Emulsion fuel, and process and apparatus for production thereof

Abstract

An emulsion fuel of high quality that can be handled and used in the same manner as for ordinary fuel oil and that can maintain a very good emulsion condition over a prolonged period of time. There is provided an emulsion fuel consisting of a liquid of mixture composed of 40 to 95 vol. % of fuel oil, 60 to 5 vol. % of reduced water with a redox potential of +100 mV or below and 0.1 to 10 wt. %, based on the weight of fuel oil, of emulsifier. Electrolyzed-reduced water obtained by electrolysis of water is preferred as the reduced water. Preferably, the emulsion fuel is obtained by using, as the electrolyzed-reduced water, electrolyzed-reduced water produced by electrolysis of water with the use of diaphragm cell with a positive electrode and negative electrode disposed apart while applying ultrasonic waves by means of ultrasonic wave generating means. In the electrolysis, preferably, an electrode of hydrogen storing metal or alloy is used as the negative electrode.

1 . An emulsion fuel comprising a liquid mixture of:
 40 to 95 vol % of fuel oil;   60 to 5 vol % of reduced water having an oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of +100 mV or below; and   0.1 to 10 wt % of an emulsifier relative to the fuel oil.   
   
   
       2 . The emulsion fuel according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the content of the fuel oil is 50 to 90 vol %, and   the content of the reduced water is 50 to 10 vol %.   
   
   
       3 . The emulsion fuel according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the reduced water is electrolyzed-reduced water.   
   
   
       4 . The emulsion fuel according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the electrolyzed-reduced water has an oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of +50 mV or below.   
   
   
       5 . The emulsion fuel according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the electrolyzed-reduced water is obtained by electrolysis of water, while an ultrasonic wave is being applied thereto with ultrasonic wave-generating means, using a diaphragm cell with an anode and a cathode separated from each other.   
   
   
       6 . The emulsion fuel according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the electrolyzed-reduced water is obtained by electrolysis of water using any of a hydrogen storage metal and alloy as the cathode.   
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for producing an emulsion fuel, the apparatus comprising:
 an electrolytic cell including   an anode and a cathode separated from each other by a diaphragm,   ultrasonic wave-generating means, and   stirring means;   an emulsion forming cell including stirring means; and   a fuel oil tank and an emulsion fuel tank which are connected to the emulsion forming cell.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus for producing an emulsion fuel according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the cathode of the electrolytic cell is an electrode formed of any of a hydrogen storage metal and alloy.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus for producing an emulsion fuel according to  claim 7 , wherein
 an electrode formed of any of a hydrogen storage metal and alloy is disposed in the emulsion forming cell.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus for producing an emulsion fuel according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the electrode of the electrolytic cell and the electrode of the emulsion forming cell are disposed interchangeably with each other, both of the electrodes being formed of any of the hydrogen storage metal and alloy.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus for producing an emulsion fuel according to  claim 7 , wherein
 an anode and a cathode which is formed of any of a hydrogen storage metal and alloy are disposed in the emulsion forming cell.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus for producing an emulsion fuel according to  claim 7 , wherein
 ultrasonic wave-generating means is disposed in the emulsion forming cell.   
   
   
       13 . A method for producing an emulsion fuel comprising the step of stirring and mixing, in an emulsion forming cell:
 40 to 95 vol % of fuel oil (A);   60 to 5 vol % of electrolyzed-reduced water (B) obtained by electrolysis of water, while an ultrasonic wave is being applied thereto with ultrasonic wave-generating means, using a diaphragm cell with an anode and a cathode separated from each other; and   0.1 to 10 wt % of an emulsifier (C) relative to the fuel oil.   
   
   
       14 . The method for producing an emulsion fuel according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the water is electrolyzed using an electrode formed of any of a hydrogen storage metal and alloy as the cathode.   
   
   
       15 . The method for producing an emulsion fuel according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the fuel oil (A), the electrolyzed-reduced water (B) and the emulsifier (C) are stirred and mixed with one another in presence of the electrode formed of any of the hydrogen storage metal and alloy, the electrode being used in the electrolysis of the water.   
   
   
       16 . The method for producing an emulsion fuel according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the fuel oil (A), the electrolyzed-reduced water (B) and the emulsifier (C) are stirred and mixed with one another, while a current is being passed through an anode and a cathode (electrode) formed of any of a hydrogen storage metal and alloy, the anode and the cathode being provided in the emulsion forming cell.   
   
   
       17 . The method for producing an emulsion fuel according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the fuel oil (A), the electrolyzed-reduced water (B) and the emulsifier (C) are stirred and mixed with one another, while an ultrasonic wave is being applied thereto with ultrasonic wave-generating means.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus for producing an emulsion fuel according to  claim 8 , wherein
 an electrode formed of any of a hydrogen storage metal and alloy is disposed in the emulsion forming cell.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus for producing an emulsion fuel according to  claim 18 , wherein
 the electrode of the electrolytic cell and the electrode of the emulsion forming cell are disposed interchangeably with each other, both of the electrodes being formed of any of the hydrogen storage metal and alloy.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus for producing an emulsion fuel according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the electrode of the electrolytic cell and the electrode of the emulsion forming cell are disposed interchangeably with each other, both of the electrodes being formed of any of the hydrogen storage metal and alloy.