Sub-critical water-fuel composition and combustion system
First Claim
1. A composition of matter mixture comprising low-molecular weight hydrocarbon and between about 5% and about 70% water and characterized by a critical pressure, the mixture being in a gaseous state, being at a pressure that is below the critical pressure of the mixture, and being at a temperature that is above about 28°
- C. less than the boiling point temperature of water at the mixture pressure and below about 450°
C.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided a water-hydrocarbon mixture. In one example, the mixture includes low-molecular weight hydrocarbon and between about 5% and about 70% water. The mixture is in the gaseous state, and is at a pressure that is below the critical pressure of the mixture. The mixture temperature is above about 28° C. less than the boiling point temperature of water at the mixture pressure and is below about 450° C. The mixture provides a local environment of water molecules, tending to limit hydrocarbon polymerization and other undesirable side reactions and keeping the hydrocarbon from precipitating from the mixture, for a faster, more complete combustion cycle characterized by lower emissions of carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, and volatile organic and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbon preferably includes hydrocarbon micro-droplets of a diameter of no more than about 1 μm.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A composition of matter mixture comprising low-molecular weight hydrocarbon and between about 5% and about 70% water and characterized by a critical pressure, the mixture being in a gaseous state, being at a pressure that is below the critical pressure of the mixture, and being at a temperature that is above about 28°
- C. less than the boiling point temperature of water at the mixture pressure and below about 450°
C. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- C. less than the boiling point temperature of water at the mixture pressure and below about 450°
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9. A fuel system comprising:
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a source of water;
a source of low-molecular weight hydrocarbon fuel;
at least one pump having an inlet connected to receive at least one of water and hydrocarbon from the source of water and source of hydrocarbon and having at least one outlet for delivering at least one of a water stream and a hydrocarbon fuel stream to a volume to pressurize and transport the water and hydrocarbon fuel;
at least one heater connected to heat the water and hydrocarbon fuel;
a mixer connected to receive the water and hydrocarbon fuel to mix together the water and hydrocarbon fuel; and
a water-hydrocarbon fuel mixture in the volume, the mixture comprising hydrocarbon fuel and between about 5% and about 70% water and characterized by a critical pressure, the mixture being at a pressure that is below the critical pressure of the mixture and being at a temperature that is above about 10°
C. less than the boiling point temperature of water at the mixture pressure and a temperature that is below about 450°
C.- View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for forming and combusting a hydrocarbon-based fuel comprising the steps of:
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forming a mixture comprising low-molecular weight hydrocarbon fuel and between about 5% and about 70% water;
pressurizing the mixture to a pressure that is below a critical pressure of the mixture;
heating the hydrocarbon fuel and the water of the mixture to a temperature that is above about 10°
C. less than the boiling point temperature of water at the mixture pressure and below about 450°
C.;
delivering the mixture into a combustion chamber; and
combusting the mixture in the combustion chamber. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification