WO2016199175A1

WO2016199175A1 - Adjustable modular device for pre - treating fossil fuels

Info

Publication number: WO2016199175A1
Application number: PCT/IT2015/000151
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paolo MARCHINI
Original assignee: FEDELl, Simone Francesco
Priority date: 2015-06-10
Filing date: 2015-06-10
Publication date: 2016-12-15
Also published as: EP3308010A1

Abstract

An adjustable modular device (1: 17, 18) for pro-treating fossil fuels, in order to maximize (he combustion efficiency, has at least a casing (2) and a closure element (3) both being passed through by the fuel to be pre-treated and an electrical winding contained therein. The electrical winding is constituted b> one solenoid (12) the solenoid (12) being energized by a source through an electronic control of the supplied electric current.

Description

ADJUSTABLE MODULAR DEVICE FOR PRE-TREATING FOSSIL FUELS Technical Field

The present invention relates to an adjustable modular device for pre-treating fossil fuels in order to maximize combustion efficiency thereof. Such a device is applied upstream of the combustion chamber of engines or boilers to improve the combustion reaction efficiency in the engine or in the boiler, both being powered by a fossil fuel. Scientific studies have shown that application of temperature gradients and of magnetic fields to fossil fuels significantly improves the combustion efficiency and then the production of useful energy, with a result of a strong reduction of unburnt substances and unwanted exothennic reaction products, such as NOx, COx, PMx.

Background Art

The effects of the magnetic field application to the burning of fossil fuels in internal combustion engines have been the subject of studies between which "Effects of Magnetic Field on Fuel Consumption and Exhaust Emissions in Two-Stroke Engine" (Ali S. Faris et al. / Energy Procedia 18 (2012) 327-338) is cited for its authority. The effects of the application of different intensity fields and the reasons thereof are described in that publication.

Over the past 80 years, scientific research and evolution in the art have led to the development of patents and technologies for pretreatment of fuels, to improve performance and efficiency of combustion and, consequently, reduce emissions of unwanted reaction products.

The methods of generating magnetic fields are mainly two: by permanent magnets or by energized solenoids.

Regarding the former, the permanent magnets allow higher magnetic field intensities to be achieved, that unfortunately are not constant along the longitudinal axis; further they are not uniform at increased distance from the magnet, so that a gap of a few tenths of a millimeter results in a decay of more than half of the magnetic field intensity. In addition, it has been proved that the highest performing magnets have strong degradation of performance when temperature increases, e.g. Neodymium magnets have no effect with temperatures above 80 Celsius degrees. Still, the performances decrease in the presence of other strong magnetic fields. All above said makes not repeatable nor constant in time the nominal performances and, in addition, conditioned by environment. Therefore, the method by permanent magnets is unsuitable for industrial mass production.

As regards the method by solenoids supplied by current or voltage generators, i.e. accumulators or from the mains, the solenoids, as compared with the permanent magnets, effectively permit constant intensity magnetic fields to be created but they have physical limits due to the materials used and the overall dimensions. However, these limits can be overcome by configuring assemblies of multiple solenoids electrically interconnected in series or in parallel. They are therefore compatible with industrial mass productions and with the possibility of achieving high quality standards, and provide in a consistent and reproducible way constant performances that confirm the nominal data.

The present devices for the pre-treatment of fuels mainly rely on the method by solenoids by adopting various solutions.

In a solution the fuel being channeled in helical tubes that lengthen its flow path is subjected as much as possible to the electromagnetic field. In this regard see EP1408227A1 (Campostrini): claim 1 states that the fuel is deflected repeatedly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the feed tube and claim 7 states that the fuel conduit contains at least one second internal duct with surface openings and diveiters so as to determine a tortuous path of the fuel. In this pre-treatment device, therefore, the fuel pressure at constant flow rate is changed and also the output pressure of the device are modified as compared with the pump delivery data, with a possible result of uncontrolled variations in the injector inlet or in the injection pump.

Provided in the prior art is a ventilation and cooling system which puts the fuel conduit in direct contact with air drawn from the outside environment; see WO2013/098705A1 (Campostrini), in which claim 1 claims a pre-treatment device that includes at least one channel forming an aeration chamber in open comrniinication with the outside environment; claim 2 specifies that provided at the inlet and outlet of the fuel conduit are flanges or closure heads of the device body, 1

3

each of which is provided with at least one duct in direct communication with the outside and with the channel forming the aeration chamber that adopts the function of aeration gap between the fuel conduit and the electromagnetic field generator of the device.

Still, in the document WO2013/098705 A I (Campostrini) claim 3 states that the ends of the fuel conduit are fixed to the closure heads by means of devices adapted to allow their fixing to the supply line of the fuel, so as to form an integral part of said line. In addition, the inside of the conduit is made in such a way as to create a sort of undulating labyrinth-like path for the fuel which is repeatedly diverted relative to the longitudinal axis of the conduit of the device.

Similarly, WO2013/024094A1 (Buoninsegni and Magnini) discloses a container having inside a tank connected to a fuel conduit, in which a ferromagnetic core is disposed inside the tank, and a solenoid is located on the surface outside of the tank inside the container, so as to generate a magnetic field that magnetizes the ferromagnetic core. So also WO2004/003372A1 (Pandolfo) provides two internal fuel inlet-outlet chambers that are spaced the one from the other with calculation of bypass flows and consequent pressures.

Further, all the devices on the market provide for the use of a multiple number of solenoids connected electrically in parallel that share the absorbed current among all the solenoids according to the first Kirchoff law (law of the nodes), which states that the algebraic sum of the current intensity in the branches belonging to the same node is nothing:

i (input) = il (output) + i2 (output) + ... iN (output) (1) Such an electrical configuration, the absorbed current being the same, causes that in the case of a device with a number n of identical coils, the intensity of current in the single coil is n-times lower than the total current absorbed by the device. The current passing in each solenoid is defined by Ohm's law:

i = V / (p * Lu / S) (2)

Where:

i = current [A]

p = conductive material resistivity [Ω * m] Lu = wire length [m]

S = section of the wire [m²]

V = power supply voltage [V]

The cited documents give priority to the mechanical connection of multiple coils electrically connected in parallel, in order to increase the length L and thus a greater time of exposure to the effects of the magnetic field at the expense of the intensity B of the field itself, which, as evident from the scientific studies cited below, is the only physical magnitude that influences the fuel.

Sharing the current n-times is an evident disadvantage if one considers the following fonmila (3): the greater the intensity of the magnetic field, the greater is the electric current flowing through the conductive wire:

B = μ₀ * N * i / L (3)

Where:

B = magnetic field intensity [Tesla]

μο = vacuum magnetic permeability [H / m]

N = number of turns

i = current intensity [A]

L = coil length [m].

In accordance with the formula (3) the presence of multiple solenoids is cited in various documents. By way of example, according to EP1179710A1 (Ferrara), an economizer for combustion devices consists of a tube preferably made of steel around which at least two solenoids, preferably four, side by side, are wrapped. In WO2013/024094A1 (Buoninsegni and Magnini), the device comprises at least two solenoids connected in parallel to one another. In WO2013/098705 A 1 (Campostrini), the magnetic field generator is constituted by solenoids.

In summary, provided in the prior art are fuel pre-treating devices that:

(a) have helical fuel internal conducts for increasing the exposure time; but in this way the pressure conditions of the fuel in the hydraulic circuit and then at the inlet of the high-pressure pump to the injectors change;

(b) have aeration systems of the internal conduct for cooling the fuel; but in this way the benefit that the heat gives to the fuel is lowered, as it is known and proved that the prc-heating of the fuel determines an increase in the combustion efficiency;

(c) require a cutting of the fuel supply original pipe and fitting means for inserting the device in the hydraulic circuit; in this way, however, installation costs increase due to a greater number of parts and more labor; in addition the cross section of the fuel supply original pipe with the resulting load losses, if any;

(d) do not provide self-regulation systems for the operating parameters of the device in order to obtain a reliable exercise thereof;

(e) use multiple solenoids connected electrically in parallel for increasing the exposure time of the fuel to the action of the device and limiting die resistance of the conductive wire, and then the heat produced by the Joule effect and the risk of melting of the conductive wire, as well as the reduction of the current intensity on which the magnetic field intensity depends proportionally; in this way, however, the magnetic field intensity is significantly reduced, and the costs of raw materials, components, semi-finished parts and of the assembly work, as well as the overall dimensions and therefore the costs of transport increase; above all, the installation in compact engines having reduced space is more difficult.

Summary of the Invention

As compared with the prior art that has multiple solenoids connected in parallel or in series, the purpose of the present invention is to obtain a magnetic field as much as possible with a single solenoid for each module, voltage and current intensity being the same.

The objects mentioned and others are achieved by a device for pre-treating fossil fuels consisting of a casing and a single solenoid that is contained inside the casing and is electtically powered from a source, such as the mains, an alternator or a group of accumulation, by means of the electronic control of the input current. Such single solenoid is dimensioned so as to obtain the maximum intensity of the magnetic field consistent with fundamental requirements such as safety for people and surrounding objects, a correct operation and supply of functional equipment, e.g. the vehicle lights supplied by the same external source of the device, the preservation of the physical characteristics of the device components, in order to prevent deterioration, damage or malfunction thereof. β

The operation and power supply of that single solenoid are controlled and regulated by a temperature sensor and a potentiometer. The temperature sensor stops the operation of the solenoid when a safety predetermined maximum temperature is reached, in order not to create an ignition if any of explosive mixtures or dangerous temperatures for equipments or people. The potentiometer limits the maximum current that can be absorbed by the device and gives the correct priorities of supply to another cooperating equipment, for the correct operation of the means or installations which are interlocked with, and supplied by the same external source. Existing devices do not allow the absorption of currents varying in function of the absorption of other cooperating utilities and equipment, while the device according to the present invention allows to systematically maximize the absorbed current, and then the magnetic field generated.

Brief Description of Drawings

The present invention will now be described in an illustrative but not limitative way with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the present invention in a first embodiment having a single module, the view being taken from a part of a closure element of d e casing;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device in Figure 1. having a hose fitting;

Figure 3 shows a cross-section view taken along lines A-A in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a device according to the present invention in a second embodiment having two modules that are provided with a hose fitting, without closure element;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the device in Figure 4;

Figure 6 shows a cross-section view taken along broken lines B-B in Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows a plan view of a variation of the second embodiment in Figure 4. but with a pipe passing through the modules;

Figure 8 is a cross-section view taken along lines C-C in Figure 7;

Figure 9 shows a plan view of a casing of the device module according to the invention;

Figure 10 is a cross-section view taken along lines D-D in Figure 9: Figure 11 is a cross-section view taken along lines E-E in Figure 9;

Figure 12 is an electrical diagram for power supply to the device according to the invention; and

Figure 13 is a Cartesian diagram for comparing the device according to the present invention and other known devices, on the abscissa being arc length and on the ordinate the component z of the magnetic induction field in G.

Description of invention embodiments

Reference is made initially to Figure 1 wherein a perspective view of the adjustable modular device according to the present invention in a first single module embodiment is shown indicated as 1. It comprises a casing 2 and a closure element 3. Both the casing 2 and the closure element 3 are provided with a central hole 4 for the passage of the fuel to be treated. Lightening grooves are indicated as 50.

Reference is made now to Figures 2 and 3, which show the module 1 of figure 1 in a top plan view always on the side of the closure element and in a cross-section view taken along the lines A-A in Figure 2, respectively. The casing 2 has a cylindrical wall 5 and a base 6 from which a hollow shaft 7 is detached. The casing 2 thus provides a cavity 8 of a substantially toroidal shape. The closure element 3 is made in the form of a disc 9 of outer diameter equal to that of the casing 2; said disc 9 has a central hole 10 mating with the central hole 4 of the casing 2 and four through holes 1 1 made at the periphery of the disk 9.

Moreover, positioned inside the casing 2 is a solenoid schematically represented and indicated as 12. The solenoid 12 is fixed inside the casing 2 by means of a filling epoxy resin indicated as 13. In addition to setting the solenoid, the epoxy resin, cast in the production phase and then solidified, serves to electrically isolate it and to allow a better and quicker dissipation of the heat generated by the solenoid during its work.

The casing 2 has four blind holes 14 in correspondence of the through holes 11 of the closing element 3. The blind holes 14 are threaded for coupling with short screws 19 of the casing 2 with the closure element 3.

Formed in the casing 2 is a thread in the central hole 4 for screwing male-female type pipe adaptors 15 on which in turn a hose fitting 16 is screwed if the choice is made of sectioning the fuel supply pipe to be connected to the device.

Reference is made now to Figures 4 to 6 that are similar to Figures 1 to 3 but show a perspective view, a top view and a cross-section view respectively, of the adjustable modular device for pre-treating fossil fuels according to the present invention in a second embodiment with two-modules indicated as 17 and 18.

As shown in Figure 6, the modules 17 and 18 have casings with bases 6, 6, facing each other, corresponding side walls 5, 5 and hollow shafts 7, 7.

Positioned inside each casing 2 of the modules 17, 18 is a solenoid 12, 12 schematically shown. Each solenoid 12, 12 is fixed within its casing 2 by means of a filling epoxy resin generally indicated as 13.

The two modules 17 and 18 obtained by counterposing the relative casings 2, 2 are joined together by means of long screws indicated generically as 20. Reference is made now to Figures 7 and 8, which are a plan view of a variation of the second two-module embodiment in Figure 4 and a cross-section view taken along the lines C-C in Figure 7, respectively. This variation provides a tube 21 passing through the casings 2. 2 in place of the pipe adaptors and hose fittings of die previous embodiment. The other reference numerals in Figure 8 have not been indicated because they are die same as those in Figure 6. Indicated further as 46 is a connector for a corrugated sheath for the passage of electric cables; as 47 a housing hole of the connector 46; as 48 a hole for the pouring of the epoxy resin, diametrically opposed to the hole 47.

The structure of the casing 2 of the device according to the present invention allows to link all the sections of the pipes for feeding the fuel on the market for the applications in the aeronautical, nautical, automotive fields and for the heat generation in industrial and civil field, by means of the hose fittings. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, it is possible to pass the tube within the device.

Reference is made now to Figure 9, which is a view of the casing used in the first and second embodiment of the device according to the present invention seen from its open part, opposite to that one of the base 6. Figures 10 and 11 are two transverse cross-section views taken along the lines D-D and E-E, respectively, in Figure 9.

The casing 2 has in the cylindrical wall 5 four blind holes 14 that are threaded, as mentioned above, and through holes 22 for fastening together several modules. The blind holes 14, as shown in the first embodiment (Figure 3), serve to the insertion of the screws 19 that retain the closure element 3 on the casing 2. The through holes 22, as shown in the second form of embodiment (Figure 6), serve to the insertion of the screws 20 that retain the casing 2 of the module 18 on the casing 2 of the module 17.

It should be evident that such a shape of the casing 2 allows both to make the single module according to the first embodiment with the coupling to the closure element 3, and to make the double module according to the second embodiment with the coupling of two casings 2 in opposite position.

Reference is made to Figure 12 which shows an electrical circuit to which the device according to the present invention is connected.

Housed in a cassette 32, shown only as a rectangle, made in heat-resistant insulating material with degree of protection not less than IP55, is a printed circuit board 33. The main components of the electric circuit board are:

- a terminal board 34 for the connection of the cables coming from the solenoid 41 and the temperature sensor 43,

- a terminal board 35 for the connection of the cables coming from the supply.

- a terminal board 36 for the connection of cables coming from a LED 42 which is fed by the current determined by the resistance Rl 37,

- three relays genetically indicated as 38 which have the function of opening the power circuit of the device if a predetermined temperature is reached,

- a potentiometer 39 in order to regulate the current, and then the feed electric power for making it available to the device.

- two bases for fuses in order to protect the device against an overcurrent.

Looking at Figure 12, the components of the printed circuit board 33 are connected on the right with electiic power by means of the terminal board 35 and on the left with the solenoid 41. In particular, the printed circuit board is provided with a relay 38 Bl, the green light LED 42, the resistor 37, preferably of 2.2 kCl, the potentiometer 39 with a definition of 0.01%. Moreover, indicated as 40 are genetically lamellar fuses for motor vehicles placed on the bases for fuses. The temperature sensor 43 is a temperature probe placed inside the solenoid 41. Respectively indicated as 44 and 45 are a red light LED and a resistor R2.

The solenoid made from a copper wire with a diameter of at least 1 mm, with temperature index equal to or greater than 195 Celsius degrees and minimum degree of protection 3, has the purpose of producing the greatest possible magnetic field, in relation to the parameters determining its size, As expressed in the formula (3) mentioned above, they are the intensity of the current ί and the number of turns of the solenoid N in a directly proportional manner, and the length of the solenoid L in an inversely proportional manner.

Moreover, a copper ware with a larger diameter has two significant innovative benefits:

a) at the same tension and length of the wire, an increase of the absorbed current and thus of the magnetic field as shown in the next formula (6).

b) at the same strength of the solenoid and of the supply voltage, greater length of the wire and hence a greater number n of turns of the solenoid, with a consequent increase of the magnetic field generated

A = π * D²/4 (4) R = p * LU / A = (p * LU * 4) / (π * D²) (5) where:

A = section of the wire [nr]

D = diameter of the wire [m]

R = electrical resistance of the wire [ohm]

LU = length of the wire [m]

Therefore.

,uo*N*i/L B = μ₀*Ν*ί/ί = μ₀*η* ν*(π * D²) / (p * LU * 4) (6)

By way of example, being the same all the other parameters, the increase of the magnetic field in the passage from Dj = 0.5 mm, that is the diameter used in the other devices described and patented, to D₂ = 1 mm, that is the diameter used for the present device is equal to:

B₂/Bi = (D₂)² / (D,)² = (l) ² / (0.5) ² = 4 (7)

The solenoid is made from 30 turns of a copper wire, distributed on 17 concentric levels, for a total of N=510 turns; in general, considered the value of the magnetic permeability in vacuum μο = 1.26 * 10^"6 H/m, the magnetic field generated by the solenoid for its entire length (L = 34 mm) and constant in all its internal section is equal to 1,346 G.

The solenoid and then the module have been dimensioned in order to maximize the magnetic field with a supply voltage of 12 V. In applications, e.g. in engines or in boilers, where the supply voltage is higher and multiple of 12 V, two or more modules of the device, in equal number to the same multiple, can be mechanically installed in battery and connected in series. All systems which are characterized by the presence of a combustion chamber, such as combustion engines or boilers, are supplied by generators, alternators or power storage units, or network; in case of supply voltage in direct current with supply voltage not multiple of 12 V or alternating current, upstream of the device the installation of adequate transformer is required. In these cases it is possible to put together electrically in series and therefore mechanically in battery two or more modules of the device, obtaining the same value of magnetic field in the internal section to the solenoid. This makes the device usable in every application characterized by different values of voltage and / or current.

The following Table 1 shows how the number of turns is varied depending on the variation of the supply voltage in order to achieve the same value of the magnetic field by a single solenoid.

Table 1

A comparative study was carried out with the modeling software COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS 4.3, by which solenoids that generate magnetic fields in the aforementioned patented magnetic devices have been faithfully reproduced, or in absence of an accurate description thereof, a product has been purchased on the market, then sectioned, thanks to which a diagram of the electric solenoid has been reconstructed. The conclusions of the study are represented in Figure 13. which is a Cartesian diagram of comparison between the device according to the present invention and other known devices, on the abscissa being the arc length and on the ordinate the component z of the magnetic induction field in G.

The value of the intensity of the magnetic field of 1,346 G, obtained by applying the known formula of physics, was confirmed, and in particular it has been verified that the device according to the invention produces a very homogeneous magnetic field in the entire section. The magnetic field is variable between a maximum intensity of 1 ,395 G in the central axis of the solenoid and a minimum intensity of 1,315 G in the vicinity of the inner surface of the solenoid itself. These values are far superior in die useful passage section of the treated fuel, to the values of the other known devices, which are reported below in the Cartesian diagram with references: 003372 SECTOR 1 = WO2004/003372A1

003372 SECTOR 2 = WO2004/003372A1

DRK004 = device according to the present invention.

There are many advantages of the device according to the present invention.

If interconnected electrically and mechanically in series with other modules, the device can be used and can generate the same intensity of magnetic field in each application having a different supply voltage.

Unlike other prior art devices, it does not absorb constantly the same amount of current and therefore of power, for equal voltage, but on the contrary, thanks to die potentiometer the device according to the invention is able to absorb only the current, and therefore the power, not required by other prior utilities of the systems in which the device itself is applied. Otherwise these utilities could work in an inappropriate way and could not provide the related services. An example is the group of illumination of motor vehicles, or die discharge of the storage unit.

The device according to the present invention uses, differently from the others, a single solenoid for generating the magnetic field, but, as demonstrated experimentally, it is more efficient than the other devices mentioned above because it maximizes the magnetic field while minimizing the power consumption and the consumption of energy. This is also due to the fact that the use of a copper wire of greater diameter than that set in die other devices on the market, allows the increase of the magnetic field intensity by a factor of about 4 times.

Moreover, the presence of the temperature sensors and of the fuses in the device according to the present invention allows the control of parameters likely to generate situations of danger, and therefore the detachment of the device, for goods and/or persons beyond the limits provided by safety regulations. In particular, the device has a thermal sensor for the detachment and the reset, via a relay, if temperatures are reached over the diresholds allowed for the various types of pre-treated fuel, and a low power signal light LED that indicates a non-operation.

The casing and the closure element of the device according to the present invention are preferably constituted by a monobloc of polyamide 66 material. The raw material used is therefore reduced. It allows to use a large-scale industrial technology and to reduce the costs of supply and tightening of the second cover, not being present.

The device according to the invention allows, in the continuation of the fuel to be treated, to have no load losses due to non-linear paths or characterized by curves or twists or increases and narrowings of section, thanks to the input mode of the fuel adduction original tube in the device.

The adoption of a basic module allows the standardization of geometries and the reduction of procurement and production costs.

In the device according to the present invention it is possible to adjust the current intensity by the potentiometer: in this way it is possible to install the same device for applications different in the type of power, voltage and current. This allows to annul variants in production and to allow a large-scale production without change of batches and costs of machine set-up, very significantly reducing production costs. Moreover, the uniqueness of the product allows to optimize the costs of packaging and transport.

The device allows to maintain, with the original passing through tube through and non cut, a non-turbulent laminar motion of the fuel, in order to avoid the continuous change of direction of the magnetic field applied to the fuel molecules and to reduce the exposure time for obtaining maximum effects.

The device does not remove all the heat generated by the solenoid by the Joule effect, but forwards it to the fuel by conduction, while the excess heat is dissipated per conduction through the resin in material and radiation by the casing.

Claims

1. An adjustable modular device for pre-treating fossil fuels, in order to maximize the combustion efficiency, said device being formed by at least a module (1 ; 17, 18) comprising a casing (2) and an electrical winding contained therein, characterized in that said electrical winding is constituted by one solenoid (12) for each module (1; 17, 18), the solenoid (12) being energized by a source through an electronic control of the supplied electric current.

2, The device according to claim 1, wherein said one solenoid (12) is detected by a temperature sensor (43) and adjusted by a potentiometer (39).

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said device comprises a casing (2) and a closure element (3) both being passed through by the fuel to be pre-treated by the use of pipe adaptors (15) and hose fittings (16).

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said device comprises two casings (2, 2), both being passed tlirough by the fuel to be pre-treated by the use of pipe adaptors (15) and hose fittings (16)

5. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said device comprises two casings (2, 2), both being passed through by the fuel to be pre-treated by the use of a pipe (21) passing through said two casings (2, 2).

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said casing (2) has a side wall (5), a base (6) and an inner shaft (7) having a tlirough hole (4) and being concentric to the side wall (5).

7. The device according to claim 1. wherein the casing (2) has four short tlireaded dead holes (14) and tlirough holes (22) for fastening two modules (17, 18) together in the side wall (5).