Fuel Adjustment System

Abstract

A fuel conditioning system for an engine includes a plurality of mixing vessels including an input mixing vessel and an output mixing vessel, at least one inlet for receiving fuel and water into the input mixing vessel and at least one outlet for supplying the fuel and water from the output mixing vessel to the engine. A conduit system is arranged to transport the fuel and water from the input mixing vessel to the output mixing vessel through each of the mixing vessels. Each of the mixing vessels includes an internal chamber housing a plurality of atomizing members. The atomizing members are configured to rotate about an axis of rotation extending through the internal chamber to atomize the fuel and water in the internal chamber. One or more magnets are disposed within the internal chamber to attract ferromagnetic material present in the fuel and / or water.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel trimming system, and more particularly to a trimming system for combustible liquid fossil fuels such as diesel and kerosene. [Background technology]

[0002] An internal combustion engine is a heat engine that involves the combustion of a fuel with an oxidizer such as air in a chamber. For example, a diesel engine works by compressing air to high pressure and temperature in the cylinders of the engine. Diesel fuel is then injected in spray form into the hot compressed air in the cylinders. The high temperature causes the injected fuel to vaporize and ignite, thereby releasing energy that drives the pistons of the engine. The combustion process produces a wide variety of polluting emissions, such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides, which are released in the exhaust gases. Combustible fossil fuels often contain metallic elements that are released in such gases.

[0003] The preceding discussion of the background art is intended only to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. The discussion is not intended to be an admission or admission that any of the material mentioned is or was part of the common general knowledge at the priority date of this application. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fuel trimming system for an engine, the fuel trimming system comprising: a plurality of mixing vessels including an input mixing vessel and an output mixing vessel; at least one inlet for receiving fuel and water into said input mixing vessel; at least one outlet for supplying the fuel and water from the power mixing vessel to the engine; a conduit system arranged to transport the fuel and water from the input mixing vessel to the output mixing vessel through each of the mixing vessels; Equipped with Each of the mixing vessels includes an internal chamber housing a plurality of atomizing members configured to rotate about an axis of rotation extending through the internal chamber to atomize the fuel and water within the internal chamber, and one or more magnets disposed within the internal chamber to attract ferromagnetic material present in the fuel and / or water.

[0005] The internal chamber may include a plurality of fluid dispensers fluidly connected to the conduit system, the fluid dispensers being positioned about an inner circumferential region of the internal chamber for injecting fuel and water toward the axis of rotation.

[0006] The atomizing member and the magnet may be arranged about the axis of rotation facing inwardly from the fluid dispenser.

[0007] The internal chamber may comprise a plurality of elongate supports extending radially from the axis of rotation, each of the elongate supports comprising a set of the atomizing members.

[0008] Each of the atomizing members may include a plurality of splines or blades.

[0009] Each of the elongate supports may have a set of magnets attached to it.

[0010] The atomizing members may be arranged into groups of atomizing members and the magnets may be arranged into groups of magnets, in such an example, the groups of magnets may be interleaved within the groups of atomizing members along the axis of rotation.

[0011] The mixing receptacles may be disposed on opposite sides of a drive axle, the drive axle being operatively coupled to the spraying members of each of the mixing receptacles for rotating the spraying members.

[0012] The drive axle may be operatively coupled to the atomizing members of each of the mixing vessels by a gear arrangement.

[0013] The gearing may include a first set of gears operably driving a second set of gears, the first set of gears connected to the drive axle and the second set of gears connected to a rotating axle that rotates the spraying member.

[0014] The mixing vessels may also be located above and below the drive axle.

[0015] The fuel conditioning system may include a mixing device for mixing the fuel and water together in a predetermined ratio before the fuel and water are supplied to the at least one inlet.

[0016] The predetermined ratio may be approximately 70% fuel and 30% water.

[0017] The fuel conditioning system may include a pump for pumping a fuel additive into the fuel and water after the fuel and water are mixed together by the mixing device.

[0018] The fuel additive may include an engine lubricant.

[0019] The fuel conditioning system may include a pair of inlets for receiving the fuel and water, respectively, into the input mixing vessel.

[0020] The fuel trim system may also include a filter device fluidly connected to the outlet for filtering the fuel and water flowing from the outlet.

[0021] The fuel metering system may include an electric motor operatively configured to rotate the atomizing member.

[0022] The atomizing member may be mechanically coupled to a drive axle of the engine for rotating the atomizing member.

[0023] The present invention also provides a diesel engine, the diesel engine comprising a fuel trimming system as described above.

[0024] The diesel engine may be connected to an air handling system comprising an air filtration system for supplying filtered air to the diesel engine, the air handling system also comprising a fuel tank having an air intake and an air outlet vent, the air outlet vent arranged to supply diesel fumes from the fuel tank to the diesel engine.

[0025] The air handling system may include an air pump for supplying pressurized air to the air filtration system.

[0026] The air handling system may be configured to mix the diesel fumes together with the filtered air prior to supplying the diesel fumes and filtered air to the diesel engine.

[0027] The present invention also provides a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle comprising the above-mentioned diesel engine.

[0028] The vehicle may also include an air conditioning system arranged such that condensate produced by the air conditioning system is fed to the fuel conditioning system to be sprayed with diesel fuel.

[0029] The vehicle may include a control system for controlling the diesel engine and the fuel trim system, the control system configured to perform an engine start process including a warm-up phase followed by an operating phase, during which the diesel engine operates on diesel without receiving any diesel and water from the fuel trim system, and during which the diesel engine receives diesel and water from the fuel trim system for combustion by the diesel engine.

[0030] The control system may also be configured to execute an engine shutdown process during which the diesel engine stops receiving diesel and water from the fuel trim system and runs on diesel to flush any remaining water in the diesel engine. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0031] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view of a fuel trim system for an engine according to an example embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional front view of an individual mixing container included in the fuel trimming system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional front view of an individual mixing container included in a fuel trimming system according to an example embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a front cross-sectional view of a fuel trimming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 provides a pair of cross-sectional front views of a pair of respective end plates of the fuel trimming system of FIG. 1; [Figure 6] 2 provides a pair of cross-sectional front views of a pair of respective mating plates of the fuel trimming system of FIG. 1; [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a diesel engine including the fuel trimming system of FIG. 1. [Figure 8]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a mixing block of a fuel trimming system according to an example embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 2 is a schematic diagram of a filter device and final stage mixing vessel of a fuel conditioning system according to an example embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic diagram of an automotive air conditioning system including a fuel trimming system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 11] 1 is a schematic diagram of an automotive air handling system including a fuel trimming system according to an example embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view of a fuel trim system for an engine according to an example embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] 1 and 2, an example embodiment of the present invention provides a fuel conditioning system 10 for an engine. The system 10 includes a plurality of mixing vessels 12, including an input mixing vessel 14 and an output mixing vessel 16. The input mixing vessel 14 includes at least one inlet 18 for receiving fuel and water into the input mixing vessel 14. The output mixing vessel 16 includes at least one outlet 20 for supplying fuel and water from the output mixing vessel 16 to the engine. The system 10 also includes a conduit system 22 configured to transport the fuel and water from the input mixing vessel 14 to the output mixing vessel 16 through each mixing vessel 12. Each of the mixing vessels 12 includes an interior chamber 24 housing a plurality of atomizing members 26 configured to rotate about an axis of rotation 28 extending through the interior chamber 24 to atomize the fuel and water in the interior chamber, and one or more magnets 30 disposed within the interior chamber 24 to attract ferromagnetic material present in the fuel and / or water.

[0033] More specifically, in the illustrated example, each interior chamber 24 includes a plurality of fluid dispensers 32 fluidly connected to the conduit system 22. The fluid dispensers 32 may be disposed about an inner circumferential region of the interior chamber 24 for spraying fuel and water inwardly toward the axis of rotation 28. The atomizing members 26 and magnets 30 may be disposed about the axis of rotation 28 inwardly from the fluid dispensers 32. The fluid dispensers 32 may include a set of jets that receive fuel and water from long pipe sections of the conduit system 22 that extend along the inner circumferential region of the chamber 24. The system 10 is suitable for regulating a range of various combustible liquid fossil fuels, such as diesel and kerosene. The illustrated example is described with reference to diesel fuel.

[0034] The magnets 30 may be permanent magnets or electromagnets. In FIG. 1, the atomizing members 26 are shown generally using box symbols and the magnets 30 are shown generally using circular symbols. As shown in FIG. 2, each internal chamber 24 may include a plurality of elongate supports 34 extending radially from the axis of rotation 28. Each elongate support 34 may include a set of atomizing members 26 attached thereto. The atomizing members 26 may include splines or blades extending outwardly from the supports 34. As shown in FIG. 1, the atomizing members 26 may be arranged in groups and the magnets 30 may be arranged in groups. The groups of magnets 30 may be arranged to be interleaved within the groups of atomizing members 26 along the axis of rotation 28. In such an example, the groups of magnets 30 remain stationary during use while the groups of atomizing members 26 rotate about the axis of rotation 28. As shown in FIG. 3, in another example, each support 34 can have a set of magnets 30 attached to the support 34 such that the magnets 30 and the atomizing member 26 rotate together about the axis of rotation 28 .

[0035] The various mixing vessels 12 may be arranged on opposite sides of a main drive axle 36 that extends centrally through the longitudinal axis of the set of vessels 12. The drive axle 36 may be operatively coupled to the spraying member 26 of each mixing vessel 12 by a gearing arrangement for rotating the spraying member 26. The gearing arrangement may comprise a first set of gears 38 connected to the main drive axle 36. The first set of gears 38 may operatively drive a second set of gears 40. The second set of gears 40 may be arranged within the housing of the system 10 and connected to the rotating axle 28 that rotates the spraying member 26. In another example, as shown in FIG. 12, the second set of gears 40 may be arranged outside the housing of the system 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the mixing vessels 12 may also be arranged above and below the main drive axle 36. The drive axle 36 may be rotated using a suitable drive means, such as, for example, an electric motor 42.

[0036] The conduit system 22 may comprise a set of pipe sections fluidly interconnected between the fluid inlets 18 and the fluid outlets 20 for transporting diesel fuel and water through the chain of connected mixing vessels 12. The pipe sections 22 may be incorporated into a pair of end plates 50, 52 located at the respective longitudinal ends of the connected vessels 12. The pipe sections 22 may also be incorporated into a pair of mating plates 54, 56 facing each other at the center of the system 10. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the system 10 comprises a single inlet 18 that carries the water and diesel mixed together to the input mixing vessel 14. In other examples, the system 10 may comprise a pair of separate inlets (not shown) for receiving the fuel and water, respectively, into the input mixing vessel 14.

[0037] In use, the atomizing members 26 are rotated about their respective axles 28 by drive means 42, and diesel fuel and water are sprayed into the input mixing vessel 14 via the inlet 18. The fuel and water are sprayed as a mixture towards the axles 28 of the input mixing vessel 14 by the vessel's fluid dispenser 32. The fuel and water mixture comes into contact with the spinning atomizing members 26, which operate to atomize the mixture into a fine spray. Ferromagnetic impurities in the resulting spray adhere to the magnets 30, thus removing them from the mixture. For example, the magnets 30 remove iron or nickel-based materials in the mixture provided by the water and / or diesel. The atomized mixture then leaves the input mixing vessel 14 via an outlet 44 provided in the inner wall of the vessel 14. The outlet 44 forms part of the conduit system 22 and supplies the atomized fuel and water to a next mixing vessel 46, which operates in the same manner as the input mixing vessel 14, for further atomization and removal of further ferromagnetic impurities from the fuel and water. The fuel and water are transported by conduit system 22 from vessel 46 through each intermediate vessel 12 to the final output mixing vessel 16. The thoroughly atomized and washed fuel and water mixture exits the output mixing vessel 16 via outlet 20 and is delivered to the engine for combustion.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 7, in one example, the fuel trimming system 10 may be used to provide atomized diesel and water to a diesel engine 60. The diesel may be stored in a fuel tank 62 and the water may be stored in an underground water tank 64. The water and diesel may be combined together in a mixing block 66 before being provided to the fuel trimming system 10. The fuel trimming system 10 may also include a tank 68 containing a fuel additive, such as an engine lubricant, including an integral pump for pumping the additive to the mixing block 66 to combine with the water and diesel. A one-way check valve 70 may control the flow of diesel to the mixing block 66. The fuel trimming system 10 may also include an actuator, such as a solenoid 72, that controls the flow of fluid from the mixing block 66 to the engine 60. In the illustrated example, the atomizing member 26 of the fuel trimming system 10 is rotated by a drive belt arrangement 74 connected to the drive axle of the engine 60, rather than an electric motor 42. The fuel trim system 10 may also include a return line 75 that returns any water / diesel that is not ignited by the engine 60 back to the fuel trim system 10 to be reprocessed and reused.

[0039] 8, the mixing block 66 may include a pair of regulators 76, 78 for mixing water and diesel in a predetermined ratio before the resulting mixture is fed to the engine 60. The ratio is set so that the water / diesel mixture fed to the engine 60 has an octane level that provides efficient combustion. In one example, the predetermined ratio may be approximately 70% fuel and 30% water. The mixing block 66 may also include a regulator 80 that controls the amount of additive fed to the water / diesel mixture.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 7, the diesel engine 60 and the fuel trim system 10 may be incorporated into a vehicle that includes an electronic control system 82. In use, the control system 82 may be configured to perform an engine start process that includes a warm-up phase followed by an operating phase. During the warm-up phase, the control system 82 may cause the engine 60 to operate on diesel without receiving atomized diesel and water from the fuel trim system 10 for a period of time. During the operating phase, the control system 82 may cause the diesel engine 60 to receive atomized diesel and water from the fuel trim system 10 for combustion by the diesel engine 60. The control system 82 may also be configured to perform an engine shutdown process. During the shutdown process, the control system 82 may stop the atomized diesel and water from being supplied to the engine 60 and may operate the engine 60 on diesel for a period of time to flush any water remaining in the engine 60. Power may be provided to the control system 82 by a battery 83 and / or from an alternator of the engine 60.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 9 , in another example, a filter device 90 can be fluidly connected to the outlet 20 of the fuel conditioning system 10 to filter the mixture of atomizing water and fuel before the mixture is delivered to the engine 60. The filter device 90 can include a screen fine filter, or a similar porous media filter. A further (final) mixing vessel 92 can also be fluidly interposed between the filter device 90 and the outlet 20. The final mixing vessel 92 can include a set of magnets and rotating atomizing members and function in the same manner as the other mixing vessels 12. The atomizing members of the final mixing vessel 92 can be driven by an electric motor 93. In another example, the fuel conditioning system 10 can include one or more additional filters configured to filter the fuel and water before the fuel and water are delivered into the input mixing vessel 14.

[0042] The water in the water tank 64 used by the fuel conditioning system 10 may be replenished by one or more additional water sources. For example, the system 10 may be installed in an automobile having an air conditioning system that produces condensed water as a by-product of the air cooling process. The condensed water may be collected in a reservoir and fed to the water tank 64 to replenish the water. With reference to FIG. 10, for example, the air conditioning system may include a compressor 94 and a condenser 96, where the condensed water produced by the condenser 96 falls into a collection tray 98. The water collected in the tray 98 may flow via a conduit to a holding tank 100. The water in the holding tank 100 may be periodically pumped from the tank 100 by a pump 102 into the main water tank 64 of the fuel conditioning system 10. The holding tank 100 may also include a float switch 104 that automatically turns on the pump 102 when there is enough water in the tank 100 to feed the main water tank 64. The holding tank 100 may include an overflow pipe 106 to prevent the holding tank 100 from overflowing (e.g., if the float switch 104 is not activated). In other examples, the water storage tank 100 may be used for purposes in addition to supplementing the main water tank 64. For example, the water may be used periodically in combination with a filter to provide drinking water to a vehicle user. The water may be used to supplement the radiator of a vehicle engine or a windshield washer reservoir in a vehicle. The water may be used to provide water for a shower fixture in a recreational vehicle. In utility and large vehicles, the water may be used by a jet spray system for fire control or vehicle washing purposes.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 11, in another example, the diesel engine 60 may be connected to an air handling system 108. The air handling system 108 may include an air filtration system 110 for supplying filtered air to the engine 60. The air handling system 108 may also include a fuel tank 112 having a fuel inlet pipe 114 and a fuel fumes vent 116. The vent 116 is configured to supply diesel fumes from the fuel tank 112 to the engine 60. The air filtration system 110 may include an air pump / fan assembly 120 for supplying pressurized air to the air filtration system 110. In use, the diesel fumes exiting the exit vent 116 are combined with the filtered air generated by the filtration system 110 in a mixing chamber 122 before the resulting gaseous mixture is supplied to the engine 60 to aid in combustion. The engine 60 may inject the gaseous mixture into the engine cylinder along with the atomized water and diesel received from the fuel conditioning system 10.

[0044] The fuel trim system 10 advantageously produces a mixture of spray water and diesel (or other liquid fuel) for use by an internal combustion engine, which provides several important benefits, including: (i) The emissions produced by engines burning spray water and diesel mixtures contain fewer pollutants compared to conventional fuels. In particular, the emissions contain little or no carbon monoxide residuals. (ii) The spray mixture provides improved combustion and resulting fuel economy. (iii) The spray mixture produces less engine sludge, lowering engine maintenance and operating costs. (iv) The mixing vessel may be retrofitted to existing engines, including engines used in power generation equipment, industrial machinery, and commercial vehicles.

[0045] In this specification, the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to" and the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning. Where prior art is referred to in this specification, it should be understood that such reference does not constitute an acknowledgement that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or any other country.

[0046] The above embodiments have been described by way of example only and can be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. 1. A fuel trimming system for an engine, comprising: a plurality of mixing vessels including an input mixing vessel and an output mixing vessel; at least one inlet for receiving fuel and water into said input mixing vessel; at least one outlet for supplying the fuel and water from the power mixing vessel to the engine; a conduit system arranged to transport the fuel and water from the input mixing vessel to the output mixing vessel through each of the mixing vessels; Equipped with each of the mixing vessels includes an internal chamber housing a plurality of atomizing members configured to rotate about an axis of rotation extending through the internal chamber to atomize the fuel and water within the internal chamber, and one or more magnets disposed within the internal chamber to attract ferromagnetic material present in the fuel and / or water; Fuel trim system.

2. 2. The fuel trimming system of claim 1, wherein the internal chamber comprises a plurality of fluid dispensers fluidly connected to the conduit system, the fluid dispensers being disposed about an inner circumferential region of the internal chamber for injecting the fuel and water toward the axis of rotation.

3. The fuel metering system of claim 2 , wherein the atomizing member and the magnet are disposed about the axis of rotation inwardly from the fluid dispenser.

4. 4. The fuel trimming system of claim 1, wherein the internal chamber comprises a plurality of elongate supports extending radially from the axis of rotation, each of the elongate supports comprising a set of atomizing members.

5. The fuel metering system of claim 4 , wherein each of the atomizing members comprises a plurality of splines or blades.

6. The fuel trimming system of claim 4 , wherein each of the elongate supports has a set of the magnets attached thereto.

7. 2. The fuel trimming system of claim 1, wherein the atomizing members are arranged in groups of atomizing members, the magnets are arranged in groups of magnets, and the groups of magnets are interleaved within the groups of atomizing members along the axis of rotation.

8. 2. The fuel trimming system of claim 1, wherein the mixing canisters are disposed on opposite sides of a drive axle, the drive axles being operatively coupled to the atomizing members of each of the mixing canisters to rotate the atomizing members.

9. The fuel metering system of claim 8 , wherein the drive axle is operably coupled to the atomizing member of each of the mixing vessels by a gearing arrangement.

10. 10. The fuel metering system of claim 9, wherein the gearing comprises a first set of gears operatively driving a second set of gears, the first set of gears connected to the drive axle, and the second set of gears connected to a rotating axle that rotates the atomizing member.

11. The fuel trimming system of claim 8 , wherein the mixing vessels are also located above and below the drive axle.

12. 10. The fuel trimming system of claim 1, wherein the fuel trimming system comprises a mixing device for mixing the fuel and water together in a predetermined ratio before the fuel and water are supplied to the at least one inlet.

13. 13. The fuel trimming system of claim 12, wherein said predetermined ratio is approximately 70% fuel and 30% water.

14. 13. The fuel trimming system of claim 12, wherein the fuel trimming system comprises a pump for pumping a fuel additive into the fuel and water after the fuel and water are mixed together by the mixing device.

15. The fuel trimming system of claim 14 , wherein the fuel additive comprises an engine lubricant.

16. 2. The fuel trimming system of claim 1, wherein the fuel trimming system comprises a pair of inlets for receiving the fuel and water, respectively, into the input mixing vessel.

17. The fuel trim system of claim 1 , further comprising a filter device fluidly connected to the outlet for filtering fuel and water flowing from the outlet.

18. The fuel metering system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel metering system comprises an electric motor operatively configured to rotate the atomizing member about the axis of rotation.

19. The fuel trimming system of claim 1 , wherein the atomizing member is mechanically coupled to a drive axle of the engine for rotating the atomizing member about the axis of rotation.

20. A diesel engine equipped with the fuel trimming system of claim 1.

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