JP2014181302A - Microemulsion preparation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of a mixed fuel prepared by adding an emulsifier to a fuel oil and water that the emulsifier is expensive and high-cost and that the fuel oil is opal, instead of having an appearance as a fuel oil.SOLUTION: Water to be mixed is pretreated in a water softening part 2, a pure water preparation part 3 and a water ionization part 4 to convert to strong alkaline water having a minus oxidation reduction potential and transferred to a mixing part 7. An oil to be mixed is pretreated in an oil ionization part 5 and a potential imparting part 6 to convert to positively charged oil having a plus oxidation reduction potential and transferred to the mixing part 7. In the mixing part 7, water is charged negatively and sprayed, while the oil is charged positively and sprayed, and the resultant sprays are crossed mutually to mix together. The mixed liquid is in a microemulsion state, and the color remains the same as the original color of the oil. Without use of an emulsifier, the apparatus is low-cost.

Description

  The present invention relates to a microemulsion generating apparatus that generates a microemulsion by mixing two kinds of liquids.

Conventionally, two kinds of liquids, such as water and oil, which are not originally mixed are mixed as uniformly as possible for various purposes. For example, if fuel oil such as heavy oil or kerosene and water are uniformly mixed to produce a mixed fuel, the mixed fuel is not only less expensive than pure fuel oil, but also CO2 during combustion. generation amount of ₂ or NO _X is low, it is known that also contribute to pollution prevention.
In order to improve the combustion efficiency of the mixed fuel, it is required that the fuel oil and water are mixed well at a level as fine as possible (for example, a fine particle level). Therefore, in a conventional liquid mixing apparatus, an emulsifier (surfactant) is added to a liquid to be mixed, and stirred with a stirring blade to form an emulsion.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing such a conventional liquid mixing apparatus. In FIG. 3, 201 and 202 are piping, 203 is a mixing part, 204 is a stirring drive part, 205 is a tank, 206 is a liquid mixture, 207 is a stirring blade, 208 and 209 are pipings, and 210 is a water softening part.
The mixing unit 203 includes a tank 205 that contains a liquid to be mixed, a stirring blade 207 that stirs the mixed solution in the tank 205, and a stirring drive unit 204 that rotates the stirring blade 207.

Here, water (hard water) and oil (fuel oil) are taken as examples of the liquid to be mixed. The oil is sent to the tank 205 of the mixing unit 203 through the pipe 202. Since water is not mixed well with oil in the form of hard water, it is first sent to the water softening unit 210 where it is softened. The softened water is sent to the tank 205 through the pipe 208.
On the other hand, the emulsifier (surfactant) sent through the pipe 201 is added to the oil sent through the pipe 202 and sent to the tank 205.
The mixed solution to which the emulsifier is added is emulsified (white turbidity), and by vigorously stirring it with the stirring blade 207, the mixing becomes gradually uniform and eventually becomes an emulsion. The mixed fuel in an emulsion state is taken out from the pipe 209 and used. Note that the liquid mixture becomes cloudy because the mixed liquid has a large particle size, and the scattered visible light is much scattered. In the emulsion, the particle size of the mixed liquid is about 0.1 μm even if it is small.

JP 2006-329438 A JP 2008-063548 A

The liquid mixture produced by the conventional liquid mixing apparatus described above has the following problems.
1. Although an emulsifier is required, this is relatively expensive and expensive.
2. Because of the emulsifier, the color of the mixed liquid becomes milky white (white turbidity). For example, when mixed fuel is produced, it does not look like fuel oil.
3. The diameter (particle size) of the mixed liquid particles is still large and the viscosity is large. Therefore, it separates with the passage of time.
4). When mixed fuel is produced, the calorific value is less than that of the original fuel oil.
An object of the present invention is to solve such problems.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a microemulsion generating apparatus in which a mixed liquid is in a microemulsion state. Microemulsion refers to a liquid mixture in which the particle size of the mixed liquid is 0.05 μm or less, and even if it is mixed, it looks as if it is dissolved. It can be said that it is no longer a single liquid phase.

  The microemulsion generator of the present invention includes a water softening unit (2) for softening water to be mixed, a dewatering unit (3) for purifying soft water from the water softening unit, and the pure water. A water ionization section (4) for negatively ionizing pure water from the gasification section by the first liquid magnetic processing apparatus, and an oil ionization section (5) for positively ionizing the oil to be mixed by the second liquid magnetic processing apparatus; A potential applying unit (6) for applying a positive potential to the positive ionized oil from the oil ionizing unit, and charging and spraying the oil from the potential applying unit to a positive potential from the water ionizing unit. It was decided to provide a mixing section (7) that performs mixing so that the mixed liquid is in a microemulsion state by spraying water charged to a negative potential and causing the sprays to cross each other.

  In the microemulsion generating apparatus described above, the water ionization unit (4) is a tank that stores pure water sent from the pure water purification unit, and a redox potential reducing material and water quality that reduce the redox potential of water. A first tank (41) in which a water quality stabilizing material that stabilizes water is placed, a first pump and a first pipe (42) for circulating the pure water, and a middle of the first pipe A first liquid magnetic processing device (44) that is applied to the pure water flowing through the first pipe and applies an electromagnetic field to the first liquid magnetic processing device. And a first pulse power supply (45) for supplying a first pulse power supply for ionization.

  In the microemulsion generating apparatus described above, the oil ionization section (5) includes a second tank (51) that contains oil to be mixed, a second pump (53) and a second pipe for circulating the oil. (52), a second liquid magnetic processing apparatus (54) that is installed on the outer periphery in the middle of the second pipe and applies an electromagnetic field to the oil flowing through the second pipe, A second pulse power supply device (55) for supplying a second pulse power supply for positively ionizing oil to the two liquid magnetic processing apparatuses.

  In the microemulsion generating apparatus described above, the potential applying section (6) includes a third tank (61) for storing oil sent from the oil ionization section, and a third pump (63) for circulating the oil. ) And the third pipe (62), the first nozzle (64) attached to the end of the third pipe drawn into the upper part of the third tank and spraying the oil, and the first pipe In order to apply a positive potential to the oil sprayed from the nozzle, a first DC high voltage power supply device (65) for supplying a positive first DC high voltage to the first nozzle is provided. I can do it.

  In the microemulsion generating apparatus described above, the mixing unit (7) includes a fifth tank (71) that contains the mixed solution, and a fourth pipe (in which water from the water ionization unit is drawn into the upper part of the fifth tank ( 20) attached to the end of the second nozzle (73) for spraying the water, and at the end of the fifth pipe (22) for drawing oil from the potential applying section into the upper part of the fifth tank. A third nozzle (72) that is attached and sprays the oil, and applies a negative potential to the water sprayed from the second nozzle and also applies a positive potential to the oil sprayed from the third nozzle The second direct current high voltage power supply device (75) for supplying the second direct current high voltage can be provided.

  In the above-described microemulsion generating apparatus, the first pulse power supply and the second pulse power supply can be supplied from one pulse power supply apparatus, or the first DC high voltage power supply and the second DC high power supply can be supplied. The voltage power supply may be supplied from one DC high voltage power supply device.

The microemulsion generator of the present invention has the following effects.
1. Cost can be reduced.
Since the mixing of the two liquids is performed without using an emulsifier, the production cost can be greatly reduced.
2. The color of the liquid mixture remains the color of the liquid used for production.
In the present invention, since no emulsifier is added, it does not become milky white and remains the color of the liquid used for production. For example, in the case of a microemulsion in which fuel oil and water are mixed, since water is transparent, it eventually becomes the same color as the fuel oil and has a fuel oil-like appearance.
3. The diameter (particle diameter) of the mixed liquid droplets is small and the viscosity is small. Therefore, it does not separate over time.
4). The calorific value of the mixed fuel microemulsion is comparable to that of the original fuel oil.

The figure which shows one example of the micro emulsion production | generation apparatus of this invention The figure explaining a liquid magnetic processing apparatus Diagram showing a conventional liquid mixing device

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a microemulsion generator of the present invention. Here, water and oil (fuel oil: kerosene, heavy oil, etc.) will be described as examples of the two liquids to be mixed.
In FIG. 1, 1 is a microemulsion generator, 2 is a water softening unit, 3 is a pure water purification unit, 4 is a water ionization unit, 5 is an oil ionization unit, 6 is a potential application unit, 7 is a mixing unit, and 8 is an addition unit. Temperature storage section, 20 to 24 are piping, 41 is a tank, 42 is piping, 43 is a pump, 44 is a liquid magnetic processing device, 45 is a pulse power supply device, 46 is wiring, 51 is a tank, 52 is piping, and 53 is a pump , 54 is a liquid magnetic processing device, 55 is a pulse power supply device, 56 is wiring, 61 is a tank, 62 is piping, 63 is a pump, 64 is a nozzle, 65 is a direct current high voltage power supply device, 66 is wiring, 71 is a tank, Reference numerals 72 and 73 are nozzles, 74 is a stirring blade, 75 is a DC high-voltage power supply device, 76 and 77 are wiring, 81 is a tank, and 82 is a heater.

(Outline of the device)
First, the outline of the microemulsion generator 1 will be described. Mixing of water and oil is performed in the mixing unit 7. In order to perform the mixing in the mixing unit 7 satisfactorily, a configuration for pre-treating each of water and oil to be supplied thereto is provided.
The structure for pretreatment of water is a water softening unit 2, a pure water purification unit 3, and a water ionization unit 4. The oil pretreatment is the oil ionization unit 5 and the potential application unit 6.

Hereinafter, each configuration will be described in detail.
(1) Pretreatment of water Although water is often hard water, pure water is suitable for mixing. Therefore, as water pretreatment, the water is first made soft by the water softening unit 2 and then purified. It is made pure water by part 3. Devices for converting hard water to soft water and devices for removing impurities such as silica to make pure water are known.
Here, the reason why the hard water having a high oxidation-reduction potential (eg, several hundred mV) is made pure water having a substantially lower oxidation-reduction potential is that when water is sprayed in the subsequent step (mixing unit 7), This is because it is desired to make the potential as negative as possible (in addition, the oil of the mixing partner is sprayed with a positive potential).

The water ionization unit 4 includes a tank 41, a pipe 42, a pump 43, a liquid magnetic processing device 44, a pulse power supply device 45, a wiring 46, and the like. In the tank 41, a redox potential lowering material (for example, special ceramic) that promotes a reduction in the redox potential of water, or a water quality stabilizing material (for example, tourmaline) that stabilizes the water so that it does not deteriorate. Ore).
The pipe 42 and the pump 43 are arranged so as to circulate pure water in the tank 41, and a liquid magnetic processing device 44 is provided in the middle of the pipe 42. The liquid magnetic processing device 44 is for subjecting pure water flowing through the pipe 42 to magnetic processing and ionization. The pulse power supply device 45 is a power supply for operating the liquid magnetic processing device 44.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a liquid magnetic processing apparatus. In FIG. 2, 100 is a pipe, 101 is a liquid magnetic processing apparatus, 102 is an electromagnetic field generator, and 103 is a pulse power supply apparatus. The electromagnetic field generator 102 is provided along the outer periphery of the pipe 100 and generates an electromagnetic field that acts on the liquid flowing in the pipe 100.
When an electromagnetic field acts on the liquid flowing in the pipe 100, the element is ionized and eluted when the frequency of the electromagnetic field is a frequency suitable for ionization of the element constituting the liquid. The liquid magnetic processing apparatus 101 is supplied with pulse power from the pulse power supply apparatus 103. The polarity application method and pulse frequency are appropriately selected according to the type of liquid (elements) to be ionized. .

Returning to FIG. 1, the liquid magnetic processing device 44 of the water ionization unit 4 performs a process such that negative ions are generated from pure water. In the pulse power supply supplied from the pulse power supply device 45 to the liquid magnetic processing device 44 through the wiring 46, the type and number of frequencies and the method of applying the polarity are selected so that such processing is performed efficiently there. .
The pure water containing negative ions generated here has a lower oxidation-reduction degree (for example, −300 mV). As a result of ionization, the pure water in the tank 41 is strongly alkaline due to the action of the redox potential reducing material.
The pure water ionized as described above in the water ionization section 4 is sent to the mixing section 7 through the pipe 20 (it is sent by a pump not shown. The same applies to the following pipes).

(2) About the oil pre-treatment stage The oil pre-treatment is first performed by the oil ionization unit 5 and then by the potential applying unit 6. The oil ionization unit 5 includes a tank 51, a pipe 52, a pump 53, a liquid magnetic processing device 54, a pulse power supply device 55, a wiring 56, and the like. The pipe 52 and the pump 53 are arranged to circulate oil in the tank 51, and a liquid magnetic processing device 54 is provided in the middle of the pipe 52.
The liquid magnetic processing device 54 performs magnetic processing on the oil flowing through the pipe 52 and ionizes the oil. The pulse power supply device 55 is a power supply for operating the liquid magnetic processing device 54.

In the liquid magnetic processing device 54 of the oil ionization unit 5, processing is performed so that positive ions are generated from the oil. In the pulse power supply supplied from the pulse power supply device 55 to the liquid magnetic processing device 54 through the wiring 56, the type and number of frequencies and the method of applying the polarity are selected so that such processing is performed efficiently. .
The oil containing positive ions generated here has an increased redox degree (eg, +150 mV).
The oil ionized by the oil ionization unit 5 is sent to the potential applying unit 6 through the pipe 21.

The potential applying unit 6 includes a tank 61, a pipe 62, a pump 63, a nozzle 64, a direct current high voltage power supply device 65, a wiring 66, and the like. The pipe 62 and the pump 63 are arranged to circulate the oil in the tank 61. The nozzle 64 is attached to the upper end of the pipe 62, and circulates the oil that is circulated and returned to the tank 61 into a spray form as fine as possible. Therefore, as the pump 63, a pump having a supply pressure sufficient to make the oil finely sprayed is used.
Further, a positive potential is applied to the nozzle 64 from the DC high-voltage power supply device 65 through the wiring 66. This is to impart a positive potential to the oil to be sprayed. This potential application is to further improve the mixing with water.

In addition, although the electric potential provision part equivalent to the electric potential provision part 6 is not provided about the pretreatment of water, it is necessary to provide about the pretreatment of oil. Although the reason has not yet been elucidated, an experimental result has been obtained that the mixed liquid does not become a microemulsion unless the potential applying unit 6 is provided in the oil pretreatment.
The oil ionized by the oil ionization unit 5 and given a positive potential by the potential application unit 6 is sent to the mixing unit 7 via the pipe 22.

(3) About the mixing stage of water and oil Mixing of the water and oil each pre-processed is performed in the mixing part 7. FIG. The mixing unit 7 includes a tank 71, nozzles 72 and 73, stirring blades 74, a direct current high voltage power supply device 75, wirings 76 and 77, and the like.
The pipe 20 for supplying the pretreated water is drawn into the mixing unit 7, and a nozzle 73 is attached to the tip thereof. A negative potential is applied to the nozzle 73 from the DC high voltage power supply device 75 through the wiring 77. Water is strongly sprayed from the nozzle 73, and the water particles in a fine mist are further negatively charged.

Similarly, the pipe 22 for supplying the pretreated oil is drawn into the mixing unit 7, and a nozzle 72 is attached to the tip of the pipe 22. A positive potential is applied to the nozzle 72 from the DC high voltage power supply device 75 through the wiring 76. The oil is strongly sprayed from the nozzle 72 and the fine mist of oil particles is further positively charged.
The intervals and directions of the nozzles 72 and 73 are set such that the sprays produced from the nozzles 72 and 73 are mixed in the air.

As described above, the pretreated water and oil are sprayed into the tank 71 so as to mix with each other from the nozzles 73 and 72, respectively, but the sprayed water and oil particles are charged to opposite polarities. Therefore, a strong suction force acts between the two, and they mix very well when they are floating in the air.
The stirring blade 74 is for accelerating the mixing of the mixed liquid that has fallen and accumulated. However, since the mixing blade 74 is mixed very well when it is dropped, the stirring blade 74 only needs to be lightly stirred.
In the mixed liquid thus produced, the particle diameter of the mixed liquid is as small as 0.05 μm or less, and the mixed liquid is in a microemulsion state.

  In the microemulsion, since the particle size of the mixed liquid is small, the scattering of visible light hitting it is small. Therefore, the color of the microemulsion does not become cloudy and maintains the original liquid color. For example, in the case of a microemulsion of water and kerosene, since the water is transparent, the microemulsion retains the kerosene color. Therefore, the appearance is a kerosene-like appearance, which is preferable.

The mixed liquid (microemulsion) obtained in the mixing unit 7 is sent to the warm storage unit 8 through the pipe 23. The warming storage unit 8 includes a tank 81, a heater 82, and the like. The heater 82 is for keeping the microemulsion in a stable state. The heater for such a purpose can also be provided in places other than the warm storage part 8. For example, the tanks 41 and 61 may be provided.
In the example of FIG. 1, the pulse power supply devices 45 and 55 are shown as separate devices, but may be configured as one device, and a required pulse power supply may be supplied from each device. Similarly, the DC high-voltage power supply devices 65 and 75 may be configured as one device, and a required high-voltage power supply may be supplied to each from there.

According to such a microemulsion generator of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. First, since no emulsifier (surfactant) is used, the cost is reduced accordingly. And since the mixed particle size is very small, it does not separate and return to the original liquid.
Further, when the calorific value of the microemulsion of water and fuel oil was examined, it was almost the same as the original fuel oil. Therefore, the microemulsion produced from water and gasoline can be used for an internal combustion engine such as an automobile (conventional mixed fuel cannot be used for an internal combustion engine).
The demand for mixing two types of liquids as finely as possible to a fine particle level is not limited to the field of mixed fuels but also in various fields (for example, paints, cosmetics, foods, etc.). Needless to say, the present invention is applicable to such a field.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Microemulsion production | generation apparatus, 2 ... Soft water softening part, 3 ... Pure water purification part, 4 ... Water ionization part, 5 ... Oil ionization part, 6 ... Potential application part, 7 ... Mixing part, 8 ... Warming storage part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20-24 ... Piping, 41 ... Tank, 42 ... Piping, 43 ... Pump, 44 ... Liquid magnetic processing device, 45 ... Pulse power supply device, 46 ... Wiring, 51 ... Tank, 52 ... Piping, 53 ... Pump, 54 ... Liquid Magnetic processing device, 55 ... pulse power supply device, 56 ... wiring, 61 ... tank, 62 ... piping, 63 ... pump, 64 ... nozzle, 65 ... DC high voltage power supply device, 66 ... wiring, 71 ... tank, 72, 73 ... Nozzle, 74 ... stirring blade, 75 ... DC high voltage power supply device, 76, 77 ... wiring, 81 ... tank, 82 ... heater, 100 ... piping, 101 ... liquid magnetic processing device, 102 ... electromagnetic field generator, 103 ... pulse Power supply, 201, 02 ... pipe, 203 ... mixer, 204 ... stirring drive unit, 205 ... tank, 206 ... liquid mixture, 207 ... stirring blades, 208, 209 ... pipe, 210 ... water softening unit

The microemulsion generator of the present invention includes a water softening unit (2) for softening water to be mixed, a dewatering unit (3) for purifying soft water from the water softening unit, and the pure water. A water ionization section (4) for negatively ionizing pure water from the gasification section by the first liquid magnetic processing apparatus, and an oil ionization section (5) for positively ionizing the oil to be mixed by the second liquid magnetic processing apparatus; , A potential applying unit (6) for applying a positive potential to the positive ionized oil from the oil ionizing unit, the oil from the potential applying unit being charged to a positive potential and sprayed again, and from the water ionizing unit The water is charged with a negative potential and sprayed, and the sprays are mixed with each other so that the mixed solution (7) is mixed so that the mixed liquid is in a microemulsion state.

Claims (7)

A water softening part (2) for softening water to be mixed;
A pure water purification section (3) for purifying soft water from the water softening section;
A water ionization section (4) for negatively ionizing pure water from the pure water purification section with the first liquid magnetic processing apparatus;
An oil ionization section (5) for positively ionizing the oil to be mixed by the second liquid magnetic processing apparatus;
A potential applying section (6) for applying a positive potential to the positive ionized oil from the oil ionizing section;
The oil from the potential application unit is charged with a positive potential and sprayed, and the water from the water ionization unit is charged with a negative potential and sprayed. A microemulsion generating apparatus comprising a mixing unit (7) for mixing so that The water ionization part (4)
A first tank that contains pure water sent from a pure water purification unit, and contains a redox potential reducing material that lowers the redox potential of water and a water quality stabilizing material that stabilizes water quality. (41)
A first pump for circulating the pure water and a first pipe (42;
A first liquid magnetic processing apparatus (44) that is mounted on an outer periphery in the middle of the first pipe and that acts an electromagnetic field on pure water flowing through the first pipe;
2. The micro of claim 1, further comprising: a first pulse power supply device (45) for supplying a first pulse power supply for negative ionization of pure water to the first liquid magnetic processing device. Emulsion generator. The oil ionization part (5)
A second tank (51) containing the oil to be mixed;
A second pump (53) and a second pipe (52) for circulating the oil;
A second liquid magnetic processing device (54), which is installed on the outer periphery in the middle of the second pipe and applies an electromagnetic field to the oil flowing through the second pipe;
3. A second pulse power supply device (55) for supplying a second pulse power supply for positively ionizing oil to the second liquid magnetic processing device. Microemulsion generator. The potential application unit (6)
A third tank (61) for containing oil sent from the oil ionization section;
A third pump (63) and a third pipe (62) for circulating the oil;
A first nozzle (64) attached to an end of a third pipe drawn into the upper part of the third tank and spraying the oil;
A first direct current high voltage power supply device (65) for supplying a positive first direct current high voltage to the first nozzle in order to apply a positive potential to the oil sprayed from the first nozzle; 4. The microemulsion generator according to claim 1, 2, or 3. The mixing part (7)
A fifth tank (71) for containing the liquid mixture;
A second nozzle (73) attached to an end of a fourth pipe (20) for drawing water from a water ionization unit into the upper part of the fifth tank and spraying the water;
A third nozzle (72) attached to the end of a fifth pipe (22) for drawing oil from the potential application section into the upper part of the fifth tank and spraying the oil;
A second DC high-voltage power supply for applying a negative potential to the water sprayed from the second nozzle and supplying a second DC high voltage for applying a positive potential to the oil sprayed from the third nozzle 5. A microemulsion generator according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises a device (75).   6. The microemulsion generator according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the first pulse power source and the second pulse power source are supplied from one pulse power source device.   7. The microemulsion generator according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the first DC high voltage power supply and the second DC high voltage power supply are supplied from one DC high voltage power supply device.

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