Water-in-oil emulsion fuel stabilizer using heavy oil and alcohol

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing emulsifiers for water-in-oil emulsion fuels are expensive and result in unstable emulsion states, leading to rapid separation of oil and water, necessitating specialized equipment and techniques for burning, which increases production costs and reduces economic viability for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Innovation Solution

A method for producing a stable emulsifier using a combination of heavy oils A, B, and C, methanol, ethanol, and palm oil, which maintains a homogeneous dispersion for extended periods, allowing for storage and use with existing burning appliances without the need for expensive emulsification equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional emulsifiers (monoethanol amine, triethanol amine, oleic acid, etc.) are used, then emulsion fuel can be produced, but the production cost becomes high and the emulsion state becomes unstable leading to rapid separation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemulsion state stabilityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive conventional emulsifiers with a cheap alternative formulation based on light oil, heavy oil, and alcohol components. This new emulsifier composition achieves stable emulsion state without requiring costly chemicals like monoethanol amine or triethanol amine, thereby reducing production cost while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite emulsifier system comprising multiple components (light oil, heavy oil, and alcohol) working together. This composite approach creates a synergistic effect that provides both cost-effectiveness and stable emulsion state, overcoming the limitations of single-chemical emulsifiers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If conventional emulsifiers are used, then emulsion fuel can be produced, but specialized emulsifying equipment and burning techniques are required increasing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemulsion state stabilityVSAvoidemulsifying equipment requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cheap emulsifier formulation produces sufficiently stable emulsion that eliminates the need for complex emulsifying equipment. The stable emulsion state allows use of existing simple burning appliances, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The emulsifier composition is designed to self-stabilize the emulsion state without requiring external equipment or special techniques. The light oil, heavy oil, and alcohol components work together to maintain homogeneous dispersion automatically, eliminating dependency on specialized equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If conventional emulsifiers are used, then emulsion fuel can be produced, but oil and water separate quickly making storage management impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemulsion state stabilityVSAvoidstorage duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The cost-effective emulsifier formulation achieves long-term stability (preventing separation for extended periods) without requiring expensive chemicals. This enables practical storage management of emulsion fuel while maintaining composition stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-component emulsifier system (light oil, heavy oil, alcohol) creates a stable homogeneous dispersion that resists separation over time. This composite structure maintains emulsion integrity during storage, enabling long-term storage duration while keeping production costs low

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Object-generated harmful factors

If complete burning is achieved through stable emulsion, then harmful emissions are reduced, but requires stable emulsifier composition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveharmful gas and soot emissionsVSAvoidemulsifier composition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The inexpensive emulsifier composition enables complete burning that reduces harmful emissions. The stable composition of light oil, heavy oil, and alcohol ensures consistent combustion performance, reducing NOx, CO, and soot emissions while maintaining composition stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The composite emulsifier system provides stable composition that ensures complete combustion of both light and heavy oil components. This synergistic combination reduces harmful emissions effectively while maintaining compositional stability throughout storage and usage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 emulsifier achieves stable, complete burning of both light and heavy oil fuels, reducing harmful emissions and improving energy efficiency by maintaining a stable emulsion state for over two years, thereby reducing pollution and lowering production costs.

Implementation Method 1

an emulsifier for a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion fuel... provide a water-in-oil fuel that has extremely good stability of emulsion state between an oil fuel (light oil and heavy oil) and water whereby reseparation between oil and water does not take place for a long period of time

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmulsification: Emulsion

Data Source

PatentEP2392636B1Emulsifier for water-in-oil emulsion fuel
Publication Date: 2017.08.16 INAZAWA SUSUMU

AI summary

Provided is an emulsifier for a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion fuel wherein reseparation between oil and water does not take place for a long period of time because of stable emulsion state with homogeneous dispersion. The emulsifier of the present invention for a water-in-oil emulsion fuel comprises following (1) to (7) components: (1) heavy oil A: 50 mL or more 100 mL, (2) heavy oil B: 100 mL or more 200 mL, (3) heavy oil C: 300 mL or more 450 mL, (4) methanol: 100 mL or more 150 mL, (5) ethanol: 100 mL or more 200 mL, (6) palm oil: 100 mL or more 150 mL, and (7) water: 100 mL or more 200 mL.