Coherent-structure fuel treatment systems and methods

Abstract

Fuel efficiency in a combustion engine is increased by treating the fuel in a reaction chamber prior to delivering the fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine. The method includes the step of entraining a stream of exhaust gas to travel upstream through the reactor chamber in a first flow pattern. The method also includes the step of entraining a stream of fuel to travel downstream through the reactor chamber in a second flow pattern, where at least one of the first and second flow patterns comprises a structured turbulent flow.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A system for reforming a substance, comprising:
 a first housing;   a second housing that entrains a stream of the substance and that is disposed within the first housing, wherein the second housing encloses an inner wall with surface features that are substantially large enough to be identified by naked eyes, and comprise a pattern of features selected from a group consisting of bumps, dimples, cavities, ridges, grooves, and wedges; and   a connection structure that entrains the stream of the substance from a first end of the second housing to a first end of the first housing.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the inner wall comprises coherent surface features that entrain the second stream to travel in a coherent-structured turbulence. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein an inner wall of the first housing also includes surface features that are substantially large enough to be identified by naked eyes, and comprise a pattern of features selected from the group consisting of bumps, dimples, cavities, ridges, grooves, and wedges. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein an outer wall of the second housing comprises coherent surface features that cooperates with coherent surface features on the inner wall of the first housing to entrain the first stream to travel in a coherent structured turbulence. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprises an inlet that connects to a second end of the second housing and entrains the stream of the substance into the second housing. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising an outlet that connects to a second end of the first housing and entrains the stream of the substance out of the system. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprises a wave guide disposed in a cavity of the second housing. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the wave guide comprises a powered electrode. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the inner wall of the second housing comprises an electrode with opposite electrical polarity to the powered electrode of the wave guide. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the wave guide has a shape, selected from a list consisting of a rod, an egg, a sphere, and an ellipsoid. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the wave guide has a surface catalyst comprising an element selected from a group consisting of Fe, Ti, Ni, Pd, Pt and Cu. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a magnetic field producer disposed in the second housing and configured to apply a magnetic field to at least a portion of the stream of the substance within the second housing. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the magnetic field producer comprises a stimulation coil. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the inner and an outer wall of the second housing has a surface catalyst comprising at least one of an element selected from a group consisting of Fe, Ti, Ni, Pd, Pt and Cu. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising an energy pickup coil configured to receive electrical energy from the stream of the substance, and an action of a wave guide disposed within the second housing. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising an ion field generator disposed within the second housing and configured to generate ions within the stream of the substance. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising an electric field generator disposed within the second housing and configured to apply an external electric field to at least a portion of the stream of the substance. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a high voltage electrode configured to ionize the substance. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising one of a filter or a catalyst substrate disposed within the first housing. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein an enclosure of the second housing comprises pores large enough to enable at least a portion of the stream of the substance to travel from the first housing into the second housing. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the substance comprises a liquid.