Fuel tank

Abstract

Provided is a fuel tank capable of mixing fine bubbles into fuel containing hydrocarbon stored in the tank. A fuel tank 10 comprises a storage part 11 for storing fuel, and a lid part 12 for shielding the storage part 11. The lid part 12 is equipped with a fine bubble generation device 13 for discharging fine bubbles to fuel in the storage part 11. The fine bubble generation device 13 includes a compression device 14 for pumping gas to the storage part 11, and a bubble generation medium 24 for discharging the gas pumped by the compression device 14 as fine bubbles to the liquid in the storage part 11.

Description

fuel tank

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

[0002] Conventionally, techniques for mixing fine bubbles into fuel containing hydrocarbons have been known. 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 electrolyzing 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 regulates the pressure of the liquid fuel, a heater that regulates 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 is necessary to raise the temperature of the liquid fuel inside from room temperature to a predetermined temperature. Meanwhile, a micro-bubble generator is known that includes a passage for flowing the liquid, a compressor for pressurizing gas into the passage, and a bubble generating medium that releases the gas pressurized by the compressor into the liquid in the passage as micro-bubbles (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

[0005] JP 2020-172570 A JP 2010-167404 A

[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 that can mix fine bubbles into fuel containing hydrocarbons stored in the tank.

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

[0009] That is, the present invention provides a fuel tank comprising a storage section for storing fuel and a lid section for shielding the storage section, wherein a micro-bubble generating device is attached to the lid section and releases micro-bubbles into the fuel in the storage section, and the micro-bubble generating device comprises 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 addition, the present invention may further include an air cylinder that supplies compressed air to a gas passage that supplies gas from the compression device into the storage section, and the air cylinder may include a pressing means that moves due to the vibration of the fuel in the storage section.

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

[0013] The present invention has the following effects.

[0014] In the present invention, by attaching a micro-bubble generator to the lid that covers the storage section, it is possible to easily generate micro-bubbles in the fuel in the fuel tank. Also, by supplying gas as micro-bubbles 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.

[0015] 1 is a front view showing a fuel tank according to a first embodiment, a front view showing an air bubble generation medium according to the first embodiment, a front view showing a fuel tank according to a second embodiment, and a front view showing an air bubble generation medium according to the second embodiment.

[0016] Next, an embodiment of the present 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, the 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 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 11a is provided at the top of the storage section 11.

[0019] The lid 12 is a part that shields the reservoir 11, and is attached to the opening 11a to open and close the opening 11a. A fine bubble generator 13 is attached to the lid 12.

[0020] The micro-bubble generator 13 is a device that releases the gas compressed by the compressor 14 as micro-bubbles into the liquid fuel in the storage unit 11. The micro-bubble generator 13 releases a predetermined gas from a 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 at a predetermined pressure to the storage section 11, and is configured as an air compressor when the gas is air. When the gas is oxygen or hydrogen, the gas is pressure-fed at a predetermined pressure from the storage container of each gas through a pressure reducer. When the gas is ozone, oxygen is pressure-fed at a predetermined pressure from the oxygen storage container, and ozone is generated and pressure-fed by silently discharging it in an ozone generator.

[0022] An air cylinder 17 for supplying compressed air is connected to a gas passage 16 that supplies gas from the compressor 14 into 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 that is housed in the cylinder body 21 and can slide within the cylinder body 21, a piston rod 23 that is attached to the piston 22 and transmits force to the piston 22, and a bubble generation medium 24 that is provided at the pressing end of the piston rod 23. A portion of the cylinder body 21, the piston rod 23, and a portion of the 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 inside the cylinder body 21. 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 pressurized 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. The inside of the cylinder body 21 is separated into an air supply chamber 21A and a second chamber 21B by the piston 22. The piston 22 is urged 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 compressed 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. A gas passage 23a is provided inside the piston rod 23. A bubble generation medium 24 is provided at the end of the piston rod 23. The bubble generation medium 24 is cylindrical, and its bottom surface is parallel to the bottom surface of the reservoir 11. The bubble generation medium 24 is made of a carbon-based porous material and has a large number of fine pores 24A with diameters of several micrometers to several tens of micrometers, as shown in FIG. 2. The bubble generation medium 24 is also a conductor, and bubbles generated from the bubble generation medium 24 are negatively charged. In other words, free electrons are added to the fine bubbles as they pass through the conductor bubble generation medium 24, thereby charging them with a negative charge. This negative charge causes the bubbles to repel each other and prevent them from coalescing into larger bubbles.

[0027] A carbon-based porous material is an inorganic material that is composed of only carbon or a composite material containing carbon and ceramic. A film several nanometers thick is formed on the surface of the carbon-based porous material. The film is made of an inorganic film containing silicon. Carbon-based porous materials are oxidation-resistant, do not rust, and do not deteriorate due to oxidation even when placed in fuel for a long period of time. Furthermore, because the surface is made of an inorganic film containing silicon, they are also resistant to the adhesion of dirt. The bubble generation medium 24 has an internal space 24a connected to the gas passage 23a.

[0028] Next, a method for mixing microbubbles into fuel containing hydrocarbons stored in the fuel tank 10 using the fuel tank 10 and microbubble generator 13 according to the present invention will be described. Fuel containing hydrocarbons is stored in the fuel tank 10. At this time, it is desirable 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 desirable to mix microbubbles into the fuel immediately after supplying the fuel.

[0029] Next, the lid 12 is attached to the opening 11a at the top of the storage section 11. The air cylinder 17 is attached to the lid 12 in advance, and by attaching the lid 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 Figure 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 gas supply chamber 21A through the valve 12a. When the pressure in the gas 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 gas supply chamber 21A increases.

[0032] When the pressure in the air supply chamber 21A reaches or exceeds a predetermined value, 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 bubble generation medium 24. The gas sent to the internal space 24a passes through fine holes 24A with diameters of several μm to several tens of μm provided in the bubble generation medium 24 and moves to the surface of the bubble generation medium 24. The gas that moves to the surface of the bubble generation medium 24 becomes fine bubbles and is released into the water by the flow of fuel moving within the fuel tank 10. The dissolved concentration of the fine bubbles of gas released into the fuel is 10⁸ / mL or more. In this way, by mixing the gas into the fuel as fine bubbles, atomization of the fuel spray is promoted, and the amount of dissolved oxygen and ions is further 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 decreases due to the elastic force of the elastic member 25.

[0034] Meanwhile, the fuel in the fuel tank 10 moves within 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 bubble generation medium 24, further moving the piston 22 toward the air supply chamber 21A. As a result, part of the gas moves into the gas passage 23a of the piston rod 23 and into the internal space 24a of the bubble generation medium 24.

[0035] This configuration makes it possible to prevent the liquid from flowing back into the internal space 24a from the hole 24A. Also, by using the vibration 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 including a storage section 11 for storing fuel and a lid section 12 for covering the storage section 11, and a micro-bubble generator 13 for releasing micro-bubbles into the fuel in the storage section 11 is attached to the lid section 12, and the micro-bubble generator 13 includes a compressor 14 for pressurizing gas into the storage section 11 and a bubble generation medium 24 for releasing the gas pressurized by the compressor 14 as micro-bubbles into the liquid in the storage section 11. With this configuration, micro-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] The fuel storage device 10 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 serves as a pressing means and moves in response to the swaying of fuel in the storage section 11. With this configuration, the air cylinder 17 can cause the air in the air supply chamber 21A to flow into the bubble generation medium 24 by the swaying of the fuel. This makes it possible to prevent backflow of liquid from the hole 24A into the internal space 24a.

[0038] In addition, a bubble generation medium 24 is provided at the end of the piston rod 23, and the bubble generation medium 24 is arranged so as to be movable by the swaying of the fuel. By configuring in this way, the fine bubble generation medium 24 can be directly attached to the end of the piston rod without providing a separate pressing body, thereby reducing the installation space.

[0039] Alternatively, an air vent may be provided at the end of the cylinder body 21 on the second chamber 21B side. This allows the air inside the outer cylinder 20 to repeatedly flow in and out of the second chamber 21B, even when there is no fuel fluctuation, causing the piston rod 23 to slide up and down. This allows the air inside the air supply chamber 21A to flow into the bubble generation medium 24. This makes it possible to prevent backflow of liquid 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 part of the storage section 31. In this embodiment, the opening 31a is provided in the upper right part.

[0043] The lid 32 is a part that shields the reservoir 31, and is attached to the opening 31a to open and close the opening 31a. A fine bubble generator 33 is attached to the lid 32.

[0044] The micro-bubble generator 33 is a device that releases the gas compressed by the compressor 34 as micro-bubbles into the liquid fuel in the storage section 31. The micro-bubble generator 33 releases a predetermined gas from the 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 at a predetermined pressure to the storage section 31, and is configured as an air compressor when the gas is air. When the gas is oxygen or hydrogen, the gas is pressure-fed at a predetermined pressure from the storage container of each gas through a pressure reducer. When the gas is ozone, oxygen is pressure-fed at a predetermined pressure from the oxygen storage container, and ozone is generated and pressure-fed by silently discharging it in an ozone generator.

[0046] The gas passage 35, which supplies gas from the compressor 34 to the storage section 31, is attached to a bubble generation medium 36. The bubble generation medium 36 is attached to a base 32c provided at the end of the mounting fixture 32b of the lid 32. The bubble generation medium 36 is made of a carbon-based porous material and, as shown in FIG. 3, has a large number of fine pores 36A with diameters of several μm to several tens of μm. The bubble generation medium 36 is also a conductor, and bubbles generated from the bubble generation medium 36 are negatively charged. In other words, free electrons are added to the fine bubbles as they pass through the conductor bubble generation medium 36, thereby giving them a negative charge. This negative charge causes the bubbles to repel each other and prevents them from coalescing into larger 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 several nanometers thick is formed on the surface of the carbon-based porous material. The film is made of an inorganic film containing silicon. Carbon-based porous materials are oxidation-resistant, do not rust, and do not deteriorate due to oxidation even when placed in fuel for a long period of time. Furthermore, because the surface is made of an inorganic film containing silicon, they are also resistant to the adhesion of dirt. The bubble generation medium 36 has an internal space 36a that is connected to the gas passage 35.

[0048] A branch passage 35a is provided midway through the gas passage 35, and the branch passage 35a is connected to an air cylinder 37. The air cylinder 37 is attached to a fitting 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 in 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 housed 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. The inside of the cylinder body 41 is separated into an air supply chamber 41A and a second chamber 41B by the piston 42. 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 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 in a cylindrical shape, and its bottom surface is inclined from the bottom surface of the storage section 31.

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

[0054] Next, the lid 32 is attached to the opening 31a at the top of the storage section 31. An air cylinder 37 is attached to the lid 32 in advance, and by attaching the lid 32 to the opening 31a, the 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 Figure 3. This connects the compressor 14 to the gas passage 35.

[0056] Gas is compressed and delivered from the compressor 34. The gas flows into the gas passage 35 via the valve 32a. The gas that has flowed 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 fine holes 36A with diameters of several microns to several tens of microns provided in the bubble generation medium 36 and moves to the surface of the bubble generation medium 36. The gas that has moved to the surface of the bubble generation medium 36 becomes fine bubbles and is released into the water by the flow of fuel moving within the fuel tank 30. The dissolved concentration of the fine bubbles of gas released into the fuel is 10⁸ / mL or more. By mixing the gas into the fuel as fine bubbles, atomization of the fuel spray is promoted, and the amount of dissolved oxygen and ions is further increased, thereby promoting combustion.

[0057] Furthermore, when the dissolved concentration of fine bubbles exceeds a predetermined concentration, the compressor 34 is stopped from operating. When the compressor 34 stops supplying gas, the inside of the gas supply passage 35 is no longer pressurized, and the pressure decreases.

[0058] On the other hand, the fuel in the fuel tank 30 moves within 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 gas 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] This configuration makes it possible to prevent backflow of liquid from the hole 36A into the internal space 36a. Also, by using the vibration of the fuel to reciprocate the piston rod 43, 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 swaying 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.

[0061] The present invention can be used in a fuel tank that supplies gas to stored fuel to reform it.

[0062] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Fuel tank 11 Storage section 12 Lid section 13 Micro-bubble generator 14 Compressor 16 Gas passage 17 Air cylinder 20 Outer cylinder 21 Cylinder body 22 Piston 23 Piston rod 24 Bubble generation medium 25 Elastic member 30 Fuel tank 31 Storage section 32 Lid section 33 Micro-bubble generator 34 Compressor 35 Gas passage 36 Bubble generation medium 37 Air cylinder 41 Cylinder body 42 Piston 43 Piston rod

Claims

1. A fuel tank comprising: a storage section for storing fuel; and a lid section for covering the storage section, wherein a fine-bubble generating device is attached to the lid section for releasing fine bubbles into the fuel in the storage section, and the fine-bubble generating device comprises a compressor for compressing gas into the storage section, and a bubble generating medium for releasing the gas compressed by the compressor into the liquid in the storage section as fine bubbles.

2. The fuel tank according to claim 1, further comprising an air cylinder for supplying compressed air to a gas passage for supplying gas from said compression device into said storage portion, said air cylinder having a pressing means which moves in response to the swaying of fuel in said storage portion.

3. The fuel tank according to claim 2, characterized in that the gas bubble generating medium is provided at an end of the pressing means, and the gas bubble generating medium is arranged so as to be movable by the swaying of the fuel.

4. The fuel tank according to claim 2, characterized in that 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 swaying of the fuel.

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