JP2010121026A - Metal ion removing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a metal ion removing device for removing metal ions in a fuel and improving efficiency of a metal ion removing process. <P>SOLUTION: The metal ion removing device 1 is provided with a cathode 62 for attracting cations in the fuel, an anode 63 for attracting anions in the fuel and a metal ion removing part 64 for capturing the metal ions in the fuel. The cathode 62 is encircled with the metal ion removing part 64. Since the metal ion is attracted and moved toward the cathode 62 and the metal ion removing part 64, the concentration of the metal ion increases toward the metal ion removing part 64. Accordingly, the metal ion is easily captured by the metal ion removing part 64 to improve the efficiency of the metal ion removing process. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a metal ion removing apparatus that removes metal ions contained in a fuel.

  Conventionally, a fuel supplied to an internal combustion engine or the like contains trace amounts of metal ions such as Na and K as impurities, and a fatty acid such as oleic acid as a lubricant. For this reason, in the fuel, a salt reaction may occur between these metal ions and the fatty acid, and a fatty acid metal salt may be generated. Since the fatty acid metal salt is generally insoluble in fuel, for example, the fatty acid metal salt may deposit on the sliding portion of the injector and cause malfunction.

  Therefore, a technique in which metal ion removing means for removing metal ions is arranged in a fuel supply path from a fuel tank to an injector is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). According to Patent Document 1, the metal ion removing means is, for example, a packed bed filled with active particles that capture metal ions such as a chelate resin or activated carbon, and the fuel passes through the packed bed to form metal. Ions are removed. Further, according to Patent Document 1, there is also provided a metal ion removing means for arranging a pair of electrodes in the fuel flow and applying a voltage between the pair of electrodes to deposit metal ions on the cathode side electrode. It is disclosed.

By the way, since the metal ions contained in the fuel are extremely small and have a very low concentration, a means for removing metal ions having a high removal capability is required. For this reason, although the amount of metal ions to be removed is extremely small, a metal ion removal means having a high removal capability is required, and the process of removing metal ions from the fuel is extremely inefficient.
JP 2006-105092 A

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to improve the efficiency of the metal ion removal process in a metal ion removal apparatus that removes metal ions contained in fuel. .

[Means of Claim 1]
The metal ion removing device according to claim 1 is for removing metal ions contained in the fuel, and is arranged in the fuel flow to attract the positive ions contained in the fuel, and the flow of the fuel. An anode that is disposed therein and attracts anions contained in the fuel, and a metal ion removal unit that captures metal ions contained in the fuel. And the cathode is surrounded by the metal ion removal part.

  Thereby, since metal ions are attracted and moved toward the cathode and the metal ion removal unit, the concentration increases as the metal ion removal unit is approached. For this reason, since it becomes easy to capture | acquire a metal ion by a metal ion removal part, the removal process of a metal ion can be made efficient.

[Means of claim 2]
According to the metal ion removing device of the second aspect, the water reservoir chamber in which the water separated from the fuel is stored is provided, and the cathode and the anode are accommodated in the water reservoir chamber.
As a result, when the water reservoir chamber is replaced with water from the fuel, the electrical resistance is greatly reduced between the cathode and the anode, and a conductive state is established. For this reason, it is possible to detect the time when water has accumulated and should be drained.

[Means of claim 3]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the metal ion removing apparatus including a filtering unit that removes foreign matters from the fuel, and the water storage chamber is formed below the filtering unit and stores water separated by the filtering unit.
This means indicates that the water in the water storage chamber is separated from the fuel by the filtration unit for removing foreign matter. Further, according to this means, in the fuel filter, since the metal ion removing device can be configured by housing the anode, the cathode and the metal ion removing unit in the existing water reservoir, there is a special space for removing the metal ions. It becomes unnecessary.

  The best mode of removing metal ions is to remove metal ions contained in the fuel. The device is arranged in the fuel flow to attract the positive ions contained in the fuel, and in the fuel flow. And an anode that attracts anions contained in the fuel and a metal ion removal unit that captures metal ions contained in the fuel. And the cathode is surrounded by the metal ion removal part.

Further, the metal ion removing device is provided with a water reservoir chamber in which water separated from the fuel is stored, and a cathode and an anode are accommodated in the water reservoir chamber.
Furthermore, the metal ion removing device includes a filtration unit that removes foreign matters from the fuel, and the water reservoir is formed below the filtration unit and stores water separated by the filtration unit.

[Configuration of Example]
The structure of the metal ion removal apparatus 1 of an Example is demonstrated based on drawing.
The metal ion removing device 1 removes metal ions from fuel injected and supplied to an internal combustion engine (not shown) of a vehicle, and is incorporated in, for example, a fuel filter 2 that removes foreign matters contained in the fuel. . For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the fuel filter 2 constitutes a part of a pressure accumulation type fuel injection device 4 that injects fuel accumulated in a high pressure state via a common rail 3 to an internal combustion engine. .

  The fuel injection device 4 includes, for example, an electric low-pressure supply pump 7 that pumps fuel from the fuel tank 6, a high-pressure supply pump 8 that discharges the fuel supplied from the low-pressure supply pump 7 at a high pressure, and a high-pressure supply pump. A common rail 3 as a pressure accumulating container for accumulating fuel discharged from 8 in a high pressure state, and an injector 9 mounted on each cylinder of the internal combustion engine and receiving fuel distribution from the common rail 3 to inject fuel into each cylinder; An electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as an ECU) that receives detection signals indicating the operating state of the internal combustion engine from various sensors and controls the operations of the low pressure and high pressure supply pumps 7 and 8 and the injector 9 based on these detection signals. And a well-known structure provided with 10.

  Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the injector 9 has a needle valve 14 that opens and closes the nozzle hole 13, and a nozzle 15 that injects fuel by the operation of the needle valve 14, and a command from the ECU 10, An actuator 16 that generates a driving force for operating the needle valve 14, a fuel inlet 17, and an outlet 18. The nozzle 15 and the actuator 16 are respectively provided from a main body 19 that is mounted on the front end side and the rear end side. It has a well-known structure.

  The nozzle 15 includes a guide hole 24 for supporting and accommodating the needle valve 14 slidably in the axial direction, a sac chamber 25 provided on the tip side of the guide hole 24, and the sac chamber 25 and the outside of the nozzle 15. And a nozzle hole 13 communicating with the. The guide hole 24 and the sac chamber 25 are tapered to form a tapered surface, and this tapered surface forms a seat surface 26 on which the tip of the needle valve 14 is attached and detached.

  Further, the needle valve 14 has a slide shaft portion 28 at the rear end, and the slide shaft portion 28 is accommodated in the guide hole 24 on the rear end side and is slidably supported. A portion on the distal end side forms a nozzle chamber 29 into which high-pressure fuel received from the common rail 3 is introduced between the inner peripheral wall of the guide hole 24. The needle valve 14 is provided with a seat portion 30 that is attached to and detached from the seat surface 26, and the seat portion 30 is attached to and detached from the seat surface 26. The gap is opened and closed, and fuel injection is started or stopped.

  The nozzle chamber 29 is connected to a high-pressure channel 32 through which high-pressure fuel received from the common rail 3 passes, and high-pressure fuel is introduced through the high-pressure channel 32. Further, the fuel pressure in the nozzle chamber 29 always acts on the needle valve 14 in the direction of opening the nozzle hole 13.

  The actuator 16 is energized and stopped according to a command from the ECU 10, the armature 35 is driven in the axial direction when energization is started or stopped, and the armature 35 is held at the tip of the armature 35. At the same time, a valve body 37 that opens and closes the back pressure chamber 36 by axial displacement and a sliding shaft portion of the armature 35 is slidably supported to stabilize the axial displacement of the valve body 37, the armature 35, and The valve body 37 has a restoring spring 39. Then, the actuator 16 drives the needle valve 14 in the axial direction by operating the back pressure acting on the needle valve 14 by displacing the valve body 37 in the axial direction.

  Here, the command piston 43 is in contact with the rear end of the needle valve 14, and the back pressure at which the fuel that applies back pressure to the needle valve 14 flows in and out of the command piston 43 via the command piston 43. A chamber 36 is formed. The back pressure chamber 36 is always in communication with the high pressure channel 32 via the inlet orifice 44 and is opened and closed between the low pressure channel 46 by the valve element 37 via the outlet orifice 45.

  That is, the actuator 16 operates the back pressure by opening and closing between the back pressure chamber 36 and the low pressure flow path 46 by the valve body 37. The low-pressure channel 46 is a channel through which fuel returned from the nozzle 15 without being injected from the nozzle 15 passes through the fuel received from the common rail 3. The inlet and outlet orifices 44 and 45 are provided on an orifice plate 47 that forms the rear end side of the back pressure chamber 36. The outlet orifice 45 is an inlet orifice when the valve element 37 is opened. It is provided so that the flow rate of the fuel is larger than 44.

  The main body 19 is provided with a guide hole 50 for supporting and accommodating the command piston 43 slidably in the axial direction, and further, high-pressure and low-pressure flow paths 32 and 46 are respectively provided to the fuel inlet of the inlet 17, It is provided so as to communicate with the fuel return port of the outlet 18.

  Further, the command piston 43 has a slide shaft portion 51 at the rear end portion, and the slide shaft portion 51 is accommodated in the guide hole 50 on the rear end side and is slidably supported. A portion on the distal end side forms a low pressure chamber 52 that receives fuel leaked from the nozzle chamber 29 and the back pressure chamber 36 between the inner peripheral wall of the guide hole 50. The low pressure chamber 52 is provided so as to communicate with the low pressure passage 46, and the fuel in the low pressure chamber 52 is returned to the fuel tank 6 through the low pressure passage 46. The low pressure chamber 52 accommodates a needle valve 14 and a restoring spring 53 for the command piston 43.

  With the above configuration, when energization of the solenoid coil 34 is started, the armature 35 and the valve body 37 are displaced to the rear end side, and the outflow of fuel from the back pressure chamber 36 to the low pressure flow path 46 starts, and the back pressure is increased. descend. For this reason, the resultant axial force acting on the needle valve 14 becomes stronger in the direction of opening the nozzle hole 13, the needle valve 14 is displaced to the rear end side to open the nozzle hole 13, and fuel injection is started. The

  When the energization of the solenoid coil 34 is stopped, the armature 35 and the valve body 37 are displaced to the distal end side, the flow of fuel from the back pressure chamber 36 to the low pressure passage 46 stops, and the back from the high pressure passage 32 is stopped. The back pressure rises due to the inflow of fuel into the pressure chamber 36. For this reason, the resultant axial force acting on the needle valve 14 becomes stronger in the direction of closing the nozzle hole 13, the needle valve 14 is displaced to the tip side and closes the nozzle hole 13, and fuel injection is stopped. .

  As described above, in the injector 9, various sliding portions and the like important for the injection start and stop operations (for example, the sliding shaft portion 28 and the seat portion 30 of the needle valve 14, the sliding shaft portion of the command piston 43). 51, and a sliding shaft portion of the armature 35). And when fatty acid metal salt deposits on these sliding parts etc., there exists a possibility of causing the malfunction of the injector 9. FIG.

  That is, the fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine contains trace amounts of metal ions such as Na and K as impurities, and a fatty acid such as oleic acid as a lubricant. For this reason, in the fuel, a salt reaction may occur between these metal ions and the fatty acid, and a fatty acid metal salt may be generated. Since the fatty acid metal salt is generally insoluble in fuel, it may be deposited on the sliding portion of the injector 9 and cause malfunction.

  Therefore, according to the fuel injection device 4, for example, the metal ion removing device 1 is incorporated in the fuel filter 2 that removes foreign matters contained in the fuel, and metal ions are positively removed from the fuel. The fuel filter 2 is disposed in a fuel flow path from the low pressure supply pump 7 to the high pressure supply pump 8, for example.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the fuel filter 2 includes a filtering unit 55 that traps foreign matter, and the metal ion removing device 1 is incorporated below the filtering unit 55. That is, a water reservoir chamber 56 in which water separated from the fuel by the filter 55 is accumulated is formed below the filter 55, and the metal ion removing device 1 is provided in the water reservoir 56.

  In addition, an axial channel 59 that guides the fuel received from the inlet pipe 58 toward the water reservoir chamber 56 is provided at the axial center of the filtration unit 55. Then, the fuel introduced into the fuel filter 2 from the inlet pipe 58 flows from the top to the bottom in the axial channel 59, and then is dispersed radially outward in the water reservoir 56 and the flow direction is directed upward. Instead, it passes through the filtration part 55 and reaches the outlet pipe 60. In addition, the staying component in the water reservoir chamber 56 gradually replaces the fuel with moisture as the fuel filter 2 is used over time.

  The metal ion removing apparatus 1 includes a cathode 62 that attracts positive ions contained in fuel, an anode 63 that attracts negative ions contained in the fuel, and a metal ion removing unit 64 that captures metal ions contained in the fuel. 62, the anode 63 and the metal ion removing unit 64 are accommodated in the water reservoir 56. An electric circuit is assembled so that a voltage can be applied from the external power source 65 between the cathode 62 and the anode 63, and the cathode 62 is surrounded on the outer peripheral side by the metal ion removing unit 64.

  The metal ion removing unit 64 is provided, for example, by filling a cylindrical case 67 having a predetermined height in the axial direction (vertical direction) with active particles 68 and the cathode 62 is coaxial with the inner peripheral side of the case 67. Is contained. Here, the active particles 68 are substances that can capture metal ions, such as ion exchange resins, chelate resins, or activated carbon, and are formed into particles.

The case 67 is provided with a mesh, a net, or a net so as to allow the passage of fuel while preventing the active particles 68 from scattering.
The metal ions in the fuel are attracted to the cathode 62 and directed toward the metal ion removal unit 64, and are captured by the active particles 68 when reaching the metal ion removal unit 64.

[Effects of Examples]
The metal ion removal apparatus 1 of the embodiment includes a cathode 62 that attracts cations contained in fuel, an anode 63 that attracts anions contained in fuel, and a metal ion removal unit 64 that captures metal ions contained in fuel. Prepare. The cathode 62 is surrounded by a metal ion removal unit 64.
As a result, the metal ions are attracted and moved toward the cathode 62 and the metal ion removal unit 64, so that the concentration increases as the metal ion removal unit 64 is approached. For this reason, since it becomes easy to capture metal ions by the metal ion removal unit 64, the metal ion removal process can be made efficient.

Further, the fuel filter 2 is provided with a water reservoir chamber 56 in which water separated from the fuel is stored, and the cathode 62 and the anode 63 are accommodated in the water reservoir chamber 56.
As a result, when the water storage chamber 56 is replaced by water from the fuel, the electrical resistance is greatly reduced between the cathode 62 and the anode 63 and the conductive state is established. For this reason, it is possible to detect the time when water has accumulated and should be drained.

[Modification]
According to the metal ion removing unit 64 of the embodiment, the active particles 68 are filled in the cylindrical case 67, but the configuration for filling the active particles 68 is not limited to this mode. That is, the metal ion removing unit 64 only needs to be provided so as to surround the cathode 62. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the case 67 is provided in a disk shape having a thickness in the axial direction. The case 67 is filled with active particles 68 to provide a metal ion removing unit 64, and the metal ion removing unit 64 is disposed below the filtering unit 55, and between the metal ion removing unit 64 and the filtering unit 55. A cathode 62 may be disposed on the substrate.

  Further, the means for holding the active particles 68 in the metal ion removing unit 64 is not limited to the filling method in the case 67. For example, the active particles 68 are placed in the pores of a porous resin molded body having fuel permeability. The active particles 68 may be held by the fiber molded body.

  Further, according to the fuel filter 2 of the embodiment, after the fuel flows from the top to the bottom in the axial flow path 59, the fuel is dispersed radially outward in the water reservoir 56 to change the flow direction upward. Although it has passed through the filtering part 55 and reached the outlet pipe 60, the flow direction of the fuel in the fuel filter 2 is not limited to such a mode.

  For example, instead of the axial flow path 59, an annular flow path is provided on the outer peripheral side of the filtration unit 55, and fuel is guided to the water reservoir chamber 56 through the annular flow path, and then radially inward in the water reservoir chamber 56. It is also possible to disperse the filter part 55 and pass the filtration part 55 while changing the flow direction upward. Alternatively, an inlet pipe 58 may be connected directly below the filtering unit 55 so that the fuel introduced into the fuel filter 2 is immediately passed through the filtering unit 55.

  Moreover, although the principal part (the cathode 62, the anode 63, and the metal ion removal part 64) of the metal ion removal apparatus 1 of an Example was distribute | arranged to the water reservoir chamber 56 of the fuel filter 2, the principal part of the metal ion removal apparatus 1 is provided. The position of arranging is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the main part of the metal ion removing device 1 may be disposed in the fuel tank 6 or may be disposed in a fuel flow path from the fuel tank 6 toward the fuel filter 2.

  Moreover, according to the fuel injection device 4 having the metal ion removing device 1 of the embodiment, the injector 9 is mounted for each cylinder of the internal combustion engine, and receives fuel distribution from the common rail 3 and directly injects the fuel into each cylinder. However, the configuration of the fuel injection device 4 is not limited to this mode. For example, the injector 9 may be arranged in the intake pipe, fuel may be injected into the intake pipe to form an air-fuel mixture, and this air-fuel mixture may be supplied to the internal combustion engine.

It is a block diagram of a fuel-injection apparatus (Example). It is a block diagram of an injector (Example). (A) is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the inside of a fuel filter, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the principal part of a metal ion removal apparatus (Example). It is explanatory drawing which shows the inside of a fuel filter (modified example).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Metal ion removal apparatus 55 Filtration part 56 Water reservoir 62 Cathode 63 Anode 64 Metal ion removal part

Claims (3)

In a metal ion removing apparatus for removing metal ions contained in fuel,
A cathode that is placed in the fuel flow and attracts cations contained in the fuel;
An anode that is arranged in the fuel flow and attracts the anions contained in the fuel;
A metal ion removal unit that captures metal ions contained in the fuel,
The metal ion removing apparatus, wherein the cathode is surrounded by the metal ion removing unit. The metal ion removing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
There is a water storage chamber where water separated from fuel is stored,
The metal ion removing apparatus, wherein the water reservoir chamber contains the cathode and the anode. The metal ion removing apparatus according to claim 2,
Equipped with a filter to remove foreign matter from the fuel,
The water reservoir chamber is formed under the filtration unit and stores water separated by the filtration unit.

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