Polydispersed composite emulsions

Abstract

Multi-faceted technology for the combustion and transportation of emulsified hydrocarbon fuel. The fuel comprises a composite of a plurality of hydrocarbon in water emulsions. The composite emulsion has a unimodal hydrocarbon particle distribution, with the hydrocarbon being present in an amount of between 64% and 90% by volume.

1 . An emulsion, comprising a composite of a plurality of hydrocarbon in water emulsions and emulsion stabilizer, said composite having a unimodal particle distribution with a single mode absent local maxima, said hydrocarbon being present in an amount of between 64% and 90% by volume. 
   
   
       2 . The emulsion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said composite comprises at least two different precursor emulsions. 
   
   
       3 . The emulsion as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said precursor emulsions each contain a different hydrocarbon particle size. 
   
   
       4 . The emulsion as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said precursor emulsions contain the same hydrocarbon material. 
   
   
       5 . The emulsion as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said precursor emulsions contain different hydrocarbon material. 
   
   
       6 . The emulsion as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein each precursor emulsion has a different rate of combustion. 
   
   
       7 . The emulsion as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said composite is a composite containing at least two different emulsions in a predetermined ratio. 
   
   
       8 . The emulsion as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said particle size of one emulsion is large relative to said particle size a second emulsion. 
   
   
       9 . The emulsion as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein each precursor emulsion has a characteristic viscosity, said composite emulsion fuel having a viscosity which is less than each characteristic viscosity of each precursor emulsion. 
   
   
       10 . The emulsion as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said composite emulsion has a viscosity between 300% and 500% less than the viscosity of the emulsion containing smaller particles. 
   
   
       11 . The emulsion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said composite emulsion has a carbon burnout rate of at least 99.9%. 
   
   
       12 . The emulsion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein paid composite has said unimodal particle size distribution formed from mixing a bimodal distribution of said at least two precursor emulsions. 
   
   
       13 . The emulsion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said composite is a multiple emulsion polydispersed fuel. 
   
   
       14 . The emulsion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said fuel is a liquid fuel emulsified in an aqueous matrix hydrocarbon. 
   
   
       15 . The emulsion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said hydrocarbon material comprises less than 18 API. 
   
   
       16 . The emulsion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said emulsion stabilizer is present in an amount between 0.01% and 5.0% by weight of the composite emulsion. 
   
   
       17 . The emulsion as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said emulsion stabilizer is a surfactant. 
   
   
       18 . A method of formulating/a composite emulsion having unimodal particle size distribution with reduced viscosity relative to precursor emulsions used to form said composite emulsion, comprising:
 providing a system having an n-modal particle distribution mixture;   forming a precursor emulsion for each n-modal distribution present in said mixture, each precursor emulsion having a characteristic viscosity; and   mixing precursor emulsions in a predetermined ratio as determined by desired characteristics of the composite emulsion to form said composite emulsion with said unimodal particle size distribution, reduced viscosity relative to each said precursor emulsion and said desired characteristics, wherein said unimodal particle distribution has a single mode absent local maxima.   
   
   
       19 . The method as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said mixing comprises a shear mixing device. 
   
   
       20 . The method as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said mixture is a composite emulsion formed from at least two precursor emulsions. 
   
   
       21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . (canceled) 
   
   
       29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . (canceled) 
   
   
       32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 . (canceled) 
   
   
       34 . (canceled) 
   
   
       35 . (canceled) 
   
   
       36 . (canceled) 
   
   
       37 . (canceled) 
   
   
       38 . (canceled) 
   
   
       39 . (canceled) 
   
   
       40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . (canceled) 
   
   
       42 . (canceled) 
   
   
       43 . (canceled) 
   
   
       44 . (canceled) 
   
   
       45 . (canceled) 
   
   
       46 . (canceled) 
   
   
       47 . (canceled) 
   
   
       48 . (canceled) 
   
   
       49 . (canceled) 
   
   
       50 . (canceled) 
   
   
       51 . (canceled) 
   
   
       52 . (canceled) 
   
   
       53 . (canceled) 
   
   
       54 . (canceled) 
   
   
       55 . (canceled) 
   
   
       56 . (canceled) 
   
   
       57 . (canceled) 
   
   
       58 . (canceled) 
   
   
       59 . (canceled) 
   
   
       60 . (canceled) 
   
   
       61 . (canceled)