Patent Application
20110002817
The invention relates to engine fuel compositions and rocket fuel compositions. The invention also relates to special systems and devices using these fuel compositions. The invention also relates a method for producing such a fuel and a method for using such a fuel.
H2O2 in concentration of 85% is a recognized rocket propellant. It is known that the fuel decomposes in a chamber under high pressure and temperature in the presence of catalysts, whereby the fuel is converted to H2O in the form of steam and oxygen, and the gas stream exits the chamber at high speed. This process can be compared to other well-known rocket-propelled processes.
Normally, the catalyst consists of precious or rare metals such as silver, platinum, palladium or related alloys, which trigger the required decomposition process when the concentrated H2O2 flows through it. For aerospace applications in the past, inexpensive catalysts made out of other materials such as sodium or potassium permanganate have been used to activate the decomposition of the concentrated H2O2. All these technologies, however, have the significant disadvantage that the catalysts have a limited shelf-life and the systems only work with highly concentrated H2O2. Another serious shortcoming is the relatively low energy content of concentrated H2O2, as well as the eminent dangers referring to handling, storage and transport of this product. Furthermore, another crucial factor for aerospace applications is the space requirement for placing the catalyst.
There is a trend towards a so-called hydrogen economy where cars and other systems will be driven by hydrogen. But the handling of hydrogen has a number of known disadvantages. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is currently not being considered as fuel since it is considered to be difficult to handle, dangerous and expensive to produce.
The present invention seeks to provide a new fuel system or composition which eliminates the above disadvantages and simultaneously creates a cost-effective and environmentally friendly fuel system or composition that is easy to store and employ.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new fuel system or composition that can be produced and stored easily.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a systems and device which use the respective fuel system or composition in order to generate power and/or to turn the energy of said fuel system or composition into mechanical or electrical energy.
Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the fuel is manifested by the features that it is a colloidal fluid composition comprising a mixture of H2O2 (calculated for 100% H2O2) and hydrocarbon. Said H2O2:hydrocarbon mixture has a ratio of from about 31%:about 7% to about 47%:about 6%, preferably from 31.3% H2O2 and 6.9% hydrocarbon to 46.9% H2O2 and 6.3% hydrocarbon. Furthermore, the new fuel system or composition comprises at least one stabilizer additive.
The fuel system or composition can be made by mixing 93 to 94.5% by weight of aqueous H2O2 having a concentration of 30 to 60% by weight, in particular 30 to 50% by weight, with 7 to 5.5% by weight hydrocarbon to give a total of 100% by weight.
To this fuel system or composition at least one of the following stabilizing additives may be added (these additives are optional):
anti-knock additives
anti-oxidant additives
static dissipater additives
icing inhibitor additives
corrosion inhibitor additives
power boosting additives.
The inventive fuel system or composition is a colloidal fluid composition or colloidal dispersion with a high degree of homogeneity (i.e. a nearly homogenous mixture). The inventive fuel system or composition comprises at least two phases: a hydrocarbon phase and an H2O2 phase. Preferably, the hydrocarbon phase is distributed evenly throughout the H2O2 phase so that a homogeneous mixture is provided.
Preferably, the hydrocarbon content or portion of the inventive fuel system or composition is a hydrocarbon mixture being primarily composed of aromatic hydrocarbons, olefinic hydrocarbons, also known as alkene hydrocarbons, and saturated hydrocarbons, i.e. alkanes, also known as paraffinic hydrocarbons, and/or cycloalkanes.
Very well suited are hydrocarbon mixtures comprising one or more of the following:
Kerosene (e.g. JP-6 kerosene, or Jet-A or Jet-A1 kerosene)
gasoline
diesel
paraffin oil
N-hexane (preferably mixed or combined with ammonium nitrate)
Methanol
Ethanol
Azethon (preferably mixed or combined with ammonium acid)
Preferably, the hydrocarbon amount is selected so that the stoichiometric amount of oxygen provided by the H2O2 is approximately twice the stoichiometric amount of carbon provided by the hydrocarbon. This ensures that the respective oxygen is used for producing CO2 as output gas.
An inventive fuel system or composition with the above described ratio of aqueous H2O2 and hydrocarbons can be brought into a stabilized dispersion by the addition of one or more further additives as mentioned above. An essential additive for stabilizing the dispersion is the stabilizing additive that in general is one or more alcohols, in particular ethanol and/or propanol (n-propanol and/or isopropanol). The necessary amount can easily be determined by simple storage experiments. In general it is in the range of 1.5 to 15%, whereby for ethanol preferably at least 5% vol. are present, while in the case of isopropanol 1.5% vol. are sufficient. The minimally necessary and/or the optimal amount may vary dependent on other additives present.
An obvious benefit of this invention is that the inventive fuel system or composition, in spite of the high water content, surprisingly has very a high energy value and therewith represents a significant advantage for all moving and flying objects where endurance and long range is desired and where the ratio between fuel and total weight is of importance.
Furthermore, this new fuel system or composition is very safe to handle and—due to its high water content—can not be ignited with an open flame.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the fuel system or composition does not need a secondary injection for another fuel component, since the fuel system or composition as such is already kind of a bi-fuel. This bi-fuel, however, carries all reagents in itself and the reagents are stabilized.
While the fuel system or composition of the present invention, due to the high energy content, might allow the design of a smaller engines or systems, it can also be used with known engines or systems.
According to the present invention the aims are achieved by providing a liquid fuel system or composition, a method for its production as well as systems or devices utilizing the respective fuel system or composition.
The fuel system or composition of the present invention is characterized in that it is a colloidal fluid composition comprising a H2O2 (calculated for 100% H2O2):hydrocarbon mixture ratio of from about 31%:about 7% to about 47%:about 6%, preferably from a minimal H2O2 content of 31.3% to 6.9% hydrocarbon mixture to a maximal H2O2 content of 46.9% to 6.3% hydrocarbon mixture (all % are % by weight) and at least one additive, in particular at least a stabilizing additive.
Such a mixture can be produced by using a low concentration solution of aqueous H2O2, namely a concentration of 30-50% by weight, although higher concentrations can also be used. Besides of this aqueous H2O2, the liquid fuel system or composition comprises a certain amount of hydrocarbons and one or more additives to stabilize the colloidal fluid.
The fuel composition or system can be made by mixing 93 to 94.5% by weight of aqueous H2O2 having a concentration of 30 to 60% by weight, in particular 30 to 50% by weight, with 7 to 5.5% by weight hydrocarbon mixture to give a total of 100% by weight. To this mixture at least one stabilizer additive is added. Optionally, the following stabilizing additives may be added:
anti-knock additives
anti-oxidant additives
static dissipater additives
icing inhibitor additives
corrosion inhibitor additives
power boosting additives.
The hydrocarbon mixture preferably has the following composition (in % by weight)
approx. 10-20% aromatic hydrocarbons,
approx. 0.5-1.5% olefinic hydrocarbons, 30 also known as alkene hydrocarbons,
approx. 80-85% saturated hydrocarbons, i.e. alkanes, also known as paraffinic hydrocarbons, and/or cycloalkanes.
The aromatic hydrocarbons are primarily selected from benzene derivetives. They preferably are selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylene, ethyl benzene, and mixtures of two or more thereof. Much preferred, the aromatic component comprises toluene and xylene and ethyl benzene whereby in a three component mixture the minimal amount of each is 5%, preferably 10%, wherein the three xylenen isomers are considered as one component.
Preferred olefinic hydrocarbons are C3 to C15 hydrocarbons with 1 to 3 double bonds. They can be used in pure form or in mixture with one or more compounds falling under the above definition. Suitable olefinic hydrocarbons or mixtures of olefinic hydrocarbons are liquid at room temperature.
The aliphatic hydrocarbons are selected from liquid hydrocarbons and liquid hydrocarbon mixtures, in particular from linear and branched C4 to C15 hydrocarbons, and/or from cycloalophatic hydrocarbons, in particular from alkyl substituted cyclopentanes and alkyl substituted cyclohexanes, in particular from alkyl substituted cyclopentane or alkyl substituted cyclohexane having a total carbon content of 15 C-atoms, preferably 13 C-atoms. Suitable aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons or mixtures of such hydrocarbons are liquid at room temperature.
Further to the above basic elements, additives are required to obtain a colloidal fluid with H2O2, water and the hydrocarbon content and—if present—a critical mixture of at least one organic nitrogen compound or a nitrated aromatic compound. In general, the additives are added in the following amounts:
Anti-knock additives 2-5.7 mg/l
Antioxidant additives 10-15 mg/l
Static dissipater additives 0.6-4.5% vol.
Icing inhibitors about 0.10-0.15 mg/l
Corrosion inhibitors about 0.05-0.20 mg/l
Stabilizer additives 1.5-15% vol.
Power boosting additives 0.02-2.00% vol.
The amount of additives added is referred to the aqueous H2O2 and hydrocarbon comprising fuel system or composition (basic composition), i.e. mg/l basic composition and % by volume with the basic composition being 100%.
Examples for anti-knock additives are additives based on propylene alcohol and/or ketones and/or aldehydes (see also stabilizer additives).
Examples for antioxidant additives are phenols or organic sulphides or polysulphides, dithiocarbamates, phosphates and phosphonates. The antioxidant additives are added to prevent the formation of gum deposits and to prevent other oxidation problems.
Examples for static dissipater additives are nitroso compounds based. They are not required but added for security reasons to reduce the creation of electricity which may be generated by the movement of the fuel through modern, high-flow-rate fuel transfer lines.
Examples for icing inhibitors are isopropanol and isopropylen and mixtures thereof that are e.g. used among others to prevent the formation of ice crystals. These additives are also helpful to create—and even more important to stabilize—the colloidal fluid between hydrocarbons and the aqueous H2O2 (see also stabilizer additives).
Examples for corrosion inhibitors are phenol derivatives such as dibutylmethylphenol (BHT) and butylhydroxyanisol (BHA). The corrosion inhibitor additives serve the protection of ferrous metals in fuel handling systems.
Examples for stabilizer additives are liquid alcohols such as ethanol or propanol, whereby in the case of ethanol preferably at least 5% vol. are present, while in the case of isopropanol 1.5% vol. are sufficient. Glycol is also well suited. Other stabilizer additives that are very well suited are surface-active agents having a hydrophobic and hydrophilic group, preferably a tenside. The surface-active agents act as friction-reducing surfactant and thus stabilize the fuel composition or system. The stabilizer additives are added to stably keep the fuel system or composition colloidal. The alcohols can be used in mixture of two or more thereof, whereby the amount of long chain alcohols must be limited to avoid phase separation (see also anti-knock Additives and icing inhibitors).
Examples for power boosting additives are nitrated aromatics, e.g. trinitrobenzene and related compounds or TNT (Trinitrotoluene). The addition of power boosting additives is optional. A power boosting additives is characterized by the fact that it is able to provide radicals.
As can be seen from the above list, some of the compounds may have different functions such as e.g. isopropanol that can act as stabilizer additive and icing inhibitor additive. In such cases, the two amounts may be additive. But in most cases it is sufficient to add a smaller amounts if one and the same additive performs two functions
With extensive tests mixing relations between hydrocarbons and 30-60%, preferably 30 to 50% concentrated H2O2 could be found that provide an easy to store, non-explosive, colloidal fluid which, according to this invention, has an energy value of approximately 3 times the normally used high concentrated 85% H2O2 mono-fuel. These tests showed that the mixture relation between H2O2(calculated for 100% H2O2) is from 31% H2O2 to 7% hydrocarbon mixture:47% H2O2 to 6% hydrocarbon mixture, preferably from 31.3% H2O2 to 6.9% hydrocarbon mixture:46.9% H2O2 to 6.3% hydrocarbon mixture. If 30-50% concentrated H2O2 is used, the mixing ratio of said H2O2 preferably should be in relation of 93.1% H2O2 to 6.9% hydrocarbon mixture, up to 93.7% H2O2 to 6.3% hydrocarbon mixture respectively whereas the hydrocarbon whereas the hydrocarbon mixture preferably is the hydrocarbon mixture described in this invention.
A fuel system or composition in this ratio can be brought into a stabilized dispersion by the addition of one or more further additives as mentioned above.
An essential additive for stabilizing the dispersion is the stabilizing additive.
An obvious benefit of this invention is that the inventive mixture with a substantially higher energy value represents significant advantages for all flying and moving objects where endurance and long range is desired and where the ratio between fuel and total weight is of importance. Furthermore, this new fuel system or composition is very safe to handle and can not be ignited with an open flame.
It is a further advantage that the new fuel system or composition does not react or explode in an open space. It requires a certain well controlled pressure to enable a reaction at all.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the fuel does not need a secondary injection for another fuel component, as is the case with conventional bi-fuels.
In order to improve ignition, it might be advantageous to pre-treat the fuel with a pre-dissociation enhancing substance. Such pre-dissociation enhancing substance could be a catalyst (e.g. a mixture of CoO and NgO).
The present fuel system or composition enables the construction of small and simple engines, rockets, machines and the like, where the handling of the fuel is simple and easy and not dangerous in any way.
While there are shown and described presently preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. The aspects and features of the different embodiment disclosed may be combined with each other.
For a more complete description of the present invention and for further objects and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which show:
The present invention concerns different kinds of engines. The expression engine is herein used as a synonym for the following: motors, generators, actuators, reactors, power units, drives, pumps, compressors, turbines, rockets. Such an engine is a device, system or apparatus that produces some form of output from a given input. A typical example is an engine whose purpose is to produce kinetic energy output from a fuel source.
The present invention can be used in connection with vehicles, such as cars, trucks, buses, tanks, trains, aircraft, helicopters, rockets, boats, submarines and other means of transport. But the invention can also be used in stationary systems or portable systems.
The invention uses a special fuel system which comprises hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) plus at least one hydrocarbon. Examples of such hydrocarbons are:
Kerosene (e.g. JP-6 kerosene, or Jet-A or Jet-A1 kerosene)
gasoline
diesel
paraffin oil.
According to the present invention the H2O2 plus the hydrocarbon(s) participate in a chemical reaction as will be described later. Best results are obtained if also the additives, e.g. the stabilizing additive, participate in this reaction, which means that the additive has at least two functions. From this point of view alcohol-based additives are very well suited.
When referring to “reaction temperatures”, temperatures between 600° C. and 1100° C., and preferably between 700° C. and 1000° C. are meant. In some applications, the temperatures can even be higher than the ones mentioned.
Basic aspects of the invention are described in connection with
The inventive fuel system or composition, as described and defined before, is preferably kept in some kind of tank 31 or reservoir. The tank 31 or reservoir may be connectable to a next functional block 32 or element by means of a fuel feed line or pipe 10.
According to the present invention, the fuel system or composition is “vaporized”, which means that the liquid fuel is expanded to a phase with very small droplets or elements are present. The expansion factor is between 5 and 50, preferably between 10 and 30, since in the room or zone into which the liquid fuel is expanded a high pressure is maintained. Without the high pressure, the expansion factor would be much larger. The expression “vaporized” is used as a synonym for the creating or generation of very small particles, droplets or entities out of the liquid fuel system stream. The block 32 represents the respective step, process or system in
After the “vaporization”, the fuel system or composition is activated, as indicated by the block 33. There are two different possibilities for the activation. Both options are illustrated in
The second option is a heating approach combined with the employment of a catalyzer (see block 33.2). In this case the activation is ensured by a combination of heat and catalytic action. The catalyzer may be injected or introduced into the fuel, or the fuel particles, droplets or entities may be made to pass by a catalyzer.
Then the reaction takes place (box 34). The word reaction is used in order to emphasize that the fuel does not burn with oxygen like the fuel inside a combustion engine. According to the present invention, a chemical reaction takes place where the atoms or molecules of the fuel particles, droplets or entities are transformed or re-arranged into other molecules. This transformation or rearrangement is done so that the Gibbs free energy is reduced. The Gibbs free energy (Gibbs energy) is a thermodynamic potential which measures the useful or process-initiating work obtainable from the fuel composition or system. According to the invention, the Gibbs free energy is reduced to a minimum since the “products” at the output side of the process (water and carbon dioxide) have a very low thermodynamic potential.
According to the present invention, a chemical reaction takes place where the oxygen of the hydrogen peroxide reacts with carbon from the hydrocarbon(s) to produce CO2. The hydrogen of the hydrogen peroxide and the hydrogen of the hydrocarbon forms water with the remaining oxygen. No oxygen needs to be provided from external sources and no oxygen is fed into the reaction or activation zone or region.
The reaction only takes place in an enclosed environment (called reaction zone or region), since only in such an enclosed environment the right conditions (pressure and temperature) are typically guaranteed. Very well suited is a reaction chamber or tube 14 having an output side with a thrust nozzle 16 (cf.
The inventive fuel system or composition is designed so that it only reacts if the right conditions are met, which means that the fuel system or composition is very stable and not dangerous in any respect.
Preferably, the temperature in the reaction zone or region is between 700° C. and 1000° C. and the pressure is above 50 bar. Good results are achieved if the pressure is in the range between 60-80 bar. Very well suited is a pressure at about 70 bar.
A first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
The novel fuel system presented has the advantage that its autoignition temperature is very high. It is a further advantage of the inventive fuel system that even if an empty fuel tank would contain some residual fuel or an air/fuel mixture, this residual fuel would not react or explode. The residual fuel or combustible air/fuel mixture is stable at ambient temperatures ranging from below −50° C. to above 50° C., at atmospheric pressure. The fuel system does not permit a combustible mixture to develop or exist which would pose a potential hazard.
The fuel system or composition flows through a fuel feed line 10 or infeed into a chamber or zone. When or while entering the chamber or zone, the fuel system or composition is vaporized. The embodiment shown in
The recoil valve 11 (or a start up valve) can be employed in order to open or close the fuel streaming into the vaporizing means. A speed or thrust regulator (not shown) may be employed as part of the engine 100 in order to adjust the fuel amount.
The fuel system is typically stored in a tank 20 or container which can be connected to the fuel feed line 10. In
The tank 20 of the present embodiment, but also the tanks of other embodiments, may be constructed out of carbon-based composite material. But it is also possible to use plastic materials, such as a thermoplastic material, or metal. It is an advantage of the fuel system or composition used, that it cannot be accidentally ignited. The fuel system or composition has the further advantage that it does not burn or explode when being exposed to a flame, for instance. The fuel system or composition is absolutely safe and thus does not jeopardize anybody.
Inside the engine 100 there is an activator 13 which activates the fuel cloud or fuel vapor. The activator 13 comprises a heating element or heating section (not visible in
As a general rule of thumb one can say that the reaction temperature can be lower if a catalyzer 13.1 is employed. Without such a catalyzer 13.1, the reaction temperature has to be somewhat higher in order to ensure proper initialization of the reaction of the fuel cloud or fuel vapor.
The catalyzer 13.1 provides for a pre-dissociation. Well suited are precious metal activators or activators comprising a catalyst, such as one or more of the following: CoO and/or MgO and/or Platinum and/or Silver and/or Rhodium and/or Palladium.
After the fuel cloud or fuel vapor has passed through the heating section 13 (with or without catalyzer 13.1), the fuel cloud or fuel vapor has reached the reaction temperature and an immediate reaction is guaranteed.
The present embodiment comprises an ignition system 15 with an ignition plug, for instance. The ignition plug may, like in a combustion engine, generate sparks at a suitable rate. But it is also possible to employ an ignition system 15 which is continuously running. Well suited is a glowing metal piece, grid or filament for instance. Preferably, the ignition system 15 is mounted inside a reaction chamber or zone 14 where the fuel reacts. The ignition system 15 can also sit outside (at least partially) the reaction chamber or zone 14, but in this case some portion of the ignition system 15 sits inside or protrudes into the reaction chamber or zone 14.
In a currently preferred embodiment, the reaction chamber or zone 14 is designed so that an enthalpic gas expansion takes place when igniting the fuel cloud or fuel vapor. This means that the gas expands at a total constant enthalpy. This expansion is more or less isotropic.
In a preferred embodiment, the fuel cloud or fuel vapor reaches temperatures of more than 600° C. and a pressure of above 50 bar (good results are achieved if the pressure is in the range between 60-80 bar. Very well suited is a pressure at about 70 bar) inside the reaction chamber or zone 14. This ensures that the fuel expands and dissolves mainly to water (H2O) vapor and CO2.
Last but not least there may be a thrust nozzle 16 which is connected on one side to the reaction chamber or zone 14 so that the fuel gas when expanding or reacting is able to expand and exit the engine 10.
Since an inventive and new fuel system or composition is being proposed, special activations means 13 have to be provided which enable the ignition or dissociation of the fuel. As mentioned in connection with the description of
The fuel may be pre-heated before arriving at the activator 13.
In
The designs of the embodiments which are shown in
It will be understood that many variations could be adopted based on the specific structure hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP08/50193 | 1/9/2008 | WO | 00 | 9/9/2010 |
