WO2018080298A1

WO2018080298A1 - Fuel processing system for internal combustion engine

Info

Publication number: WO2018080298A1
Application number: PCT/MY2016/000071
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shen Yew TEOH
Original assignee: Shen Yew TEOH
Priority date: 2016-10-25
Filing date: 2016-10-25
Publication date: 2018-05-03

Abstract

An internal combustion engine is operated with fuel (11) vaporized by a series of ultrasonic transducers (13), heating elements (1) and treated with high intensity ultraviolet rays prior to combustion. In addition, means for fuel processing is to vaporize and to break down fuel molecules into lighter chains of hydrocarbon for overcoming the lower caloric power potential of fuel (11) and to increase the efficiency for combustion.

Description

FUEL PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Technical Field The present invention relates generally to a fuel processing system for internal combustion engine.

Background Art The present invention relates generally to an internal combustion engine operable with fuel and, specifically, to a fuel system for supplying treated vaporized fuel to the engine. The term fuel as used herein includes a variety of derivatives of hydrocarbons.

Internal combustion engines operated with hydrocarbon based fuel have been in use for many years. Such blending, however, lowers the boiling point of gasoline and thereby causes vapour lock in the internal combustion engine at lower temperature than would be the case with pure gasoline. In addition, the current fuel injection system delivers heavier molecule of gasoline or diesel fuel into the cylinders to be combusted, leading to

a degree of incomplete combustion.

Thus, the need exists for a fuel system which increases the efficiency of a fueled engine, which can operate with hydrocarbon based fuel.

However, another problem exists. The use of a conventional carburetor or fuel injection system often leads to inefficient combustion with unbumed fuel passing through the exhaust manifold to the atmosphere. This inefficient combustion is evidenced by an increase in hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions.

As an alternative, the fuel can be directly supplied into an engine cylinder. The present invention introduces processed fuel into an air stream for passage to a cylinder. The injection inlets usually have an inside diameter of at least 0.050 inches. Although a fuel injection system is more efficient than a conventional carburetor, the injection of such large fuel droplets also results in prolonged fuel vaporization time. In an ideal fuel system, the size of each droplet would approach that of a single molecule of fuel. If each fuel molecule could be mixed well with air, complete combustion would be possible. This would result in greater engine efficiency and possible elimination of all emissions other than carbon dioxide and water. By a process of breaking down molecules of hydrocarbon based fuel, the present invention produces almost complete fuel combustion. This would improve the efficiency of the engine, eliminating unburned hydrocarbon emissions.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides means as an alternative fuel delivery method for an internal combustion engine on hydrocarbon fuels derived from crude oil. Specifically, the present invention provides a fuel processing system which supplies refined fuel vapour and molecules into an internal combustion engine and produces nearly complete combustion.

Series of ultrasonic transducers oscillating at a frequency range to vaporize fuel prior to be heated with heating elements together with high intensity ultraviolet rays treatment. In addition, means are to induce cavitation within the fuel using a series of ultrasonic transducers to vaporize the fuel into small droplets before it is processed using thermal energy generated by heating elements together with high intensity ultraviolet rays, under normal operating conditions.

The method according to the present invention comprises steps of conveying the fuel into gaseous state by a series of ultrasonic transducers, fuel vapour then passes through heating elements to complete its next phase of processing and then molecular bonds of hydrocarbon is broken down by heat and high intensity ultraviolet rays, then processed fuel is mixed with air via a calibrated air inlet supply, feeding the engine cylinders with mixture of air and processed vapour fuel.

In the chamber fuel is vaporized into gaseous state in the first phase. The fuel vapours produced upon cavitation process of ultrasound are then heated up by heating elements.

Additionally, heating elements and ultraviolet bulbs located within the chambers treating the fuel vapour and further breaking chains of hydrocarbon into a shorter chain expanding its volume. As a result, processed vapour content and temperature of the air passing to the intake manifold is increased.

An objective of this invention is to increase the efficiency of hydrocarbon based fuel operated internal combustion engine by providing means of vaporizing fuel as well as means for thermal expansion by heating fuel vapour together with high intensity ultraviolet rays used prior to combustion.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a means for boosting the efficiency of combustion and lowering the carbon emissions of internal combustion engine. Further objectives and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed

description made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a generally sectional view of a fuel treatment processing system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the fuel treatment processing system

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

1. Heating elements

2. Partition of processing chambers 3. Air inlet

4. Air inlet bottom cover

5. Air inlet top cover

6. Outlet

7. Processing units

8. Current supply leads

9. Air displacer

10. Fuel inlet and level regulator

11. Fuel

12. Connecting wires

13. Ultrasonic transducers

14. Flash arrestor

15. High intensity ultraviolet bulbs

A, B. Processing chambers

C. Fuel reservoir

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention draws fuel 11 from a fuel tank through fuel inlet and level regulator 10 and vaporizes the fuel 11 by means of ultrasonic transducers 13. A fuel pump, preferably of the fixed-displacement type, pumps fuel 11 from the fuel tank through a fuel line through fuel inlet and level regulator 10 to processing chambers A, B, where fuel 11 is stored in fuel reservoir C and stops supplying when fuel 11 is at a regulated level.

Ultrasonic transducers 13 in processing chambers A, B supplied by current from processing units 7 via connecting wires 12 oscillates at a frequency, vaporizing fuel 11 into fuel vapour. Heating elements 1 in the processing chambers A, B supplied by current from processing units 7 via connecting wires 12 heated up to a certain temperature.

Partition of processing chambers 2 acts as a border separating the fuel processing system into several chambers. Processing units 7 are supplied by a power source. Processing units 7 serve two-fold purposes. It serves to provide current to ultrasonic transducers 13 and heating elements 1 via connecting wires 12. This ensures the processing chambers A, B are working as an integrated unit After the fuel 11 is vaporized, the vaporized fuel passes through heating elements 1. As the partition of processing chambers 2 acts as a border separating the fuel processing system into several chambers, the vaporized fuel can only travel through heating elements 1.

As the fuel 11 is being vaporized within processing chambers A, B and outlet 6 is connected to the air intake of the engine air will be aspirated in via air inlet 3 by means of vacuum pressure. Air is directed in air inlet 3 downwards and exits through air inlet bottom cover 4 to air displacer 9 which would displace the current of air, drawing vaporized fuel with it.

By introducing air into the processing chambers A, B, fuel vapour is mixed with air in the said chambers and the air and fuel vapour are able to reach an equilibrium mixture within the chambers.

Where a conventional air intake, such as that can be found on many automobiles, is used as an air suction and surrounding air travelling through air inlet 3, a sufficient amount of air can be supplied to the processing chambers A, B for most operating conditions.

Fuel 11, which does not fully vaporized then condenses and collects back to fuel reservoir C.

Air aspirated by the engine causes the fuel vapor-air mixture to pass through heating elements 1 which would deliver heat to the vapor fuel thus expanding its volume. The expanded fuel mixture undergoes further catalytic cracking by using high intensity ultraviolet bulbs 15 and enters outlet 6 through flash arrestor 14. The resulting fuel vapor-air mixture which is processed is delivered to cylinders of internal combustion engine. Flash arrestor 14 acts as a secondary air filter and to prevent backfires to the system. Initial heating of the fuel processing system, in operation, could be omitted as heating elements 1 would provide enough heat for volume expansion of the fuel vapour created by ultrasonic transducers 13. Having illustrated and described the principles of our invention by what is presently a preferred embodiment and several suggested alternatives, it should be apparent to those persons skilled in the art that such embodiments may be modified in arrangement and detailed without departing from such principles. We claim as our invention all such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIM

\. A fuel system for an internal combustion engine, having an air inlet (3), processing chambers (A, B) and an outlet (6), said fuel system comprising:

(a) a fuel reservoir (C) adapted to contain a fuel (1 1) selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons;

(b) said air inlet (3) means communicating to atmosphere into the processing chambers (A, B).

(c) in the processing chambers (A, B) means for vaporizing fuel (1 1 ) in said reservoir (C), said cavitation of fuel (1 1) into gaseous state by means including a series of ultrasonic transducers (13) operating at a frequency range operatively communicating with a power source, whereby during operation of the engine the electric therefrom is utilized to vaporize the fuel (1 1) into fine vapour mist; and

(d) means for secondary phase of processing said fine vapour mist said processing means including heating elements (1) within the processing chambers (A, B) whereby thermal expansion of fuel molecule and secondary phase of processing of fuel is provided within the processing chambers (A, B); and

(e) means for tertiary phase of molecular catalytic cracking of the heated fuel vapour said cracking means including high intensity ultraviolet bulbs (15) within the processing chambers (A, B) to produce high intensity ultraviolet rays to induce breaking down of fuel molecules.

(f) An air displacer (9) placed below an air inlet (3) of said processing chambers (A, B), above the fuel (11).

(g) A fuel inlet and level regulator (10) placed below said air displacer (9) of said processing chambers (A, B), above the fuel (1 1).

(h) A flash arrestor (14) includes a mesh network placed at outlet (6) of said processing chambers (A, B).

2. The processing chambers (A, B) according to Claim 1 further include means for converting fuel (1 1) into gaseous form and increasing the surface area of fuel (11) means including a processing unit (7) attached to ultrasonic transducers (13) means combustible fuel therein vaporized into gaseous state and passed through the heating elements (1) whereby heat is provided to said vaporized fuel to further dissociate the molecules of fuel into smaller particles and further breaking down into lighter chains of hydrocarbon.

The processing chambers (A, B) according to Claim 1 wherein said chambers are being in connection between each chambers to permit the flow of fuel vapour as a results of conversion of fuel (11) into gaseous state.

The processing chambers (A, B) according to Claim 1 wherein said high intensity ultraviolet bulbs (15) placed within the chambers emits pulse of high intensity ultraviolet rays illuminating the chambers after being heated up by said heating elements (1).

The fuel processing system according to Claim 1 , Claim 2 and Claim 4 wherein said ultrasonic transducers (13), heating elements ( 1) and high intensity ultraviolet bulbs (15) further includes:

(a) processing units (7) means for operating said ultrasonic transducers (13),

(b) processing unit (7) means for operating said heating elements (1) placed within said chambers; and

(c) processing unit (7) means for operating high intensity ultraviolet bulbs (15) illuminating the said chambers.

The fuel processing system according to Claim 1 wherein said processing chambers (A, B) means includes:

(a) air inlets (3) for communicating with said processing units (7) includes said

ultrasonic transducers (13) and outlets for communicating with another processing chamber to permit the flow of the vaporized fuel there through;

(b) heating elements (1 ) placed in said processing chambers (A, B) positioned in

communication between said chambers further process the said vaporized fuel; and

(c) high intensity ultraviolet bulbs (15) placed within said chambers illuminating the said chambers further breaking down heavy chains of said fuel molecules.

(d) fuel inlet and level regulator (10) controls means for operating said fuel level when the fuel volume in said chambers is below a preset value and will allow the flow of fuel (11) from the fuel pump.

(e) air outlet (6) with flash arrester (14) attached from said chambers, communicating with said engine cylinders to permit the flow of the processed fuel there through.

7. The fuel processing system according to Claim 5 and Claim 6 wherein said processing chambers (A, B) means chambers further includes outlet (6) that feeds directly into the air intake of the internal combustion engine by means of vacuum pressure means in said chambers for permitting the flow of processed fuel to the outlet (6) when the fuel (11) is heated and treated with high intensity ultraviolet rays further breaking down into lighter chain passes through a flash arrester (14) which includes a mesh fitted at the outlet (6) of the said chambers.

8. The fuel processing system according to Claim 1 wherein said processing chambers (A, B) further include a free flow of air passage communicating with the atmospheric environment, reduces any pressure build up.

9. The fuel processing system according to Claim 1 wherein the air flow means includes:

(a) a chamber containing fuel (1 1) therein maintained at a specified level, said chamber includes air inlet (3) and outlet (6) placed above the fuel level, whereby permitting the flow of air from the air inlet (3) to the outlet (6); and

(b) Communication of said fuel vapour between the chambers by means of vacuum pressure from the air intake manifold of the internal combustion engine.

(c) Air displacer displaces the flow of air from air inlet (3).

10. Whereby fuel vapour is formed as the result of said cavitation of fuel (1 1) into gaseous state is directed through heating elements (1) placed within said chambers which in turn expanding its molecular surface area and treated with high intensity ultraviolet rays then mixed with air from calibrated air inlet (3), exits through the flash arrester (14) and the said outlet (6) directly into the cylinders of the internal combustion engine.