Power fuel generation method for sea-air amphibious environment
By using methanol as a carrier and reaction medium, methanol-aluminum thin films are generated, solving the atomization and mixing problems of traditional gel propellants. This enables self-ignition and efficient combustion in amphibious environments, providing a method for generating underwater and low-altitude power fuels.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202511524047.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-10-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-23
AI Technical Summary
Traditional gel propellants have high viscosity, making atomization and mixing difficult. Metal fuels are difficult to react with water at low temperatures, and the design of amphibious fuel systems makes it difficult to achieve reliable ignition and combustion.
Using methanol as a continuous phase carrier at low temperatures, fluidized metal fuel is generated. Methanol-aluminum film is generated at high temperatures. The methanol-aluminum film is used to achieve a self-ignition reaction with seawater through violent hydrolysis, generating underwater power fuel. Methanol is used to burn with air to generate high-temperature water vapor, generating low-altitude power fuel.
It significantly improves combustion reaction efficiency and reliability, realizes self-ignition and efficient combustion in amphibious environments, breaks through the viscosity and oxide film limitations of traditional fuel systems, and provides an efficient hydrogen production pathway.
Smart Images
Figure CN121379670A_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention belongs to a novel underwater fuel system, and particularly relates to a method for generating power fuel for sea-air amphibious environment. BACKGROUND
[0002] Sea-air amphibious (underwater and low altitude) aircraft, with the ability of long-time cruising underwater and low-altitude maneuvering flight after surfacing to strike targets quickly, has important strategic significance for local island cooperative combat, and the design of fuel system that can be used in underwater and low-altitude environment at the same time is the key.
[0003] One of the difficulties in designing a fuel system that can be used in underwater and low-altitude environment at the same time is that the viscosity of traditional gel propellant is very large, and a large enough injection pressure is needed to inject the metal fuel, and it is difficult to atomize, which inhibits the full mixing and rapid reaction with seawater.A. Poor atomization quality: high viscosity greatly limits the breaking ability of gel jet at the injection hole. The jet is not easy to break up, and it is more difficult to achieve secondary breakage. The atomization particle size of the gel injected into the combustion chamber increases significantly, and the droplet size distribution becomes wider. This poor atomization state seriously limits the effective contact area and micro-mixing rate of metal fuel and seawater (oxidizer) on a micro scale.B. Reaction inhibition effect: inside the large-size gel droplets or unbroken fuel blocks, metal particles are difficult to be quickly exposed and contacted with the surrounding water medium. At the same time, the viscous gel matrix itself will hinder the diffusion of water molecules to the internal metal particles and the outward diffusion of reaction products, forming a physical barrier, significantly inhibiting the initial rate and overall reaction degree of the chemical reaction of metal fuel and seawater / water, resulting in low combustion efficiency and specific impulse loss.
[0004] The second difficulty in designing a fuel system that can be used in underwater and low-altitude environment at the same time is that the metal fuel (aluminum / magnesium) is difficult to react with water at low temperature, and the problem of the oxidation film on the surface of the metal particles preventing the reaction with water still exists. In underwater or low-temperature environment, this layer of oxidation film is difficult to be effectively destroyed or peeled off. This is a great challenge in the low-temperature start-up or short-time high-efficiency combustion scenario. The existence of the oxidation film significantly delays the effective contact of the metal core with water and the initiation of the reaction, and is one of the key factors limiting the improvement of reaction efficiency, and currently there is no economic and efficient method to completely solve this problem in the gel system.
[0005] The third difficulty in designing a fuel system that can be used in both underwater and low-altitude environments is that underwater ignition needs to overcome the adverse factors of hydrostatic pressure, low temperature, limited oxidizer (especially far from the water surface), etc., and usually requires strong initial ignition energy and reliable igniters; while air ignition, although the environment is relatively relaxed, also needs to consider low temperature and possible bad weather (such as rain and fog). Designing an ignition system (such as high-efficiency chemical ignition powder, plasma igniter) that can be reliably and quickly started in both environments and ensuring stable transfer and combustion after ignition under rapidly changing environmental pressure is a core difficulty. SUMMARY
[0006] The present application is directed to the problems existing in the prior art, and proposes a power fuel generation method for sea-air amphibious environment, the first purpose is to solve the problem of difficult atomization and mixing of traditional gel propellant due to too large viscosity; the second purpose is to solve the problem that metal fuel is difficult to react with water at low temperature and the surface oxide film of metal particles prevents the reaction with water; the third purpose is to solve the problem of difficult design of multipurpose sea-air amphibious fuel system.
[0007] To solve the technical problems, the present application proposes the following technical scheme:
[0008] A power fuel generation method for sea-air amphibious environment, characterized by comprising the following steps:
[0009] Step one, using the property that methanol and aluminum do not react at low temperature, methanol fluid as a continuous phase carrier and metal particles as a dispersed phase, to generate fluidized metal fuel at low temperature, the fluidized metal fuel is composed of methanol and aluminum particles;
[0010] Step two, using the property that methanol and aluminum particles on the surface react to form a thin film of aluminum methanol at high temperature, and again using methanol fluid as a continuous phase carrier and metal particles as a dispersed phase, to generate fluidized metal fuel at high temperature, the fluidized metal fuel is composed of methanol and aluminum particles coated with a thin film of aluminum methanol;
[0011] Step three, generating power fuel for sea-air amphibious environment: using the property of self-ignition reaction of aluminum and seawater after the violent hydrolysis of aluminum methanol film and seawater, to generate underwater power fuel; using the combustion reaction of methanol and air to generate high-temperature water vapor; the generated high-temperature water vapor reacts with the aluminum methanol film to generate hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide; the generated high-temperature water vapor reacts with aluminum to generate hydrogen; and the property of combustion reaction of the generated flammable gas with air to generate low-altitude power fuel.
[0012] Further, the step two utilizes the property of the reaction between methanol and the surface of aluminum particles at high temperature, which is about 50 degrees Celsius or above, to form a methanol aluminum film. The methanol aluminum film can be hydrolyzed by seawater to release a large amount of heat and combustible gas, thereby solving the problem that the surface of pure aluminum / magnesium particles is easily oxidized and forms a hard oxide film on the outside to prevent reaction with water in the traditional design.
[0013] Further, the step three utilizes the property of the self-ignition reaction between the metal aluminum and seawater after the hydrolysis of the methanol aluminum film, to generate underwater power fuel, which is self-ignited by reaction with water.
[0014] Further, the step three utilizes the property of the self-ignition reaction between the metal aluminum and seawater after the hydrolysis of the methanol aluminum film, to generate underwater power fuel, which is self-ignited by reaction with water.
[0015] Further, the step three utilizes the property of the self-ignition reaction between the metal aluminum and seawater after the hydrolysis of the methanol aluminum film, to generate underwater power fuel, which is self-ignited by reaction with water.
[0016] 1) The methanol in the metal fuel first reacts with air to generate high-temperature water vapor, which includes water and carbon dioxide;
[0017] 2) The high-temperature water vapor reacts with aluminum to generate aluminum oxide and hydrogen, or the high-temperature water vapor reacts with the methanol aluminum film to generate aluminum hydroxide, hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide;
[0018] 3) The generated combustible gas including hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide is ignited again to form low-altitude power fuel.
[0019] Advantages and effects of the present application
[0020] 1. Improve reaction efficiency and reliability. The present application uses low-viscosity methanol as a metal fuel carrier, which greatly promotes the atomization of metal fuels such as aluminum, which is more easily mixed with gasified / atomized water (water mist), thereby significantly improving the speed and efficiency of the combustion reaction, solving the problem of difficulty in atomization and mixing of traditional gel propellants due to excessive viscosity.
[0021] 2. Overcoming key reaction obstacles. This invention effectively solves the long-standing technical problem that aluminum particles are easily oxidized in air and that the oxide film hinders their reaction with water by reacting methanol with metallic aluminum at relatively high temperatures (>50℃), thereby destroying the dense oxide film on the surface of the aluminum and generating a thin film of aluminum methoxide. This overcomes the limitation of the difficulty of reacting metal fuels with water at low temperatures and lays the foundation for subsequent efficient hydrolysis reactions.
[0022] 3. Achieving underwater self-ignition and heat release: This invention utilizes the property of methanol-aluminum film to undergo violent hydrolysis in seawater, as well as the self-ignition reaction property of metallic aluminum with seawater after hydrolysis, to generate underwater power fuel. This eliminates the need for complex external ignition devices, thereby improving the reliability and response speed of the underwater system.
[0023] 4. Providing an efficient hydrogen production pathway: This invention utilizes the reaction of high-temperature water vapor with a methanol-aluminum film to efficiently generate a large amount of hydrogen, or utilizes the reaction of high-temperature water vapor with aluminum to efficiently generate a large amount of hydrogen, which can be used as a power fuel for low-altitude aircraft.
[0024] 5. Core Innovative Achievements - Integrated Amphibious Power Fuel: This invention utilizes the self-ignition reaction property of metallic aluminum and seawater after the violent hydrolysis of a methanol-aluminum film to generate underwater power fuel; it utilizes the combustion reaction of methanol with air to generate high-temperature steam; the generated high-temperature steam reacts with the methanol-aluminum film / aluminum to generate hydrogen, and the combustible gas generated reacts with air to generate low-altitude power fuel. This successfully achieves the generation of both underwater and low-altitude power fuel within the same fuel system, perfectly solving the major technical challenge of "power fuel generation in amphibious environments" and overcoming the difficulties of high viscosity of gel propellants, the difficulty of low-temperature reaction of metallic fuels with water, and the difficulty in designing and integrating amphibious fuel systems. Attached Figure Description
[0025] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the method for generating power fuel for amphibious environments according to the present invention;
[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the power fuel system of the present invention for use in amphibious environments. Detailed Implementation
[0027] Innovation of this invention
[0028] 1. This invention introduces methanol as a multifunctional carrier and reaction medium, and in particular utilizes the key intermediate product generated by it—methanol-aluminum film. It systematically solves major technical problems faced by traditional metal fuel propellants, such as the difficulty of high-viscosity atomization and mixing, the low-temperature inhibition of reaction by metal oxide film, and the difficulty of unifying amphibious power fuels. It successfully constructs an integrated amphibious power solution based on a single methanol-metal fuel system.
[0029] 2. The problem of methanol carrier cracking and oxidation film is solved: the low viscosity methanol is creatively used as the carrier of metal fuel aluminum, which significantly improves the atomization and mixing: the problem of poor atomization and low mixing efficiency caused by high viscosity of traditional gel propellant is overcome, and efficient contact of metal fuel and oxidizer (water / water mist) is ensured.
[0030] 3. Multifunctional reaction mechanism driven by methanol aluminum thin film: the generated methanol aluminum thin film becomes the core functional unit, realizing underwater self-ignition and power generation: it reacts with seawater to produce a large amount of hydrogen gas.
[0031] 4. Amphibious fuel system: the above mechanisms are combined to build a single fuel system to realize sea-air dual-mode power: underwater mode: methanol aluminum thin film hydrolysis→metal aluminum and seawater self-ignition→underwater power. Low-altitude mode: methanol and air combustion→high-temperature water vapor→high-temperature water vapor and methanol aluminum thin film / aluminum reaction→efficient hydrogen production→hydrogen (and / or other combustible gases) and air combustion→low-altitude power.
[0032] 2. Design principle of the application
[0033] 1) Core design logic: the key role of methanol is embodied in dual roles: in underwater power fuel, methanol acts as an "inert carrier" to disperse aluminum particles to realize metal particle fluidization, and in low-altitude power fuel, it acts as a "reaction medium" to participate in chemical conversion, while its physical properties (low viscosity) and combustion products (high-temperature water vapor) provide support for function realization. Finally, the power adaptation of underwater and low-altitude environments is realized.
[0034] 2) Low-temperature fluidization: solves the "operability" problem of metal fuel. By taking advantage of the non-reaction of methanol and aluminum at low temperature (below the reaction threshold), aluminum particles are uniformly dispersed in methanol to form a flowable fuel system. The flowability of methanol can realize convenient storage, transportation and atomization pretreatment of the fuel.
[0035] 3) High-temperature film formation: breakthrough of the "oxidation film barrier" for underwater ignition, methanol reacts with the surface of aluminum particles at high temperature to form a methanol aluminum thin film. Underwater self-ignition mechanism: the methanol aluminum thin film reacts with water (seawater) to release a large amount of heat, and at the same time, active aluminum is exposed, which triggers the exothermic reaction of aluminum and seawater, finally realizing "self-ignition in water". By generating methanol aluminum thin film as "ignition trigger", the "reaction inertia" caused by traditional metal fuel due to oxidation film is bypassed, and reliable ignition in underwater environment is realized.
[0036] 4) Methanol combustion: provide "energy intermediates" for low-altitude functions. Methanol itself can be burned with air, releasing heat and generating high-temperature water vapor, which is both an energy carrier and a "reactant" for subsequent low-altitude reactions, providing thermodynamic conditions for the generation of combustible gases.
[0037] 5) Water vapor conversion: build a "fuel source" for low-altitude combustion. High-temperature water vapor (from methanol combustion) reacts with residual methanol aluminum film and unreacted aluminum particles: methanol aluminum film and water vapor: generate hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, and other combustible gases; aluminum and water vapor: generate di-aluminum trioxide and hydrogen. Low-altitude function: the above combustible gases are mixed with air and ignited again to provide sustained power in low-altitude environments.
[0038] 6) Overall synergy: from "single component" to "amphibious function". Methanol plays a dual role: as an "inert carrier" to disperse aluminum particles for metal particle fluidization in underwater power fuel, and as a "reaction medium" to participate in chemical conversion in low-altitude power fuel, while its physical properties (low viscosity) and combustion products (high-temperature water vapor) provide support for function implementation; Aluminum particles as the core energy carrier, through the "activation" of methanol aluminum film to realize underwater reaction, and through water vapor conversion to realize low-altitude reaction. The two work together to ultimately meet the sea-air amphibious power needs of "underwater self-ignition (without external ignition source) + low-altitude efficient combustion (high-energy density gas fuel)".
[0039] Summary: The breakthrough of this design lies in "multi-scale regulation centered on methanol": both its physical properties are used to solve fuel fluidization and atomization problems, and its chemical reactions are used for ignition triggering (methanol aluminum film) and energy conversion (water vapor-combustible gas), ultimately expanding the functions of a single fuel system to underwater and low-altitude environments, providing a new power solution for sea-air amphibious equipment (such as underwater-air unmanned drones and amphibious power devices).
[0040] Based on the above principles, the present application designs a power fuel generation method for sea-air amphibious environment, as shown in Figure 1 , Figure 2 The method comprises the following steps:
[0041] Step one, using the property that methanol and aluminum do not react at low temperatures, methanol fluid as a continuous phase carrier and metal particles as a dispersed phase, a fluidized metal fuel is generated at low temperature, which is composed of methanol and aluminum particles;
[0042] Step two, using the property that methanol and aluminum particles on the surface react to form a methanol aluminum film at high temperatures, again using methanol fluid as a continuous phase carrier and metal particles as a dispersed phase, a fluidized metal fuel is generated at high temperature, which is composed of methanol and aluminum particles coated with a methanol aluminum film;
[0043] Step three, generating power fuel for sea-air amphibious environment: using the self-ignition reaction property of the metal aluminum after the violent hydrolysis of the methanol aluminum film and seawater, generating underwater power fuel; using the combustion reaction of methanol and air to generate high-temperature water vapor; the generated high-temperature water vapor reacts with the methanol aluminum film to generate hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide; the generated high-temperature water vapor reacts with aluminum to generate hydrogen; and the property of the generated combustible gas and air combustion reaction generates low-altitude power fuel.
[0044] Further, the step two uses the property that methanol and aluminum particles on the surface react to generate methanol aluminum film at a high temperature of about 50 degrees Celsius or above. The methanol aluminum film can be violently hydrolyzed with seawater to release a large amount of heat and combustible gas, thereby solving the problem that pure metal aluminum / magnesium particles on the surface are easily oxidized and form a hard oxide film on the outside to prevent reaction with water in the traditional design.
[0045] Further, the step three uses the self-ignition reaction property of the metal aluminum after the violent hydrolysis of the methanol aluminum film and seawater, generating underwater power fuel, which reacts with water and ignites itself.
[0046] Further, the step three uses the self-ignition reaction property of the metal aluminum after the violent hydrolysis of the methanol aluminum film and seawater, generating underwater power fuel, which reacts with water and ignites itself.
[0047] Further, the step three uses the combustion reaction of methanol and air to generate high-temperature water vapor; the generated high-temperature water vapor reacts with the methanol aluminum film to generate hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide; the generated high-temperature water vapor reacts with aluminum to generate hydrogen; and the property of the generated combustible gas and air combustion reaction generates low-altitude power fuel, as follows:
[0048] 1) Using methanol in the metal fuel to first combust with air to generate high-temperature water vapor, which includes water and carbon dioxide;
[0049] 2) The high-temperature water vapor reacts with aluminum to generate aluminum trioxide and hydrogen, or the high-temperature water vapor and the methanol aluminum film react to generate aluminum hydroxide, hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide;
[0050] 3) Using the generated combustible gas including hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide to re-ignite and combust with air to form low-altitude power fuel.
[0051] It should be noted that the above specific embodiments are only an explanation of the present application, and are not a limitation of the present application, and those skilled in the art can make modifications to the above embodiments without creative contribution after reading the specification, but as long as it is within the scope of the claims of the present application, it is protected by the patent law.
Claims
1. A method for generating power fuel for amphibious environments, characterized in that: Includes the following steps: Step 1: Taking advantage of the property that methanol and aluminum do not react at low temperatures, methanol fluid is used as a continuous phase carrier and metal particles are used as a discrete phase to generate fluidized metal fuel at low temperatures. The fluidized metal fuel is composed of methanol and aluminum particles. Step 2: Utilizing the property that methanol and aluminum particles react at high temperature to form a methanol-aluminum film, methanol fluid is used as the continuous phase carrier and metal particles as the discrete phase to generate a fluidized metal fuel at high temperature. This fluidized metal fuel is composed of methanol and aluminum particles coated with a methanol-aluminum film. Step 3: Generating amphibious fuel for sea and air environments: Utilizing the self-ignition reaction property of metallic aluminum and seawater after the vigorous hydrolysis of the methacin aluminum film, underwater fuel is generated; high-temperature steam is generated by the combustion reaction of methanol and air; the generated high-temperature steam reacts with the methacin aluminum film to generate hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide; the generated high-temperature steam reacts with aluminum to generate aluminum oxide and hydrogen; and the combustible gas generated reacts with air to generate low-altitude fuel.
2. The method for generating power fuel for amphibious environments according to claim 1, characterized in that: Step two utilizes the property that methanol and aluminum particles react at high temperatures to form a methanol-aluminum film. This high temperature is above 50 degrees Celsius. The methanol-aluminum film can be violently hydrolyzed when it comes into contact with seawater, releasing a large amount of heat and flammable gas. This solves the problem in traditional designs where the surface of pure aluminum / magnesium particles is easily oxidized and a hard oxide film forms on the outside to prevent reaction with water.
3. The method for generating power fuel for amphibious environments according to claim 1, characterized in that: Step three utilizes the self-ignition reaction property of metallic aluminum and seawater after the vigorous hydrolysis of the methoxyluminescent film and seawater to generate underwater power fuel, which reacts with water to self-ignite.
4. The method for generating power fuel for amphibious environments according to claim 1, characterized in that: Step three utilizes the self-ignition reaction property of metallic aluminum and seawater after the vigorous hydrolysis of the methanol-aluminum film and seawater to generate underwater power fuel. This utilizes the low viscosity of the methanol carrier, which is more conducive to promoting the atomization effect of the metal fuel and improving the mixing and combustion efficiency of water mist and metal combustion.
5. The method for generating power fuel for amphibious environments according to claim 1, characterized in that: Step three utilizes the combustion reaction of methanol and air to generate high-temperature water vapor; the generated high-temperature water vapor reacts with a methanol-aluminum film to generate hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide; the generated high-temperature water vapor reacts with aluminum to generate hydrogen; and the combustible gas generated reacts with air to generate low-altitude power fuel, as detailed below: 1) Methanol in metallic fuels is first reacted with air to generate high-temperature water vapor, which includes water and carbon dioxide; 2) The high-temperature steam reacts with aluminum to produce aluminum oxide and hydrogen, or the high-temperature steam reacts with the methanoate aluminum film to produce aluminum hydroxide, hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide; 3) The generated combustible gases, including hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide, are ignited and burned again with air to form low-altitude power fuel.