JP2011079869A - Emulsion fuel production apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an emulsion fuel production apparatus which has an extremely small and simple structure and can efficiently produce an emulsion fuel having good ignitionability without an emulsifier. <P>SOLUTION: The emulsion fuel production apparatus 10 is characterized by comprising a water tank 11, a heavy oil tank 12 and a waste oil tank 13 for storing water, heavy oil and a waste oil, respectively, a plurality of mixers 14, 15 arranged in series on a main flow passage 17 for mixing the water, the heavy water and the waste oil supplied from the tanks 11, 12, 13, a plurality of static mixers 16x, 16y and 16z arranged in series from the mixer 15 to the main flow passage 17 on the downstream side for emulsifying the mixed liquid formed with the mixers 14, 15, and a pump P for supplying the emulsion fuel formed through the static mixers 16x, 16y, 16z to a combustion device 18 and a return flow passage 19, and further arranging three pairs of magnets M on the outer peripheries of the static mixers 16x, 16y, 16z, respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing emulsion fuel by mixing water and waste oil with fuel oil such as heavy oil.

  Attempts to use an emulsion fuel produced by mixing water and waste oil with fuel oil such as heavy oil as a fuel for a combustion apparatus such as a boiler have been widely performed. Various systems have also been developed for emulsion fuel production techniques. As a technique related to the present invention, for example, there is an “emulsion fuel production apparatus” described in Patent Document 1.

  This “emulsion fuel production device” includes a static mixer that mixes water, fuel oil, and an emulsifier, a magnetic cascade pump that further mixes a liquid mixture from the static mixer and supplies emulsion fuel to the combustion device, and a magnetic cascade pump. And a feedback unit that recirculates part of the emulsion fuel from the downstream side to the upstream side.

JP 2006-329438 A

  In the “emulsion fuel production device” described in Patent Document 1, in order to produce emulsion fuel in which fine water droplets are uniformly dispersed in fuel oil, primary mixing is performed with a static mixer, and secondary mixing is performed with a cascade pump. It is configured to do. However, it is difficult to uniformly disperse the fine water droplets in the fuel oil only by the combination of the primary mixing by the static mixer and the secondary mixing by the cascade pump. Therefore, in this “emulsion fuel production apparatus”, an emulsion fuel cannot be produced unless an emulsifier is used in addition to water and fuel oil.

  In addition, since the emulsion fuel produced by the “emulsion fuel production apparatus” described in Patent Document 1 has poor ignitability, when used in a combustion apparatus such as a heavy oil boiler, it is ignited using only A heavy oil at the start, After about several seconds, it is necessary to switch to emulsion fuel. Therefore, when used for a combustion apparatus operated based on the ON-OFF control method, not only when the operation of the combustion apparatus is started, but also at the time of restart after the operation is stopped, an ignition operation with only A heavy oil and the subsequent emulsion Switching to fuel must be performed. For this reason, a new fuel switching mechanism, a complicated control method, etc. are needed, and it cannot be denied that the possibility of an ignition mistake at the time of re-ignition occurs.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an emulsion fuel production apparatus that has an extremely small and simple structure and can efficiently produce an emulsion fuel with good ignitability without using an emulsifier. is there.

  The emulsion fuel production apparatus of the present invention comprises a mixer for mixing fuel oil, waste oil and water, a static mixer for emulsifying the mixture liquid fed from the mixer, and an emulsion flowing out from the static mixer A pump for sending fuel to a combustion device, and at least a pair of magnets facing each other across the axis of the static mixer is disposed on the outer periphery of the static mixer, and a part of the emulsion fuel sent from the pump A return flow path for flowing into the mixer is provided.

  With such a configuration, the fuel oil, waste oil and water mixture formed in the mixer is vigorously stirred and mixed by the internal elements in the process of flowing in the static mixer, and opposed to each other. Since the molecules are refined by passing through the magnetic field between the magnets formed, emulsification proceeds rapidly. Part of the emulsion fuel generated by flowing in the static mixer passes through the return flow path and flows into the mixer, and then emulsifies by passing through the circulation flow path passing through the static mixer and pump again. Progresses dramatically. Therefore, an emulsion fuel with good ignitability can be efficiently produced without using an emulsifier.

  In addition, since the circulation flow path formed by providing the return flow path is utilized, the emulsification proceeds while the mixed liquid of fuel oil, waste oil and water is circulated between the mixer, the static mixer and the pump. In addition, a large-scale mixing device, a stirring device, a large-capacity storage tank or the like is not necessary, and an extremely small and simple structure can be achieved. In the emulsion fuel production apparatus of the present invention, A fuel oil or kerosene can be used as the fuel oil, and edible oil waste oil, machine oil waste oil, or the like can be used as the waste oil.

  Here, the mixer includes a combined flow path in which a liquid can flow in one direction, a fuel oil inflow path and a waste oil inflow path for individually supplying fuel oil, waste oil, and water that are continuously supplied to the combined flow path. And a water inflow channel.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to efficiently mix fuel oil, waste oil, and water while avoiding the complexity of the structure.

  In this case, it is desirable that the fuel oil inflow path, the waste oil inflow path, and the water inflow path be arranged so as to communicate obliquely with respect to the combined flow path. With such a configuration, fuel oil, waste oil, and water can be efficiently flowed into the combined flow path by using the suction force generated by the liquid flowing in one direction through the combined flow path.

  On the other hand, it is desirable that the fuel oil inflow path, the waste oil inflow path, and the water inflow path are communicated in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side of the combined flow path. With such a configuration, three types of liquids (fuel oil, waste oil and water) having different specific gravity and viscosity can be mixed relatively easily.

  Further, it is desirable to arrange a plurality of the static mixers in series. With such a configuration, the function of emulsifying the mixed liquid of fuel oil, waste oil and water can be enhanced, and the apparatus can be further miniaturized.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an emulsion fuel production apparatus that has an extremely small and simple structure and can efficiently produce an emulsion fuel having good ignitability without using an emulsifier.

It is the schematic which shows the structure of the emulsion fuel manufacturing apparatus which is embodiment of this invention. It is a partial cross section figure of the water tank which comprises the emulsion fuel manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the mixer which comprises the emulsion fuel manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a partially omitted perspective view of a static mixer constituting the emulsion fuel production apparatus shown in FIG. 1. (A) is sectional drawing in the AA line of FIG. 4, (b) is sectional drawing in the BB line of said (a). It is sectional drawing of the static mixer which comprises the emulsion fuel manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the emulsion fuel production apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes a water tank 11 that stores water supplied via a water supply pipe 31, and a heavy oil that stores heavy oil supplied via an oil supply pipe 32. A tank 12 and a waste oil tank 13 for storing waste oil, and a plurality of mixers 14 and 15 arranged in series in the main flow path 17 for mixing water, heavy oil and waste oil fed from these tanks 11, 12, 13; The plurality of static mixers 16x, 16y, 16z and the plurality of static mixers 16x, 16y arranged in series in the main flow path 17 on the downstream side of the mixer 15 in order to emulsify the liquid mixture formed in the mixers 14, 15. , 16z, and a pump P for feeding the emulsion fuel formed into the combustion device 18 and the return flow path 19 to each other. Three pairs of magnets M are arranged on the outer periphery of the static mixers 16x, 16y, and 16z along the respective longitudinal directions.

  Solenoid valve 20 and check valve 21 are arranged in this order in water flow path 23 and heavy oil flow paths 24, 24 a and 24 b from water tank 11 and heavy oil tank 12 to mixers 14 and 15, respectively, and mixed with waste oil tank 13. A waste oil passage 22 is provided between the container 14 and the container 14. In addition, drain valves 11a, 12a, and 13a are provided below the water tank 11, the heavy oil tank 12, and the waste oil tank 13, respectively. The main flow path 17 on the downstream side of the pump P is provided with an on-off valve 25 for supplying and stopping the emulsion fuel to the combustion device 18.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the internal structure of the water tank 11 and the heavy oil tank 12 is the same, and the opening part 31a (32a) of the lower end of the water supply pipe 31 (oil supply pipe 32) is in the water tank 11 (heavy oil tank 12). It is piped so as to be positioned above, and a guide tube 34 is connected to the outer periphery of the opening 31a (32a). A spherical body 33 that opens and closes an opening 31 a (32 a) of the water supply pipe 31 (oil supply pipe 32) is housed in the guide pipe 34 so as to be movable up and down, and the opening 34 a at the lower end of the guide pipe 34 has water permeability (permeability). An oily filter 35 is provided.

  Since the specific gravity of the spherical body 33 is smaller than that of the water W and the heavy oil F, the spherical body 33 moves up and down in the guide tube 34 in accordance with the elevation of the liquid level S of the water W (heavy oil F) in the water tank 11 (heavy oil tank 12). By doing so, the opening part 31a (32a) of the lower end of the water supply pipe 31 (oil supply pipe 32) is opened and closed. That is, when the level S of the water W (heavy oil F) in the water tank 11 (heavy oil tank 12) falls, the spherical body 33 descends and the opening 31a (32a) at the lower end of the water supply pipe 31 (oil supply pipe 32) is formed. Opened, water W (heavy oil F) is supplied from the water supply pipe 31 (oil supply pipe 32) into the water tank 11 (heavy oil tank 12), and the liquid of the water W (heavy oil F) in the water tank 11 (heavy oil tank 12). When the surface S rises to a predetermined position, the spherical body 33 rises, the opening 31a (32a) at the lower end of the water supply pipe 31 (oil supply pipe 32) is closed, and the water tank 11 (heavy oil) from the water supply pipe 31 (oil supply pipe 32). The supply of water W (heavy oil F) into the tank 12) is stopped. Thereby, the liquid level S of the water W (heavy oil F) in the water tank 11 (heavy oil tank 12) is maintained at a constant height.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the mixers 14 and 15 are arranged in series in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side of the main flow path 17. A heavy oil passage 24a is connected to the upstream side of the mixer 14, and a waste oil passage 22 is connected to the downstream side. A heavy oil passage 24b is connected to the upstream side of the mixer 15, and a water passage 23 is connected to the downstream side.

  As shown in FIG. 3, straight tubular joining channels 14 a and 15 a connected in series to the main channel 17 are provided in the mixers 14 and 15, respectively. Further, a heavy oil inflow passage 24ap and a waste oil inflow passage 22p are formed in the mixer 14 so as to communicate the heavy oil passage 24a, the waste oil passage 22 and the combined flow passage 14a. 24b, a heavy oil inflow passage 24bp and a water inflow passage 23p are formed to communicate the water passage 23 and the combined passage 15a.

  That is, the heavy oil flow path 24a communicates with the upstream side of the combined flow path 14a, the waste oil flow path 22 communicates with the downstream side of the combined flow path 14a, the heavy oil flow path 24b communicates with the upstream side of the combined flow path 15a, and the combined flow path 15a. The water channel 23 communicates with the downstream side. Thus, a mechanism is formed in which the heavy oil flow path 24a, the waste oil flow path 22, the heavy oil flow path 24b, and the water flow path 23 merge in this order from upstream to downstream of the main flow path 17.

  The heavy oil flow path 24p, the waste oil flow path 22p, the heavy oil flow path 24p, and the water flow path 23p communicate with each other in an inclined state of about 75 degrees (acute angle) with respect to the axis of the combined flow paths 14a and 15a. That is, the downstream sides of the heavy oil inflow passage 24ap, the waste oil inflow passage 22p, the heavy oil inflow passage 24bp, and the water inflow passage 23p are inclined in the direction of going to the downstream side of the main flow passage 17, respectively. In addition, since this inclination angle is not limited, it can be changed within a range of about 80 degrees to 70 degrees depending on use conditions.

  Of the heavy oil inflow path 24ap, the waste oil inflow path 22p, the heavy oil inflow path 24bp, and the water inflow path 23p, the heavy oil inflow path 24ap, the waste oil inflow path 22p, and the heavy oil inflow path 24bp have substantially the same inner diameter, but the water flow path 23p. Is set smaller than the inner diameters of the oil inflow passage 24ap, the waste oil inflow passage 22p, and the heavy oil inflow passage 24bp.

  Next, the static mixers 16x, 16y, and 16z will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the static mixers 16x, 16y, and 16z are arranged in series along the flow of the main flow path 17 in this order. The static mixers 16x and 16z have a structure in which three pairs of magnets M are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the outer periphery of the static mixer main body 16 shown in FIG. 6, and the static mixer 16y has a structure as shown in FIG. It consists only of the static mixer body 16.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the static mixer body 16 includes two types of right elements 16d, having different twist directions along the axial direction in a cylindrical casing 16a having openings 16b, 16c at both ends. The left elements 16e are alternately arranged. Each of the right element 16d and the left element 16e has a shape in which a rectangular plate material is twisted 180 degrees, and the directions of twist are left-handed and right-handed respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the static mixers 16 x and 16 z, three pairs of magnets M facing each other with the axis X of the static mixer body 16 interposed therebetween are arranged on the outer periphery of the static mixer body 16. The three pairs of magnets M are arranged along the longitudinal direction (axial center X direction) of the static mixer body 16, and each magnet M is arranged on the same straight line parallel to the axial center X. Further, the opposing magnets M are arranged such that different polarities (N pole and S pole) face each other across the axis X. The opposing magnets M can be arranged so that the same poles (N poles or S poles) face each other.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the three pairs of magnets M in the static mixers 16 x and 16 z are fixed via a pair of attachment members 36, respectively. The flat mounting member 36 is provided with three mounting holes 37, and magnets M are fitted into the three mounting holes 37, respectively. The two attachment members 36 into which the magnets M are fitted are arranged so as to be parallel to each other with the static mixer body 16 interposed therebetween, and are fixed by winding an adhesive tape (not shown) around them. The fixing means is not limited to this. The attachment member 36 is made of a wood material, but other materials that do not affect the magnetic lines of force of the magnet M (for example, a synthetic resin material, a paper material, an inorganic material, etc.) can also be employed.

  As will be described later, the mixture of heavy oil, waste oil and water formed in the mixers 14 and 15 flows in order in the static mixers 16x, 16y and 16z. The mixed liquid flowing from the opening 16b toward the other opening 16c is vigorously stirred and mixed by the dividing action, the converting action and the reversing action of the right element 16d and the left element 16e in the casing 16a, and the emulsification proceeds. To do. Further, in the static mixers 16x and 16z, when the mixed solution passes through the magnetic field between the magnets M arranged opposite to each other with the axis X interposed therebetween, the emulsification rapidly proceeds and passes through the last static mixer 16z. In this stage, an emulsion fuel combustible in the combustion device 18 is formed. Although there are many unclear points about the reaction mechanism in which emulsification is promoted by the magnet M, each molecule is refined by passing water molecules, heavy oil molecules and waste oil molecules in a direction crossing the magnetic force lines of the magnet M. It is speculated that this is because of this.

  When the emulsion fuel production apparatus 10 is operated, the pump P is operated with the on-off valve 25 disposed at the most downstream side of the main flow path 17 closed, and the solenoid valve 20 and the check valve 21 are opened. The water passes through the solenoid valve 20 and the check valve 21 along the water flow path 23 and is fed into the mixer 15. The heavy oil in the heavy oil tank 12 flows into the solenoid valve 20 along the heavy oil flow path 24, passes through the solenoid valve 20, is divided into two heavy oil flow paths 24 a and 24 b, and flows into the check valve 21. After passing through the check valve 21, it is fed into the mixers 14 and 15 via the heavy oil passages 24a and 24b, respectively. Waste oil in the waste oil tank 13 is sent to the mixer 14 via the waste oil passage 22.

  In the mixer 14, heavy oil and waste oil are merged and mixed, and in the mixer 15, heavy oil and water are further merged and mixed, and into a plurality of static mixers 16 x, 16 y, 16 z arranged in series downstream thereof. Inflow. When the mixed liquid of heavy oil, waste oil and water flowing into the static mixers 16x, 16y and 16z passes through the static mixer body 16 of the static mixers 16x, 16y and 16z, the right element 16d and the left element 16e ( Emulsification proceeds by vigorous mixing and stirring in FIG. In addition, when the mixed solution passes through the static mixers 16x and 16z each having three pairs of magnets M, the emulsion rapidly proceeds, and after passing through the static mixer 16z located on the most downstream side, the combustion apparatus A combustible emulsion fuel is formed at 18.

  In this state, since the on-off valve 25 is closed, the emulsion fuel flowing out from the most downstream static mixer 16z flows into the return flow path 19 via the pump P, and flows into the upstream side of the mixer 15 again. Thereafter, the same route as described above is passed. That is, when the open / close valve 25 is closed, the mixers 14 and 15 pass through the three static mixers 16x, 16y, and 16z, and again pass through the pump P and the return flow path 19 to be mixed again. A circulation flow path is formed, and the mixed solution continues to circulate in the circulation path.

  Here, when the on-off valve 25 shown in FIG. 1 is opened, the emulsion fuel formed through the static mixer 16z flows out to the supply flow path 26, is sent to the combustion device 18 such as a boiler, and is used for combustion. . Since the emulsion fuel produced by the emulsion fuel production apparatus 10 has good ignitability, the operation of the combustion apparatus 18 can be started without using A heavy oil alone as the ignition fuel. Therefore, when the combustion device 18 is operated by ON-OFF control, a fuel switching mechanism, a complicated control method, and the like are not necessary.

  As described above, in the emulsion fuel production apparatus 10, a part of the emulsion fuel formed by passing through the mixers 14, 15, the static mixers 16 x, 16 y, 16 z and the pump P passes through the return flow path 19. As a result, a circulation flow path is formed which again flows into the mixers 14 and 15 and passes through the static mixer 16 and the pump P. As a result, the emulsion of the mixed solution jumps by passing through the static mixer 16 and the pump P a plurality of times. Therefore, the emulsion fuel can be efficiently produced without using an emulsifier.

  In addition, using the circulation flow path formed by providing the return flow path 19, the mixed liquid of fuel oil, waste oil and water is transferred between the mixers 14, 15, the static mixers 16 x, 16 y, 16 z and the pump P. Emulsification is progressed while circulating in the tank, so that a large-scale mixing device, a stirring device or a large-capacity storage tank is not required, and an extremely small and simple structure can be achieved. Therefore, the existing heavy oil boiler, for example, a combustion apparatus such as a heating boiler for an agricultural vinyl house, can be easily used without newly remodeling or providing a large installation space.

  Furthermore, the mixers 14 and 15 are combined oil flow channels 14a and 15a in which the liquid can flow in one direction, and heavy oil inflow for individually supplying continuously supplied fuel oil, waste oil and water to the combined flow channels 14a and 15a, respectively. Since the paths 24ap, 24bp, the waste oil inflow path 22p, and the water inflow path 23p are provided, the fuel oil, waste oil, and water can be mixed efficiently while avoiding the complexity of the structure.

  In this case, the heavy oil inflow passages 24ap, 24bp, the waste oil inflow passage 22p, and the water inflow passage 23p are arranged so as to communicate obliquely with the combined flow paths 14a, 15a, so that the liquid flowing in the combined flow paths 14a, 15a in one direction. Fuel oil, waste oil, and water can be efficiently flowed into the combined flow paths 14a and 15a using the suction force generated by (mixed liquid).

  On the other hand, since the heavy oil inflow path 24ap, the waste oil inflow path 22p, the heavy oil inflow path 24bp, and the water inflow path 23p are communicated in order from the upstream side to the downstream side of the combined flow paths 14a and 15a, the specific gravity and viscosity are different. Three kinds of liquids (fuel oil, waste oil and water) can be easily mixed.

  In addition, by arranging the three static mixers 16x, 16y, and 16z in series in the main flow path 17, the mixed liquid of fuel oil, waste oil, and water can be emulsified in a short time. Therefore, the emulsion fuel production apparatus 10 can produce an emulsion fuel of about 25 to 30 liters per minute while being an extremely small apparatus having a width of 450 mm, a depth of 450 mm, and a height of about 400 mm. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a check valve 21 is disposed on the downstream side of the solenoid valve 20 of the water flow path 23 and heavy oil flow paths 24, 24a and 24b from the heavy oil tank 12 to the mixers 14 and 15, respectively. Therefore, the mixed liquid and emulsion fuel passing through the mixers 14 and 15 do not flow back into the tanks 11, 12 and 13.

  The emulsion fuel production apparatus 10 includes three static mixers 16x, 16y, and 16z, and three pairs of magnets M are arranged in each of the two static mixers 16x and 16z. The number of static mixers, the number of magnets, and The arrangement form and the like are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed according to the use conditions.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be widely used as an apparatus for producing emulsion fuel that can be used in a combustion apparatus such as a boiler using fuel oil, waste oil, and water as raw materials.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Emulsion fuel manufacturing apparatus 11 Water tank 12 Heavy oil tank 13 Waste oil tank 11a, 12a, 13a Drain valve 14, 15 Mixer 14a, 15a Combined flow path 16 Static mixer main body 16x, 16y, 16z Static mixer 16a Casing 16b, 16c Opening 16d Right element 16e Left element 17 Main flow path 18 Combustion device 19 Return flow path 20 Solenoid valve 21 Check valve 22 Waste oil flow path 22p Waste oil inflow path 23 Water flow path 23p Water inflow path 24, 24a, 24b Heavy oil flow path 24ap, 24bp Heavy oil inflow Path 25 On-off valve 26 Supply flow path 31 Water supply pipe 31a, 32a, 34a Opening 32 Oil supply pipe 33 Spherical body 34 Guide pipe 35 Filter 36 Mounting member 37 Mounting hole F Heavy oil M Magnet S Liquid surface W Water X Shaft center

Claims (5)

  A mixer for mixing fuel oil, waste oil, and water, a static mixer for emulsifying the liquid mixture fed from the mixer, and a pump for sending the emulsion fuel flowing out of the static mixer to a combustion device A return flow path in which at least a pair of magnets facing each other across the axial center of the static mixer is disposed on the outer periphery of the static mixer, and a part of the emulsion fuel sent from the pump flows into the mixer An emulsion fuel production apparatus comprising:   The mixer has a combined flow path in which liquid can flow in one direction, and a fuel oil inflow path, a waste oil inflow path, and a water inflow for individually supplying continuously supplied fuel oil, waste oil, and water to the combined flow path. The emulsion combustion manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a passage.   3. The emulsion fuel production apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fuel oil inflow path, the waste oil inflow path, and the water inflow path are arranged so as to communicate obliquely with respect to the combined flow path.   The emulsion fuel production apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the fuel oil inflow passage, the waste oil inflow passage, and the water inflow passage are communicated in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side of the combined passage.   The emulsion fuel production apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of the static mixers are arranged in series.

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