The disclosed invention includes systems and methods to improve the efficiency of combustion engines through the use of air separator technology. In some embodiments, a system for improving engine efficiency includes a compressor configured to take in a flow of ambient air and output a supply of pressurized air to one or more air separators. The air separator(s) produce a supply of oxygen enriched air, which is conveyed to the combustion chamber(s) of an engine. The air separators also produce a supply of exhaust air, which may be used to power system components, or other components. Other embodiments include methods of improving engine efficiency by pressurizing ambient air, supplying the pressurized air to an air separator to produce oxygen-enriched air, and supplying the enriched air to an engine's combustion chamber(s). Some embodiments use a supply of exhaust air from the air separator to power system components and other components.

The disclosed invention includes systems and methods to improve the efficiency of combustion engines through the use of air separator technology. In some embodiments, a system for improving engine efficiency includes a compressor configured to take in a flow of ambient air and output a supply of pressurized air to one or more air separators. The air separator(s) produce a supply of oxygen enriched air, which is conveyed to the combustion chamber(s) of an engine. The air separators also produce a supply of exhaust air, which may be used to power system components, or other components. Other embodiments include methods of improving engine efficiency by pressurizing ambient air, supplying the pressurized air to an air separator to produce oxygen-enriched air, and supplying the enriched air to an engine's combustion chamber(s). Some embodiments use a supply of exhaust air from the air separator to power system components and other components.

A power system including a variable volume combustion chamber for a two-stroke engine having a controlled exhaust port, a fuel injector to the combustion chamber and an oxygen injector to the combustion chamber. The oxygen injector provides repeated oxygen injection pulses to complete a charge. The controlled exhaust port includes an oscillating rotatably mounted valve. A source of pressurized concentrated oxygen to the oxygen injector is in a closed case having a ceramic fiber membrane. An air inlet and a waste outlet are in communication with a first side of the ceramic fiber membrane. An oxygen outlet is in communication with a second side of the ceramic fiber Ionic transport membrane. The case has a heat transfer surface in communication with the controlled exhaust port from the combustion chamber.

The power turbine system includes two power turbines communicating with an ion transport membrane (ITM) reactor. Heavy liquid fuel is atomized and burned within the reactor to drive the first turbine, with the first turbine producing useful power. Exhaust from the first turbine is recycled back into the reactor. The reactor includes a series of concentric cylindrical ion transport membranes that separate atmospheric and exhaust gases into suitable components for combustion therein, with at least some of the gases being “cracked” to alter their molecular structure for further combustion to power the second turbine. The second turbine drives a compressor to supply air to the reactor. At least one of the ITMs precludes atmospheric nitrogen from the combustion processes, with the resulting exhaust including pure water and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is either recycled into the reactor to facilitate fuel atomization, or compressed for sequestration.

The power turbine system includes two power turbines communicating with an ion transport membrane (ITM) reactor. Heavy liquid fuel is atomized and burned within the reactor to drive the first turbine, with the first turbine producing useful power. Exhaust from the first turbine is recycled back into the reactor. The reactor includes a series of concentric cylindrical ion transport membranes that separate atmospheric and exhaust gases into suitable components for combustion therein, with at least some of the gases being “cracked” to alter their molecular structure for further combustion to power the second turbine. The second turbine drives a compressor to supply air to the reactor. At least one of the ITMs precludes atmospheric nitrogen from the combustion processes, with the resulting exhaust including pure water and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is either recycled into the reactor to facilitate fuel atomization, or compressed for sequestration.

A fuel separation system includes a fuel separator configured to receive a fuel stream and separate the fuel stream, based on a volatility of the fuel stream, into a vapor stream defined by a first auto-ignition characteristic value and a first liquid stream defined by a second auto-ignition characteristic value, the second auto-ignition characteristic value greater than the first auto-ignition characteristic value; and a heat exchanger fluidly coupled between a fuel input of the fuel stream and the fuel separator, the heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the vapor stream to the fuel stream, and output a heated fuel stream to the fuel separator and a second liquid stream defined by the first auto-ignition characteristic value.

A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes passing air to a separation unit, separating the air into a nitrogen-enriched air stream and an oxygen-enriched air stream with the separation unit, passing the nitrogen-enriched air stream to a mixing chamber in communication with the separation unit, detecting a nitrogen content within the nitrogen-enriched air stream, based at least in part on the detected nitrogen content within the nitrogen-enriched air stream, moving an air valve between a closed position, in which the air valve restricts flow of an air stream to the mixing chamber, and an open position, in which the air stream flows to the mixing chamber through the air valve, passing the nitrogen-enriched air stream to a combustion chamber, passing a fuel to the combustion chamber, and combusting the fuel and the nitrogen-enriched air stream within the combustion chamber, thereby moving a piston within the combustion chamber.

A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes passing air to a separation unit, separating the air into a nitrogen-enriched air stream and an oxygen-enriched air stream with the separation unit, passing the nitrogen-enriched air stream to a mixing chamber in communication with the separation unit, detecting a nitrogen content within the nitrogen-enriched air stream, based at least in part on the detected nitrogen content within the nitrogen-enriched air stream, moving an air valve between a closed position, in which the air valve restricts flow of an air stream to the mixing chamber, and an open position, in which the air stream flows to the mixing chamber through the air valve, passing the nitrogen-enriched air stream to a combustion chamber, passing a fuel to the combustion chamber, and combusting the fuel and the nitrogen-enriched air stream within the combustion chamber, thereby moving a piston within the combustion chamber.

A method for treating hydrocarbon fuel to improve the combustion characteristics of the fuel. The method comprises creating an electrolytic reaction, by applying high voltage AC through electrodes directly to the fuel. The fuel flows through the electrodes, and the applied voltage ionizes the fuel molecules, enhancing fuel distribution and improving combustion of the fuel. This results in reduced exhaust emissions, while improving both fuel economy and power. This can be used an any application where liquid or vapor hydrocarbon-based fuel is used.

The fuel economizer is series-connected between a fuel tank and a fuel vaporization device of an internal combustion engine, and includes a first piping element and an oil cup. A first end of the first piping element is connected to the fuel vaporization device, and a second end of the first piping element is connected to the fuel tank through the oil cup for filtering the fuel tank's fuel. A spirally threaded shaft is tightly housed inside the first piping element and the spirally threaded shaft's outer circumference is configured with spiral threads to speed, rotate, and disturb the fuel as the fuel flows through to disrupt the surface tension and density of the fuel.