Water-Containing Fuel Combustion for Emission Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing cost and depletion of fossil fuels, along with environmental concerns from additives used in conventional internal combustion engines, necessitate a technology that reduces organic fuel usage and minimizes harmful emissions.
Innovation Solution
An internal combustion engine system that utilizes a water-containing fuel, where supercritical water is mixed with organic fuel to form a homogenized mixture, allowing for flash boiling and thermolysis to generate hydrogen and oxygen gases, which are then combusted to drive the engine, reducing organic fuel consumption and emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If organic fuel is used in conventional internal combustion engines, then energy is generated to drive the engine, but fuel costs increase and harmful emissions are produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the fuel by introducing water-containing fuel (1-100 wt% water) mixed with organic fuel. This parameter change transforms the combustion process to produce water vapor instead of harmful emissions, while maintaining energy generation capability through the combustion of hydrogen released from water thermolysis
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts water, which is typically considered a contaminant or waste product in conventional combustion, into a beneficial fuel component. By injecting water into the combustion chamber and utilizing thermolysis to release hydrogen, the system transforms water from a harmful emissions source into a source of clean energy, with water vapor becoming the primary combustion byproduct
2Object-generated harmful factors
If water is injected into the combustion chamber, then harmful emissions are reduced, but the combustion process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-mixing water with organic fuel to create a homogenized water-containing fuel before injection. This pre-mixing ensures proper fuel composition and distribution, simplifying the combustion process by eliminating the need for separate water injection systems and complex control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary substance (homogenized water-containing fuel) that combines water and organic fuel into a single mixture. This intermediary fuel formulation mediates between the conflicting requirements of emission reduction and process simplicity, allowing water to be introduced without requiring separate injection systems or complex multi-stage combustion control
3Quantity of substance
If homogenized water-containing fuel is used, then fuel costs are lowered and emissions are reduced, but the fuel formulation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying the water content (1-100 wt%) and organic fuel composition to create optimized homogenized fuel formulations. These parameter adjustments allow reduction of organic fuel consumption while maintaining combustion performance, with the added benefit that water is a readily available, low-cost substance that reduces overall fuel costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite fuel material by combining water and organic fuel into a homogenized mixture. This composite formulation leverages the advantages of both components: water provides cost reduction and emission reduction, while organic fuel provides combustible hydrogen content. The composite nature allows flexible formulation to optimize performance while reducing organic fuel dependency
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 lowers fuel costs, reduces pollutants, enhances engine efficiency, and provides a safer, more environmentally friendly energy source by utilizing water as a primary combustion by-product, achieving over 1.27 times more pressure/energy than conventional engine fuel combustion.
Implementation Method 1
a pump and a heat exchanger to generate supercritical water from the water
Implementation Method 2
flash boiling the supercritical water forms water vapour
Implementation Method 3
the ignition of organic fuel generates a flame front of at least 1,800° C. to initiate thermolysis of the water vapour into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas
Implementation Method 4
the hydrogen gas autoignites in the combustion chamber to drive the actuator which drives the output shaft
Implementation Method 5
at least one fuel injector adapted to separately inject the supercritical water and an organic fuel into the combustion chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber and an actuator disposed therein being arranged to drive an output shaft of the engine, the method comprising: 5 (i) injecting a water containing fuel into the combustion chamber; (ii) flash boiling the water-containing fuel to form water vapour within the combustion chamber; (iii) thermolyzing the water vapour to form hydrogen gas and oxygen gas; and (iv) combusting the hydrogen gas to drive the actuator within the combustion chamber to 10 thereby drive the connected output shaft of the combustion engine.