US2123887A - Fuel vaporizer - Google Patents

Description

My 1. 3 c. A. FRENCH 3,

FUEL VAPORI ZER Original Filed April 6, 1932 Patented July 1%, i3

rrrr or-re I amass? rum. varonn (Charles A. li rench, Riverside, 1111., assignor, by

mesne assi :1: in! cuts, Marl; 6. Bates origami application s in 6, 1932, Serial no. 603,491. Divided and this application August llll, 1933, Serial No. 6%,656

This invention relates to a device for vaporiz ing liquid fuel and forming combustible, gaseous mixtures therewith. 1

The principal object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for thecomplete vaporization of heavy liquid fuel and for the intimate mix-l ing of the vaporizedfuel with air.

Another principal object is to provide means for metering the fuel, which eliminates all meterlil ing of the fuel in the liquid state with the attendant diihculties due to the'relatively small amounts of liquid fordarge volumes of air, when forming combustible mixtures, and to the inertia and viscosity of the liquid.

15 Another object is to vaporize heavy liquid fuel with a minimum of decomposition and to thereby reduce the troubles caused by carbonaceous deposits.

Another object is to provide vaporizing heat inexact proportion to the requirement of heat for a given amount of vapor orcornbustible gas.

Another object is to provide means for producing a gas oi substantially constant heat value over a wide range in the rate or production.

5 The objects or the invention as above set forth, and other more specific objects, which will be apparent as an embodiment of the invention is described, are accomplished by supplying vaporization heat from the sensible heat carried by hot 30 gases to an excess of fuel, whereby theamountof fuel vaporized is exactly proportional to the heat supplied. By vaporization in this manner, the metering of liquid fuel'with the attendant dimculties is eliminated 35 The vaporization heat may be supplied in several ways, so long as it is in substantially fixed proportion to the amount ofcombustible gas de-' sired. i

This application is a division of United States 40 application, Serial No. 603.491, filed April 6, 1932,

which discloses several difierent devices for va-- Figure- 2 is a. sectional view taken on the line- 55 2-2 pr me 1, showing in plan the liquid conto Claims. (cits-iii) tacting means utilized in the illustrated vaporr izer.

Referring to the drawing, by the use of either suction at the outlet end or pressure at the inlet end, or, in other wordsby a pressure difierential, 5 air iscaused to flow through'an air inlet till, a nozzle 65, which-is surrounded at its discharge end by a Venturi-shaped member 66, and a discharge conduit fill. The member as is also shaped and arranged with respect to the nozzle 65 to give 10 an aspiratingaction in a chamber 660. formed around the nozzle by anenlargement on the member 66. A conduit 58, communicating with the chamber 66a, joins said chamber with a vaporizing chamber $9. The vaporizing chamber is formed in three sections secured together in a gas-tight manner. The uppermost section is comparatively small andprovides a means for connection of the vaporizer to the conduit tit. The middle. section is cylindrical in form and provides the main .partof the vaporizing chamber. The lowermost section, in addition to being a part of the vaporizing chamber, forms a reservoirln which liquid is maintained at the indicated' level by a conventional float chamber it). The float chamber is provided with a' source of liquid fuel Hi and a balancing conduit F2 for maintaining the pressure above the liquid in the float chamber the same as the pressure in the vaporizing chamber, The bottom of the liquid reservoir is formed with a flat surface over which an agitating member 13 is adapted to be rotated by a cranked shaft "I l extending through the bottom of the reservoir. A valve controlled drain ing conduit 15 is connected to the bottom of the reservoir. 1 l A conduit 16 of a substantial internal diameter extends into the uppermost section of the vapor- -izing chamber and centrally downwardly therethrough into the main body of the chamber. A 40 cylindrical member ll, connected to the interior end of the conduit 16, extends below the normal level ofthe liquid in the reservoir and is provided with a radially extending flange l8. As best shown in'Figure '2, the flange I8 is provided with a plurality of small openings which, as illustrated,

are in the form of radially extending narrow slits. This flange, with the openings'formed therein, provides a. bubbler plate for intimately contacting gases with the liquid in the reservoir.

7;, In the conduit 61, a small elbow I9 is formed with its interior open end extending toward the nozzle 65. Said elbow extends out through the conduit 51 and is joined with a T-shaped connection 80. Said connection forms in effect a mixer 55 for the pilot light or vaporizing flame of the device. One end of the T-member is connected to a discharge nozzle 8| whichterminates a short distance away from the open end of the conduit 18. A member 82 threaded on the nozzle 8| is adjustable toward and away from the end of the conduit 16. A fuel line 83, which may be used to conduct any type of fuel, is fitted .into the third end of the T connection 88. Air may also be forced in through fuel line 83 to lean the mixture, in order toobtain more complete combustion in the flame from nozzle 8|, in case a strongly reducing flame is wanted on the main burner (not.

shown).

A valve 84 is mounted in the conduit 88 in a position to regulate the flow of gas through said conduit. A valve is also mounted in the conduit 64 and serves as a throttle valve to regulate the output of mixture from the vaporizer.

To operate the form of vaporizer above described,- air pressure is applied to the conduit 64,

the bubble plate.

whereby suctionis created in the chamber 66a around the nozzle. also transmitted to the vaporizing chamber, the valve 84- being open, whereby gases are drawn in through the conduit 16 and are contacted with the liquid in the reservoir at the bottom of the vaporizing chamber by bubbling through the slits through the outer portion of the conduit 16 downwardly through the inner vertical portion of said member, through the member 11, and out through The intimate contact obtained by bubbling the hot gases through the liquid assures a substantially quantitative transfer of the sensible heat in the hot gases to the-fuel in the reservoir. The vaporization continues in the chamber above'the fuel level with equalization of temperature. The unvaporized particles of fuel carried up are dropped out in the low velocity zone formed by the large vaporizing chamber, and the vaporized gas is superheated to a certain extent by contact with the member 11 and the conduit 18 as said vaporized gas is drawn out through the conduit 68 into the Venturi member 68. The valve 84 regulates the proportion of vapor being drawn out with relation to the amount of air supplied through the nozzle 65. The vaporized fuel and air are thoroughly mixed in the Venturi member 68 and a portion of said mixture enters the elbow n. This combustible mixture is discharged through the nozzle 8| and is completely burned in the conduit 16. It will, therefore, be understood that, after vaporization has been initiated, the necessary heat is supplied by complete combustion of a portion of the vaporized gases.

There are several methods by which vaporizers of the type above described may be started. These methods are based upon the fact that, if asmall enough amount of cold airis brought into intimate contact with enough fuel and immediately removed from further contact,- an ignitable mixture will result with any liquid hydrocarbon at any ordinary temperature. To make such an This suction or depression is means and space that is unduly large for practical purposes, so a compromise is made, which, by the use of a little heat, permits the contacting means to be of reasonable size.

Any of the following methods may be used:

(a) Air is drawn through-the fuel and ignited at or above the surface of thefuel, developing heat enough to vaporize an excess of fuel which may be 'mixed with more air and burned in the burner or .It may be started on gasoline alone or the gasoline may be mixed with the regular fuel and the device will operate 'inthe regular manner with out any other preparation.

(0) A lighted torch may be held at the pilot or gas inlet with or without fuel in the device. If heated while empty, it starts operation when fuel is turned on. If started with fuel in the bowl-or spray, it more slowly comes into operation.

(d) An electric heater may be used to heat either the fuel or the air. If the fuel is heated, burner starts more slowly; if air is heated, it starts at once. 7

Where, as illustrated, a bubble plate is used for intimately contacting hot gases with the liquidto be vaporized, the bubble plate must have a much larger capacity than is necessary for normal operation in order to start theburner. The slits formed in the bubble plate or other means which might be employed to finely divide the gaseous heating fluid into fine streams, wherebyintimate contact with the liquid is obtained, assure an It is to be understood that applicant has shown and described only a preferred embodiment of his improved vaporizing device, and that he claims as his invention all modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A vaporizer for diflicultly volatile liquid fuels comprising a vaporizing chamber, means for maintaining a pool of said liquid fuel at a predetermined level in said chamber, means for removing vaporization products from said chamber, a vaporizing gas conduit communicating with the vaporizing chamber and serving to introduce hot gases of combustion below the liquid level thereof, means for burning a relatively small portion only of the vaporization products, and means for delivering the products thereof to the vaporizing. gas conduit.

2. Avaporizer for dimcultiy volatile liquid fuels comprising 'a vaporizlng chamber; means for maintaining a pool of said liquid fuel at a predetermined level in said chamber, a valve controlled outlet therefrom for the products of vaporization, a vaporizing gas conduit communicating w'ithsaid chamber and serving to introduce hot gases of combustion below the liquid. level thereof, means for burning aipredetermined relatively small portion-only of the products of vaporization, and means for delivering the products thereof to the vaporizing gas conduit.

than necessary for normal operation in order to 1 getthe proper surface carburetion for starting.

3. A vaporizer for difficultly volatile liquid fuels comprising a vaporizing chamber adapted to cononly of the mixed gases from said mixing means,

means for burning said gases, and means for-supplying the combustion products therefrom to the vaporizing chamber into said pool of liquid fuel and below the liquid level therein.

4. A vaporizer for difiicultly volatile liquid fuels comprising a vaporizing chamber, means for maintaining a pool of said liquid fuel at apredetermined level in said chamber, an outlet conduit from said chamber above the liquid level therein, a controlling valve positioned in said conduit, a gas and air mixing means with which said outlet conduit communicates, means for removing a fixed portion of the mixed gases from said mixing means, means for burning said fixed portion, and means for delivering the combustion products thereof beneath the liquid level in the vaporizing chamber.

5. A vaporizer for diflicultly volatile liquid fuels comprising a vaporizing chamber, means for maintaining a pool of said liquid fuel at a predetermined level in said chamber, means for withdrawing the vaporization products from the chamber, means for mixing said products with air, means for Withdrawing a portion of the mixed gases, means for burning said withdrawn portion, and means for delivering the hot products of combustion thereof below the liquid level in the vaporizing chamber.

'6. A device asset forth in.claim 5, in which means are provided for bringing the hot combustion gases into intimate contact with the liquid fuel.

7. A device for supplying a combustible mixture of relatively heavy liquid hydrocarbon vapor and air to a combustion device, comprising a vaporization chamber, means for supplying an excess of diificultly volatile liquid hydrocarbon fuel to said iii) chamber, an air intake having a Venturi therein, a conduit connecting the vaporization chamber with the throat of said venturi for conducting the combustible products of vaporization to the air intake, a burner, means to supply said burner with a metered portion of the combustible gases from the vaporization chamber and with air sufficient forxcomplete combustion of said metered portion, said air and combustible gas supplying means being effective to at all times supply the same ratio of air and combustible gas, and means to direct the products of combustion from the burner into the vaporization chamber into intimate contact with said excess of liquid fuel to effect vaporization of a portion thereof.

8. A fuel oil-vaporizer, including a discharge conduit having a Venturi section, an air discharge nozzle at said Venturi section, a fuel vaporizing chamber, means for maintaining a predetermined level of liquid fuel in the vaporizing chamber, means for withdrawing a portion of vaporized fuel from said discharge conduit and burning the same, means for delivering hot combustion gases of the burned .fuel to the vaporizing chamber below the level of the liquid fuel, whereby to cause vaporization of a portion of said fuel, and means for delivering the vaporized fuel to said mixing chamber.-

9. A vaporizer as defined in claim 7, including means for removing carbon residue from the bottom of the vaporizing chamber.

10. A vaporizer as defined in claim 7, including means for subdividing the hot gases whereby a greater area thereof is in contact with the liquid.

11. A fuel oil vaporizer,-including a discharge conduit having a Venturi section, an air discharge nozzle at said Venturi section, a vaporizing chamber having an upper passageway communicating with the discharge conduit near said discharge nozzle, means for maintaining, a supply'of liquid fuel in the vaporizing chamber, a relatively smaller conduit extending into the discharge conduit and having its inner end shaped to withdraw gases from said discharge conduit, means for burning the withdrawn gases, and means for delivering the burned gases to the vaporizing chamber below the level of liquid fuel therein.

12. A fuel oil vaporizer, including a discharge conduit having a Venturi section, an air discharge nozzle at said Venturi section, a vaporizing chamber having an upper passageway communicating with the discharge conduit near said discharge nozzle, means for maintaining a supply of liquid fuel in the vaporizing chamber, a relatively smaller conduit extending into the discharge conduit and having its inner end shaped to withdraw gases from said discharge conduit, an amiiary combustion "chamber in the form of an open ended conduit extending into the vaporizing chamber, the gas withdrawing conduit communicating with but separated from the combustion conduit, means for adjusting the amount of separation to control the admission of air, and an extension of said combustion conduit extending beneath the level of liquid fuel in the vaporizing chamber.

13. The combination of claim 12, including a flange-like perforated plate secured to the combustion conduit extension, and comprising means effective to finely divide the gaseous products of combustion.

14. The combination of claim 12, including a scraper disposed in the bottom of the vaporizing chamber, and means for actuating the scraper to accumulate in the chamber.

15. A fuel oil vaporizer comprising a vaporizing chamber, means for maintaining a body" of oil in said chamber, a conduit having a Venturi section,

a forcing nozzle disposed near said Venturi sec:

in, and means for delivering hot gases of combustion from saidburner into said last mentioned. passageway.

16. A vaporizer for vaporizing a difficultly volatile liquid ,fuel preparatory to burning same, which comprises a vaporization chamber, means for maintaining, at all times during operation of remove carbon or other foreign matter which may vaporizing chamber beneath the level of oil theresaid vaporizer, an amount of fuel in said chamber in excess of that which can be vaporized by the hot gases employed for such purpose, an air and vapor mixing device positioned to withdraw vapors from the vaporization chamber andmix the same with air to form a combustible vaporous mixture, means for burning only a minor portion of said vaporous mixture, and a conduit for delivering to the vaporization chamber into intimate contact with said fuel the hot gases resulting from the burning of saidminor portion of said vaporous 17. A vaporizer as defined in claim 16, wherein .a relatively heavy liquid hydrocarbon fuel, said apparatus comprising a vaporization chamber, means for maintaining at all times in said vaporization chamber, during the operation of the apparatus, an amount of liquid fuel inexcess of that which can be vaporzedby the-hot combustion gases employed for such purpose, an air and vapor mixing device, a passageway connecting the mixing device and-vaporization chamber, said mixing .device including means for passing air therethrough so as to have a suction, effect to withdraw fuel vapors through said passageway and mix the same with said air, a conduit for delivering the resulting mixture of air and 'vapor to the combustion device, a connection between said mixing device and said conduit, a pilot burner, means for withdrawing a small portion only of said mixture of air and vapor and delivering the same for combustion at said pilot burner, and means for delivering the hot products of combustion of the pilot burner into the vaporization chamber into intimate contact with said excess of liquid fuel, whereby to vaporize only a portion thereof, said vaporized portion-being in proportion to the amount of hot products delivered to tube near said forcing nozzle whereby fuel vapor pipe having an opening beneath the operating is entrained with the air and mixed therewith, means for withdrawing an air and vapor mixture as it leaves the aspirator, a pilot light for burning said air and vapor mixture, means for delivering hot gases of combustion from the pilot light to the lower portion of the vapor chamber, and means for maintaining a pool of liquid fuel in the vapor chamber at a level above that at which said hot gases are delivered.

20. An apparatus for vaporizing liquid fuels comprising a vaporizing chamber for holding a pool of the liquid=to be vaporized, a pipeleading from a source of hot gases of combustion, said pipe having an'opening beneath the operating level of the pool of said liquid to be vaporized, a passageway leading from the vaporizing chamber to a mixing space, a connection through which at least minor proportion of the mixture of air and fuel vapor may be withdrawn, means for burning the withdrawn mixture, and means for leading the resulting hot gases of combustion into and through said first mentioned pipe.

21.'An apparatus for vaporizing liquid fuels comprising a vaporizing chamber for holding a pool of the liquid to be vaporized, a pipe leading from a source of hot gases of combustion, said level of the pool of said liquid to bevaporized, a eway leading from the vaporizing chamber to a mixing space, a pipe through which a source of air under relatively high velocity is supplied,

said latter pipe leading into said mixing space, a pilot burner for burning a minor proportion of the resulting mixture of air and fuel vapor whereby hot gases of combustion are formed, and means for leading the resulting hot gases of combustion into and through said first-men- .tioned pipe. a

, 22. An apparatus for vaporizing liquid fuels comprising a vaporizing chamber serving to support a pool of liquid fuel in the lower portion thereof, aspirating means including a forcing nozzle connected to said vaporizing chamber, means for passing hot gases of combustion directly into and beneath the surface of the pool of liquid fuel within said vaporizing chamber whereby vaporization of the fuel is effected, means for delivering air under pressure through said forcing nozzle whereby the fuel vapors are withdrawn from the vaporizing chamber and thoroughly commingled with the air, means for by-passing a portion of the resulting mixture of air and fuel vapors and burning it whereby hot gases of combustion are formed, and means for utilizing said latter hot gases of combustion to effect the vaporization of additional quantities of the liquid fuel disposed within said vaporizing chamber.

23. Anapparatusforvaporizingliquidfuelscomprising a vaporizing chamber serving to support a pool of liquid fuel in the lower portion thereof, aspirating means including a forcing nozzle conneoted to said vaporizing chamber, means for passing hot gases of combustion directly into and beneath the surface of the pool of liquid fuel within said vaporizing chamber whereby vapor- 7 ization of the fuel is effected, and means for delivering air under pressure-through said forcing nozzle whereby the fuel vapors are withdrawn from the vaporizing chamber and thoroughly commingled with the air. Y

24. An apparatus for vaporizing liquid fuels comprising a vaporizing chamber serving to support a pool of liquid fuel in the lower portion zation of the fuel is effected, means for delivering air under pressure through said forcing nozzle whereby the fuel vapors are withdrawn from the vaporizing chamber and thoroughly commingled with the air, means for by-passing a portion of the resulting mixture of air and fuel vapors and burning it whereby hot gases of combustion are formed, and means for utilizing said latter hot gases of combustion to effect the vaporization of additional quantities of the liquid fuel disposed within said vaporizing chamber.

25. An apparatus for vaporizing liquid fuels comprising a vaporizing chamber serving to support a pool of liquid fuel in the lower portion thereof, aspiratin g means including a forcing nozzle connected to said vaporizing chamber, means for passing hot gases of combustion into intimate contact with said pool of liquid fuel within said vaporizing chamber whereby vaporization of the fuel is effected, and means for delivering air under pressure through said forcing nozzle whereby the fuel vapors are withdrawn from the vaporizing chamber and thoroughly commingled with the air.

4'. 26. An apparatus for vaporizing liquid fuels comprising a vaporizing chamber serving to support a pool of liquid fuel, said vaporizing chamber having an opening in the upper portion thereof, means to vaporize said liqiud'fuel, means for supplying a stream of under pressure and forcing it past said opening whereby the fuel vapors are withdrawn from said vaporizing cham-- her and entrained in said air stream whereby thorough commingling of'the air and fuel vapors is effected, means for by-passing a portion of the resulting mixtureof air and fuel vapors and burning it to produce hot gases of combustion, and means for utilizing said hot gases of combustion to eflect the vaporization 'of additional quantities of said liquid fuel..

27. An apparatus for vapbriz ingtliquid fuels comprising avaporizing chamber serving to support a pool of liquid fuel, a passageway leading from said vaporizing chamber to a constricted opening formed in a pipe, means for delivering a stream of air under pressure into and through said constricted opening whereby liquid fuel vapor is withdrawn from said vaporizing chamber and thoroughly commingled with said stream of air, means for by-passing a minor proportion of the resultingair and fuel vapor and burning it to provide hot gaseous products of combustion, and means. for utilizing said not gaseous products of combustion for vaporizing additional n i i s or the liquid fuel-in the vaporizing chamber. 3 g Y 28: An apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the last mentioned means comprises a pipe which serves to carry the hot gaseous products of combustion beneath the surface of the pool of. liquidfuel disposed within the vaporizing chamber.

29. In a fuel vaporizing apparatus, a vaporizcombustion beneath the surface of said pool of. liquid fuel in the vaporizing chamber to initiate vaporization thereof. v

CHARLES A. FRENCH.

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