Method of and electrolytic-catalytic cell for improving the completion of combustion of oxygenated hydrocarbon fuels by chemically modifying the structure and combustibility thereof, including through developing hydroxyl ions therein

• US 4,968,396 A
• Filed: 01/30/1989
• Issued: 11/06/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Academy of Applied Science Incorporated The 1 Maple Street Concord NH A Non-Profit Educational Corporation of MA
• Original Assignee: Academy of Applied Science, Rines And Rines
• Inventors: Harvey, Draper M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Niebling, John F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GORGOS, KATHRYN L
• Application Number:
  US07/304,187
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 429/17, 429/27, 429/68, 204/101, 204/130, 204/131, 204/242, 204/272, 204/280, 204/292, 204/222, 123/538
• US Class Current: 205/688
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/023 for spark ignition

Abstract

A method and electrolytic catalytic cell that chemically modifies the structure of hydrocarbon fuels in which the cell is immersed, by the electrolytic, electromotive catalytic action of preferably platinum cathodic and zinc anodic elements movably continually contacting and circulating the fuel, giving rise to evenness in ignition and completion of combustion with elimination of noxious by-products largely by combination with the hydroxyl ions formed by the catalytic action.

Claims

1. A method of improving the progression and totality of combustion of oxygenated hydrocarbon fuel that leads to the substantial elimination of noxious emission by-products, comprising immersing within the fuel prior to combustion an electrolytic cell comprising juxtaposed zinc and platinum electrode surfaces to generate electropotentials;

flowing the fuel along said surfaces;

during such flowing, relatively moving the zinc and the platinum electrode surfaces to provide for continual contacting with the fuel to continually generate electropotentials and catalytically convert the oxygen in the fuel to hydroxyl ions and hydrogen oxides which, on combustion with the atmosphere, cause the fuel to propagate ignition evenly through the entire combustion process while substantially eliminating elements that would otherwise form said byproducts.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said platinum surface is provided by a cylinder housing having platinum-surfaced inner wall portions, and the zinc surface is provided by a zinc element positioned within and movable relative to said cylinder housing, said zinc element being shaped to come into intimate contact with said inner wall portions of said cylinder housing, said cylinder housing being perforated to permit the fuel to flow therethrough and to contact said inner wall portions and said zinc element.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which a portion of said cylinder housing has a rhodium surface electrolytically reacting with said zinc element.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 in which said cylinder housing has two of said rhodium-surfaced portions respectively at opposite ends thereof.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the relative surface movement aids the flow of fuel.

6. A method of improving the evenness of progression and degree of completion of combustion of oxygenated hydrocarbon fuel that leads to the substantial elimination of noxious by-products, comprising immersing within the fuel prior to combustion an electrolytic cell comprising juxtaposed zinc and rhodium electrode surfaces to generate electropotentials;

flowing the fuel along said surfaces;

during the flowing, relatively moving the zinc surface and the rhodium surface to provide for continual contacting with the fuel to continually generate electropotentials and catalytically convert the oxygen in the fuel to hydroxyl ions and hydrogen oxides which, on combustion with the atmosphere, cause the fuel to propagate ignition evenly and without excessive temperature peaks through the entire combustion process to effect control of emissions, with particular benefit to a decrease in the production of oxides of nitrogen.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which the fuel and surfaces are moved relatively to insure uniformity of effect throughout the fuel in anticipation of the combustion process.

8. An electrolytic-catalytic cell for hydrocarbon fuels having, in combination, a perforated cathodic housing comprising inner and outer platinum-surfaces and containing therewithin a negative potential anodic element, the anodic element being movable within the housing inner surface with sufficient clearance provided to permit the continual passage of fuel along the housing inner surface and the anodic element.

9. An electrolytic-catalytic cell as claimed in claim 8 in which the anodic element is substantially pure zinc.

10. An electrolytic-catalytic cell as claimed in claim 8 in which the outer housing surface is provided with means for insulating the outer housing surface from a fuel container in which the housing is immersed.

11. An electrolytic-catalytic cell as claimed in claim 8 in which a part of the housing is interiorly surfaced with one of rhodium or rhenium.

12. An electrolytic-catalytic cell as claimed in claim 8 in which the housing is cylindrical and is provided with closing end caps.

13. An electrolytic-catalytic cell as claimed in claim 12 in which the end caps have surfaces consisting of one of rhodium and rhenium.

14. An electrolytic-catalytic cell as claimed in claim 8 in which the anodic element and the housing electrolytically and directly contact one another during operation of the cell within the fuel.

15. An electrolytic-catalytic cell as claimed in claim 8 in which the housing and anodic element are of similar shape but with the anodic element of outer dimensions slightly less than corresponding inner dimensions of the housing.

16. An electrolytic-catalytic cell as claimed in claim 15 in which said shape is cylindrical.

17. An electrolytic-catalytic cell as claimed in claim 8 in which said anodic element comprises pellets of zinc packed within the said housing.

18. An electrolytic catalytic cell as claimed in claim 8 in which moving reciprocation of the anodic element within the housing aids in circulating fuel through the cell.

19. A method of improving the progression and totality of combustion of oxygenated hydrocarbon fuels that leads to the substantial elimination of noxious emission by-products, comprising supplying sufficient hydroxyl ions well-distributed throughout the fuel to propagate combustion evenly through the entire combustion process, thereby substantially eliminating elements that would otherwise form said by-products.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 in which the hydroxyl ions are evenly distributed in the fuel by entrainment prior to combustion.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20 in which said entraining is effected by continual electropotential-metal catalytic action.

22. A method of improving the progression and totality of combustion of oxygenated hydrocarbon fuel that leads to the substantial elimination of noxious emission by-products, comprising immersing within the fuel prior to combustion an electrolytic cell comprising juxtaposed anodic and cathodic electromotive metal electrode surfaces for creating electropotentials;

flowing the fuel along said surfaces to provide for continual contacting of said surfaces to continually generate electropotentials and catalytically convert the oxygen in the fuel to hydroxyl ions and hydrogen oxides which, on combustion with the atmosphere, cause the fuel to propagate ignition evenly through the entire combustion process while substantially eliminating that would otherwise form said by-products.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22 in which said cathodic and anodic surfaces are of platinum and zinc, respectively.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23 in which there is at least one other cathodic surface consisting of one of rhodium and rhenium.

25. A method as claimed in claim 23 in which said noxious by-products include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides which are prevented from forming in the combustion process.

26. A method as claimed in claim 22 in which the cathodic surface is of a platinum-family metal.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26 in which the anodic surface is of zinc.