Fuel Preheating Device Using Nested Heat Exchanger for Combustion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing preheating devices for internal combustion engines are not effective in significantly reducing pollutant emissions and improving fuel ignitability, with many designs either having limited impact on emissions or leading to unsafe combustion operations.
Innovation Solution
A preheating device featuring a surface heat exchanger arrangement with a fuel duct and heat transfer means, where the fuel duct surrounds a heating medium chamber, and the preheating and reactor chambers are aligned to facilitate opposite fuel flow directions, enhancing heat transfer and using copper ions as ignition catalysts for improved fuel expansion and ignitability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional preheating devices are used, then fuel heating is achieved, but pollutant emissions are not significantly reduced and fuel ignitability is not improved
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel duct means is arranged to surround the heating medium chamber, creating a nested configuration where the fuel flow path is positioned within the heat transfer structure. This nesting arrangement maximizes the contact between fuel and heating medium, significantly improving heat transfer efficiency and fuel heating effectiveness, which directly reduces pollutant emissions
Solution Approach 2:
The preheating chamber and reactor chamber are aligned in opposite flow directions, creating a counter-current heat exchange arrangement. This dimensional arrangement allows heat to be transferred more efficiently from the heated fuel in the reactor chamber to the incoming fuel in the preheating chamber, enhancing overall heating effectiveness and reducing emissions
2Ease of operation
If high-frequency field treatment is applied to fuel, then fuel expansion and ignitability are improved, but deflagration processes occur making safe combustion operation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex thermal-electrical-magnetic treatment systems with a simpler thermal heat exchange system. Instead of using high-frequency fields that cause deflagration, the invention uses a controlled thermal field through the heat transfer means to achieve fuel expansion and ignitability improvement safely
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of fuel heating by controlling temperature rise through the heat transfer means. By gradually heating fuel to specific temperature ranges (40-60°C for expansion, then to vaporization temperature for ignitability), the system achieves safe combustion operation without the dangerous deflagration processes associated with high-frequency field treatment
3Manufacturing precision
If multi-stage heating with multiple temperature sensors is implemented, then fuel heating control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the heated fuel itself as the heating medium for the preheating process. The fuel flowing through the reactor chamber serves as both the processed material and the heat transfer medium, eliminating the need for separate heating fluids and complex temperature sensing systems while maintaining precise temperature control
Solution Approach 2:
The preheating chamber and reactor chamber are merged into a single integrated heat exchange system where the same heating medium flows through both chambers in opposite directions. This merging eliminates redundant temperature sensors and control mechanisms while maintaining precise temperature control through the counter-current heat exchange
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device achieves rapid and effective fuel heating, reducing pollutant emissions and ensuring almost residue-free combustion with improved energy density, suitable for both liquid and gaseous fuels, and can be retrofitted for conventional engines to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
Implementation Method 1
a heat transfer means for transferring heat into the fuel conducting means, wherein the heat transfer means has a heating medium chamber delimited by a wall for receiving a heat emitting heating medium
Implementation Method 2
it is advantageous to preheat the fuel in a preheating device of the type mentioned before it is introduced into the combustion chamber, in order in particular to influence fuel consumption and pollutant emissions in a favorable manner by expanding the fuel during heating
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention describes a preheating device for preheating liquid and/or gaseous fuel for an internal combustion engine, having a fuel inlet (12), having a fuel outlet (24), having a fuel conducting means (10, 18) which connects the fuel inlet (12) to the fuel outlet (24) and which serves to conduct the fuel entering through the fuel inlet (12) to the fuel outlet (24), and having a heat transfer means (4, 16) for transferring heat into the fuel conducting means (10, 18). The special feature of the invention is that the fuel conducting means (10, 18) and the heat transfer means (4, 16) together form an areal heat exchanger arrangement.