Fuel tank

Abstract

To provide a fuel tank that enables fine air bubbles to be included in fuel stored in a tank and containing hydrocarbon.SOLUTION: A fuel tank 10 includes a storage part 11 that stores fuel and a lid part 12 that shields the storage part 11. A fine air bubble generator 13 that discharges fine air bubbles to the fuel in the storage part 11 is mounted to the lid part 12. The fine air bubble generator 13 includes: a compression device 14 for pressure-feeding gas to the storage part 11; and an air bubble generation medium 24 that discharge the gas pressure-fed by the compression device 14 to liquid in the storage part 11 as fine air bubbles.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for a fuel tank that supplies gas to stored fuel to reform it. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are known techniques for mixing fine bubbles into fuels containing hydrocarbons. For example, a liquid fuel reformer is known that mixes air into fuel as fine bubbles to promote atomization of diesel spray and further increase the amount of dissolved oxygen and ions, thereby promoting combustion (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] A conventional liquid fuel reformer includes a gas sealing device that seals gas into liquid fuel, a first tank filled with HHO gas (a gas produced by electrolysis of water), a second tank filled with oxygen gas, a third tank filled with deuterium gas, a fourth tank filled with air, a pump that also functions as a liquid fuel pressure regulator that adjusts the pressure of the liquid fuel, a heater that adjusts the temperature of the liquid fuel, and a liquid fuel circulation system that circulates the liquid fuel a predetermined number of times and sends it to the gas sealing device.

[0004] However, in conventional liquid fuel reformers, it was necessary to raise the temperature of the liquid fuel inside from room temperature to a specified temperature. Meanwhile, a micro-bubble generating device is known that includes a passage for flowing liquid, a compressor for compressing gas into the passage, and a bubble generating medium that releases the gas compressed by the compressor into the liquid in the passage as micro-bubbles (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-172570 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2010-167404 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Conventional liquid fuel reformers are installed separately from the fuel tank. If gas could be supplied as fine bubbles inside the fuel tank, reformed fuel could be easily supplied when the fuel is used.

[0007] In view of the above, the present invention provides a fuel tank capable of mixing fine bubbles into fuel containing hydrocarbons stored in the tank. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The problem to be solved by the present invention has been described above, and the means for solving this problem will now be described.

[0009] That is, in the present invention, a fuel storage unit for storing fuel, A fuel tank comprising: a lid portion that covers a storage portion, a microbubble generating device that emits microbubbles into the fuel in the storage portion is attached to the lid portion; The micro-bubble generating device includes a compressor for pressurizing gas into the storage section, and a bubble generating medium for releasing the gas pressurized by the compressor into the liquid in the storage section as micro-bubbles.

[0010] In the present invention, the compressor further includes an air cylinder for supplying compressed air to a gas passage for supplying gas from the compressor to the storage portion, The air cylinder may include a pressing means that is moved by the fluctuation of the fuel in the storage portion.

[0011] In the present invention, the gas bubble generating medium may be provided at an end of the pressing means, and the gas bubble generating medium may be arranged so as to be movable by the fluctuation of the fuel.

[0012] In the present invention, a pressing body may be provided at an end of the pressing means, and the pressing body may be arranged so as to be movable by the swaying of the fuel. Effect of the Invention

[0013] The present invention has the following advantages.

[0014] In the present invention, by attaching a microbubble generator to the lid that covers the storage section, it becomes possible to easily generate microbubbles in the fuel in the fuel tank. Also, by supplying gas as microbubbles to the fuel in the fuel tank, it is possible to promote atomization of the sprayed fuel and further increase the amount of dissolved oxygen and ions, thereby promoting fuel. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the fuel tank according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the air bubble generation medium of the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 7 is a front view showing a fuel tank according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 7 is a front view showing a bubble generation medium according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Next, an embodiment of the invention will be described.

[0017] [First embodiment] First, a fuel tank 10 according to a first embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel tank 10 according to the present invention includes a storage section 11 for storing fuel, and a lid section 12 for covering the storage section 11.

[0018] The storage section 11 is a section in which the fuel is stored. The stored fuel is a liquid fuel containing hydrocarbons, such as diesel oil, light oil, or gasoline. The gas mixed into the fuel is air, oxygen, hydrogen, or ozone. An opening 11a is provided at the top of the storage section 11.

[0019] The lid part 12 is a part that shields the storage part 11, and opens and closes the opening 11a by being attached to the opening 11a. A fine bubble generator 13 is attached to the lid part 12.

[0020] The micro-bubble generator 13 is a device that releases gas compressed by the compressor 14 as micro-bubbles into the fuel, which is a liquid, in the storage unit 11. The micro-bubble generator 13 releases a predetermined gas from the bubble generation medium 24 into the fuel in the storage unit 11 as micro-bubbles.

[0021] The compressor 14 is a means for sending the gas to the storage unit 11 at a predetermined pressure, and is configured with an air compressor when the gas is air. When the gas is oxygen or hydrogen, the gas is pumped from the storage container of each gas through a pressure reducer at a predetermined pressure. When the gas is ozone, the oxygen pumped from the oxygen storage container at a predetermined pressure is silently discharged in an ozone generator to generate ozone and pump it.

[0022] An air cylinder 17 for supplying compressed air is connected to a gas passage 16 for supplying gas from the compressor 14 to the storage portion 11. The air cylinder 17 is attached to the lid portion 12.

[0023] The air cylinder 17 is a single-acting cylinder and includes a cylinder body 21, a piston 22 housed in the cylinder body 21 and slidable within the cylinder body 21, a piston rod 23 attached to the piston 22 and transmitting force to the piston 22, and an air bubble generation medium 24 provided at the pressing end of the piston rod 23. A part of the cylinder body 21, the piston rod 23, and a part of the air bubble generation medium 24 are housed inside the outer tube 20.

[0024] The cylinder body 21 is fixed to the lid 12. An air supply chamber 21A is provided inside the cylinder body 21, and a piston 22 that separates the air supply chamber 21A is stored therein. The air supply chamber 21A communicates with the compressor 14 provided outside via a valve 12a provided in the lid 12. The valve 12a is a pressure-feed valve that opens when a predetermined pressure is exceeded, and when gas is pressure-feed from the compressor 14, it is supplied from the gas passage 16 into the air supply chamber 21A.

[0025] The piston 22 is configured to be movable within the cylinder body 21. Furthermore, the inside of the cylinder body 21 is separated into an air supply chamber 21A and a second chamber 21B by the piston 22. Furthermore, the piston 22 is biased toward the air supply chamber 21A by a spring, which is an elastic member 25. As a result, when the air supply chamber 21A is pressurized by the pressure-feeding of gas, the piston 22 moves from its normal position toward the second chamber 21B.

[0026] The piston rod 23 is fixed to the center of the piston 22. Inside the piston rod 23, a gas passage 23a is provided. The end of the piston rod 23 is provided with a bubble generating medium 24. The bubble generating medium 24 is formed of a cylinder, and its bottom surface is provided parallel to the bottom surface of the storage section 11. The bubble generating medium 24 is formed of a carbon-based porous material, and has a large number of fine holes 24A with diameters of several μm to several tens of μm, as shown in FIG. 2. In addition, the bubble generating medium 24 is a conductor, and the bubbles generated from the bubble generating medium 24 are negatively charged. In other words, free electrons are added to the fine bubbles when passing through the conductor bubble generating medium 24, so that the bubbles are negatively charged. This negative charge makes it possible to prevent the bubbles from repelling each other and merging to become large bubbles.

[0027] The carbon-based porous material is an inorganic material that is composed of only carbon or a composite material containing carbon and ceramic. A film having a thickness of several nm is formed on the surface of the carbon-based porous material. The film is made of an inorganic film containing silicon. The carbon-based porous material has oxidation resistance, does not rust, and does not deteriorate due to oxidation even when placed in fuel for a long period of time. In addition, the surface is made of an inorganic film containing silicon, and has a property of being resistant to adhesion of dirt. The bubble generation medium 24 is provided with an internal space 24a connected to the gas passage 23a.

[0028] Next, a method of mixing fine bubbles into the fuel containing hydrocarbons stored in the fuel tank 10 using the fuel tank 10 and the fine bubble generating device 13 according to the present invention will be described. Fuel containing hydrocarbons is stored in the fuel tank 10. At this time, it is preferable that the fuel liquid level is up to a height D from the bottom surface of the storage section 11. In other words, it is preferable to mix fine air bubbles into the fuel immediately after the fuel is supplied.

[0029] Next, the lid part 12 is attached to the opening 11a at the top of the storage part 11. The air cylinder 17 is attached to the lid part 12 in advance, and by attaching the lid part 12 to the opening 11a, the air cylinder 17 and the bubble generation medium 24 are placed in the fuel.

[0030] With the lid 12 attached to the opening 11a, the compressor 14 is connected to the valve 12a provided on the lid 12, as shown in Fig. 1. This connects the compressor 14 to the cylinder body 21 of the air cylinder 17 attached to the lid 12.

[0031] Gas is pressure-fed from the compressor 14. The gas is pressure-fed into the air supply chamber 21A through the valve 12a. When the pressure in the air supply chamber 21A is greater than the elastic force of the elastic member 25, the piston 22 moves toward the second chamber 21B, and the volume of the air supply chamber 21A increases.

[0032] When the pressure in the air supply chamber 21A reaches a predetermined value or more, gas flows into the gas passage 23a inside the piston rod 23. The gas that flows into the gas passage 23a is sent to the internal space 24a of the air bubble generation medium 24. The gas sent to the internal space 24a passes through fine holes 24A with a diameter of several μm to several tens of μm provided in the air bubble generation medium 24 and moves to the surface of the air bubble generation medium 24. The gas that moves to the surface of the air bubble generation medium 24 becomes fine bubbles and is released into the water by the flow of fuel moving in the fuel tank 10. The dissolved concentration of the fine bubbles of the gas released into the fuel is 108 / mL or more. As a result, by mixing the gas into the fuel as fine bubbles, the atomization of the fuel spray is promoted, and the amount of dissolved oxygen and ions is increased, thereby promoting combustion.

[0033] Furthermore, when the dissolved concentration of fine bubbles exceeds a predetermined concentration, the compressor 14 is stopped from operating. When the supply of gas by the compressor 14 is stopped and the pressure in the air supply chamber 21A is reduced, the volume of the air supply chamber 21A is reduced by the elastic force of the elastic member 25.

[0034] Meanwhile, the fuel in the fuel tank 10 moves in the storage section 11 due to the vibration of the fuel tank 10 itself. The movement of the fuel in the fuel tank 10 presses the gas bubble generation medium 24, further moving the piston 22 toward the gas supply chamber 21A side. As a result, a part of the gas moves into the gas passage 23a of the piston rod 23, and into the internal space 24a of the gas bubble generation medium 24.

[0035] With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the liquid from flowing back from the hole 24A into the internal space 24a. Also, by using the oscillation of the fuel to reciprocate the piston rod 23, the pressure in the gas passage 23a can be automatically maintained without the need for a drive source.

[0036] As described above, the fuel tank 10 of the first embodiment is a fuel tank 10 comprising a storage section 11 for storing fuel and a lid section 12 for covering the storage section 11, and a fine-bubble generating device 13 for releasing fine bubbles into the fuel in the storage section 11 is attached to the lid section 12. The fine-bubble generating device 13 comprises a compressor 14 for pressurizing gas into the storage section 11, and a bubble generating medium 24 for releasing the gas pressurized by the compressor 14 into the liquid in the storage section 11 as fine bubbles. With this configuration, fine air bubbles are mixed into the fuel in the fuel tank, promoting atomization of the fuel spray, and further increasing the amount of dissolved oxygen and ions, thereby promoting combustion.

[0037] In addition, the compressor further includes an air cylinder 17 that supplies compressed air to a gas passage 23a that supplies gas from the compressor 14 into the storage section 11, and the air cylinder 17 includes a piston rod 23 that is a pressing means and moves due to the vibration of the fuel in the storage section 11. With this configuration, the air cylinder 17 can use the vibration of the fuel to cause the air in the air supply chamber 21A to flow into the air bubble generation medium 24. This makes it possible to prevent the liquid from flowing back from the hole 24A into the internal space 24a.

[0038] Further, an air bubble generating medium 24 is provided at the end of the piston rod 23, and the air bubble generating medium 24 is arranged so as to be movable by the fluctuation of the fuel. With this configuration, the microbubble generating medium 24 can be attached directly to the end of the piston rod without providing a separate pressing body, thereby reducing the installation space.

[0039] Also, a configuration may be adopted in which an air vent is provided at the end of the cylinder body 21 on the second chamber 21B side. As a result, even when the fuel is not swaying, the air inside the outer cylinder 20 repeatedly flows in and out of the second chamber 21B, causing the piston rod 23 to slide up and down in a reciprocating manner. This allows the air inside the air supply chamber 21A to flow into the bubble generation medium 24. This makes it possible to prevent the liquid from flowing back from the hole 24A into the internal space 24a.

[0040] [Second embodiment] Next, a fuel tank 30 according to a second embodiment will be described.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 3, a fuel tank 30 according to the present invention includes a storage section 31 for storing fuel, and a lid section 32 for covering the storage section 31.

[0042] The storage section 31 is a section where fuel is stored. The stored fuel is a liquid fuel containing hydrocarbons, such as diesel oil, light oil, or gasoline. The gas mixed into the fuel is air, oxygen, hydrogen, or ozone. An opening 31a is provided on one side of the upper portion of the storage section 31. In this embodiment, the opening 31a is provided in the upper right portion.

[0043] The lid 32 is a part that covers the storage part 31, and opens and closes the opening 31a by being attached to the opening 31a. A fine bubble generator 33 is attached to the lid 32.

[0044] The micro-bubble generator 33 is a device that discharges gas compressed by a compressor 34 as micro-bubbles into the fuel, which is a liquid, in the storage section 31. The micro-bubble generator 33 discharges a predetermined gas from a bubble generation medium 36 into the fuel in the storage section 31 as micro-bubbles.

[0045] The compressor 34 is a means for sending the gas to the storage unit 31 at a predetermined pressure, and is configured with an air compressor when the gas is air. When the gas is oxygen or hydrogen, the gas is pumped from the storage container of each gas through a pressure reducer at a predetermined pressure. When the gas is ozone, the oxygen pumped from the oxygen storage container at a predetermined pressure is silently discharged in an ozone generator to generate ozone and pump it.

[0046] In addition, the gas passage 35 that supplies gas from the compressor 34 to the storage section 31 is attached to the air bubble generating medium 36. The air bubble generating medium 36 is attached to the base section 32c provided at the end of the mounting fixture 32b of the lid section 32. The air bubble generating medium 36 is made of a carbon-based porous material, and has a large number of fine holes 36A with diameters of several μm to several tens of μm, as shown in FIG. 3. In addition, the air bubble generating medium 36 is a conductor, and the air bubbles generated from the air bubble generating medium 36 are negatively charged. In other words, free electrons are added to the fine air bubbles when they pass through the air bubble generating medium 36, which is a conductor, so that the air bubbles are negatively charged. This negative charge makes it possible to prevent the air bubbles from repelling each other and merging to become large air bubbles.

[0047] The carbon-based porous material is an inorganic material that is composed of only carbon or a composite material containing carbon and ceramic. A film having a thickness of several nm is formed on the surface of the carbon-based porous material. The film is made of an inorganic film containing silicon. The carbon-based porous material has oxidation resistance, does not rust, and does not deteriorate due to oxidation even when placed in fuel for a long period of time. In addition, the surface is made of an inorganic film containing silicon, and has a property of being resistant to adhesion of dirt. The bubble generating medium 36 is provided with an internal space 36a connected to the gas passage 35.

[0048] Further, a branch passage 35a is provided in the middle of the gas passage 35, and the branch passage 35a is connected to an air cylinder 37. The air cylinder 37 is attached to a mounting fixture 32b of the lid portion 32.

[0049] The air cylinder 37 is a single-acting cylinder and includes a cylinder body 41, a piston 42 stored within the cylinder body 41 and capable of sliding within the cylinder body 41, a piston rod 43 attached to the piston 42 and transmitting force to the piston 42, and a pressing body 44 provided at the pressing end of the piston rod 43.

[0050] The cylinder body 41 is fixed to the mounting fixture 32b of the lid portion 32. An air supply chamber 41A is provided inside the cylinder body 41, and a piston 42 that separates the air supply chamber 41A is stored inside the cylinder body 41. The air supply chamber 41A is connected to a branch passage 35a of the gas passage 35.

[0051] The piston 42 is configured to be movable within the cylinder body 41. Furthermore, the inside of the cylinder body 41 is separated into an air supply chamber 41A and a second chamber 41B by the piston 42. Furthermore, the piston 42 is urged toward the air supply chamber 41A by a spring, which is an elastic member 45. As a result, when the inside of the air supply chamber 41A is pressurized by the compressed gas, the piston 42 moves from its normal position toward the second chamber 41B.

[0052] The piston rod 43 is fixed to the center of the piston 42. A pressing body 44 is provided at the end of the piston rod 43. The pressing body 44 is formed of a cylindrical body, and its bottom surface is provided at an angle with respect to the bottom surface of the storage section 31.

[0053] Next, a method of mixing fine bubbles into the fuel containing hydrocarbons stored in the fuel tank 30 using the fuel tank 30 and the fine bubble generating device 33 according to the present invention will be described. Fuel containing hydrocarbons is stored in fuel tank 30. At this time, it is desirable that the fuel liquid level is up to height D from the bottom surface of storage section 31. In other words, it is desirable to mix fine air bubbles into the fuel immediately after supplying the fuel.

[0054] Next, the lid part 32 is attached to the opening 31a at the top of the storage part 31. An air cylinder 37 is attached to the lid part 32 in advance, and by attaching the lid part 32 to the opening 31a, the air bubble generation medium 36 is placed in the fuel.

[0055] With the lid 32 attached to the opening 31a, the compressor 34 is connected to the valve 32a provided on the lid 32, as shown in Fig. 3. This connects the compressor 14 to the gas passage 35.

[0056] Gas is pumped from the compressor 34. The gas flows into the gas passage 35 through the valve 32a. The gas that flows into the gas passage 35 is sent to the internal space 36a of the bubble generation medium 36. The gas sent to the internal space 36a passes through small holes 36A with a diameter of several μm to several tens of μm provided in the bubble generation medium 36 and moves to the surface of the bubble generation medium 36. The gas that moves to the surface of the bubble generation medium 36 becomes fine bubbles and is released into the water by the flow of fuel moving in the fuel tank 30. The dissolved concentration of the fine bubbles of the gas released into the fuel is 108 / mL or more. As a result, by mixing the gas into the fuel as fine bubbles, it is possible to promote atomization of the fuel spray, further increase the amount of dissolved oxygen and ions, and promote combustion.

[0057] Moreover, when the dissolved concentration of the fine bubbles exceeds a predetermined concentration, the compressor 34 is stopped from being driven. When the compressor 34 stops supplying gas, the inside of the air supply passage 35 is not pressurized and the pressure decreases.

[0058] On the other hand, the fuel in the fuel tank 30 moves in the storage section 31 due to the vibration of the fuel tank 30 itself. The movement of the fuel in the fuel tank 30 presses the pressing body 44, sliding the piston. As a result, the gas in the air supply chamber 26 flows into the gas passage 35, and the pressure in the gas passage 35 and the gas bubble generation medium 36 is kept constant.

[0059] With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the liquid from flowing back from the hole 36A to the internal space 36a. Also, by using the oscillation of the fuel to slide the piston rod 43 back and forth, the pressure in the gas passage 43a can be automatically maintained without the need for a drive source.

[0060] As described above, the fuel tank 30 of the second embodiment is provided with the pressing body 44 at the end of the piston rod 43, and the pressing body 44 is arranged so as to be movable by the swaying of the fuel. With this configuration, the piston rod 43 is slid back and forth by utilizing the vibration of the fuel, causing gas to flow into the gas passage 35. This makes it possible to prevent liquid from flowing back from the hole 36A into the internal space 36a. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 10. Fuel Tank 11 Storage section 12 Lid 13 Microbubble generator 14 Compression device 16 Gas passage 17 Air Cylinder 20 Outer cylinder 21 Cylinder body 22 Piston 23 Piston rod 24 Bubble generating medium 25 Elastic member 30 Fuel Tank 31 Storage section 32 Lid 33 Microbubble generator 34 Compression Device 35 Gas passage 36 Bubble generating medium 37 Air Cylinder 41 Cylinder body 42 Piston 43 Piston rod

Claims

1. a storage section for storing fuel; A fuel tank comprising: a lid portion that covers the storage portion, a microbubble generating device that emits microbubbles into the fuel in the storage portion is attached to the lid portion; The microbubble generating device includes a compressor for compressing gas into the storage section, and a bubble generating medium for discharging the gas compressed by the compressor into the liquid in the storage section as microbubbles. Fuel tank.

2. An air cylinder is further provided to supply compressed air to a gas passage through which gas is supplied from the compressor to the storage portion, The air cylinder includes a pressing means that moves in response to the fluctuation of the fuel in the storage portion.

2. The fuel tank according to claim 1 .

3. The air bubble generating medium is provided at an end of the pressing means, and the air bubble generating medium is arranged so as to be movable by the shaking of the fuel.

3. The fuel tank according to claim 2.

4. a pressing body is provided at an end of the pressing means, and the pressing body is arranged so as to be movable by the fluctuation of the fuel; 3. The fuel tank according to claim 2.

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