WO2014076215A1

WO2014076215A1 - Magnetic treatment of fluids

Info

Publication number: WO2014076215A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/073890
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Spencer; Paul Spencer
Original assignee: Robert Spencer; Paul Spencer
Priority date: 2012-11-15
Filing date: 2013-11-14
Publication date: 2014-05-22
Also published as: GB201320155D0; GB201220561D0; GB2509378A

Abstract

A method and device (1) for magnetic treatment of gaseous or liquid fluid fuels involves flow of the fluid through a magnetic field produced by laterally-spaced elongate magnets (2) that extend lengthwise parallel to one another between spaced non- ferromagnetic rings (3,4,-30) in the fluid flow-path. The magnets (2) are magnetised lengthwise with their ends retained firmly in bores (5; 32) distributed evenly round the rims (6; 31) of the rings (3, 4; 30), and the ends of further magnets may be retained in bores (35) of transverse strips (34) of the rings (30). A mesh filter (14; 22) may be located in the flow-path for inducing turbulence in the fluid in entering the magnetic treatment. The device (1), possibly abutting other such devices (1) in series with one another, is inserted axially in a pipe (10,-20) of a pipeline (11) leading into a combustion chamber.

Description

Magnetic Treatment of Fluids

This invention relates to magnetic treatment of fluids (liquid or gaseous) _; and is particularly concerned with the magnetic treatment of fluid fuels to enhance their combustibility.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of magnetic treatment of a fluid fuel wherein the fuel flows through a magnetic field produced by one or more elongate magnets located in the fuel flow-path.

According to another aspect of the invention a device for magnetic treatment of a fluid fuel, wherein one or more elongate magnets are mounted within a flow-path for the fuel through the device .

The one or more magnets of the method and device of the invention may be mounted to extend lengthwise of the flow-path, and where there is more than one elongate magnet they may be spaced apart laterally from one another round and/or across the flow-path. Each of these magnets may be a rod magnetised lengthwise to have North and South poles at its opposite ends.

Methods and devices in accordance with the present invention for magnetic treatment of fluid fuels, will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a perspective view and an end elevation of a first magnetic-treatment device according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional side-elevation of the magnetic-treatment device of Figures 1 and 2 installed in a pipeline for the fluid to be treated; Figure 4 is a part-sectional side-elevation to a reduced scale, of an insert for coupling into a pipeline for use in magnetic treatment of fluid fuel; and

Figure 5 is illustrative of a modification of the magnetic- treatment device of Figures 1 and 2.

The magnetic methods and magnetic devices to be described are for magnetic treatment of a fluid-fuel to enhance its combustibility. The fuel may be of liquid or gaseous form, and may be for example, petrol (gasoline) , diesel oil or fuel, or a combustible gas . Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the magnetic- treatment device 1 in this specific example is of a generally-cylindrical form

involving six elongate permanent magnets 2 that extend between spaced, non-ferromagnetic rings 3 and 4. Each magnet 2 is a rod of circular cross- section that is magnetised lengthwise to have magnetic North and South poles at its opposite ends, and is retained at those ends in firm engagement within individual bores 5 through the rims 6 of the two rings 3 and 4. The six bores 5 of each ring 3 and 4 are distributed evenly (for example, with a spacing of 5 to 10 millimetre between them) in the rim 6 round the central aperture 7 of the ring. The bores 5 of the two rings

3 and 4 are in mutual register so that the magnets 2 are spaced laterally from one another parallel to the central axis 8 of the device 1. Referring to Figure 3, the device 1 is a close axial fit within a pipe 10 that is coupled into the fuel flow-path through a pipeline 11 so that the flow-path is axially of the device 1 within the pipe 10; the pipeline 11 may lead immediately into a combustion chamber (not shown) for the fuel . More particularly as shown, the pipe 10 has flanges 12 at either end and is inserted into the fuel flow-path of the pipeline 11 v/ith its flanges 12 clamped to respective flanges 13 of the pipeline 11; the clamping bolts are not shown.

A mesh filter 14 is mounted within the pipe 10 ahead of the device 1 in the fluid flow-path through the pipe 10. The mesh of the filter 14 gives rise to turbulence in the fluid as it enters the device 1, and more especially as it is exposed to the magnetic field provided by the magnets 2 in its passage through the device 1. Exposure of the fluid to the magnetic field has been found to enhance the combustibility of the fluid fuel and through this reduce the products of combustion, notably nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide. Furthermore, it has been found to give increase in combustion temperature and ensure a more- complete combustion in using oxygen which is already present but which would otherwise be wasted in the exhaust from the

combustion chamber.

The particular configuration of magnetic field to which the fuel is exposed depends on whether the magnets 2 are all located within the device 1 with the same orientation (all North poles at one of the rings 3 and 4 and all South poles at the other ring) or with alternating orientations round each ring (in the sequence North-South-North-South-North-South at both ends) . A plurality of magnetic-treatment devices 1 may be used in series with one another in the flow-path of the fuel . Figure 4 is illustrative of an insert for a pipeline where two magnetic- treatment devices 1 are used in series in this way. Referring to Figure 4, the two magnetic-treatment devices 1 are housed abutting end-to-end within a length of pipe 20 that has flanges 21 at both ends for coupling it into a pipeline. A mesh filter 22 for inducing turbulent flow in the fuel entering the pipe 20, is mounted in the pipe 20 in advance of the magnetic- treatment devices 1. W

4

As with the magnetic- treatment device 1 of Figure 3, the

particular configuration of magnetic field to which the fuel passing through the tube 20 is exposed, depends on how the magnets 2 of the devices 1 are oriented within the two devices 1. 5 The magnets 2 of each device 1 may all have the same orientation (all North poles at one of the rings 3 and 4 and all South poles at the other ring) or with alternating orientations round each ring (in the sequence North-South-North-South-North-South at both ends) . Accordingly, there are the following ten possibilities 10 which would be reflected at the interface 23 between the two

devices 1, by: all North poles of each device 1 opposing all North poles of the other;

all South poles of each device 1 opposing all South poles of the other;

all South poles of one device 1 opposing all North poles of the other (two possible orientations);

alternating North and South poles of one device 1 opposing all North poles of the other (two possible orientations) ; alternating North and South poles of one device opposing all South poles of the other (two possible orientations); alternating North and South poles of one device opposing alternating North and South poles of the other with direct opposition between the North and South poles of one with the South and North poles respectively of the other; and alternating North and South poles of one device opposing alternating North and South poles of the other with direct opposition between the North and South poles of one with the North and South poles respectively of the other.

More than just two devices 1 may be used in series to provide a longer part of the flow-path within which magnetic treatment of the fuel takes place. Although in the example of magnetic-treatment device 1 described above there are only six magnets 2, the number used will be varied according to the diameter of the fuel pipeline, there being perhaps fewer where a small diameter is involved, and more where the pipeline is of larger diameter. The number and size of the magnets 2 will depend on the ambit and intensity of useful magnetic field required. Where a larger number of magnets and/or greater concentration of them is required, for example for pipelines having a diameter larger than, say, 150 millimetre, the rings supporting them may, for example be as illustrated in Figure 5.

Preferring to Figure 5, the supporting ring 30 used in this case has a rim 31 with bores 32 for receiving the ends of twelve magnets distributed evenly round the central aperture 33, but a strip 34 that divides the aperture 33 in half supports three more magnets in bores 35. More divisions of the aperture 33 of this nature to support more magnets may be provided where improvement in distribution and/or intensity of the magnetic- field is required.

Magnets of circular cross-section are represented as used in the magnetic-treatment device described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2, but clearly magnets of other cross-section (for example rectangular or hexagonal) may be used. Also, although the magnetic device 1 itself is of a generally-circular cross- section as defined by the supporting circular rings, other cross- sections may be used. Furthermore, there is the possibility of constructing the magnetic- treatment device using one or more hollow magnets inserted lengthwise in the fuel flow-path. Where more than one hollow magnet is used they may be located in series with one another (possibly spaced from one another axially or abutting one another end-to-end) in the flow-path and/or located side-by-side (possibly across the whole cross-section of the path) . The mesh filter 14 used with the magnetic-treatment device 1 of Figure 3, and the mesh filter 22 included in the pipe 20, may be omitted, or may be replaced by other structure for introducing turbulence in the fluid-flow entering the magnetic-treatment device 1.

Claims

Claims :

1. A method of magnetic treatment of a fluid fuel wherein the fuel flows through a magnetic field produced by one or more elongate magnets located in the fuel flow-path.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the one or more magnets are mounted to extend lengthwise of the flow-path.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein there is a plurality of the elongate magnets mounted spaced apart laterally from one another round and/or across the flow-path.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein each elongate magnet is a rod magnetised lengthwise to have North and South poles at its opposite ends.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein there are more than two of the elongate magnets, each magnet being supported at both of its ends with the polarity, North or South, of each of its individual ends opposite to that of the two most-closely adjacent ends of others of the magnets.

6. A method according to claim 4 wherein there are more than two of the elongate magnets, each magnet being supported at both of its ends with the polarity, North or South, of each of its individual ends the same as that of the two most-closely adjacent ends of others of the magnets .

7. A device for magnetic treatment of a fluid fuel, wherein one or more elongate magnets are mounted within a flow-path for the fuel through the device .

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the one or more magnets are mounted extending lengthwise of the flow-path.

9. A device according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein there is a plurality of the elongate magnets mounted spaced apart laterally from one another round and/or across the flow-path.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein each elongate magnet is a rod magnetised lengthwise to have North and South poles at its opposite ends.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein there are more than two of the elongate magnets, each magnet being supported at both of its ends with the polarity, North or South, of each of its individual ends opposite to that of the two most-closely adjacent ends of others of the magnets .

12. A device according to claim 10 wherein there are more than two of the elongate magnets, each magnet being supported at both of its ends with the polarity, North or South, of each of its individual ends the same as that of the two most-closely adjacent ends of others of the magnets.

13. A device according to any one of claims 7 to 12 including a structure to induce turbulence in the fluid flow-path entering the device .

14. A device according to claim 13 wherein the structure for inducing turbulence in the fluid-flow path is a mesh filter.

15. A device according to any one of claims 7 to 14 wherein the device is coupled into a pipeline leading into a combustion chamber for the fuel .

16. A pipeline including a plurality of devices according to any one of claims 7 to 15 that are coupled in series with one another in a fluid flow-path through the pipeline.