Method for Utilizing Aluminum as Fuel

Abstract

A method to provide renewable energy by utilizing aluminum, which is easy to store and stably suppliable, as a fuel without harming the environment or human body. Aluminum powder and oxygen are introduced into a combustion chamber and subjected to stationary combustion. The stationary combustion of aluminum is conducted by controlling either or both amounts of aluminum powder and oxygen introduced into the chamber. The amount of the aluminum powder is controlled by the amount of aluminum powder sucked into a jet stream of a carrier gas that introduces the powder into the combustion chamber, or by the amount of an impurity to be mixed with the powder. The amount of oxygen is controlled by the mixing ratio of oxygen to a diluent gas introduced simultaneously. The alumina from the combustion is recovered, reduced to aluminum, and recycled as a fuel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for utilizing aluminum as fuel, in which aluminum being combusted and energy generated by the combustion being extracted and utilized,
 characterized in that aluminum powders and oxygen are introduced into a combusting chamber for causing the aluminum to be combusted, during which combustion speed is controlled so as to achieve stable and continuous combustion of aluminum, and that energy generated by such stable and continuous combustion of alumina is extracted for utilizing the same.   
     
     
         2 . The method for utilizing aluminum as fuel according to  claim 1 , wherein, at the time of combusting aluminum in the stable and continuous condition, controlling combustion speed of aluminum is achieved by controlling either amount of aluminum powders or amount of oxygen to be introduced into a combusting chamber, or by controlling both of these amounts. 
     
     
         3 . The method for utilizing aluminum as fuel according to  claim 2 , wherein controlling the amount of aluminum powders to be introduced into the combusting chamber is achieved by either controlling the amount of aluminum powders to be dragged into carrier gas used for introducing the powders into the combusting chamber, or by controlling amount of impurities to be mixed to the aluminum powders. 
     
     
         4 . The method for utilizing aluminum as fuel according to  claim 3 , wherein the impurity is either alumina powders, water, or steam. 
     
     
         5 . The method for utilizing aluminum as fuel according to  claim 2 , wherein the controlling amount of oxygen to be introduced into the combusting chamber is achieved by controlling mixing ratio of the oxygen relative to dilution gas which is to be introduced together with the oxygen. 
     
     
         6 . The method for utilizing aluminum as fuel according to  claim 1 , wherein means for extracting energy generated by the stable and continuous combustion is either driving gas turbine or driving steam turbine, or driving both of the turbines by using the combustion gas. 
     
     
         7 . The method for utilizing aluminum as fuel according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further includes either a step of alumina reduction for reducing alumina to thereby generate aluminum, or a step of re-production of aluminum for treating aluminum waste materials to thereby re-produce aluminum powders, before the step of combusting aluminum in the stable and continuous condition. 
     
     
         8 . The method for utilizing aluminum as fuel according to  claim 7 , wherein the step of alumina reduction comprises a step of thermal dissociation in which alumina powders are heated using heating means to make it into plasma state so as to dissociate alumina powders into aluminum and oxygen, and a step of isolating aluminum by ejecting the gas in the plasma state in a supersonic jet stream to thereby convert the gas into frozen flows. 
     
     
         9 . The method for utilizing aluminum as fuel according to  claim 8 , wherein hydrogen is added to the operating gas so as to promote reduction of alumina by the effect of the hydrogen. 
     
     
         10 . The method for utilizing aluminum as fuel according to  claim 7 , wherein, after the step of alumina reduction or the step of re-production of aluminum, and before the step of combusting aluminum in the stable and continuous condition, the method further comprises either one of steps of transporting, storing or strategically reserving the aluminum powders that are obtained by the alumina reduction, or obtained by the re-production of aluminum. 
     
     
         11 . The method for utilizing aluminum as fuel according to  claim 1 , wherein a step of recovering alumina created by the stable and continuous combustion of aluminum is further added after a step of extracting energy generated by the stable and continuous combustion of aluminum. 
     
     
         12 . The method for utilizing aluminum as fuel according to  claim 7 , wherein the alumina to be used in the step of aluminum reduction is the alumina that is created after the stable and continuous combustion of aluminum and is collected.