Method and system for water-fuel emulsions production

Abstract

Water-fuel emulsions can be used in engines, predominantly in diesel engines, to achieve considerable fuel economy and reduce emissions of noxious exhaust components, NO x , CO2 and soot. However, the emulsion combustion technology for engines of power units has not been applied widely since the main two components are immiscible; water separates and causes corrosion in pumps, injectors, regulators and so on. In order to improve mixing, special emulsifiers are applied, but in this option emulsion does not sustain long. Proposed new emulsion making technology uses simultaneous dissolution of highly soluble gases CO2 and CH4 in immiscible components fuel and water. Tests demonstrate that water-fuel emulsion produced using the new technology retains stability when exposed to temperature and at long-term storage in the open air.

1 . A method of on-board production of water-fuel emulsion free of emulsifier and stabilizing additives, wherein the method includes:
 providing an absorber;   feeding a liquid fuel and other additional incombustible evaporative liquids to absorber providing high level spraying of both liquid flows;   feeding a gas or a mixture of gases in absorber providing a high level of contact of liquid and gases; and   providing an electronic controller for controlling flows of liquids and gases.   
     
     
         2 . A method of production of highly sustainable water-fuel emulsion, wherein the method comprises at least one stage process, and preferably two stage process of simultaneous or consecutive dissolving of gas/gasses in dispersed liquid components under high pressure:
 at first stage liquid components are sprayed in absorber #1 under gas pressure of P1;   at second stage water-fuel emulsion from absorber #1 is fed to absorber #2 where emulsion and additional portion of water sprayed under gas pressure P2;   liquid components are dispersed, preferably, in top areas of absorbers and collected emulsion evacuate, at least, through one port at the bottom of absorber #2 to a storage tank for long time storage; and   gas/gases released from emulsion in the storage tank are compressed and returned to the absorber #2 for secondary dissolution.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to the  claim 2 , wherein the ratio of water-fuel emulsion components is no less than 75% by weight of hydrocarbon fuel, up to 18.5% by weight of deionized/desalted water, and up to 2.5% by weight of antifreeze agent. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to the  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises at least one stage of emulsion preparation with water phase content of at least 3.5% by weight through dissolution of gas mixture or at least one gas at the partial pressure of each gaseous component being at least 1.35 bar, where the produced emulsion is delivered to the engine fuel supply pump while the return flow of unused emulsion coming from the engine is cooled down and returned to the absorber; the emulsion level is maintained by synchronous and proportional supply of each dispersed liquid component under discrete control of at least one feed pump operation by a controller that sends commands based on the level sensor signal. 
     
     
         5 . The method for making highly sustainable water-fuel emulsion according to the  claim 2 , wherein the method includes the return of a certain part of emulsion taken from the bottom area of absorber #1, e.g.—water that is escaped emulsion, to the first stage water tank through the emulsion quality indicator, while the principal part of the emulsion is directed to the storage tank; this is accompanied by feeding the gases emitted in the storage tank to the absorber #1 where they are mixed with the make-up gas for repeated dissolution. 
     
     
         6 . An absorber for making highly sustainable emulsion, operating at an excessive pressure of gas or a gas mixture, and having ports for intake of liquid components and a gaseous components, as well as spraying devices in the top part of the absorber; all components supply ports are preferably equipped with valves to prevent backflows; the absorber also has at least 2 ports in the bottom part with the top one (near-bottom) serving as an emulsion discharge opening for feeding emulsion to the quality control fixture and is hydraulically connected through an indicator with the water storage tank. 
     
     
         7 . A system for production of highly sustainable water-fuel emulsion without the use of emulsifiers and other chemicals wherein the system has an absorber hydraulically connected to a water source and a standard liquid hydrocarbon fuel source; it is also connected to a high-pressure gas; the absorber has inlet ports for introduction of the aforementioned components as well as it has ports for discharge of the prepared emulsion and it is equipped with an external level sensor that sends commands to the feed pumps.