Oxidizing Organic Fats in Internal Combustion Engines
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of animal fats as a fuel in diesel internal combustion engines is challenging due to excessive carbonization, which can lead to engine damage, rough running, and reduced efficiency, as existing methods require extensive processing and frequent maintenance of fuel injectors.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a diesel internal combustion engine where a neat organic fat is pre-heated and subjected to electrical charges of opposite polarities, with hydrogen peroxide and air used as an oxidizer to reduce carbonization by attracting combustion constituents away from the engine surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If neat organic fat is used as fuel in a diesel internal combustion engine, then renewable energy utilization is improved, but excessive carbonization occurs leading to engine damage and rough running
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies electrical charges of opposite polarity to the organic fat and oxidizer, fundamentally changing the physical state and behavior of these substances during combustion. This electrical parameter modification prevents carbon particles from adhering to combustion chamber surfaces, thereby reducing carbonization while maintaining the use of neat organic fat as fuel
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces hydrogen peroxide as an intermediary substance that facilitates more complete combustion of the organic fat. The hydrogen peroxide acts as an oxygen source that promotes thorough oxidation of carbon particles, preventing them from depositing on engine surfaces and reducing carbonization buildup
2Ease of operation
If extensive processing is applied to convert animal fat to biodiesel, then usability in conventional engines is improved, but processing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for extensive chemical processing steps (transesterification, hydrogenation) by directly using neat organic fat. The electrical charge application and hydrogen peroxide injection system replace the need for complex fuel preprocessing, allowing direct use of animal fat without conversion to fatty acid esters
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the organic fat to combult itself effectively through the application of electrical charges and hydrogen peroxide injection, without requiring external processing facilities or complex fuel preparation infrastructure. The engine system itself performs the function of making the fuel usable through the electrical and chemical modifications applied during combustion
3Reliability
If frequent fuel injector cleaning and nozzle replacement is performed, then engine reliability is improved, but maintenance time and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful carbon particles into beneficial combustion products by applying electrical charges that promote complete oxidation. Carbon particles are transformed from deposits that require frequent cleaning into fully oxidized carbon dioxide that exits through the exhaust, eliminating the need for frequent fuel injector maintenance
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
This approach reduces carbonization within the combustion chamber, maintains engine efficiency, and minimizes maintenance needs by ensuring that combustion by-products are retained within the exhaust gas, thereby preventing engine damage and improving performance.
Implementation Method 1
applying a first electrical charge to the oxidizer; applying a second electrical charge to the organic fat, wherein the first electrical charge has a substantially opposite polarity to the second electrical charge; This causes a mutual attraction between the fuel and the oxidiser, to aid in the combustion of the fuel
Implementation Method 2
pre-heating the neat organic fat to at least 40 degrees centigrade prior to introduction into the combustion chamber
Implementation Method 3
the hydrogen peroxide is vaporised and added to the air at a proportion of 1%, by mass
Implementation Method 4
oxidizing the charged organic fat in the combustion chamber to generate power
Implementation Method 5
oxidizing the charged organic fat in the combustion chamber to generate power
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
It is widely appreciated that renewable sources of energy are desirable. In particular, in recent years the development of biodiesel has been encouraged in order to find a replacement for fossil fuels in internal combustion engines. Typically, such biodiesel is based on triacylglycerols of vegetable origin. Animal fat, due to its different chemical composition and production process presents additional challenges when attempted to be used as a source of fuel. Most known methods require extensive processing of naturally occurring fats in order for them to be usable in conventional engines. According to the present invention, there is provided a method of oxidizing organic fats within an internal combustion engine to generate power by applying a first electrical charge to an oxidizer (e.g. air) and applying a second electrical charge to the organic fat opposite in polarity to the first electrical charge. In this way, constituents of the organic fat to be oxidized are attracted to the oxidizer, in preference to an interior surface of the combustion chamber. Thus, carbonization of the interior surface of the combustion chamber is reduced, as material contributing to carbonization is retained within exhaust gas.