Fuel vaporization system and method
First Claim
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1. A system for vaporizing liquid fuel supplied to an engine, the system comprising:
- a compressed air source;
a fuel source;
a fuel/air mixer coupled to the compressed air source and the fuel source for receiving air from the compressed air source and fuel from the fuel source and combining the air and fuel into a fuel/air mixture;
a heat exchanger coupled to the fuel/air mixer for heating and vaporizing any liquid fuel contained in the fuel/air mixture; and
a supply line coupled to the heat exchanger for supplying the heated and vaporized fuel/air mixture from the heat exchanger to the engine.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a system and method for vaporizing liquid fuel. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention includes a pressurized air source, a liquid fuel source, a fuel/air mixer for combining air from the compressed air source and fuel from the fuel source into a fuel/air mixture, and a heat exchanger for vaporizing any liquid fuel in the fuel/air mixture.
25 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A system for vaporizing liquid fuel supplied to an engine, the system comprising:
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a compressed air source; a fuel source; a fuel/air mixer coupled to the compressed air source and the fuel source for receiving air from the compressed air source and fuel from the fuel source and combining the air and fuel into a fuel/air mixture; a heat exchanger coupled to the fuel/air mixer for heating and vaporizing any liquid fuel contained in the fuel/air mixture; and a supply line coupled to the heat exchanger for supplying the heated and vaporized fuel/air mixture from the heat exchanger to the engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for vaporizing liquid fuel supplied to an engine, said system comprising:
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an air source; a fuel source; a plurality of fuel/air mixers, each coupled to the air source and the fuel source, for combining air from the air source and fuel from the fuel source into a fuel/air mixture; a first manifold coupled to fuel source and the plurality of fuel/air mixers for supplying fuel from the fuel source to the fuel/air mixers; and a heat exchanger coupled to the plurality of fuel/air mixers for heating and vaporizing any liquid fuel in the fuel/air mixture. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A heat exchanger for use with a fuel vaporization system, said heat exchanger comprising:
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a first chamber and a second chamber; a heating tube traversing the first chamber and terminating in the second chamber; an inlet and an outlet for the first chamber; a pathway formed between the inlet and the outlet to thereby allow a thermal source to pass through the first chamber; and a vapor outlet formed in the second chamber for supplying a vaporized fuel/air mixture to an engine. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of vaporizing liquid fuel prior to combustion in an engine, said method comprising:
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distributing pressurized air from a compressor to each of a plurality of fuel/air mixers; distributing liquid fuel to each of the plurality of fuel/air mixers; combining the pressurized air and the liquid fuel to form a fuel/air mixture; directing the fuel/air mixture to a heat exchanger through one or more heating tubes; vaporizing any liquid fuel in the fuel/air mixture at the heat exchanger; and supplying the vaporized fuel/air mixture to the engine. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A system for vaporizing liquid fuel supplied to an engine, said system comprising:
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a fuel supply; a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising an inlet tube for carrying fuel into the heat exchanger; and an electronically controlled fuel injector; wherein the fuel injector injects fuel from the fuel supply into the inlet tube of the heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49)
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Specification