Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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May 16, 1991
WATER FUEL INJECTIO~ SYSTEM
This invention relates to a method and apparatus useful
in producing thermal combustive energy from the hydrogen
component of water.
In my patent no. 4,936,961, UMethod for the Production of
a Fuel Gas," I describe a water fuel cell which produces a
gas energy source by a method that utilizes water as a
dielectric component of a resonant electrical circuit.
In my patent no. 4,826,581, ~Controlled Process for the
Production of Thermal Energy From Gases and Apparatus Useful
Therefore," I describe a method and apparatus for obtaining
the enhanced release of thermal energy from a gas mixture
including hydrogen and oxygen in which the gas is subjected
to various electrical, ionizing and electromagnetic fields.
In my co-pending application serial no. 07/460,859,
"Process and Apparatus for the Production of Fuel Gas and the
Enhanced Release of Thermal Energy from Fuel Gas,~ I describe
various means and methods for obtaining the release of
thermal/combustive energy from the hydrogen (H) component of
a fuel gas obtained from the disassociation of a water (H2O)
molecule by a process which utilizes the dielectric
properties of water in a resonant circuit; and in that
application I more thoroughly describe the physical dynamics
and chemical aspects of the water-to-fuel conversion process.
The invention of this present application represents a
generational improvement in methods and apparatus useful in
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the utilization of water as a fuel source. In brief, the
present invention is a microminiatureized water fuel cell and
permits the direct injection of water, and its simultaneous
transformation into a hydrogen containing fuel, in a
combustion zone, such as a cylinder in an internal combustion
engine, a jet engine, or furnace. Alternatively the
injection system of the present invention may be utilized in
any non-engine application in which a concentrated flame or
heat source is desired, for e~ample, welding.
The present injection system eliminates the need for an
enclosed gas pressure vessel in a hydrogen fuel system and
thereby reduces a potential physical hazard heretofore
associated with the use of hydrogen-based fuel~. The system
produce~ fuel on demand in real-time operation and sets up an
integrated environment of optimum parameters so that a
water-to-fuel conversion process works at high efficiency.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is more fully
explained below with reference to the drawings in which:
Figure 1 figuratively illustrates the sections and
operating zones included in a sinqle injector of the
invention.
Figure 2A iS a side cross sectional view; Figure 2
is a frontal view from the operative end; and Figure
2C is an exploded view -- of an individual injector.
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Figure 3A and Figure 3B respectively show a side
cross-section view and frontal view of an
alternatively configured injector.
Figure 4 shows a disk array of injectors
Figure 5 shows the resonance electrical circuit
including the injector.
Figure 6 depicts the inter-relationship of the
electrical and fuel distribution components of an
injector system.
Although I refer to an ~injector~ herein, the invention
relates not only to the physical configuration of an injector
apparatus but also to the overall process and system
parameters determined in the apparatus to achieve the release
of thermal energy. In a basic outline, an injector regulates
the introduction into a combustion zone of process
constituents and sets up a fuel misture condition permitting
combustion. That combustion condition is triggered
simultaneously with injector operation in real time
correspondence with control parameters for the process
constituents.
In the fuel mixture condition that is created by the
injector, water (H20) is atomized into a fine spray and mixed
with (1) ionized ambient air gases and (2) other
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non-combustible gases such as nitrogen, argon and other rare
gases, and water vapor. (Exhaust gas produced by the
combustion of hydrogen with oxygen is a non-combustible water
vapor. This water vapor and other inert gases resulting from
combustion may be recycled from an exhaust outlet in the
injector system back into the input misture of
non-combustible gases.) The fuel mis is introduced at a
consistent flow rate maintained under a predetermined
pressure. In the triggering of the condition created by the
injector, the conversion procesæ described in my patent no.
4,936,961 and co-pending applicaiton serial no. 07/460,859 is
set off spontaneously on a Umicro~ level in a predetermined
reaction zone. The injector creates a mi~ture, under
pressure in a definded zone ~or locus), of water, ionized
gases and non-combustible gases. Pressure is an important
factor in the maintenance of the reaction condition and
causes the water mist/gas misture to become intimately mixed,
compressed, and destabilized to produce combustion when
activated under resonance conditons of ignition. In
accordance with the aforementioned converstion process of my
patent and application, when water is subjected to a
resonance condition water molecules expand and distend;
electrons are ejected from the water molecule and absorbed by
ionized gases; and the water molecule, thus destabilized,
breaks down into its elemental components of hydrogen (2H)
and osygen (O) in the combustion zone. The hydrogen atoms
released from the molecule provide the fuel source in the
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mixture for combustion with oxygen. The present invention is
an application of that process and is outlined in Table I:
__________________________ _____
TABLE I
Injector Mixture + Process Conditions = Thermal Enerqy
(1) Water Mist (1) Release Under(1) ~eat
pressure into
and Combustion Zoneor
and(2) Internal
Combustion
(2) Ionized Gas (2) Resonance utilizing Engine
the dielectric(Esplosive
property of water force)
as a capacitor
and or
and (3) Jet
Engine
(3) Non-Combustible (3) Unipolar pulsing
Gas at high voltage or
(4) Other
application
_____________________________
The process occurs as water mist and gases are injected
under pressure into, and intimately mixed in the combustion
zone and an electrically polarized zone. In the electrically
polarized zone, the water mixture is subjected to a unipolar
pulsed direct current voltage that is tuned to achieve
resonance in accordance with the electrical, mass and other
characteristics of the mixture as a dielectric in the
environment of the combustion zone. The resonant frequency
will vary according to injector configuration and depends
upon the physical characteristics, such as mass and volume of
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water and gases in the zone. As my prior patents and
application point out, the resonant condition in the
capacitative circuit is determined by the dielectric
properties of water: (1) as the dielectric in a capacitor
formed by adjacent conductive surfaces and (2) as the water
molecule itself is a polar dielectric material. At
resonance, current flow in the resonant electrical circuit
will be minimized and voltage will peak.
The injector system provides a pressurized fuel mixture
for subjection to the resonant environment of the voltage
combustion zone as the mixture is introduced to the zone. In
a preferred embodiment, the injector includes concentrically
nested serial orifices, one for each oS three constituent
elements of the fuel mi~ture. (It may be feasible to combine
and process non-combustible and ionized gases in advance of
the injector. In this event only two orifices are required,
one for the water and the other for the combined gases.) The
orifices disperse the water mist and gases under pressure
into a conically shaped activation and combustion zone (or
locus).
Figure lA shows a transverse cross-section of an injector
in which supply lines for water 1 ionized gas 2 and
non-combustible gas 3 feed into a distribution disk assembly
4 having concentrically nested orifices. The fuel mixture
passes through a mi~ing zone 5 and voltage zone 6 created by
electrodes or conductive surfaces 7a and 7b (positive) and 8
(negative or ground). Electrical field lines as shown as 6al
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and 6a2 and 6bl and 6b2. Combustion (i.e., the osidation of
hydrogen) occurs in the zone 9. Ignition of the hydrogen can
be primed by a spark or may occur spontaneously as a result
of the exectionally high volatility of hydrogen and its
presence in a high voltage field. Although a differentiation
of the mixing zone, the voltage zone and the combustion zone
is made in explaining the invention, that differentiation
relates to events or conditions in a process continuum, and
as is evident from Figure l, the zones are not physically
discrete. In the zone(s), there is produced an ~escited"
mixture of vaporized water mist, ionized gases and other
non-combustible gases all of which have been instantaneously
released from under high pressure. Simultaneously, the
released misture is esposed to a pulsed voltage in the
zone/locus at a fre~uency corresponding to electrical
resonance. Under these conditions, outer shell electrons of
atoms in the water molecule are de-stabilized and molecular
time share is interrupted. Thus, the gas misture in the
injector zone is subjected to physical, electrical and
chemical interactive forces which cause a breakdown of the
atomic bonding forces of the water molecule.
Process parameters are determined based on the size of a
particular injector. In an injector sized appropriately for
use to provide a fuel mixture to a conventional cylinder in a
passenger vehicle automobile engine, the injector may
resemble a conventional spark plug. In such an injector, the
water orifice is .1~ to .15 in~h in dia~ter the ionized ges
a
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orifice is .15 to .20 inch in diameter; and the
non-combustible gas orifice is .20 to .25 inch in diameter.
In such a configuration, the serial orifices increase in size
from the innermost orifice, as appropriate to a concentric
configuration. AS noted above, the introduction of the fuel
components is desirably maintained at a constant rate;
maintenance of a back pressure of about 125 pounds per square
inch for each of the three fuel gas constituents appears
satisfactorily useful for a ~spark-plug~ injector. In the
pressurized environment of the injector, spring loaded
one-way check valves in each supply line, such as 14 and 15,
maintain pressure during pulse off times.
The voltage zone 6 surrounds the pressurized fuel mi~ture
and provides an electrically charged environment of pulsed
direct current in the range from about 500 to 20,000 and more
volts at a frequency tuned into the resonant characteristic
of the misture. This frequency will typically lie within the
range of from about 20XHz to about 50 XHz, dependent, as
noted above, on the mass flow of the mixture from the
injector and the dielectric property of-the mixture. In a
spark-plug sized injector, the voltage zone will typically
extend longitudinally about .25 to 1.0 inch to permit
sufficient dwell time of the water mist and gas mixture
between the conductive sufaces 7 and 8 that form a capacitor
so that resonance occurs at a high voltaqe pulsed frequency
and combustion is triggered. In the zone, an energy wave is
formed related to the resonant pulse frequency. The wave
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continues to pulse through the flame in the combustion zone.
The thermal energy produced is released as heat energy. In a
confined zone such as a piston/cylinder engine, gas
detonation under resonant conditions produces e2plosive
physical power.
In the voltage zone, the time share ratio of the hydrogen
and osygen atoms comprising the individual water molecules in
the water mist is upset in accordance with the process
explained in my aforementioned patent no. 4,9~6,961 and
application serial no. 07/460,859. To wit, the water
molecule which is itself a polar structure, is distended or
distorted in shape by being subjected to the polar electric
field in the voltage zone. The resonant condition induced in
the molecule by the unipolar pul6es upsets the molecular
bonding of shell electrons such that the water molecule, at
resonance, breaks apart into its constituent atoms. In the
voltage zone, the water (H2O) molecules are excited into an
ionized state; and the pre-ionized gas component of the fuel
mi2ture captures the electrons released from the water
molecule. In this manner at the resonant condition, the
water molecule is destabilized and the constituent atomic
elements of the molecule, 2H and O, are released; and the
released hydrogen atoms are available for combustion. The
non-combustible gases in the fuel mixture reduce the burn
rate of hydrogen to that of a hydrocarbon fuel such as
gasoline or kerosene from its normal burn rate (which is
appro2imately 2.5 times that of gasoline). Hence the
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presence of non-combustible gases in the fuel mixture
moderates energy release and modulate the rate at which the
free hydrogen and oxygen molecules combine in the combustion
process.
The conversion process does not spontaneously occur and
the condition in the zone must be carefully fine tuned to
achieve an optimum input flow rate for water and the gases
corresponding to the maintenance of a resonant condition.
The input water mist and gases may likewise be injected into
the zone in a physically pulsed [on/off] manner corresponding
to the resonance achieved. In an internal combustion engine,
the resonance of the electrical circuit and the physical
pulsing of the input misture may be required to be related to
the combustion cycle of the reciprocating engine. In this
regard, one or two conventional spark plugs may require a
spark cycle tuned in correspondence to the conversion cycle
resonance so that combustion of the mi~ture will occur.
Thus, the input flow, conversion rate and combustion rate are
interrelated and optimally should each be tuned in accordance
with the circuit resonance at which conversion occurs.
The injection system of the present invention is suited
to retrofit applications in conventionally fueled gasoline
and diesel internal combustion engines and conventionally
fueled jet aircraft engines.
_________________________________
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EXAMPL~ 1
Figures 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate a type of
injector useful, inter alia as a fuel source for
a conventional internal combustion engine. In
the cross-section of Figure 2A, reference
numerals corresponding to identifying numerals
used in Figure 1 show a supply line for water 1
leading to first distribution disc la and supply
line for ionized gas 2, leading to second
distribution disc 2a. In the cross section, the
supply line for non-combustible gas 3 leading to
distribution disc 3a is not illustrated, however,
its location as a third line should be
self-e~ident. The three discs comprise
distribution di~c assembly 4. The supply lines
are formed in an electrically insulating body 10
surrounded by electrically conductive
sheath/housing 11 having a threaded end segment
12.
A central electrode 8 estends the length of
the injector. Conductive elements 7a and 7b (7a
and 7b depict oppositive sides of the diameter in
the cross-section of a circular body) adjacent
- threaded section 12 form, with electrode 8, the
electrical polarization zone 6 pro~imate to
combustion zone 9. An electrical connector 13
may be provided at the other end of the
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injector. (As used herein ~electrode~ refers to
the conductive surface of an element forming one
side of a capacitor.~ In the frontal view of
Figure 2B it is seen that each disc comprising
the distribution disc assembly 9, includes a
plurality of micro-nozzles lal, 2al, 3al, etc~,
for the outlet of the water and gases into the
polarization/voltage and combustion zones. The
esploded view of Figure 2C shows another view of
the injector and additionally depicts two supply
line inlets 16 and 17, the third not being shown
(because of the inability to represent the
uniform 120 separation of three lines in a
two-dimensional drawing).
In the injector, water mist (forming
droplets in the range, for esample, of from 10 to
250 microns and above, with size being related to
voltage intensity) is injected into fuel-misinq
and polarizing zone by way of water spray nozzles
lal. The tendency of water to form a "bead" or
droplet is a parameter related to droplet mist
size and voltage intensity. Ionized air gases
and non-combustible gases, introduced through
nozzles 2al and 3al, are intermixed with the
expelling water mist to form a fuel-mixture which
enters into voltage zone 6 where the mixture is
exposed to a pulsating, unipolar high intensity
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voltage field (typically 20,000 volts at 50 Khz
or above at the resonant condition in which-
current flow in the circuit tamPS) is reduced to
a minimum) created between electrodes 7 and 8.
Laser energy prevents discharge of the
ionized gases and provides additional energy
input into the molecular destabilization process
that occurs at resonance. It is preferable that
the ionized gases be subjected to laser (photonic
energy) activiation in advance of the
introduction of the gases into the zone(s);
although, for esample, a fiber optic conduit may
be useful to direct photonic ene ~ y directly into
the zone. Heat generated in the zone, however,
may affect the operability o such an alternative
coniguration. The electrical polarization of
the water molecule and a resonant condition
occurs to destablize the molecular bonding of the
hydrogen and osygen atoms. By spark ignition,
combustion energy is releasea.
To ensure proper flame projection and
subsequent flame stability, pumps for the ambient
air, non-combustible gas and water introduce
these components to the injector under
static-pressure up to and beyond 125 psi.
Flame temperature is regulated by
controlling the volume flow-rate of each
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fluid-media in direct relationship to applied
voltage intensity. To elevate flame temperature,
fluid displacement is increased while the volume
flow rate of non-combustible gases is maintained
or reduced and the applied voltage amplitude is
increased. To lower flame temperature, the fluid
flow rate of non-combustible gases is increased
and pulse voltage amplitude is lowered. To
establish a predetermined flame temperature, the
fluid media and applied voltage are adjusted
independently. The flame-pattern is further
maintained as the ignited, compressed, and moving
gases are projected from the nozzle-ports in
distribution disc assembly 4 under pressure and
the gas espands in the zone and is ignited.
In the voltage zone several functions occur
simultaneously to initiate and trigger thermal
enerqy-yield. Water mist droplets are esposed to
high intensity pulsating voltage fields in
accordance with an electrical polarization
process that separates the atoms of the water
molecule and causes the atoms to esperience
electron ejection. The polar nature of the water
molecule which facilitates the formation of
minute droplets in the mist appears to cause a
relationship between the droplet size and the
voltage required to effect the process, i.e. the
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greater the droplet size, the higher the voltage
required. The liberated atoms of the water
molecule interact with laser primed ionized
ambient air gases to cause a highly energized and
destablized mass of combustible gas atoms to
thermally ignite. Incoming ambient air gases are
laser primed and ionized when passing through a
gas processor; and an electron e~traction circuit-
(Figure 5) captures and consumes in sink 55
ejected electrons and prevents electron flow into
the resonant circuit.
In terms of performance, reliability and
safety, ionized air gases and water fuel liquid
do not become volatile until the fuel misture
reaches the voltage and combustion zones.
Injected non-combustible gases retard and control
the combustion rate of hydrogen during gas
ignition.
In alternate applications, laser primed
ionized liquid osygen and laser primed liquid
hydrogen stored in separate fuel-tanks can be
used in place of the fuel mi~ture, or liquified
ambient air gases alone with water can be
substituted as a fuel-source.
The injector assembly is design variable and
is retrofitable to fossil fuel injector ports
conventionally used in jet/rocket engines, grain
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dryers, blast furnaces, heating systems, internal
combustion engines and the like.
EXAMPLE II
A flange mounted injector is shown in
cross-section in Figure 3 which shows the fuel
misture inlets and illustrates an alternative
three (3) nozzle configuration leading to the
polarization (voltage) and combustion zones in
which one nozzle 31a, 32a and 33a for each of the
three gas mistures is provided, connected to
supply lines 31 and 32 (33 not shown).
Electrical polarization zone 36 is formed between
electrode 38 and surrounding conductive shell
37. The capacitative element of the resonant
circuit is formed when the fuel misture, as a
dielectric, is introduced between the conductive
surfaces of 37 and 38. Figure 3A is a frontal
view of the operative end of the injector.
EXAMPLE I I I
Multiple injectors may be arranged in a gang
as shown in Figure 4 in which injectors 40, 41,
42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49 are arranged
concentrically in an assembly 50. Such a ganged
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array is useful in applications having intensive
energy requirements such as jet aircraft engines,
and blast furnaces.
EXAMPLE IV
The basic electrical system utilized in the
invention is depicted in Figure S showing the
electrical polarization zone 6 which receives and
processes the water and gas mi~ture as a
capacitive circuit element in a resonant charging
circuit formed by inductors 51 and 52 connected
in series with diode 53, pulsed voltage source
54, electron sink SS and the zone/locus 6 formed
from conductive elements 7 and 8. In this
manner, electrodes 7 and 8 in the injector form a
capacitor which has electrical characteristics
dependent on the dielectric media (e.g., the
water mist, ionized gases, and non-combustible
gases) introduced between the conductive
elements. Within the macro-dielectric media,
however, the water molecules themselves, because
of their polar nature, can be considered
micro-capacitors.
~ ~ 6 7 7 3 ~
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EXAMPLE V
Fuel distribution and management systems
useful with the injector of this application are
described in my co-pending applications for
patent, PCT/US90/6513 and PCT/US90/6407
A distribution block for the assembly is
shown in Figure 6. In Figure 6 the distribution
block pulses and synchronizes the input of the
fuel components in sequence with the electrical
pulsing circuit. The fuel components are
injected into the injector ports in
synchronization with the resonant 'requency to
enhance the energy wave pulse estending from the
voltage zone through the flame. In the
configuration of Figure 6, the electrical system
is interrelated to distribution block 60, gate
valve 61 and separate passageways 62, 63, and 64
or fuel components. The distributor produces a
trigger pulse which activates a pulse shaping
circuit that forms a pulse having a width and
amplitude determined by resonance of the misture
and establishes a dwell time for the mixture in
the zone to produce combustion.
As in my referenced application regarding
control and management and distribution systems
for a hydrogen containing fuel gas produced from
water, the production of hydrogen gas is related
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to pulse frequency on/off time. In the system
shown in Figure 6, the distributor block pulses
the fluid media introduced to the injector in
relationship to the resonant pulse frequency of
the circuit and to the operational on/off gate
pulse frequency. In this manner the rate of
water conversion (i.e., the rate of fuel
production by the injector) can be regulated and
the pattern of resonance in the flame controlled.
~ ~ ~ * ~ *
