the negative pressure generated in the super cavitation generating unit 5 after the super cavitation has occurred and before the predetermined time has elapsed. Since the high-boiling point fuel remaining in the fuel take-out passage 7 is sucked out to the fuel pipe 2 side, it is possible to suppress the high-boiling point fuel from being mixed into the low-boiling point fuel taken out from the super cavitation generating unit 5.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, the flow rate adjusting means (flow rate adjusting device 3) for adjusting the fuel flow rate in the fuel pipe 2 is provided, and the control means (ECU) controls the operation of the flow rate adjusting means (flow rate adjusting device 3). By controlling the generation of super cavitation in the super cavitation generating unit 5, the super cavitation is generated by increasing the fuel flow rate to generate super cavitation to separate the low boiling point fuel and reducing the fuel flow rate. High boiling point fuel can be separated without generating it.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the super cavitation generating unit 5 is inside the throttle passage 4 formed in a part of the fuel pipe 2 with a smaller cross-sectional area than the fuel pipe 2, so that a stable super structure can be obtained with a simple configuration. Cavitation can be generated.

  In this embodiment, a plurality of fuel tanks are provided on the permeate side of the separation membrane 6 and the fuel that has permeated the separation membrane 6 is supplied to the engine through these fuel tanks. The fuel tank may be directly supplied to the engine without going through the fuel tank.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In addition, although the structure of the fuel separator used in this embodiment is the same as that of 1st Embodiment mentioned above, in this embodiment, ECU is a flow control apparatus according to the octane number (ignitability) of a request | requirement fuel. 3, the fuel flow rate in the fuel pipe 2 can be adjusted.

  3 and 4 are diagrams showing the relationship between the fuel flow rate in the fuel pipe, the octane number of the supplied fuel, and the octane number of the separation membrane permeated fuel in the present embodiment. Here, FIG. 3 is an example when gasoline is used as the supply fuel, and FIG. 4 is an example when light oil is used as the supply fuel. Further, the solid line in the figure indicates the supplied fuel, the one-dot chain line indicates the permeated fuel when super cavitation (S / C) is not generated, and the two-dot chain line indicates the permeated fuel when super cavitation (S / C) occurs.

  3 and 4, when super cavitation (S / C) does not occur in the fuel pipe 2 (that is, when the fuel flow rate in the fuel pipe 2 is in the low flow rate range), the change in the fuel flow rate is caused. On the other hand, the octane number of the permeated fuel (one-dot chain line) is constant.

  On the other hand, when super cavitation (S / C) occurs in the fuel pipe 2 (that is, when the fuel flow rate in the fuel pipe 2 is in the middle / high flow rate range), the higher the fuel flow rate, The octane number of the permeated fuel (two-dot chain line) is low. The reason for this will be described below.

  As the fuel flow rate increases, the fuel pressure (static pressure) decreases, so that the negative pressure in the stationary cavity formed by super cavitation is strengthened. As a result, the fuel deposited in the stationary cavity contains a lot of fuel with a low saturated vapor pressure (high boiling point). Here, the fuel that permeates the separation membrane 6 out of the fuel deposited in the stationary cavity is a straight chain hydrocarbon fuel (normal paraffin hydrocarbon fuel) as described above. The larger the carbon number, the higher the boiling point and the lower the octane number. For this reason, the more fuel with a high boiling point is contained in the fuel deposited in the retention cavity, the permeated fuel contains linear hydrocarbon fuel having a larger carbon number, and the octane number of the permeated fuel decreases. To do. Therefore, the higher the fuel flow rate, the stronger the negative pressure in the supercavitation detention cavity, and the fuel deposited in this detention cavity contains more fuel with a high boiling point. Since a large number of linear hydrocarbon fuels are included, the octane number of the permeated fuel is lowered. Specifically, when gasoline is used as the supply fuel (see FIG. 3), the permeated fuel increases from the one having only 4 carbon atoms (n-butane) to 4 carbon atoms (n-butane) as the fuel flow rate increases. , Continuously shifting to one containing carbon number 5 (n-pentane), carbon number 6 (n-hexane) and carbon number 7 (n-heptane), the octane number of the permeated fuel is lowered. In addition, when light oil is used as the supply fuel (see FIG. 4), the permeated fuel increases from the one having only 10 carbon atoms (n-decane) to 10 carbon atoms (n-decane) and carbon number as the fuel flow rate increases. Since it shifts continuously to those containing 15 (n-pentadecane), 16 carbon atoms (n-hexadecane) and 20 carbon atoms (n-eicosane), the octane number of the permeated fuel is lowered.

  In the present embodiment, the number of fuel tanks (first permeate side fuel tank 10) for storing the permeated fuel at the time of occurrence of super cavitation is not limited to one, and a plurality of fuel tanks may be provided according to a desired octane number (ignitability). . Further, the permeated fuel may be directly supplied to the engine.

  In particular, according to this embodiment, the separation membrane 6 has a characteristic that the ignitability of the permeated fuel becomes higher (the octane number becomes lower) as the fuel flow rate in the fuel pipe 2 increases, and the control means (ECU) When increasing the ignitability of the fuel (decreasing the octane number), increasing the fuel flow rate using the flow rate adjusting means (flow rate adjusting device 3) and decreasing the ignitability of the permeated fuel (increasing the octane number) Controls the fuel flow rate by using the flow rate control means (flow rate control device 3), so it is possible to supply the engine with fuel according to any combustion mode, realizing low fuel consumption and low emissions of the engine. can do.

  According to the present embodiment, the fuel (gasoline, light oil, etc.) flowing through the fuel pipe 2 is a fuel containing at least a linear hydrocarbon (normal paraffin hydrocarbon), and the separation membrane 6 is a linear hydrocarbon. (Normal paraffin hydrocarbons) are permeated and hydrocarbons other than straight chain hydrocarbons (cyclic hydrocarbons, olefinic hydrocarbons, side chain hydrocarbons, etc.) are not permeated. It is possible to easily separate fuels having different octane numbers (ignitability) using the existing fuel.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a fuel separator according to the third embodiment.
Differences from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

  A vehicle that uses an engine as a drive source is provided with a fuel tank 21 that stores the supplied fuel independently of the fuel tank 1. Here, the saturated vapor pressure of the fuel stored in the fuel tank 1 is higher than the saturated vapor pressure of the fuel stored in the fuel tank 21 (that is, the boiling point of the fuel stored in the fuel tank 1 is In this embodiment, gasoline is stored in the fuel tank 1, and light oil is stored in the fuel tank 21. Further, in this embodiment, the fuel (gasoline) stored in the fuel tank 1 and the fuel (light oil) stored in the fuel tank 21 are selected according to the operating state of the engine, and fuel supply means (not shown) To be supplied to the engine.

Both ends of a fuel pipe 22 independent of the fuel pipe 2 are connected to the fuel tank 21, and the supplied fuel can be circulated through the fuel pipe 22.
The fuel pipe 22 is provided with a flow rate adjusting device (flow rate adjusting means) 23 for adjusting the fuel flow rate in the pipe. The flow rate adjusting device 23 is constituted by a circulation pump (not shown) and a flow rate control valve (not shown), and the fuel flow rate in the fuel pipe 22 is adjusted by controlling the opening degree of the flow rate control valve. To do. Here, in addition to the above, the flow rate adjusting device 23 may be composed of only a circulation pump, and the fuel flow rate in the fuel pipe 22 may be adjusted by controlling the rotation speed of the circulation pump. Further, the flow rate adjusting device 23 adjusts the fuel flow rate so that the supplied fuel becomes a turbulent flow in the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of the fuel pipe 22.

  Further, the fuel pipe 22 is provided with a throttle passage 24 having a certain length whose cross-sectional area is sharply reduced at a part thereof, and super cavitation can be generated on the inner peripheral surface of the throttle passage 24. A super cavitation generator 25 (negative pressure suction means) is provided.

A fuel extraction passage 7 extending from the permeation side (outer periphery side) of the separation membrane 6 to the outside is connected and opened to the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate portion of the throttle passage 24 (intermediate portion of the super cavitation generating portion 25).
In the fuel extraction passage 7, pressure sensors (not shown) are respectively provided at the permeation side end of the separation membrane 6 and the super cavitation generation unit 25 side end, and based on the output signals of these pressure sensors, It is possible to measure the fuel pressure P1 on the permeate side of the separation membrane 6 and the fuel pressure P2 in the super cavitation 25.

  The flow control device 3 and the flow control device 23 are controlled by an engine control unit (ECU; not shown) that is a control means. In addition to the signals from the two pressure sensors provided in the fuel take-out passage 7, signals relating to the engine operating state such as the engine speed and engine torque are input to the ECU.

Next, a fuel separation method according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of fuel separation control in the present embodiment.
In step S201, the ECU determines whether the permeated fuel (requested fuel) taken out from the fuel (gasoline) in the fuel pipe 2 is a low-boiling point fuel or a high-boiling point fuel. This determination is made according to the operating state of the engine.For example, when low-volatile gas oil is required at low temperature start, low-boiling point fuel is required as a permeated fuel, and gasoline having a high octane number at high load and high rotation is required. Is required, a high boiling point fuel is required as the permeated fuel.

  If it is determined in step S201 that the required fuel is a low boiling point fuel, the process proceeds to step S202, and the super cavitation generating unit 5 and the super cavitation generating unit 25 use the flow control device 3 and the flow control device 23. Fuel flow control is performed so as to generate super cavitation (S / C). At this time, since the fuel (gasoline) in the fuel pipe 2 has a higher saturated vapor pressure (lower boiling point) than the fuel (light oil) in the fuel pipe 22, the fuel pressure in the super cavitation generating unit 5 is super cavitation generated. It becomes higher than the fuel pressure of the portion 25. For this reason, since the relationship between the fuel pressure P1 on the permeate side of the separation membrane 6 and the fuel pressure P2 in the super cavitation generating unit 25 is P1> P2, the fuel (gasoline) in the fuel pipe 2 is separated. The low boiling point / low octane fuel that has permeated through the membrane 6 is sucked by the super cavitation generator 25 and mixed into the fuel (light oil) in the fuel pipe 22. Thereby, the volatility of the fuel (light oil) in the fuel pipe 22 is improved.

  In Step S202, the composition of the fuel (gasoline) in the fuel pipe 2 and the fuel (light oil) in the fuel pipe 22 changes as the low boiling point / low octane fuel is extracted from the fuel (gasoline) in the fuel pipe 2. The pressure difference between the fuel pressure P1 on the permeate side of the separation membrane 6 and the fuel pressure P2 in the super cavitation generating unit 25 becomes small. If this pressure difference continues to decrease and the relationship between the fuel pressure P1 on the permeate side of the separation membrane 6 and the fuel pressure P2 at the super cavitation generator 25 becomes P1 ≦ P2, the flow rate is determined in step S202. Using the adjusting device 3, control is performed to reduce the fuel flow rate in the fuel pipe 2. Thereby, the generation of super cavitation in the super cavitation generating unit 5 is stopped, and the state of the fuel (gasoline) in the super cavitation generating unit 5 becomes a liquid phase, so that the fuel pressure P1 on the permeate side of the separation membrane 6 is It rises in a short time. Due to this pressure increase, the relationship between the fuel pressure P1 on the permeate side of the separation membrane 6 and the fuel pressure P2 in the super cavitation generating unit 25 becomes P1> P2 in a short period of time. ) Can be prevented from flowing into the fuel pipe 2 via the fuel extraction passage 7.

  If it is determined in step S201 that the required fuel is a high-boiling point fuel, the process proceeds to step S212, where the super cavitation generator 5 uses the flow rate adjusting device 3 and the fuel adjusting device 23 to perform super cavitation (S / C), and the fuel flow rate control is performed so that the relationship between the fuel pressure P1 on the permeate side of the separation membrane 6 and the fuel pressure P2 in the super cavitation generator 25 satisfies P1> P2. Thereby, among the fuel (gasoline) in the fuel pipe 2, the high boiling point / low octane fuel that has permeated through the separation membrane 6 is sucked by the super cavitation generating unit 25, so that the fuel (gasoline) in the fuel pipe 2 Octane number is improved. In step S202, the fuel flow rate control is performed so that P1> P2 in order to prevent the fuel (light oil) flowing through the fuel pipe 22 from flowing into the fuel pipe 2 via the fuel extraction passage 7. It is.

  In this way, when super cavitation is generated in the super cavitation generating unit 5 and the super cavitation generating unit 25, the low-boiling-point / low-octane fuel extracted from gasoline is supplied to the light oil, whereby the volatility of the light oil is increased. Therefore, if this light oil with improved volatility is used at the time of starting the engine at a low temperature, the ignitability is improved and the generation of soot due to incomplete combustion can be suppressed. Also, when super cavitation is not generated in the super cavitation generating section 5, the high-boiling point / low-octane fuel is removed from the gasoline to improve the octane number of the gasoline. By using it under load and high rotation, it is possible to realize low fuel consumption and low emission of the engine.

  In the present embodiment, as in the second embodiment described above, the fuel flow rate in the fuel pipe 2 is controlled by the ECU via the flow rate adjusting device 3 in accordance with the required octane number (ignitability) of the permeated fuel. Can also be adjusted. In this case, as the fuel flow rate (gasoline flow rate) in the fuel pipe 2 increases, the permeated fuel contains linear hydrocarbon fuel having a large number of carbon atoms, so the octane number of the permeated fuel decreases. Specifically, as the fuel flow rate (gasoline flow rate) in the fuel pipe 2 increases, the permeated fuel changes from only 4 carbon atoms (n-butane) to 4 carbon atoms (n-butane) and 5 carbon atoms. Since it continuously shifts to one containing (n-pentane), 6 carbon atoms (n-hexane) and 7 carbon atoms (n-heptane), the octane number of the permeated fuel is lowered (see FIG. 3).

  In particular, according to the present embodiment, the negative pressure suction means is the super cavitation generator 25 provided in the other fuel pipe 22 independent of the fuel pipe 2, and flows through the one fuel pipe 2. Since the saturated vapor pressure of the fuel is higher than the saturated vapor pressure of the fuel flowing through the other fuel pipe 22, the permeated fuel of the separation membrane 6 is transferred to the other fuel pipe 22 without providing a suction pump in the fuel extraction passage 7. Can be supplied.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the fuel flowing through one fuel pipe 2 is gasoline, and the fuel flowing through the other fuel pipe 22 is light oil. Therefore, the low boiling point / low octane fuel contained in gasoline is taken out and converted into light oil. Can be supplied. For this reason, it is possible to further increase the octane number of gasoline (lower ignitability) with a compact device, and to improve the volatility of light oil.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the one fuel pipe 2 and the other fuel pipe 22 are provided with the flow rate adjusting means (flow rate adjusting devices 3 and 23) for adjusting the respective fuel flow rates for each fuel pipe. The means (ECU) controls the operation of the flow rate adjusting means (flow rate adjusting devices 3, 23), thereby generating super cavitation in the super cavitation generating unit 5 of one fuel pipe 2 and the other fuel pipe 22. Since super cavitation generation in the super cavitation generation unit 25 is controlled, super cavitation is generated in the super cavitation generation unit 5 and the super cavitation generation unit 25, whereby permeated fuel having a low boiling point is supplied to the other fuel pipe 22. Super cavitation at the super cavitation generator 5 By not generated Deployment can supply high transmission fuel boiling point in the other fuel pipe 22.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the control means (ECU) causes the fuel pressure in the super cavitation generating unit 5 of one fuel pipe 2 to be higher than the fuel pressure in the super cavitation generating unit 25 of the other fuel pipe 22. If it is smaller, control is performed to reduce the fuel flow rate of one fuel pipe 2 using the flow rate adjusting means (flow rate adjusting device 3) of one fuel pipe 2, so that the other fuel pipe 22 side to the one fuel pipe 2 is controlled. It is possible to prevent the fuel from flowing.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the separation membrane 6 has a characteristic that the ignitability of the permeated fuel becomes higher (the octane number becomes lower) as the fuel flow rate of one fuel pipe 2 increases, and the control means (ECU) When increasing the ignitability of the permeated fuel (decreasing the octane number), the fuel flow rate in one fuel pipe 2 is increased using the flow rate adjusting means (flow rate adjusting device 3) in one fuel pipe 2 to thereby transmit the permeated fuel. In the case of lowering the ignitability of the fuel (increasing the octane number), the flow rate control means (flow rate control device 3) of one fuel pipe 2 is used to control the fuel flow rate of one fuel pipe 2 to be decreased. The octane number (ignitability) of the permeated fuel can be continuously changed according to the octane number (ignitability) required for the fuel flowing through the fuel pipe 22.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the fuel (gasoline) flowing through one fuel pipe 2 is a fuel containing at least a linear hydrocarbon (normal paraffinic hydrocarbon), and the separation membrane 6 is a linear hydrocarbon ( Because it has the property of permeating normal paraffin hydrocarbons) and non-straight chain hydrocarbons (cyclic hydrocarbons, olefinic hydrocarbons, side chain hydrocarbons, etc.) It is possible to easily separate fuels having different octane numbers (ignitability) using the existing fuel.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
7 is a detailed view of the fuel pipe provided with a plurality of throttle passages, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

Differences from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5 will be described.
In the middle of the fuel pipe 2, the partition plates 41 a and 41 b having a plurality of communication ports and parallel to the space sandwiched between the partition plates 41 a and 41 b are arranged, and one open end is connected to the communication port of the partition plate 41 a. A plurality of throttle passages 4 are formed by a plurality of hollow tubular separation membranes 61 that communicate with each other and whose other open end communicates with the communication port of the partition plate 41b. Further, super cavitation generating portions 5 (not shown) are respectively provided inside the throttle passage 4 (inside the hollow tubular separation membrane 61). A fuel extraction passage 7 for extracting fuel is connected to the permeation side of the hollow tubular separation membrane 61. In the present embodiment, the fuel extraction passage 7 is provided in the fuel pipe 2 and the space 71 surrounded by the inner peripheral surface of the fuel pipe 2, the partition plates 41 a and 41 b and the outer peripheral surface of the hollow tubular separation membrane 61. And a fuel take-out hole 72 formed.

  In particular, according to the present embodiment, since the plurality of throttle passages 4 are provided in parallel, the surface area of the super cavitation generating unit 5 is larger than that in the case where the number of the throttle passages 4 is single, and it is practical with high efficiency. In addition, low boiling point fuel can be separated.

1 is a configuration diagram of a fuel separation device according to a first embodiment. Flow chart of fuel separation control in the first embodiment The figure which shows the relationship between the fuel flow volume in the fuel piping in 2nd Embodiment, the octane number of supplied fuel (gasoline), and the octane number of a separation membrane permeation | transmission fuel. The figure which shows the relationship between the fuel flow volume in the fuel piping in 2nd Embodiment, the octane number of supplied fuel (light oil), and the octane number of a separation membrane permeation | transmission fuel. The block diagram of the fuel separator in 3rd Embodiment Flow chart of fuel separation control in the third embodiment Detailed view of fuel pipe provided with a plurality of throttle passages in the fourth embodiment AA sectional view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel tank 2 Fuel piping 3 Flow control apparatus (flow control means)
4 Throttle passage 5 Super cavitation generating part 6 Separation membrane 7 Fuel extraction passage 8 Pressure sensor (Super cavitation generation detection means)
9 Suction pump (negative pressure suction means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 1st permeation | transmission side fuel tank 11 Branch passage 12 Check valve 13 2nd permeation | transmission side fuel tank 21 Fuel tank 22 Fuel piping 23 Flow control apparatus (flow control means)
24 Restriction passage 25 Super cavitation generating part (negative pressure suction means)
41a, 41b Partition plate 61 Separation membrane (hollow tubular)

Claims (16)

A super cavitation generator that is provided in the fuel pipe and can generate super cavitation;
A separation membrane that is provided in the super cavitation generating unit and separates the fuel by permeating or non-permeating the fuel of the super cavitation generating unit according to the molecular structure;
A fuel extraction passage for taking out the fuel that permeates the separation membrane;
And a negative pressure suction means provided in the fuel take-out passage for sucking the permeated fuel.   2. The fuel separator according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling generation of super cavitation in the super cavitation generating section. A branch passage branched from the fuel extraction passage upstream of the negative pressure suction means;
The control means activates the negative pressure suction means when super cavitation occurs and collects low-boiling point fuel through the fuel take-off passage, and stops the negative pressure suction means when super cavitation does not occur and stops the high boiling point via the branch passage. The fuel separator according to claim 2, wherein the fuel is recovered.   Super cavitation detection means for detecting the occurrence of super cavitation is provided, and the control means detects the negative pressure suction means after a predetermined time has elapsed since the super cavitation detection means detected the occurrence of super cavitation. The fuel separator according to claim 3, wherein the fuel separator is operated.   Flow control means for adjusting the fuel flow rate in the fuel pipe is provided, and the control means controls the generation of super cavitation in the super cavitation generating part by controlling the operation of the flow rate control means. The fuel separator according to any one of claims 2 to 4.   The separation membrane has a characteristic that the ignitability of the permeated fuel becomes higher as the fuel flow rate of the fuel pipe increases, and the control means is configured to increase the ignitability of the permeated fuel. 6. The fuel separation according to claim 5, wherein when the fuel flow rate is increased by using the fuel flow rate and the ignitability of the permeated fuel is lowered, the fuel flow rate control means is used to reduce the fuel flow rate. apparatus.   The fuel flowing through the fuel pipe is a fuel containing at least a linear hydrocarbon, and the separation membrane allows the linear hydrocarbon to permeate, and the hydrocarbon other than the linear hydrocarbon does not permeate. The fuel separator according to claim 6, further comprising:   The negative pressure suction means is a super cavitation generator provided in the other fuel pipe independent of the fuel pipe, and the saturated vapor pressure of the fuel flowing through the one fuel pipe is 2. The fuel separator according to claim 1, wherein the fuel vapor is higher than a saturated vapor pressure of the fuel flowing through the fuel pipe.   9. The fuel separator according to claim 8, wherein the fuel flowing through the one fuel pipe is gasoline, and the fuel flowing through the other fuel pipe is light oil.   9. A control means for controlling generation of super cavitation in a super cavitation generating part of the one fuel pipe and generation of super cavitation in a super cavitation generating part of the other fuel pipe. Alternatively, the fuel separator according to claim 9.   The one fuel pipe and the other fuel pipe include a flow rate adjusting means for adjusting the fuel flow rate for each fuel pipe, and the control means controls the operation of the flow rate adjusting means, 11. The fuel separation according to claim 10, wherein generation of super cavitation in a super cavitation generation part of the one fuel pipe and generation of super cavitation in a super cavitation generation part of the other fuel pipe are controlled. apparatus.   When the fuel pressure at the super cavitation generating part of the one fuel pipe is smaller than the fuel pressure at the super cavitation generating part of the other fuel pipe, the control means controls the flow rate of the one fuel pipe. The fuel separation device according to claim 11, wherein control is performed to reduce the fuel flow rate of the one fuel pipe using a fuel cell.   The separation membrane has a characteristic that the ignitability of the permeated fuel increases as the fuel flow rate of the one fuel pipe increases, and the control means is configured to increase the ignitability of the permeated fuel. In the case of increasing the fuel flow rate of the one fuel pipe using the flow rate adjusting means of the fuel pipe and reducing the ignitability of the permeated fuel, the one of the fuel pipes is adjusted using the flow rate adjusting means of the one fuel pipe. The fuel separator according to claim 11 or 12, wherein control is performed to reduce the fuel flow rate of the fuel pipe.   The fuel flowing through the one fuel pipe is a fuel containing at least a straight chain hydrocarbon, and the separation membrane allows the straight chain hydrocarbon to permeate and allows hydrocarbons other than the straight chain hydrocarbon to be non-permeable. 14. The fuel separator according to claim 13, wherein the fuel separator has characteristics.   The super cavitation generating portion is provided inside a throttle passage formed in a part of the fuel pipe with a smaller cross-sectional area than the fuel pipe. The fuel separator described.   The fuel separation device according to claim 15, wherein a plurality of the throttle passages are provided in parallel.

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