MXPA03009372A - Delivery system for liquid catalysts. - Google Patents

Abstract

A delivery system for generating a sparging gas containing catalyst particles and delivering them to a flame zone (62) of a combustion reaction is disclosed. A catalyst mixture receptacle (2) for the delivery system includes a floating ball check valve (20) on an air inlet (18) to an inlet tube (8) of the receptacle (2) which is spaced from a vertical wall (12) of the receptacle (2). A secondary splash chamber (30) having an opening smaller than the body of the chamber is also included between the main body of the receptacle (2) and the sparging gas outlet for the receptacle to reduce the opportunity for catalyst mixture (4) in liquid form to reach the sparging gas outlet. An enrichment circuit is disclosed including a controller (74), pump (72), and a one-way check valve (87) for adding additional sparging gas to a flame zone (62) of a combustion process in times of added load.

Description

WO 02/083281 Al ii !!! KlH ^^^ Published: 'For two-Ulter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the "Guid- - with internutional search report anee Notes on Codes and Abbreviations" appearing at the begin- - be / ore ihe expiration of the time iimit for amending the ning ofeach regular iss e ofthe PCT Gazette. claims and, what is republished in ihe evenl of receip of amendments SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR CATALYSTS LIQUIDS This application relates to the US Provisional Patent Application, Serial No. 60 / 283,195, filed on April 12, 2001, entitled: "TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FOR LIQUID CATALYSTS FOR DIESEL ENGINES", Provisional Patent Application US, Serial No. 60/295, 412, filed June 4, 2001, entitled "LIQUID CATALYST FOR THE REDUCTION OF GAS AND DIESEL ENGINE EMISSIONS", and US Provisional Patent Application. UU., Serial No. 60 / 355,161, filed on February 8, 2002, entitled: "SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR LIQUID CATALYSTS". The descriptions of these related applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Technical Field This invention relates, generally, to a system for supplying a catalyst within a flame zone of a combustion reaction, such as a fuel combustion chamber. More specifically, embodiments of the invention include a deposit of the catalyst, which produces an aerosol, which contains the catalyst, at 2 ° C.

Flame zone. Specific embodiments of the invention may include a vacuum source, to drive the gas containing catalyst to the flame zone, and an enrichment circuit, to cause an increase in the amount of catalyst that is driven to the flame zone, when increased enrichment of the catalyst is required. 2. Prior Art Bubbling gas, catalytic vapors and aerosols have been used in combustion reaction techniques to increase the energy production of fuel combustion systems. In conventional bubbling gas supply systems, a vacuum is created above a liquid pool in a receptacle, to cause atmospheric air to be propelled into the receptacle at a location below the surface of the liquid. Generally, the liquid, in a conventional system, includes a carrier liquid with an oil or other catalyst floating on top of the carrier or, more recently, a catalyst solution that includes a base carrier and a soluble catalyst. The vacuum created above the liquid causes the bubbles to rise through the liquid and into the air above the liquid, with a portion of the liquid adhering to the surface of the bubbles. At some point, above the surface of the liquid, · the bubbles break and a portion of the The catalyst, which is on the surface of the bubbles, remains in the air, above the liquid. This process is commonly called bubbling and the resulting gas, which contains the catalyst, is called the "bubbling gas". The small particles of the catalyst are thus driven away in the form of bubbling gas by the vacuum and supplied in the induction air of a combustion system to affect the combustion reaction. However, in conventional spraying processes, the catalyst receptacles are configured so that the bubbles contact solid barriers, as they rise to the top of the liquid. This contact reduces the amount of liquid that can adhere to the surface of the bubble. Conventional systems also have a bubbling gas outlet immediately above the bubbles that break. With this arrangement, the catalyst solution from the bubbles that burst, can spread in the outlet of the bubbling gas and travel to the area of the flame in the form of liquid, rather than as a bubbling gas, rapidly consuming the catalyst solution with an uncontrolled regime. This unnecessary and uncontrolled consumption causes the system to become ineffective and inefficient. Another undesired aspect of conventional supply systems is that if, instead of the negative pressure of a vacuum, a positive pressure occurs in the receptacle, above the liquid, this liquid can be forced through the air inlet and overflow the system. This phenomenon is commonly called precolation or filtration. A specific limitation of the conventional bubbling gas catalyst supply systems is that the delivery rate of the system catalyst is either fixed or proportional to the vacuum regime of the combustion system and can not be automatically enriched with increased demand.

EXPOSITION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a liquid catalyst supply system, which includes a liquid catalyst receptacle and a catalyst transport system, for delivering a bubbling gas, containing catalyst, to a flame zone of the catalyst. a combustion reaction. Modes of the invention include an air inlet, which releases air into the catalyst receptacle, so that the bubbles released from the air inlet door, do not make contact with the solid surface, as they pass through the solution of catalyst, a non-restrictive check valve on the air inlet, and a chamber 5 adjacent to the main body of the catalyst receptacle, the chamber has an opening with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the body of the chamber, to assist in only the bubbling gas to the flame zone. Reinforcing structural elements, which help in mounting the receptacle to a body, are also included. Modes of the catalyst transport system can be as simple as a simple tube, or more complex, including a pump, controllers, alarms, sensors and an enrichment circuit. The pumps can be continuous or controlled by control elements, in response to the needs of the combustion process. The enrichment circuit can also be continuous, have predetermined thresholds to provide the catalyst added to the system, or can be controlled by controlling elements, in response to the needs of the combustion process. Alarms and chronometric circuits can be used to convey information about the process, system or sensors associated with the system. A remote indicator of the need to fill the contents of the catalyst receptacle, or the components of these compounds, can also be provided to the system. A source of vibrations can be added by mounting the receptacle to a mounting plate, in association with the source of vibration, such as the pump. The vibration of the environment can similarly be damped up the receptacle in a cushioned environment configuration, such as over cushioned mounts. The above features and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a cutaway view of a liquid catalyst receptacle, configured according to an embodiment of the present invention, seen along line 1-1 of Figure 4; , Figure 2 is a bottom view of an air inlet cover, configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a bottom view of a chamber lid with two nozzles, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a top view of the receptacle of Figure 1; 7 Figure 5 is a front view of one embodiment of the receptacle of Figure 1, but having a chamber lid with a nozzle; Figure 6 is a block diagram of a catalyst supply system, configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a system diagram of a catalyst supply system, having an enrichment circuit, configured for a reciprocating motor, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is an embodiment of a catalyst transport system, for a catalyst supply system, having an enrichment circuit illustrating the flow of the catalyst, under conditions of low-catalyst requirement; and Figure 9 is an embodiment of a catalyst transport system, for a catalyst supply system, having an enrichment circuit illustrating the catalyst flow, under conditions of high catalyst requirement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE MODALITIES OF THE INVENTION As discussed above, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a liquid catalyst supply system, for a combustion reaction, whereby this catalyst is transported in the form of the bubbling gas to the Flame zone of the combustion reaction. As used herein, the "flame zone" refers to the region where the combustion reaction occurs. In cases where the combustion reaction is enclosed within a combustion chamber, such as within the chamber of a reciprocating piston engine, the flame zone is the space within the combustion chamber. In other cases, where the combustion reaction is not inside a combustion chamber and, instead, opens to the environment, as with many open flame applications, the flame zone is the region in which the combustion of any fuel can occur. Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of a liquid catalyst receptacle 2, for use in a catalyst supply system of the present invention. In the catalyst supply system, shown in Figure 1, receptacle 2 contains a 4 mixture of catalyst. Examples of general carrier liquids, catalysts and catalyst mixtures, and an explanation of the general operation of transferring the catalysts to an aerosol form, through the use of bubbling, are generally described in US Pat. 4,295,816 ((October 20, 1981) of 9 Robinson), 4,475,483 ((October 9, 1984) by Robinson), and 5,085,841 ((February 4, 1902) by Robinson), whose corresponding descriptions are incorporated herein by reference. In general operation, the air is driven into the receptacle 2 through an air inlet 8 through a vacuum formed in the air region 10 above the catalyst mixture 4. The air driven into the receptacle 2 rises through the mixture 4 in the form of bubbles, which rupture within the air region 10 above the liquid, The rupture of the bubbles liberates catalyst particles within the region 10 of air, and a portion of that catalyst is driven as a bubbling gas containing catalyst particles, out of the top of the receptacle by vacuum. Further discussion of this operation is presented below with reference to Figures 6 to 9. The air inlet 8 of the embodiment shown in the Figure. 1 includes an inlet channel, which extends along a side 12 of the receptacle 2 and enters near the bottom; 14 of the receptacle 2. The inlet channel includes a vertical portion and a portion which forms an angle from the vertical portion to the bottom of this receptacle 2. An air inlet opening 18 is located near the bottom of receptacle 2, and horizontally separates from the vertical portion of the entrance channel by the portion in 10 angle. Alternatively, the air inlet 8 may extend through the center of the receptacle 2 or separate from this receptacle 2. While the air inlet door 16 in the receptacle may be formed at any location in the receptacle 2, due to the bubbles that rise through the mixture 4, the benefits of the invention are significant, it is beneficial to place the air inlet door 16 of the bottom 14 of the receptacle. Anywhere that the air inlet 8 or the air inlet 16 is placed, the opening 18 of the air inlet 8 must be located above the level of the liquid, inside the air inlet 8. The depth of the liquid through which the bubbles travel to reach the air region 10, can be any depth, but tends to work best at depths of about 6.35 cm or deeper, and more optimally between about 8.89. cm up to 10.16 cm. While shallower depths of liquid may be sufficient in some embodiments of the present invention for particular applications of the invention, a depth of 6.35 cm or deeper provides time for the particles in the mixture to adhere to the surface of the bubbles to transfer the catalyst to the air region 10. The deeper the liquid, the larger the bubbles that are released in the mixture. The volume of the receptacle 2 determines the quantity 11 of the catalyst mixture 4, which can be stored for use in the bubbling process, which, in turn, determines how many hours of operation of the bubbling process can be used before the catalyst is depleted. The appropriate volume of the receptacle for a given application will vary depending on the application and can be readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, based on the desired duration of operation, the rate of bubbles and the viscosity of the catalyst mixture. The air inlet door 16 of the embodiment of Figure 1 is located and oriented so that the bubbles can rise to the surface of the mixture 4 without contacting any solid surface, after they are released into the mixture. In the present embodiment, this is achieved by the angle of the air inlet 8 near the bottom 14 of the receptacle 2, so that the air inlet door 16 is not directly adjacent to a vertical wall 12 of the receptacle 2. In conventional receptacles to bubble the catalyst, the air inlet is either directly adjacent to a vertical wall of the receptacle, or at the bottom of a tube extended vertically into the liquid, so that the tube itself, or a float attached to the tube, creates a barrier solid to the bubbles. The result of a solid barrier near the ascending bubbles is that the bubbles have a tendency to collide at or Adhere to the barrier. When the bubbles make contact with the barrier, their rate of ascent is decreased, and the consistency of the liquid adhering to the bubble surface is affected, resulting in a reduced bubble regime and lower catalyst mixture transferred to the region 10 of air. When the bubbles adhere to the barrier, the rate of bubbles is reduced and subsequently the bubbles can be prevented or combined with bubbles which have adhered to the barrier. This results in non-uniform bubble sizes, transfer of the less effective catalyst to the air region 10, and a less effective system. To reduce the likelihood that the bubbles make contact with the vertical wall or other solid barrier, inside the receptacle 2, in the embodiment of Figure 1, the air inlet 16 is spaced from the wall. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the entrance of are placed at 1.27 cm from the vertical wall 12 and, for a bubble regime of 2 to 15 bubbles per second, traveling through 6.35 to approximately 10.16 cm of the liquid, the bubbles are allowed to ascend to the surface of the liquids without making contact with the vertical wall 12. Other major and minor distances are considered, ie of about 6.35 mm or more, and it is anticipated that any degree of separation from the Vertical wall 12, or other solid barrier, will result in an improvement over conventional systems. The further distance from the wall of the entrance door 16 is placed, larger bubbles forming the entrance door 16, due to the greater weight of the liquid in the air inlet 8. This occurs due to a higher vacuum pressure required to drive the air through the inlet port 16, due to the greater weight of the liquid that needs to be displaced by the vacuum, an ordinary expert in the matter of catalyst supply systems of bubbling gas, will easily be able to determine a desired distance from the wall at which a desired bubble size for a particular application will be formed without the contact of the bubbles with a solid object, before reaching the surface of the liquid. Another problem experienced with conventional systems is the filtration problem. Filtration or precooking can occur when the air region 10 of the receptacle includes a positive pressure, rather than the negative pressure ordinarily, caused by a vacuum. This causes the catalyst mixture 4 to be forced upwardly in the air inlet tube 8. If the pressure is sufficiently large, the catalyst mixture 4 is forced from the receptacle 2 into the surrounding medium. To protect against filtration, the embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 1, includes 14 a non-restrictive fluid check valve having a floating plug 20, near the opening 18 to the air inlet 8, and a pack 22 in a lid 24 of the inlet. Figure 2 includes a bottom view of the inlet cover 24. This inlet cap 24 also includes an opening 26, located within an opening in the gasket 22, to allow air to be driven into the receptacle. In conventional systems, fluid stop valves are not used because they restrict air intake, causing the size of process bubbles to change and requiring higher vacuum pressure. For the fluid stop valve designated for the present system, the opening 26 in the inlet cover 24 is large enough to allow more than the required volume of air flow needed to supply the bubbles at the desired rate. The area available for the air flow around the floating plug 20 and through the air inlet channel 8, -are also large enough so as not to restrict the air flow, which would be expected in the system. The opening 26 in the inlet lid 24, however, is sufficiently small and can be blocked by the floating plug 20, in conjunction with the package 22 if filtration occurs. Another advantage of using an inlet lid 24 with an opening 26, which is not experienced by conventional systems, is that much of the dirt, ash and other foreign waste, often associated with a combustion process, or with the processes of conventional combustion that surround the environment, are prevented from entering the small hole and combined with the mixture. In standard operation, air flows into the air inlet 8, through the opening 26 in the inlet cover 24, around the float plug 20 and then through the air inlet 16 into the receptacle 2. the inlet cap 24 includes internal threads for threadably matching the external threads 29 in the air inlet opening 18. If positive pressure occurs within the receptacle 2, causing the liquid to rise as high as the floating plug 20, the plug 20 will float. If the liquid rises to a stop level high enough to float the shutter 20 to the inlet cover 24, this shutter 20 is pressed against the inlet pack 22 to create a seal around the opening 26 of the inlet cover, thus preventing the liquid from leaking into the environment: surrounding. The floating plug 20 can be formed of any floating material, capable of creating a liquid-tight seal with the package, such as a plastic ball, and this package 22 can be formed of a resilient material or other material capable of creating a seal liquid-tight with the floating plug 20, such as 16 a foam, silicone or rubber material. Instead of a floating plug 20 and packing 22, any form of a stop valve to prevent the escape of liquid is sufficient, but may require other design adjustments to compensate for any restriction in the air flow. Other forms of the fluid check valves are well known in the art. Yet another problem experienced in conventional catalyst bubbling systems is the splashing effect. When the bubbles break in the air region 10 of the receptacle 2, the catalyst mixture on the surface of the bubbles empties into the air above the liquid in the receptacle 2. Ideally, the bursting bubbles will distribute only small molecules uniformly in the air conformed to a thin bubbling gas, which could then be propelled into a fire zone of a combustion reaction. However, unfortunately, the busting bubbles often splash amounts of liquid into air, or splash molecules which are too much. large to remain suspended in the form of bubbling gas can consume the catalyst mixture at too high a rate and, therefore, this is undesirable. Conventional receptacles of the bubbling gas catalyst distribution system include a vacuum outlet within the air region 10 above the liquid. This allows the liquid to splash directly into the openings for vacuum exit, and allows larger liquid molecules to be driven inside and condensed into the vacuum outlet or consumed. Additionally, if the receptacle of a conventional system is used in an environment where high vibration or splash of the mixture within the receptacle is likely, such as for use with heavy construction equipment, the catalyst mixture in liquid form is likely to enter direct contact with vacuum outlets and: be removed and consumed in the combustion process. To reduce the effects of splashing of the liquid catalyst in, or condensation within, the vacuum outlet, the embodiment of the present invention, shown in Figure 1, includes a chamber 30 adjacent to and in communication with the receptacle 2. This chamber 30 includes an inlet 32 of the chamber, having a flat surface area, defined partially by its width 34, smaller than the flat surface area, parallel to the flat surface area, of the widest body of the chamber, partially defined by its width 36. The use of this chamber 30, adjacent to the receptacle, provides two advantages primarily. First, placing the vacuum outlet inside a chamber 30 is separated from the main body of the region 18 In the case of air upstream of the liquid, it is less likely that the spatter of the bubbles will collide directly with the vacuum outlet opening. Second, using a chamber 30, through which the bubbling gas must pass before traveling through the vacuum outlet, the speed at which the bubbling gas travels through the chamber inlet 32 with the smallest area , it is faster than when the bursting gas travels through the main body of the chamber 30 which has a larger area. One result of this change in velocity is that the larger liquid molecules tend to leave the gas phase, condense on the walls of the chamber 30 and return inside the receptacle 2. The use of a chamber 30 separated from the main body of the receptacle , also significantly reduces the likelihood that high vibrations or splashing of the catalyst mixture results in the catalyst being transferred to the flame zone in liquid form, due to the relatively small opening 32 to the chamber along the the wall of the receptacle 2 results in the wall of the receptacle deviating more from the catalyst from the chamber 30 and the vacuum outlet. - The precise opening area or dimensions 32 to the chamber 30 is not fixed and can be of any size smaller than the plane of the chamber 30, which has the largest area, so that the area of a cross section of the plane, it is 19 take parallel to the entrance of the chamber 32. For the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the diameter 34 of the round entrance 32 of the chamber is 15,875 mm, although larger diameters are considered, and the diameter 36 wider of the chamber Round 30 is 3.8 cm, although larger diameters are considered. Input diameters smaller than 6.36 mm, have been found to work well, but decrease the filling process of receptacle 2 with liquid. It should be clear to one skilled in the art that if the chamber inlet 32 is substantially the same size as or less than a drop of liquid, the purpose of the chamber in passing the bubbling gas to the vacuum outlet will be nullified when the condensed liquid from the chamber 30 begins to drip back into the receptacle 2. Openings and larger chambers can be used alternatively. It has been found that a slight and substantially continuous vibration, applied to the receptacle 2, reduces the consumption of the base liquid and helps to break the surface tension of the liquid, which results in better transfer of the catalyst to the air region 10 of the receptacle 2 and better fractionation of the bubbles to a consistent regime. To achieve this vibration, the receptacle 2, or in embodiments where a housing of the supply system is used, this housing can be mounted to the frame of a car or to a vibrating motor, where the application allows it. If the vibration is too excessive, as would be the case if the receptacle were mounted directly to the engine block of a diesel fuel engine, the bubble fractionation is interrupted too much and the catalyst transfer is less consistent or can be staggered completely. Thus, the frequency and magnitude of the vibration, insofar as it is not crucial, should not vibrate the receptacle to such an extent as to cause splashing or splashing of the catalyst mixture, within the receptacle for the increased risk that the catalyst mixture is removed. of the receptacle in liquid form. For the use of a catalyst receptacle in extreme vibration means, this receptacle can be mounted to a mounting plate, which is then coupled to the environment, and this mounting plate can be damped from the vibrations of the environment through springs shock absorbers, rubber insulators or other elements that resist vibration, known in the art. In a particular embodiment, the receptacle 2 and the catalyst transport system (shown in Figures 6 and 7), are coupled to a common mounting plate and enclosed in a housing. The mounting plate is damped from the housing to reduce vibrations that may be caused by the environment in which the housing is placed. twenty-one In applications where a vibration source, such as a reciprocating motor, is not available, a separate vibrator may be coupled to the receptacle 2, to a mounting plate common with the receptacle, or to a housing of the supply system for supplying the vibrations. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the separate vibration source is a vacuum pump used to transfer the bubbling gas from the catalyst to the flame zone. By coupling the vacuum pump and the receptacle to a common mounting plate, the vibration of the vacuum pump provides slight and continuous vibrations substantially for the receptacle. The removable cover 40 of the chamber, having internal threads 42 and two connectors or nozzles 44 of the vacuum tube, is shown in the embodiment of Figure 1. Figure 3. includes a bottom view of the cover 40 of the camera. The nozzles 44 of the vacuum tube are conventional for joining tubes having openings extending therethrough, to enable the bubbling gas to be driven by the vacuum source through the lid 40 of the chamber. Inside the lid 40 of the chamber, the nozzles extend below the interior surface of the lid 40, to further reduce the opportunity for mixing which has condensed in the lid, or has splashed or splashed there, to be driven 22 inside the vacuum outlet to the area of the flame in the form of liquid. When the lid 40 of the chamber is screwed tightly into the opening 46 of the chamber, which has external threads 48, an air tight seal is formed to enable the creation of a vacuum within the chamber 30 and the air region 10. The hanging openings 50 are arranged in the reinforcement bracket 52 to allow the receptacle unit 2 to hang, as needed. A package 43 can be included between the lid and an upper rim of the chamber opening 46, to assist in maintaining an air tight seal. Figure 4 is a top view of a receptacle 2 for a liquid catalyst, as shown in Figure 1, with the air inlet lid 24 and the lid 40 removed from the chamber. The reinforcing support 52 extends approximately along the center of the receptacle 2 and supplies the structural support for the air inlet opening 18 and the chamber 30. The upper portions of the reinforcing notches 54 (Figure 5) are also illustrated . As shown in Figure 5, the notches 54 may extend diagonally through the receptacle 2 or in any other orientation, and provide additional support to the body configuration against crushing the body of the receptacle, when a vacuum is formed in. the air region 10 of the receptacle volume.

By positioning the notches 54 in various orientations, through the body of the receptacle, such as diagonally, as shown in the Figure, the notches can also be used to help secure the receptacle 2 to a vehicle or other structure by a fascia, such as to the battery of a car with the battery band. Each style of band of the car's battery, orientation and dimensions, however, are unique. The precise dimensions and orientations necessary for a particular battery band can easily be determined by one of ordinary skill in the art. A recommended filling region 56 is shown on the side of the receptacle 2. Like the reinforcing teeth, the filling region may have notches to provide additional structural support to the walls of the receptacle. For the embodiment of the receptacle 2, shown in Figure 5, a chamber lid 40 with only a single nozzle 44 is used. Single and double nozzle caps can be used in the same receptacle, depending on the desired application of the embodiments of the invention, as described in greater detail with respect to Figures 6 and 7. - The receptacle 2, the chamber 30, the support 52, the air inlet 8 and the covers 24 and 40, can be formed of any liquid-tight material, which is not susceptible to deterioration of the catalyst mixture carried inside. Many plastics or rubbers are enough for this 24 end, because they are not affected by the acid mixtures often used as catalytic mixtures. With a plastic used for the components of the receptacle, this receptacle can be formed, for example, by injection molding or press of the materials in the appropriate configurations and sizes. The processes for forming and forming the plastics are well known in the art and it is believed that an ordinary expert in the art will be able to form the system described herein, given the knowledge commonly available to said expert and the present description. Figure 6 illustrates the use of the receptacle 2 of the liquid catalyst in a combustion reaction system. A catalyst transport system 60 depends on the bubbling gas containing the catalyst particles from the receptacle 2 to the flame zone 62 of a combustion reaction. The catalyst transport system 60 can be. as simple as a tube attached to the air inlet of a combustion system, for example in applications where this air inlet creates a vacuum effect (commonly referred to as the Bernoulli or Venturi effect) in the tube 64 attached to the receptacle or it may include more complex vacuum elements, flow restrictors and / or orifices to assist and regulate the amount of bubbling gas entering the flame zone 62. As a specific example, in a conventional gasoline engine, the 25 Tube 64 can be attached directly to the intake manifold, carburetor or choke plate. It is well known in the art that a vacuum pressure of 30.48 to 38.1 cm Hg is created by the action of the pistons in a gasoline engine running in vacuum. This vacuum pressure is much more than sufficient to drive an effective amount of the catalyst aerosol through a tube 64, attached to the receptacle 2 in the piston chambers, which operate as the flame zones 62 in the combustion process. It should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that catalyst canister 2 and catalyst transport 60 can comprise a plurality of receptacles 2 and catalyst conveyors 60, associated respectively, each feeding catalyst particles in a flame zone. In a particular embodiment of the invention, which employs a plurality of respective receptacles 2 and transports 60 of catalyst, the components of the catalyst mixture ordinarily contained within the single catalyst receptacle 2, can be separated and distributed separately or in appropriate combinations of those different from the plurality of receptacles 2. Thus, the particles of a catalyst mixture, for example of Platinum, Rhenium and Rhodium, can each be distributed from their own catalyst receptacle 2, through their own catalyst. 60 transport of catalyst to a common flame zone 62, through spraying, direct injection, pumping, aerosol under pressure or any other known method. Alternatively, or additionally, the catalyst particles of a single or multiple catalyst canister 2 can be distributed in a plurality of dissociated or associated flame zones, such as many combustion chambers of a reciprocating engine. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that appropriate controllers can be easily configured to coordinate the time, pressure, volume and delivery of the respective catalyst particles to selected flame zones. Research has indicated that after the catalyst particles have been provided to a flame zone for a moment and then stopped, the benefits of the catalyst particles are still experienced within the flame zone. Therefore, it is considered that in particular embodiments of the invention, using an appropriately configured controller, the catalyst transport 60 can be selectively cycled to supply catalyst particles to a flame zone for a moment and then not provide the catalyst for a separate moment. The use of controllers, appropriately configured, for other purposes is discussed below more fully. 27 To limit the amount of the bubbling gas driven through the tube 64, a limiter (see Figure 7) can be used. Appropriate limiters are commonly available in the fluid flow industry and can be purchased from Coors Technologies of Golden, CO. To obtain a bubble regime of approximately 3 to 5 bubbles per second in a gasoline engine, which uses a catalyst mixture, such as that described in US Patent No. 4,475,483 to Robinson, a ceramic limiter 228.6 microns. A limiter is placed in line with the catalyst transport tube and includes a small opening through its central axis to limit the flow of bubbling gas through the limiter. If a different bubble regime is desired, or a different vacuum pressure is used, a different limiter size can be calculated by one of ordinary skill in the art, depending on the specific application and the needs of the combustion system. Figure 7 illustrates a more complex version of a catalyst transport system 60 that is used with a diesel fuel engine. As is well known in the art, diesel fuel engines almost do not produce a vacuum pressure inside the engine. Thus, the modalities of the present catalyst supply system for the 28th Use with a diesel fuel engine involves a more complex catalyst transport system, which includes an enrichment circuit to supply the additional catalyst enrichment when the engine operates at high load. Diesel fuel engines include a very wide range of fuel requirements from no-load speed to full load. Thus, a required variable or enrichment circuit can be included as part of the catalyst transport system 60. In the embodiment of the catalyst supply system, shown in Figure 7, a chamber cover 40 with two nozzles is used. A first tube 70 is coupled to a first nozzle of the chamber lid 40 and extends to a vacuum pump 72. This vacuum pump 72 is associated with the controller 74. The first tube 70 includes a limiter 76. The bubbling gas in the first tube 70 is transported through the limiter 76 and the first tube within the vacuum pump 72, and then it is pumped into the joint tube 78 and then into the intake manifold 82, through the tube 80 of the catalyst, which joins the transport paths of the catalyst of the first tube 70 and a second tube 84. This second tube 84 is engages a second nozzle of the chamber lid 40 and extends through the limiter 86 and the one-way check valve 87, before completing 29 a seal 88. This one-way check valve 87 blocks any bubbling gas from being transported through the second tube 84, until a minimum vacuum pressure is experienced in the catalyst tube 80. Under the high load conditions for a diesel engine, a large amount of air is driven into the engine through the intake manifold and the bubbling gas from the additional catalyst is necessary to maintain the advantages of the catalyst supply system in the process of combustion. By providing a second tube 84 with a check valve 87, the bubbling gas from the additional catalyst is not driven through the second tube unless and until the motor drives air through the intake manifold, fast enough to create an effect of vacuum threshold in the tube 80 of the catalyst. The amount of additional bubbling gas driven is proportional to the amount of vacuum pressure at a maximum vacuum pressure, which depends on the size of the opening or orifice of the limiter 86. In this way, only the amount of additional catalyst needed is supplied. to the combustion process, but a maximum limit is adjusted for the system by the limiters. In a particular embodiment of the invention for a diesel fuel engine, the vacuum pump 72 produces approximately 12.7 to 15.24 cm Hg vacuum pressure, the limiters 76 and 86 are limiters 30. ceramic and have openings with a diameter between about 0.381 and 0.508 mm, and a check valve 87 is a platypus type check valve, having a crack pressure of about 2.54 cm H2O vacuum pressure or greater (sold by Apollo Pump, Erving, CA). The same system can also be used for an open flame combustion system, where a bamba supplies bubbling gas to the open flame zone or cone without an enrichment circuit, as discussed above. As will be clear from the present discussion, embodiments of the present invention can be easily adapted to combustion of all carbon-based fuels, regardless of the combustion process used. Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a specific embodiment of the catalyst transport system, to more clearly describe its operation when a vacuum pump 72 and a required enrichment circuit is used, such as that used with a diesel fuel engine or other application. they are insufficient vacuum pressure or variable catalyst requirements. Figure 8 illustrates an example of low load and Figure 9 illustrates an example of high load, where enrichment is added. Under low load conditions, a vacuum pump 72 drives the bubbling gas containing catalyst particles, at 31 ° C. through a first tube 70 and the limiter 76 and pushes the fluid through the joint tube 78 to the catalyst tube 80 and to a flame zone. This flow path is indicated in Figure 8 by the separate tubes. Under high load condition, where an additional vacuum is created inside the catalyst tube 80, at the extension of the vacuum pressure exceeding the predetermined crack formation pressure threshold of the stop valve 87, the additional bubbling gas is urges from the receptacle through the second tube 84 and the limiter 86, through the check valve 87, the seal 88, the catalyst tube 80 and the flame zone. As with other embodiments of the invention, limiters may be omitted, if desired. Additionally, if enrichment is not needed or desired for a particular application of the invention, the second tube 84, the limiter 86 and the check valve 87 can be omitted. This allows the use of the invention in applications where a vacuum pump is convenient, without additional enrichment required. As further described below, the vacuum pump 72 may optionally be variable and controlled by the controller 74 to provide the required enrichment of the reaction; of combustion. Also, a variable check valve 87 can be used to enable adjustments to the point at which the enrichment circuit is activated, or to enable a control circuit to actively use the enrichment in response to particular needs or change of the combustion process. Figures 8 and 9 also indicate a controller circuit board 74. For an application of the invention, in use in an automobile, the controller 74 is coupled to the ignition system of the vehicle so that the catalyst system is active only when the vehicle is operating. In other applications, the controller 74 may be coupled to any ignition system to activate the combustion reaction process, so that the bubbling gas is not pumped into the flame zone. unless a combustion process occurs in this flame zone. In a particular application of the controller 74, this controller includes a clock and a chronometric circuit to direct and record the operation of the catalyst supply system. In another particular mode of controller 74, this controller 74 further includes an alarm to indicate when a predetermined threshold time of operation has been reached. The guide and record of the operation of the supply system may allow a proprietary or government entity to collect data regarding the use of the catalyst supply system.

An alarm can be used to indicate when the catalyst needs to be refilled or when other maintenance of the system needs to be performed. The alarm may be in the form of a visual display, such as a light emitting diode (LED), an audible sound, a digital or analog signal, or any other measurable indication that the threshold has been reached. The alarm may be in the form of a remote indicator, such as, for example, using radio frequency (RF) or other signal to transmit the alarm to a remote receiver, or through direct wiring to a remote location, such as a merchandiser , inside the cab of a vehicle or a control panel for the combustion process. More sophisticated controllers 74 that provide additional information, such as catalyst levels, bubbling gas volume flow, fuel efficiency and the like, can also be employed and configured to transmit to a remote receiver and / or its display. The controller 74 may also selectively activate and deactivate the vacuum pump 72, based on predetermined criteria, such as the load of the motor, and the like, or speed control of the vacuum pump 72, based on similar criteria. The power and ground wires 94 are included to supply the appropriate power to the vacuum pump 7 and the controller 74. 3. 4 While embodiments of the invention have generally described the use of the present supply system with gasoline and diesel engines, it should be understood that the use of bubbling gas to bring the catalyst to the flame zone is also useful in applications for others. fuels, such as alternative fuels, and for other types of combustion processes. For example, it is considered. that the present supply system, which uses the principles described herein, can easily be applied by an ordinary expert in the field of combustion processes used for incinerators, furnaces, boilers, turbine engines and open flame applications, where the process of combustion is not used directly for work. As will be clear to ordinary experts in the field, by the explanation provided herein, the embodiments of the present invention can be used to generate and supply, the bubbling gas containing catalyst particles to any fuel combustion process and is not limited to the specific applications discussed here. The modalities and examples set forth herein are presented for the purpose of explaining the present invention and its practical application and to enable ordinary experts in the art to make and use the invention. However, ordinary experts in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purpose of illustration and examples only. The description as stated does not attempt to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings, without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims. For example, it is considered that in addition to being driven within a flame zone of a combustion reaction, the catalysts can be injected directly into a flame zone or an air intake to a flame zone, by pressurizing the bubbling gas of its injection as an aerosol, which uses a pump controlled selectively by an appropriately configured controller.

Claims (38)

1. CLAIMS 1. A receptacle of a mixture of liquid catalysts, which comprises: a receptacle body, having a first wall, with a vertical portion and an angled portion; an air inlet to the body of the receptacle, through the first wall, this air inlet is spaced from the vertical portion of the first wall by the angled portion, so that if the air bubbles are released in a mixture of catalysts inside the receptacle body, from the air inlet, the air bubbles do not contact the vertical wall portion of the first wall, before reaching an upper surface of the catalyst mixture; and an opening in a wall of the receptacle body, to release the bubbling gas from the body.
2. 2. The receptacle of the liquid catalyst mixture of claim 1, wherein the opening of the air inlet is spaced horizontally from the vertical portion of the first wall, by a distance of approximately 6.35 mm or greater.
3. 3. The receptacle of the liquid catalyst mixture of claim 2, wherein the opening of the air inlet is spaced horizontally from the vertical portion of the first wall, for a distance of approximately 15,875 mm or greater.
4. 4. The receptacle of the liquid catalyst mixture of claim 1, further comprising a chamber in communication with the opening in the wall, this chamber has a plurality of flat area in cross section, pallets to the opening, this opening in the wall It has a smaller area than the larger area of the flat areas in cross section.
5. 5. The receptacle of the liquid catalyst mixture of claim 1, wherein the opening of the wall has a dimension of "about 6.35 mm or greater.
6. 6. The receptacle of the liquid catalyst mixture of claim 5, wherein the wall opening has a dimension of approximately 15,875 mm or greater, and a dimension of the largest of the flat areas in cross section of approximately 3.8 cm or greater .
7. 7. The receptacle of the liquid catalyst mixture of claim 1, further comprising a check valve, in fluid communication with the air inlet.
8. 8. The receptacle of the liquid catalyst mixture of claim 7, wherein the valve of The retainer comprises a floating shutter dimensioned and configured to block the inlet of air, if the liquid rises above a stop level at the air inlet, to allow air to flow around the plug if the liquid rises above the level of air. stop at the air inlet.
9. 9. The receptacle of the liquid catalyst mixture of claim 8, wherein the check valve further comprises a sealing package, disposed above the air inlet, so that the floating plug contacts and creates a sealing contact with the Packing is sealed, to block the air intake if the liquid rises above the stop level at the air inlet.
10. 10. The receptacle of the liquid catalyst mixture of claim 1, wherein the body of the receptacle includes a reinforcing notch in its wall, this reinforcing notch is oriented and positioned so that the body of the receptacle can be trapped in a vehicle , aligning and sealing a strip on the reinforcement notch.
11. 11. A receptacle for a mixture of liquid catalysts, which comprises: a receptacle body, having an opening in its wall; an air inlet to the body of the receptacle; and a camera, in communication with the opening in the wall, this chamber has a cross-sectional area greater than an area of the opening.
12. 12. The receptacle of the liquid catalyst mixture of claim 11, wherein a dimension of the opening in the wall is approximately 6.35 mm or greater.
13. 13. The receptacle of the liquid catalyst mixture of claim 12, wherein a dimension of the opening in the wall is approximately 15,875 mm or greater.
14. 14. The receptacle of the liquid catalyst mixture of claim 11, further comprising a check valve, in fluid communication with the air inlet.
15. 15. The receptacle of the liquid catalyst mixture of claim 14, wherein the check valve comprises a floating shutter, sized and configured to block the inlet of air, if the liquid rises above the stop level at the inlet of the liquid. are, to allow air to flow around the shutter, when the liquid rises above the stop level. 40
16. 16. A liquid catalyst supply system, which comprises: a receptacle of the liquid catalyst, having an air inlet and an outlet; and a catalyst transport, for transporting catalyst particles in a bubbling gas to a flame zone of a combustion process, this catalyst transport comprises: a first bubbling gas transport path, coupled to the outlet of the receptacle and configured to transport the bubbling gas to a first regime; and a second bubbling gas transport path, coupled to the outlet of the receptacle, and configured to transport the bubbling gas to a second rate, in response to an increase in the demand of the catalyst to the flame zone.
17. 17. A liquid catalyst supply system of claim 16, wherein the first bubbling gas transport path comprises a pump coupled to the outlet of the receptacle, the pump being configured to pump the bubbling gas from the outlet of the receptacle to the first regime. 41
18. 18. A liquid catalyst supply system of claim 17, wherein the second bubbling gas transport path comprises a check valve, configured to open the bubbling gas flow therethrough, in response to the pressure in one side of the check valve, which exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure.
19. 19. A liquid catalyst supply system of claim 16, wherein the first and second transport paths are joined in a common transport path, configured to transport the bubbling gas from the first and second transport paths, and in which the second transport path is configured to transport the catalyst only when the vacuum pressure in the common transport path exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure.
20. 20. A liquid catalyst supply system of claim 16, wherein the first regime is a variable regime.
21. 21. A liquid catalyst supply system of claim 16, wherein the second regime is a variable regime.
22. 22. A liquid catalyst supply system of claim 16, further comprising a control of the catalyst transport, coupled to the catalyst transport and configured to regulate the flow of the bubbling gas through at least one of the transport paths.
23. 23. A liquid catalyst supply system of claim 16, further comprising a control of the catalyst transport, configured to monitor the transport of the catalyst and transmit the transport information of the catalyst to a remote location.
24. 24. A liquid catalyst supply system of claim 23, wherein the catalyst transport information comprises an indication that a predetermined threshold of operation has been reached.
25. 25. A liquid catalyst supply system of claim 16, further comprising a mounting plate coupled to the receptacle and a source of vibrations.
26. 26. A liquid catalyst supply system of claim 25, wherein the source of vibrations comprises a pump.
27. 27. A liquid catalyst supply system, of claim 16, wherein the receptacle comprises an air inlet aperture, positioned and 43 | oriented so that the air bubbles released in a mixture of catalysts in the receptacle, from the air inlet opening, do not contact a solid object, before reaching an upper surface of the catalyst mixture.
28. 28. A liquid catalyst supply system, of claim 16, wherein the receptacle comprises a chamber in communication with an opening in a wall of the receptacle, this chamber having a cross-sectional area greater than an area of the opening.
29. 29. A method for providing catalyst to an air intake for a combustion process, this method comprises: bubbling air through the mixture of liquid catalysts in a receptacle, to produce a bubbling gas; conveying the bubbling gas from the receptacle to a first regime, before transporting this bubbling gas from the receptacle to a first rate, greater than the first rate, when | Requires that the bubbling gas in the air intake exceed a predetermined threshold.
30. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the second regime is a variable regime.
31. 31. The method of claim 29, wherein the variable regime corresponds to a vacuum pressure, caused i: by the movement of air through the air intake.
32. 32. The method of claim 29, wherein the transport of the bubbling gas to a first regime comprises pumping this bubbling gas with a vacuum pump.
33. 33. The method of claim 29, wherein the transport of the bubbling gas to the first regime comprises transporting the bubbling gas through a first transport path and transporting this bubbling gas to the second regime, which comprises transporting the transport gas through both. the first transport path as the second transport path.
34. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the transport of the bubbling gas to the second regime comprises opening a "valve to allow the bubbling gas to be driven. through the second transport path, by a vacuum caused by the movement of air through the intake of air.
35. 35. A method for bubbling air through a mixture of catalysts, to produce a bubbling gas, this method comprises: bubbling air through the mixture of catalysts inside a receptacle; transfer catalyst particles an air gap, above the catalyst mixture, to produce a bubbling gas; and transporting the bubbling gas into the receptacle, at a first speed, towards an outlet of the receptacle, then transporting the bubbling gas into the receptacle at a second speed lower than the first velocity, towards the outlet of the receptacle, then transporting the bubbling gas inside the receptacle at the exit of this receptacle.
36. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the transport of the bubbling gas, within the receptacle, at the first velocity, then at a second velocity, immediately upon exit from the receptacle, comprises passing the bubbling gas through a chamber, between a body of the receptacle and the outlet of the receptacle, the chamber has an opening with an opening area less than a maximum cross-sectional area of said chamber.
37. 37. The method of claim 35, further comprising releasing bubbles within the catalyst mixture from an inlet structure, having a vertical portion and an angled portion, this angled portion horizontally separates the bubbles released from the vertical portion, so that these bubbles do not do 46 contact with the vertical portion, before they reach a surface of the catalyst mixture.
38. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the release of the bubbles comprises releasing the bubbles away from any vertical surface.