Sub-critical water-fuel composition and combustion system
US6240883A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 23, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 5, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 23, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/12
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
There is provided a water-hydrocarbon mixture. In one example, the mixture includes liquid hydrocarbon and between about 5% and about 70% water. The mixture is at a pressure that is below the critical pressure characteristic of the mixture and is at a temperature that is at least the greater of about 250.degree. C. and about the boiling point temperature of water at the mixture pressure. 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. This provides for a faster, more complete combustion cycle that is 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 .mu.m. The water in the mixture is preferably in a gaseous state, and one or more hydrocarbon constituents in the mixture are also preferably in a gaseous state. In one embodiment, both the water and the hydrocarbon of the mixture are in a gaseous state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.