Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPARATUS FOR OPTIMIZING HYDROCARBON COMBUSTION
This invention is in the field of devices for the
enhancement of hydrocarbon combustion, and more
specifically devices for the enhancement of hydrocarbon
combustion by electromagnetic radiation.
BACKGROUND
Inefficient burning of hydrocarbon fuels has many negative
consequences. With the existence of only a limited amount
of hydrocarbon fuels and the high cost of these fuels to a
consumer, it is desirable to try to conserve as much of
these resources as possible.
In addition to the economic benefits to hydrocarbon
conservation, the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels are
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harmful to the environment - when hydrocarbons are not
burned completely, residual hydrocarbons are expelled
through an exhaust pipe or chimney, which wastes energy and
money, and furthermore pollutes the environment. This
atmospheric pollution is a key contributor to the concept
of global warming which is of great concern to people
around the world.
Provision of a method or apparatus for
the more efficient combustion of hydrocarbons which would
reduce atmospheric pollution would be desirable in an
environmental context.
In addition to the benefits which could be gained
environmentally from the burning of hydrocarbon fuels a
higher fuel to energy conversion efficiency, there will
also be economic benefits. In
addition to residual
material discharge into the environment, low efficiency
hydrocarbon combustion can also leave behind residue in the
combustion engine which requires additional maintenance or
could shorten the life of that equipment.
Reducing wear
and tear on the engine or other apparatus in which those
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fuels are being burned, by enhancing hydrocarbon
combustion, would also be desirable insofar as it would
decrease maintenance.
Many different attempts have been made in the past to
develop products which can be used to increase the
efficiency at which hydrocarbon fuels are burned. A number
of these devices use an electric field which acts on
hydrocarbon fuels to help the fuel burn more efficiently.
Other devices have attempted to enhance the efficiency of
hydrocarbon combustion using the magnetic field of
permanent magnets, claiming that applying a permanent
magnetic field to hydrocarbon fuels immediately before
combustion in some fashion alters the fuels electrical
properties and increases the efficiency of combustion.
Some examples of prior patents in the field of permanent
magnets used in this fashion include United States patents
4,572,145, 3,830,621 and 5,080,080.
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Other devices apply an electrostatic charge to the fuel at
the nozzle of the fuel injector before combustion, reducing
the viscosity of the fuel by imparting a negative charge
onto the individual atoms. When
this happens, the atoms
repel each other making the fuel less viscous. As the
viscosity is lower, when a fuel injector injects the fuel
to be burned, the fuel breaks up into smaller particles and
burns more completely. The drawback with these devices is
that they require a specific fuel injector that can be
difficult and expensive to install.
Some of the problems which are associated with these
previous electric or magnetic devices which could be
installed in a motor vehicle for example to endeavor to
enhance hydrocarbon combustion efficiency include
difficulties with installation as well as the complexity of
the device itself. On the
point of installation, many
electric or magnetic devices might use coils or cables to
produce the electric or magnetic field which is required
for operation of the device, and the installation of coils
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or cables in the pre-existing engine compartment or on fuel
lines etc. can be difficult or complex requiring
professional service work to be done in the vehicle and
potentially decreasing the marks of acceptance or
acceptability of those products. It would be desirable to
provide, in the context of an electromagnetic combustion
optimization device, a device which could be easily and
quickly installed by the owner in a motor vehicle or on
some other internal combustion engine. In addition to
internal combustion engines, any other application in which
hydrocarbon fuels are burned could be enhanced similarly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an
electromagnetic radiation treatment device to enhance the
combustion of hydrocarbon fuels that will enhance internal
combustion Or other energy combustion applications
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performance by moving towards optimized hydrocarbon
combustion, and will reduce gas emissions.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide
an electromagnetic radiation treatment device to enhance
hydrocarbon fuel combustion in an internal combustion
engine or other energy combustion application or device,
which is simple to install without the need for the use of
a skilled technician.
Specifically it is desired to
provide a device which requires only the installation of
two cables for its functionality and does not employ any
magnet or electromagnet, or coil.
Reduction of the
complexity of components which need to be installed with
this type of a device will represent a significant
installation enhancement over the prior art.
A power supply is attached to the hydrocarbon combustion
optimizer device to provide the hydrocarbon combustion
optimizer device with electric power. The
power supply
could be an electrical power supply, a battery etc. In an
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embodiment, an apparatus for the treatment of hydrocarbon
fuels comprises a hydrocarbon combustion optimizer device
containing electronic components which produce a specific
frequency between 30 KHz and 1MHz of two balanced
alternating opposite sinusoidal high voltages between
2,000V to 100,000V. The
voltages are intermittent,
alternating, and sinusoidal. The
intermittency of the
applied alternating voltage can have a period of 1 second
to 1 microsecond, and the duration is from 100 milliseconds
to 1 microsecond. Also attached to the hydrocarbon
combustion optimizer device are two wires that constitute a
dipole antenna, which is situated close to a supplying
hydrocarbon fuel pipe or storage tank.
A method for optimizing the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels
comprises providing an hydrocarbon combustion optimizer
device containing electronic components which produce a
specific frequency between 30 KHz and 1MHz of two
alternating opposite sinusoidal balanced high voltages
between 2,000V to 100,000V. The voltages are intermittent,
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alternating, and sinusoidal. The
intermittency of the
applied alternating voltage can have a period of 1 second
to 1 microsecond, and the duration is from 100 milliseconds
to 1 microsecond. A power
supply is attached to the
hydrocarbon combustion optimizer device to provide the
hydrocarbon combustion optimizer device with electric
power. Also
attached to the hydrocarbon combustion
optimizer device is a dipole antenna which is situated
close to a supplying hydrocarbon fuel pipe or storage tank.
In operation, a user installs the hydrocarbon combustion
optimizer device for treatment of hydrocarbon fuels. The
user attaches the hydrocarbon combustion optimizer device
to a power supply (power supply, battery etc.), mounts
device body and positions the dipole antenna close to a
supplying hydrocarbon fuel pipe or storage tank. In a
circumstance where more than one supply pipe or fuel stream
was present or used in a combustion application, more than
one dipole antenna could be attached to the device and each
attached in proximity to one of such pipes or hydrocarbon
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supply streams - alternatively, the antenna could be
attached in proximity to the fuel storage tank or reservoir
to eliminate the need for use of more than one antenna.
The simplicity of the installation of the device can be
seen.
The length of the wires constituting the dipole antenna
will depend on the specific electromagnetic frequency
produced by the hydrocarbon combustion optimizer device.
When electric power is flowing from the power supply
(battery, power supply etc.) to the hydrocarbon combustion
optimizer device, the components in the hydrocarbon
combustion optimizer device will produce a specific
frequency between 30 KHz and 1MHz of two balanced
alternating opposite sinusoidal high voltages of between
2,000V to 100,000V in the dipole antenna. The voltages are
intermittent, alternating, and sinusoidal. The
magnitude
of the alternating voltages on the dipole antenna will
depend on the type of hydrocarbon being used, the quantity
of the hydrocarbon, and the speed that the hydrocarbon fuel
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travels through the fuel stream, if a fuel stream is
present (if a flowing fuel stream is not present or the
combustion application or engine is deactivated, the device
could or would be disconnected or shut off).
The generated frequencies are stable, clear of harmonics,
and the frequency depends on the type of hydrocarbon fuel.
The intermittency of the applied alternating voltage can
have a period of 1 second to 1 microsecond, and the
duration is from 100 milliseconds to 1 microsecond. The
intermittency will be dependent on the type of hydrocarbon
fuel, the quantity, and the speed that it streams through
the supplying pipe, if a supplying pipe is present, or
through the storage reservoir or tank as the case may be.
The present invention provides a device and method useful
in reducing the amount of greenhouses gases emitted by
virtue of inefficient hydrocarbon combustion. The present
invention is designed to be environmentally friendly and
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easy for a consumer to install without the need for an
experienced or skilled technician.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions
hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the
accompanying detailed description which may be best
understood in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams
where like parts in each of the several diagrams are
labeled with like numbers, and where:
Fig. 1 is a voltage pattern diagram shown for the
purposes of demonstration of the voltages intended for
use in the production of a dipolar electromagnetic
field, and specifically to show the period of the
voltages and the duration of the intermittency;
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Fig . 2 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of
the hydrocarbon combustion optimizer of the invention;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of
Figure 2, also showing the attachment of a power
supply to the device and installed for use on a fuel
supply pipe;
Figure 4 is a side perspective view of the embodiment
of Fig. 2 installed for use on a fuel storage tank;
and
Figure 5 is a diagram of the voltage patterns in each
of the wires constituting the dipole antenna.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
The general concept of the present invention is to provide
a device which will apply an electromagnetic field to
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hydr ocarb on fuel. The application of two alternating high
voltages in close proximity to the hydrocarbon fuel stock
create an electromagnetic field that acts on the
hydrocarbon fuel in the fuel stream or fuel storage tank.
The applied electromagnetic field modifies the properties
of the hydrocarbon isomers, resulting in the reduction of
pollutants and in a higher fuel to energy conversion
efficiency. The
application of an electromagnetic field
imposing on hydrocarbon molecules a high voltage
electrostatic space charge has the ability to change the
behaviour of the hydrocarbon molecules through oxidation,
radicalization, or positional isomerism.
Modifying these
properties of the isomers enables a more uniform reaction
during combustion, substantially reducing the likelihood of
unburned or partially burned fuel.
Referring to Figure 1 for the purpose of outlining the
voltage wave pattern of the present invention, the voltage
is intermittent, alternating, and sinusoidal. The
generated frequencies are stable, clear of harmonics, and
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t he frequency depends on the type of hydrocarbon fuel. The
specific frequency is between 30 KHz and 1MHz of voltages
between 2,000V to 100,000V. The
intermittency of the
applied alternating voltage can have a period 51 of 1
second to 1 microsecond, and the duration 52 is from 100
milliseconds to 1 microsecond.
Device:
Fig. 2 illustrates a hydrocarbon combustion optimizer 10 in
an embodiment of the present invention. The
hydrocarbon
combustion optimizer device body 20 contains electronic
components which produce a specific frequency between 30
KHz and 1MHz of two balanced alternating opposite
sinusoidal high voltages between 2,000V to 100,000V. The
voltages are intermittent, alternating, and sinusoidal.
The intermittency of the applied alternating voltage can
have a period of 1 second to 1 microsecond, and the
duration is from 100 milliseconds to 1 microsecond.
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Al s o attached to the hydrocarbon combustion optimizer
device body 20 are two wires 30 and 31 that constitute a
dipole antenna 35. The
two wires 30 and 31 are equal in
length. The
dipole antenna 35 is situated close to a
hydrocarbon fuel supply or stream -- in this particular
case, Fig. 3 illustrates the hydrocarbon combustion
optimizer 10 installed for use on a fuel supplying pipe 12,
by placement of the dipole antenna 35 in proximity to the
fuel supply pipe 12.
Fig. 4 illustrates the hydrocarbon combustion optimizer 10
of Fig. 2, installed for use on a fuel storage tank 14
rather than a fuel supply pipe. The
embodiment shown in
this Figure also includes a power supply 15. As outlined
elsewhere herein, the power supply 15 might be any
electrical power supply, battery etc. capable of providing
the necessary power to the electrical components of the
device 10 for its operation in accordance with the
remainder of this specification. The power
supply 15 is
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attached to the hydrocarbon combustion optimizer device
body 20 to provide the hydrocarbon combustion optimizer
device body 20 with electric power. Cables
or wires 32
attaching the power supply 15 to the remainder of the
device 10 are shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4.
Circuitry:
In addition to the overall hydrocarbon combustion optimizer
10 of the present invention and the method used disclosed
herein, it will also be understood that contemplated within
the present invention is the actual circuit which would be
used within the hydrocarbon combustion optimizer 10 to
convert or transform the power supply 15 into the
alternating sinusoidal waveform voltages which are required
for application to the dipole antenna 35 and the remainder
of the device and method of the present invention.
Method of installation and use:
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To use the device 10, a user positions the dipole antenna
35 close to a hydrocarbon fuel supply, and verifies the
connection or operability of the power supply 15. It is
anticipated within the scope of the invention that an LED
or other indicator can be utilized to verify the
operability and a working connection to the power supply.
The user ensures that the first wire 30 and the second wire
31 extend in opposite directions to each other, and are
placed parallel and in close proximity to the fuel stream
or supply.
When electric power is flowing from the power supply 15 to
the hydrocarbon combustion optimizer device body 20, the
electronic components in the device body 20 produce a
specific frequency between 30 KHz and 1MHz of two balanced
alternating opposite sinusoidal high voltages of voltage
between 2,000V to 100,000V in the dipole antenna 35, as
shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. The voltages are intermittent,
alternating, and sinusoidal, as shown in Fig. 5. The
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1 ength of the wires 30 and 31 constituting the dipole
antenna 35 will depend on the produced specific frequency
of the hydrocarbon combustion optimizer device body 20.
The magnitude of the applied dipole alternating voltages
will depend on the type of hydrocarbon being used, the
quantity of the hydrocarbon, and the speed that the
hydrocarbon fuel travels through the fuel stream/tank
14/supply pipe 12.
Referring again to Fig. 1, the generated frequencies are
stable, clear of harmonics, and the frequency depends on
the type of hydrocarbon fuel. The
intermittency of the
applied alternating voltage can have a period 51 of 1
second to 1 microsecond, and the duration 52 is from 100
milliseconds to 1 microsecond. The
intermittency will be
dependent on the type of hydrocarbon fuel, the quantity,
and the speed that it streams through the supplying pipe
12, if a supplying pipe 12 is present. The
hydrocarbon
combustion optimizer 10 can be permanently installed in
this manner, and the installation process is simple and can
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be installed without the need for a skilled or experienced
technician.
The two alternating high voltages create an electromagnetic
field that acts on the hydrocarbon fuel in the fuel stream
12 or fuel storage tank 14. The
applied electromagnetic
field modifies the properties of the hydrocarbon isomers
and participates fully in the combustion process, resulting
in the reduction of pollutants and in a higher fuel to
energy conversion efficiency. This action on the molecules
of the hydrocarbon fuel imposes a high voltage
electrostatic space charge so as to change the positional
isomerism of the hydrocarbon molecules. The high voltage
electrostatic space charge has the ability to change the
behaviour of the molecules through oxidation,
radicalization, or positional isomerism.
Modifying these
properties of the isomers enables a more uniform reaction
during combustion, substantially reducing the likelihood of
unburned or partially burned fuel.
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It will also be understood that the method of enhancing
hydrocarbon combustion by the application of an
electromagnetic field in close proximity to the fuel source
in an internal combustion application or any other energy
or combustion application in which combustion of
hydrocarbon fuels takes place, as outlined above, is
contemplated within the scope hereof.
The method of installation of the device 10 would ideally
require only the straightforward mounting of a dipole
antenna 35 in close proximity to the hydrocarbon source
with at most the need for installation of two cables used
as an antenna. As
will be understood from elsewhere in
this document, the electromagnetic field is generated by
the application of alternating sinusoidal waveform voltages
between 2000 V and 100,000 V at alternating frequencies
between 30 kHz and 1 MHz.
Variations in waveform patterns:
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I t will be understood also by those skilled in the art that
while the balanced alternating sinusoidal waveform voltages
applied to the two sides of the dipole antenna 35 would be
valued each between 2000 V and 100,000 V, the waveform
voltages applied may not be the same value on either side
i.e. while it is possible to apply the same voltage to each
side of the dipole antenna 35, in certain applications it
may be desirable to apply different waveforms or voltages
to the two sides of the antenna 35. Each such approach is
contemplated within the scope hereof.
Similarly, while it is contemplated that the sinusoidal
voltage frequencies on either side of the dipole antenna 35
would be between 30 kHz and 1 MHz, again those frequencies
might either be the same or may not be the same dependent
upon the application in question and all the necessary
modifications to the method and components outlined herein
to accomplish the objective of rendering a dipole antenna
35 with voltages variable or varied, and stable frequencies
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that can be varied, on either side of the antenna 35 are
contemplated within the scope of the present invention in
addition to the more basic embodiment in which the voltage
or frequency would be the same on either side thereof.
As in the case of the voltages or frequencies, it will
similarly be understood the intermittent period of the
alternating voltages on the dipole antenna 35 would be
between 1 us and one second. The duration of the
intermittent period could also be the same or different on
the two sides of the dipole antenna 35 and the voltages in
question, where the intermittent period on either side
could have a duration between 100 ms to 1 us.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention.
Further, since numerous
changes and modifications will readily occur to those
skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the
invention to the exact construction and operation shown and
described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or
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modifications in structure or operation which may be
resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the
claimed invention.
