Method for producing oil-in-alcohol or diesel-in-alcohol emulsions for use as autoignition fuels - Patent Application 20070122999

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing an oil-in-alcohol or diesel-in-alcohol emulsion for use in an auto-ignition internal combustion engine (20), an internal combustion engine, and / or a system for producing energy, comprising the steps of: A. providing a solvent mixture comprising an oil and / or diesel fuel (3) and a polar solvent in the form of an alcohol (4), B. forming an emulsion by treating the mixture from step A with at least one cavitator (1), and D. transferring the emulsion to the auto-ignition engine (20). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a use.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing oil-in-alcohol or diesel-in-alcohol emulsions for use as fuels in auto-ignition internal combustion engines. [Background technology]

[0002] A method for adding water to oil or biodiesel is known from US Pat. No. 5,623,999. A water-in-oil emulsion is formed as part of the supported cavitation process.

[0003] Patent Document 2 also mentions water-propellant (water-in-oil) emulsions, for example in paragraph 0002.

[0004] A fuel-water emulsion by cavitation is known from US Pat. No. 5,623,999. This method uses water as a non-flammable solvent in the form of steam, similar to a steam engine. When using some water-in-oil emulsions, there is still a risk that in the event of separation, the heavier water will settle and be transported from the tank towards the combustion engine, which may lead to a breakdown of the combustion engine or at least adversely affect its operation.

[0005] Patent Document 4 discloses the formation of emulsions from oil and aqueous alcohol fractions. It discloses the use of an emulsifier to form the emulsion. It describes a cavitator used for emulsion formation, operating at 1-3 bar. It does not disclose multiple emulsions with high water content. The emulsifier affects the combustion value of the mixture and is an additional cost factor.

[0006] Patent Document 5 uses surfactants to form emulsions. Mixing is enabled by an injection nozzle. No circuit is disclosed. Therefore, emulsions are formed at 200-3000 bar without forming multiple emulsions. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] GB Patent Application Publication No. 2 487 602 [Patent Document 2] US Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 291338 [Patent Document 3] European Patent Application Publication No. 2 420 313 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021 / 0003100 [Patent Document 5] DE 10 2014 225 815 A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] In the automotive field, a distinction is made between combustion engines that run on fuel as self-ignition engines and combustion engines that run on spark plugs: diesel fuel is designed for self-ignition engines.

[0009] Alcohols such as methanol are flammable and have been known to be mixed in small amounts with gasoline, but gasoline is not self-igniting. Therefore, they are different types of fuel. Overall, alcohol or methanol lack the lubricity and self-ignition capabilities and are not suitable for use in self-igniting engines.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a diesel-containing fuel for self-ignition internal combustion engines which contains an additional low-ignition component. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] A method according to the present invention for producing such an emulsion for use in an internal combustion engine, an internal combustion engine, and / or a power generation system comprises the following steps: A. Providing a solvent mixture comprising at least an alcohol and an oil. Preferably, the alcohol content of the solvent mixture is greater than 30% by weight, preferably greater than 55% by weight, preferably greater than 90% by weight.

[0012] The solvent mixture may also contain another polar solvent, such as a short chain alcohol.

[0013] B. treating the mixture from step A in at least one cavitator that is part of the circuit to form an emulsion; C. optionally, directing the emulsion in a circuit and repeating step B at least once to form multiple emulsions; The treatment after step B and the recirculation after step C allow the formation of multiple emulsions, especially so-called double emulsions, with several layers of finely dispersed oil droplets of very small size that are stable for a period of about 2 minutes, which is a relatively long time for the type of suspension described above. In most cases, separation occurs after only a few seconds.

[0014] The treatment in step B or C is carried out within an operating range of more than 6 bar up to 75 bar, in particular more than 10 bar up to 75 bar, preferably 60 bar up to 75 bar or 12 bar up to 20 bar.

[0015] D. Transferring the emulsion, especially the multiple emulsion, to an auto-ignition internal combustion engine.

[0016] This multiple emulsion can then be transferred to an internal combustion engine, which surprisingly ignites and operates stably with high efficiency with this type of emulsion.

[0017] Advantageous variations of the method are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0018] The circuit may advantageously have a conductivity sensor for determining the conductivity of the solvent mixture, preferably between the container in the circuit into which the further solvent mixture is supplied and the cavitator, the further solvent mixture being supplied to the circuit as a function of the determined conductivity.

[0019] The non-polar component of the solvent mixture in the process may preferably be an oil, in particular a vegetable oil such as rapeseed oil, or diesel fuel, hereinafter also referred to as diesel oil.

[0020] The alcohol used is preferably a monohydric short-chain alcohol having not more than four carbon atoms in the molecule.

[0021] In order to achieve excellent mixing and, as a result, the formation of a more stable emulsion, it is advantageous to provide a temperature difference of at least 10 K, preferably at least 15 K, particularly preferably 15-35 K, between the alcohol-containing phase or emulsion from step A) having an alcohol content of more than 30% by weight and the oil or diesel fuel from step B).

[0022] The oil or diesel fuel preferably has a lower temperature than the alcohol or non-polar solvent, which may in particular be cooled.

[0023] The oil-in-alcohol and / or diesel-in-alcohol emulsion in step C can contain at least 1 wt. % oil or diesel droplets, preferably at least 2 wt. % oil or diesel droplets, and particularly preferably at least 3-8 wt. % oil or diesel droplets. Even 1% diesel oil provides sufficient ignition for alcohol, especially methanol. At least 3-8 wt. % oil or diesel fuel shows very good efficiency in relation to the amount of oil or triglyceride or diesel fuel used.

[0024] After processing in step C, the oil or diesel droplets in the oil-in-alcohol or diesel-in-alcohol emulsion can have a size of less than 0.6 μm, preferably between 0.1 μm and 0.5 μm. This size allows the emulsion to remain stable for a long period of time, approximately 2 minutes, without immediate separation. The size refers to the diameter of the oil droplets, and here, the average value of all the oil droplets in the suspension is taken. In a bimodal distribution, oil droplets with diameters of, for example, 4 to 10 μm can also occur. However, the average value of all the oil droplets results in oil droplets with diameters in the aforementioned range. This emulsion can be fed to a combustion engine 20 via a high-pressure line 21. In particular, the use of additional emulsifiers or surfactants can be omitted.

[0025] The transfer time to the internal combustion engine after completion of processing of the mixture in the cavitator may be less than 4 minutes, preferably less than 2 minutes. Furthermore, oil-in-alcohol or diesel-in-alcohol emulsions are less problematic because when separation begins, the oil gradually separates from the emulsion rather than the alcohol, as occurs with phase inversion. Of course, the percentage of separated oil or separated diesel fuel must be small enough that the remaining emulsion is still usable as fuel.

[0026] Steps A to D are conveniently carried out in an apparatus for producing an emulsion, the apparatus having a vessel for forming the mixture in accordance with step B, a cavitator for forming the oil-in-alcohol emulsion in accordance with step C, and a discharge line for transfer to an internal combustion engine.

[0027] The device also includes a sensor for measuring the oil or diesel content in the emulsion, which can be located between the cavitator and the discharge line. Based on the measurement results of the sensor, such as a density sensor, the control and / or evaluation unit can determine whether the emulsion should be recycled or whether it can already be fed to the combustion process. Ideally, this sensor, or another sensor located in the same area of ​​the device, i.e., between the cavitator and the discharge line, can determine the amount of emulsion being discharged and then the flow rate to control the supply of alcohol and oil or diesel fuel. While two separate sensors could be used, a single sensor can conveniently perform the determination of both variables, i.e., oil or diesel content and flow rate, in a compact manner.

[0028] In particular, no further processing for comminution, such as a further comminution process, takes place between the cavitator and the discharge.

[0029] In particular, the cavitator can be designed as a nanocavitator.

[0030] The treatment in step B or C can be carried out at a temperature above 25°C, preferably 30 to 45°C, particularly preferably 35 to 40°C.

[0031] The passage through the cavitator may preferably take 1 to 10 seconds. The passage can be repeated several times or several cavitators can be connected in series.

[0032] The emulsion from step C and the mixture from step B can be recycled, with up to 50% by weight, preferably up to 35% by weight, of the total weight of the emulsion and mixture being recycled continuously or discontinuously from the circuit. As a result, part of the emulsion remains in the circuit, which facilitates renewed emulsion formation in the presence of alcohol and oil in the form of triglycerides, especially vegetable oil, or diesel fuel.

[0033] An apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention comprises a vessel, at least one cavitator and a discharge line connected to an internal combustion engine, the apparatus having a control and / or evaluation unit designed to carry out the method according to the invention, in particular said unit controlling or regulating the method in such a way that alcohol and oil or diesel fuel are metered as a mixture, as a result of which said oil-in-alcohol or diesel-in-alcohol emulsion is formed.

[0034] Optionally, a recirculation line can be provided from the cavitator outlet to a tank so that the oil-in-alcohol or diesel-in-alcohol emulsion can be circulated through the cavitator several times.

[0035] The device can advantageously be designed in such a way that a sensor transmits measurement data to a control and / or evaluation unit in order to control the amount of oil and alcohol supplied to the device. This may preferably be a flow sensor and / or a fill level sensor.

[0036] It has been shown that high efficiencies can be achieved with a large temperature difference between the solvent components, therefore it is advantageous if the non-polar solvent is cooled to below 12°C, preferably below 10°C, before use.

[0037] Further, in accordance with the present invention, the oil-in-alcohol or diesel-in-alcohol emulsion is used as a fuel for the operation of or in an auto-ignition internal combustion engine.

[0038] In the context of the present invention, it has also surprisingly been found that oil-in-alcohol emulsions can be used as fuels or propellants despite the low ignition potential of methanol as a component. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0039] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing multiple emulsions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 100 for producing diesel-methanol multiple emulsions. Here, a first polar solvent 4 in the form of an alcohol, such as methanol (MeOH), and a nonpolar solvent 3 in the form of an oil are fed together into a vessel 13, such as a tank equipped with a stirrer. Optionally, a second polar solvent, such as water 9, can be added, with the proportion of the first polar solvent predominating over the second polar solvent. At least one of the two polar solvents is an alcohol, preferably methanol. Methanol has a low flash point but a high ignition temperature, making it unsuitable for practical use in large quantities as a fuel for internal combustion engines.

[0041] Preferably, the vessel is heated so that the temperature of the solvent mixture can be brought to and maintained at a temperature above 25°C, preferably between 30 and 45°C, particularly preferably between 35 and 40°C.

[0042] In the case of alcohols such as methanol or other short-chain alcohols, especially those having 4 or fewer carbon atoms, their preferred proportion in the multiple emulsion may be more than 30% by weight, particularly preferably more than 50% by weight, and in particular 51 to 95% by weight, and thus may be significantly higher than conventional ethanol blends in gasoline fuels.

[0043] Diesel oil is used to ignite the solvent mixture, however, it is important that the ignition agent be introduced uniformly into the engine as an emulsion to achieve uniform pressure buildup.

[0044] To that end, the solvent mixture is transferred to a cavitator 1, in particular a nanocavitator, by means of a circulation pump 8. Corresponding nanocavitators are commercially available, for example, as "nano cativation reactor" from Cavitation Technologies Inc (CTI).

[0045] Cavitation occurs in the cavitator 1 by hydrodynamic generation. Ideally, the mixture should have a flow velocity within the cavitator that generates a negative pressure such that the residual pressure within the cavitator is lower than the vapor pressure of the most vaporizable fluid in the mixture. This vaporizable fluid is a polar solvent, such as methanol. Vibrational cavitation caused by sound waves can assist this effect.

[0046] High-pressure variants with an operating range of 60 bar up to 75 bar, or low-pressure variants with an operating range of 12 bar up to 20 bar, can be operated as nanocavitators. The crucial factor is to generate a negative pressure such that the resulting flow rate for the fluid is below the vapor pressure of the first vaporized fluid. The pump 8 should preferably be appropriately designed for this purpose.

[0047] In addition, the circuit capacity is 2-4 times the fuel consumption of the combustion engine, so that the circuit of the emulsion is guaranteed.

[0048] The vessel 13 may have a fill volume of less than 100 liters, preferably less than 60 liters.

[0049] The length and nominal connection width of the nanocavitator depend on the flow rate and the corresponding cavitator type. Approximately 2.3 m 3 / h ~ approx. 113m 3 Several types with flow rate ranges of 1.50 / h are available with corresponding nominal connection widths of DN32 (1.25 inches) to DN100 (4 inches) and corresponding installed lengths of approximately 737 mm (29 inches) to 1778 mm (40 inches).

[0050] Surprisingly, under these conditions, multiple passes through the nanocavitator are shown to form multiple emulsions that are stable for relatively long periods of time.

[0051] Multiple processing of the mixture results in the formation of a multiple emulsion having finely dispersed oil droplets in an alcohol matrix as a continuous phase, the oil droplets having a droplet size of less than 0.6 μm, preferably having a bimodal distribution with a first droplet class having a first mean droplet size and a second droplet class having a second mean droplet size.

[0052] The average oil droplet size of both is preferably within the range of 0.1 μm to 0.5 μm.

[0053] Relatively stable emulsions, which are important for further uses such as combustion, were only observed for oil droplet sizes below 0.6 μm.

[0054] The emulsion formed remains stable for more than 60 seconds, particularly 80 to 300 seconds. No additional stabilizing emulsifiers or surfactants are added to the emulsion, so the emulsion is emulsifier-free and surfactant-free.

[0055] The emulsion leaves the cavitator 1 via a discharge line 15. The discharge line 15 then branches into the ring line 2 and into the branch line 6 to the motor. The corresponding branch is indicated with the reference number 16.

[0056] It may have a control valve. The branch line 6 to the engine 20 comprises a high-pressure pump 7 and a circuit line 22, which are part of a combustion engine. The branch line 6 to the engine 20 branches into an engine inlet of the engine 20 in the form of an auto-ignition internal combustion engine and into a circuit line 22, which makes it possible to send part of the emulsion flow back into the branch line 6 to the engine 20. The elements on the other side of the discharge line 15 may in particular be part of the internal combustion engine or may be designed in another way.

[0057] The discharge from the circuit line 22 to the branch line 6 to the engine 20 is also called "bleed-off". The discharge of part of the oil-in-alcohol emulsion can be continuous or discontinuous. The discharge means that there are fewer multiple emulsions in the circuit, and therefore oil, especially diesel oil and alcohol, should be added in a predetermined proportion.

[0058] The total amount of solvent mixture in the circuit can be determined via the fill level in the container 13. The container 13 can therefore have a level measuring device. Ultrasonic and / or radar fill level measuring devices and / or several level switches distributed at different fill levels along the inner wall of the container are particularly suitable. One or more load cells and / or capacitive rod probes are also suitable for this purpose.

[0059] A further sensor for monitoring the composition of the emulsion can be arranged between the cavitator 1 and the branch 16. If certain limit values ​​are exceeded and / or below certain limits, the supply line of the branch line 6 to the engine 20 can be closed by a control valve. In this case, the engine 20 can be supplied with fuel via a separate fuel line, not shown.

[0060] The emulsion can particularly preferably be formed as a multiple emulsion, i.e. several emulsions layered on top of one another, for example an oil-in-methanol emulsion and a methanol-in-oil emulsion, the superimposed layers of which have different average droplet sizes.

[0061] Furthermore, the device 1 has an inlet 3 for oil, an inlet 4 for methanol and, optionally, a flow meter 5, such as a Coriolis flow meter, in the inlet line 19. These can reveal both the flow rate and the mixing ratio of the solvent mixture being fed.

[0062] Furthermore, the circuit comprises a density sensor measuring device 12, in particular between the container 13 and the cavitator 1.

[0063] If the oil content is too low or too inhomogeneous, the mixture is circulated. The circuit comprises a container 13 and a cavitator 1. A circulation pump 8 conveys the solvent mixture in the circuit.

[0064] Furthermore, a conductivity sensor 11 is arranged between the container 13 and the cavitator 1 .

[0065] The solvent mixture fed to the vessel 13 may have a filtration system 10 after the pumps mentioned above, in particular in the ring line, for collecting metal particles etc.

[0066] The inlet may have a sensor monitoring device 18 for monitoring the pressure and / or temperature of the solvent mixture being fed.

[0067] Preferably, the solvent mixture must be circulated at least two, preferably three, and ideally four times before a multiple emulsion is formed, or circulated through a series connection of four cavitators. However, if only a portion of the amount of emulsion is circulated during the process, for example, up to 50% by weight, preferably up to 35% by weight, of the total amount during the process, a multiple emulsion with the desired proportion of oil is produced after the addition of an equal amount of alcohol, with the droplet distribution remaining fairly constant as a result of the equilibrium established in the system.

[0068] A measuring and / or evaluation unit controls the amount of multiple emulsion dispensed and can add oil and alcohol. The required amount can be controlled by determining the dispense flow rate or based on the fill level in the container 13 or on flow meters in the inlets 3 and 4 and in the inlet line 19. The control of the duration of the circuit can be based on density and / or viscosity, and / or particularly preferably on conductivity or other measured parameters.

[0069] The use of multiple emulsions as fuels for use in combustion engines or plants to generate energy is highly efficient and, to date, unknown.

[0070] To analyze the particle size distribution, two different measuring instruments can be used: one is a Beckman Coulter LS13320 and the other is a Mastersizer 2000, both of which use laser diffraction with extremely wide measurement ranges of 0.02 μm and 0.04 μm to 2000 μm, respectively.

[0071] The measurement results are output as a volume density distribution curve. For evaluation, the characteristic diameter d 10 , d 50 or mean diameter, and d 90 is determined from these curves. 10 means that 10% of the dispersed volume is less than this specified value. 50 and d 90 is similarly defined.

[0072] Before measuring the particle size, the sample was mixed for approximately 30 seconds using a magnetic stirrer at medium speed without dilution, and then a uniform aliquot was removed using a disposable pipette. The sample was added to a wet dispersion unit at room temperature and diluted with dilution alcohol to a concentration of 10-30%. The sample was dispersed by constant stirring, and an ultrasonic probe was used to dissolve aggregates immediately before measurement. After the measurement, the measurement cell was washed with alcohol and refilled with alcohol for the next measurement. Measurements were performed using the wet dispersion unit.

[0073] Furthermore, the use of an oil-in-alcohol emulsion has the added advantage that if separation begins to occur, the oil will separate from the emulsion, and if this is delivered to a combustion system or engine, the system will not fail completely.

[0074] The situation is different when using alcohol-in-oil emulsions, as separation action can lead to separation of the alcohol phase, which can lead to an interruption of the combustion process, for example when starting a combustion system.

[0075] The fact that combustion systems for energy production and internal combustion engines, and thus in both cases internal combustion engine 20, can be operated on oil-in-methanol mixtures is surprising and further advantageous due to the formation of stable multiple emulsions, which can be conveniently achieved by generating small, finely dispersed oil droplets through multiple cavitation processes.

[0076] Another aspect that affects the quality of the emulsion, and therefore ultimately the fuel, is the temperature of the alcohol-containing phase or emulsion as well as the temperature of the oil or biodiesel before it is treated in the cavitator.

[0077] It has been found to be beneficial if the two components of the emulsion are used at different temperatures prior to cavitation treatment.

[0078] A temperature difference between the two aforementioned components before the cavitation treatment of at least 10 K, preferably at least 15 K, particularly preferably 15-35 K, has proven particularly advantageous for obtaining an emulsion for use as a fuel for internal combustion engines after cavitation.

[0079] The non-polar components, i.e., oil and / or diesel fuel, should preferably be the cooler components.

[0080] The temperature of the non-polar component, ie, oil or biodiesel, before being added to the polar alcohol-containing component may preferably be between 10 and 25°C.

[0081] In contrast, the temperature of the polar alcohol-containing component may conveniently be between 35 and 45°C, preferably between 50 and 60°C.

[0082] Surprisingly, it has been shown that producing a mixture using alcohol and oil or biodiesel at different temperatures, followed by a cavitation treatment at elevated temperatures, results in a more intimate mixing of the two components.

[0083] This surprising effect can be understood based on the increase in viscosity when treated under similar test conditions, which allows conclusions to be drawn regarding more intense mixing and emulsion formation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1 Cavitation 2 Ring Line 3 Oil or diesel fuel (non-polar phase) 4 Alcohol (polar phase) 5 Flow meter 6 Branch line to engine 7. High-pressure pump 8. Pump 9 water 10 Filtration equipment 11 Conductivity Sensor 12 Density sensor measuring device 13 Container 14 Filling level measuring device 15 Discharge line 16 Branch with control valve 17 Density sensor measuring device 18 Sensor monitoring device 19 Entrance Line 20 Self-ignition internal combustion engine 21 High pressure line to engine 22 Circuit Line 100 devices

Claims

1. 1. A method for producing an oil-in-alcohol or diesel-in-alcohol emulsion for use in an auto-ignition internal combustion engine (20), an internal combustion engine, and / or a system for producing energy, comprising: A. Providing a solvent mixture comprising oil and / or diesel fuel (3) and a polar solvent in the form of an alcohol (4); B. treating the mixture from step A with at least one cavitator (1) to form an emulsion; D. transferring said emulsion to said self-igniting internal combustion engine (20); Including, Between step B and step D, C. repeating step B at least once to form a multiple emulsion, preferably by directing said emulsion in a circuit. further comprising wherein the treatment in C is carried out within an operating range of more than 6 bar up to 75 bar.

2. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the emulsion is formed in step B without the addition of an emulsifier or surfactant.

3. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the circuit preferably comprises a conductivity sensor (11) between a container (13) with the supplied solvent mixture and the cavitator (1) for determining the conductivity of the solvent mixture supplied to the cavitator (1), and the supply of further solvent mixture to the circuit is performed as a function of the determined conductivity.

4. 4. The method of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the only non-polar component of the solvent mixture is the diesel fuel (3).

5. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alcohol (4) is a monohydric short-chain alcohol having no more than four carbon atoms in the molecule.

6. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the oil-in-alcohol or diesel-in-alcohol emulsion obtained in step C is emulsifier-free and surfactant-free.

7. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the emulsion in step C comprises at least 1% by weight of oil or diesel droplets, preferably at least 3-8% by weight of oil or diesel droplets.

8. 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the oil or diesel droplets in the oil-in-alcohol or diesel-in-alcohol emulsion after treatment in step C have an average diameter of less than 0.6 μm, preferably between 0.1 μm and 0.5 μm.

9. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transfer time to the internal combustion engine (20) after completion of the treatment of the mixture in the cavitator (1) is less than 4 minutes, preferably less than 2 minutes.

10. Steps A to D are carried out in an apparatus (100) for producing the emulsion, the apparatus (100) comprising: a. a vessel (13) for forming the mixture according to step B; b. at least one cavitator (1) for forming said oil-in-alcohol or diesel-in-alcohol emulsion according to step C; c) a branch section (16) connected to a branch line (6) for discharging the emulsion from the circuit and transporting it to the internal combustion engine (20); Equipped with 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device (100) further comprises the conductivity sensor (11) arranged between the container (13) and the discharge line (12).

11. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the supply of oil or diesel fuel (3) and alcohol (4) to the container (2) is controlled by measurement data detected by sensors, in particular measurement data relating to the supply of oil or diesel fuel (3) and alcohol (4) and / or the conductivity and / or density of the emulsion in the circuit.

12. 12. The method according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the at least one cavitator (1) is designed as a nanocavitator.

13. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the treatment in step B or C is carried out at a temperature above 30°C, preferably between 40 and 60°C, particularly preferably between 45 and 55°C.

14. 14. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that no further processing takes place between the cavitator (1) and the branch line (6).

15. 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the treatment in step B or C is carried out within an operating range of more than 10 bar up to 75 bar, preferably from 60 bar up to 75 bar or from 12 bar up to 20 bar.

16. 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the emulsion and the mixture are circulated, and wherein at most 50% by weight, preferably at most 35% by weight, of the total weight of the emulsion and the mixture are circulated continuously or discontinuously from the circuit as emulsion.

17. 17. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that water is added in step A, preferably to less than 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the emulsion, in order to reduce NOX and CO emission values.

18. 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the non-polar solvent is cooled before use to a temperature 10°C, more preferably 12°C, lower than the temperature of the polar solvent.

19. Use of an oil-in-alcohol or diesel-in-alcohol emulsion, preferably produced according to one of claims 1 to 18, as a fuel for an auto-ignition internal combustion engine (20).

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