Method of verifying vehicle emissions

• US 6,216,527 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1999
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Fuel Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Fuel Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Tinker, John W., Beecham, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALL, ERIC SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/349,388
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 73/233.1, 73/233.2, 731/16, 731/172, 731/173, 731/181, 340/438, 204/660, 210/222
• US Class Current: 73/23.31
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/10 adding acetylene, non-waterborne hydrogen, non-airborne oxygen, or ozone
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 27/04 by electric means, ionisation, polarisation or magnetism
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A method of verifying vehicle emissions includes the steps of testing a refined fuel for emissions, treating the refined fuel following the testing thereof for emissions, and then testing the treated refined fuel for emissions. The refined fuel measurements are compared with the treated refined fuel measurements to determine reduction in emissions of the fuel. This data is transmitted to a computer. The treated fuel is dispensed to a vehicle, such as a diesel truck, at a fuel dispensing station where the vehicle identification is read from the vehicle and, with the fuel data, is transmitted to the computer where the computer can match the fuel measurement data to the vehicle identification and fuel dispensing information. The process also includes the attaching of an on-board emissions monitor to the exhaust of the vehicle, which monitoring data is stored and transmitted during refueling to the computer with the refueling data. The treatment can include a combination of a magnetic treatment of the fuel while the fuel is passing through a venturi simultaneously while feeding oxygen into the fuel during treatment. Optionally, data determining reductions in emissions from treated fuel combustion in comparison to non-treated fuel combustion in a specific engine is utilized in application for monetary or non-monetary receivables in the form of emission reduction credits or the like.

Claims

1. A method of verifying vehicle emissions comprising the steps of:

testing a refined fuel for emissions;

treating said refined fuel following testing thereof for emissions;

testing said treated refined fuel for emissions;

comparing said refined fuel measurements with said treated refined fuel measurements to determine reduction in emissions in fuel;

transmitting fuel measurement data to a computer;

dispensing treated fuel to said vehicle at a fuel dispensing station;

reading vehicle identification at said fuel dispensing station;

transmitting vehicle identification and fuel dispensed information to said computer; and

matching said fuel measurement data to said vehicle identification and fuel dispensed thereinto, whereby emission reduction in a vehicle using a treated fuel can be determined.

2. A method of verifying vehicle emissions in accordance with claim 1 including the step of attaching a fuel emission measuring means to a vehicle exhaust and measuring emissions data in the exhaust of said vehicle with said fuel emission measuring means.

3. A method of verifying vehicle emissions in accordance with claim 2 including the step transmitting said measured emissions data from the exhaust of the vehicle to said computer.

4. A method of verifying vehicle emissions in accordance with claim 3 in which the step of treating refined fuel includes passing said fuel through a magnetic field.

5. A method of verifying vehicle emissions in accordance with claim 4 in which the step of treating refined fuel includes feeding oxygen into said refined fuel being passed through a magnetic field.

6. A method of verifying vehicle emissions in accordance with claim 5 in which the step of treating refined fuel includes passing said fuel through stainless steelwool.

7. A method of verifying vehicle emissions in accordance with claim 6 in which the step of treating refined fuel includes having a fuel line cross-section narrowed adjacent said magnetic field.

8. A method of verifying vehicle emissions in accordance with claim 1 including the step of determining fuel emission reduction credits for an identified vehicle.