APPARATUS FOR STABLE NANO EMULSIONS OF WATER IN DIESEL FUEL

Abstract

An apparatus for stable nano emulsion of water in diesel fuel, including: a diesel fuel feeding unit (2), a water feeding unit (3), a magnetite nano-particles feeding unit (4); a mixing tank (7) in fluid communication with the diesel fuel feeding unit (2), with the water feeding unit (3) and with the magnetite nano-particles feeding unit (4); a recirculation conduit (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) presenting opposite ends connected to the mixing tank (7). A pump (9) on the recirculation conduit (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) and configured to recirculate a mixture of diesel fuel (F), water (W) and magnetite nano-particles (MNP). A dynamic magnetic field generator (25) is operationally coupled to the recirculation conduit (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) and is configured to generate a dynamic magnetic field inside at least a section of the recirculation conduit (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) to activate the magnetite nano-particles.

Claims

1. An apparatus for stable nano emulsions of water in diesel fuel, comprising: at least one diesel fuel feeding unit; at least one water feeding unit; at least one magnetite nano-particles feeding unit comprising magnetite nano-particles; a mixing tank in fluid communication with the diesel fuel feeding unit, with the water feeding unit and with the magnetite nano-particles feeding unit; at least one recirculation conduit presenting opposite ends connected to the mixing tank; at least one pump placed on said recirculation conduit and configured to recirculate a mixture comprising the diesel fuel, the water and the magnetite nano-particles; and at least one dynamic magnetic field generator operationally coupled to the recirculation conduit and configured to generate a dynamic magnetic field inside at least a section of the recirculation conduit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: ;at least one mixing device placed at one end of said recirculation conduit wherein said at least one mixing device comprises: a duct for a flow of the mixture, said duct extending along a main direction and presenting an inlet and an outlet; a rotor installed rotatably inside the duct and extending all along the duct; wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of radial projections; wherein at least the outlet of the at least one mixing device is positioned inside the mixing tank and is configured to spray the recirculated mixture into the tank; and wherein said at least one dynamic magnetic field generator is coupled to the mixing device and the section of the recirculation conduit with the dynamic magnetic field is the duct of the mixing device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of said mixing devices installed inside the mixing tank, and each of the said mixing devices has a corresponding main direction, wherein the main directions of the mixing devices are skewed with respect to a central axis of the mixing tank.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: at least one cavitation device placed on the recirculation conduit ; wherein said at least one cavitation device comprises: a channel for a flow of the mixture, said channel extending along a main direction of the cavitation device and the channel has an inlet and an outlet; and a sonotrode inside the channel and configured to generate sound waves; wherein said at least one dynamic magnetic field generator is coupled to the cavitation device and the section of the recirculation conduit with the dynamic magnetic field is the channel of the cavitation device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sonotrode comprises: a plurality of laminae in the channel, and a plurality of actuators configured to vibrate the laminae; wherein the laminae delimit a spiral path through the channel.

6. A process for stable nano emulsion of water in diesel fuel carried out through the apparatus of claim 1, the process comprising: feeding a predetermined amount of a diesel fuel into a mixing tank; feeding a predetermined amount of water into the mixing tank; feeding a predetermined amount of magnetite nano-particles into the mixing tank; and recirculating a batch of a mixture in the mixing tank, wherein the mixture includes the diesel fuel), the water and the magnetite nano-particles, and the recirculation of the batch flows through a recirculation conduit ; subjectinga flow of the batch of the mixture flowing through the recirculation conduit to a dynamic magnetic field which moves the magnetite nano-particles and promotes emulsification of the batch; and discharging the emulsion batch from the mixing tank.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein the recirculating the batch of mixture in the mixing tank comprises: flowing the mixture through at least one mixing device, and applying the dynamic magnetic field to the mixture flowing through said at least one mixing device.

8. The process of claim 6, wherein the recirculating the batch of mixture in the mixing tank comprises: spraying the mixture in the mixing tank via said at least one mixing device.

9. The process of claim 6, wherein the recirculating the batch of mixture in the mixing tank comprises: flowing the mixture through at least one cavitation device and applying the dynamic magnetic field to the mixture flowing through said at least one cavitation device.

10. The process of claim 6, further comprising: feeding a predetermined amount of ammonia and/or methanol into the mixing tank so that the batch of mixture in the mixing tank comprises also ammonia and/or methanol.

11. The process of claim 6, further comprising: removing the magnetite nano-particles from the emulsion.

12. A method comprising: feeding diesel fuel, water and magnetite nano-particles to a mixing tank; directing a portion of the diesel fuel, water and magnetite nano-particles from the mixing tank and into a recirculation conduit; applying a magnetic field to the diesel fuel, the water and the magnetite nano-particles flowing through the recirculation conduit; moving the magnetite nano-particles relative to the diesel fuel and the water by the magnetic field to emulsify the diesel fuel and the water flowing through the recirculation conduit; and returning an emulsified mixture of the diesel fuel and the water to the mixing tank.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the steps of directing the portion, applying the magnetic field, emulsifying and returning are performed continuously for a period, and the method further comprises: magnetically removing the magnetite nano-particles from the emulsified mixture and discharging the emulsified mixture from the mixing tank.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising: mechanically mixing the diesel fuel and the water in a mixing device included in the recirculation conduit, wherein the step of applying the magnetic field includes applying the magnetic field within the mixing device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising spraying the emulsified mixture from the mixing device into the mixing tank.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0101] Such description will be set forth hereinbelow with reference to the set of drawings, provided merely as a non-limiting example, in which:

[0102] FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of an apparatus according to the invention;

[0103] FIG. 2 is a lateral elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0104] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a mixing tank of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

[0105] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 3;

[0106] FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional view of a device shown in FIG. 4;

[0107] FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensional perspective view of an element of the device of FIG. 5; and

[0108] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of another device of the apparatus of the previous Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0109] Referring to the attached schematic FIG. 1, an apparatus for stable nano emulsion of water W in diesel fuel F is identified by reference numeral 1. The apparatus 1 comprises a first reservoir for a diesel fuel F defining a diesel fuel feeding unit 2, a second reservoir for demineralized water W defining a water feeding unit 3, a third reservoir for a ferromagnetic fluid defining a magnetite nano-particles MNP feeding unit 4, a fourth reservoir for ammonia defining an ammonia feeding unit 5, a fifth reservoir for methanol defining a methanol feeding unit 6.

[0110] All these reservoirs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are connected via pipes to a mixing tank 7 and are therefore in fluid communication with said mixing tank 7. Valves and other suitable devices, not shown, are operatively coupled to the reservoirs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and/or to the pipes to open or close fluid communication.

[0111] The apparatus 1 further comprises four recirculation conduits 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d. Each of the recirculation conduits 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d comprises a pump 9, a return pipe 10 and a delivery pipe 11. The return pipe 10 has a first end (suction end 12) placed inside the mixing tank 7 and a second end connected to a suction of the pump 9. The delivery pipe 11 has a first end (delivery end 13) placed inside the mixing tank 7 and a second end connected to a delivery of the pump 9. One mixing device 14 is placed at the delivery end 13 of each recirculation conduit 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d. Each mixing device 14 is cantilevered with respect to the delivery pipe 11 and is installed inside the mixing tank 10 (FIG. 3).

[0112] One cavitation device 15 is placed on the delivery pipe 11 of each recirculation conduit 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d (FIGS. 1 and 2). Cavitation refers to the formation of rapid collapse of bubbles in a liquid. Cavitation can be produced in different ways: e.g. by high-pressure nozzles, rotor-stator mixers or ultrasonic processors. In all these systems, the input energy is transformed into friction, turbulences, waves and cavitation. This process produces high local heat and pressure and rapid heating and cooling rates. The resultant turbulence creates enough agitation at the micron level in liquids to break surface tension and accelerate formation of nano-emulsions.

[0113] The mixing tank 7 has a plurality of fins or flaps 18 protruding from an inner surface of said mixing tank 7 (FIG. 3). The fins or flaps are directed radially inward and each of the fins or flaps extends parallel with respect to a central axis X-X of the mixing tank 7. The fins or flaps appear as ribs on the inner surface of said mixing tank 7.

[0114] The pipes of the recirculation conduits 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d and the pipes coming from the reservoirs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 enter the mixing tank 7 at an upper portion of said mixing tank 7. The mixing tank 7 has also a discharge port 16 positioned at a bottom wall of said tank and connected to a discharge pipe 17.

[0115] Each mixing device 14 comprises (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6) a tubular housing 19 delimiting a duct 20 and hosting a rotor 21 inside said duct 20, such that the rotor 21 may revolve inside the tubular housing 19. The rotor 21 extends all along the duct and may be supported in the tubular housing 19 via bearings, not shown. An actuator or motor, not shown, is mechanically connected to the rotor 21 to revolve the rotor 21 around a rotation axis Y-Y, which is also a main axis of the tubular housing 19 and of the duct 20.

[0116] The duct 20 extends along a main direction parallel to the respective main axis Y-Y and has an inlet connected to the delivery end 13 of the delivery pipe 11 and an outlet 22 facing into the mixing tank 7. The main directions of the mixing devices 7 are skewed with respect to the central axis X-X.

[0117] The rotor 21 comprises (FIG. 6) a plurality of radial projections and said radial projections comprise a plurality of pairs 23 of radial projections and a plurality of assemblies 24 of four radial projections each arranged in a cross. Said pairs 23 and said assemblies 24 are alternated along the rotor. In the illustrated embodiment, the rotor 21 comprises eight pairs 23 and eight assemblies 24.

[0118] The two radial projections of each pair 23 develop along opposite radial directions and have a cylindrical shape with a circular cross section. The two radial projections of one pair 23 are rotated by a first predefined angle of 90° with respect to the two radial projections of an adjacent pair 23.

[0119] Each of the four radial projections of each assembly 24 has a prismatic shape with a rectangular cross section. The four radial projections of one assembly 24 are rotated by a predefined second angle of 30° with respect to the four radial projections of an adjacent assembly and said four radial projections of one assembly 24 are rotated by a predefined third angle of 30° with respect to the two radial projections of an adjacent pair 23.

[0120] A dynamic magnetic field generator 25 is operationally coupled to the mixing device 14. The dynamic magnetic field generator 25 comprises a plurality of electromagnets or coils 26 suitably powered, placed in an auxiliary tubular housing 27 and surrounding the tubular housing 19. The plurality of electromagnets or coils are accommodated in a cylindrical seat delimited between the auxiliary tubular housing 27 and the tubular housing 19 (FIG. 4).

[0121] The dynamic magnetic field generator 25 is configured to generate a dynamic magnetic field inside the duct 20 of the mixing device 14.

[0122] In an embodiment, not shown, the dynamic magnetic field generator or another auxiliary magnetic field generator may be used to rotate the rotor of the mixing device 14, like an electric motor.

[0123] Each cavitation device 15 comprises a respective tubular housing 28 delimiting a channel 29 extending along a main direction and presenting an inlet 30 and an outlet 31. A sonotrode 32 is installed inside the channel 29 and is configured to generate ultrasonic sound waves. The sonotrode 32 comprises a plurality of laminae 33 installed inside the channel 29 and actuators, not shown, configured to make the laminae 33 vibrate and generate the ultrasonic sound waves. The laminae 33 are arranged according to a helical shape and delimit a spiral path through the channel 29.

[0124] A dynamic magnetic field generator 25 is also operationally coupled to each cavitation device 15 to generate a dynamic magnetic field also inside the channel 29 of the cavitation device 15. This dynamic magnetic field generator 25 may have the same structure of the dynamic magnetic field generator 25 coupled to the mixing device 14.

[0125] A control unit 100 may be connected to the valves, the pumps 9, the mixing devices 14, the cavitation devices 15, the dynamic magnetic field generators 25 to control the apparatus 1.

[0126] In use and according to the process of the present invention, the ferromagnetic fluid may be prepared as follows.

[0127] The superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe.sub.3O.sub.4) nano-particles are first synthetized. The Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 nano-particles are prepared by chemical precipitation using ferrous salts in an alkali medium and then are sterically stabilized by oleic acid C.sub.18H.sub.34O.sub.2 and poly-12-hydroxystearic acid. The purified magnetite nano-particles MNP are dispersed in inhibited mineral transformer oil with the density of 824 kg/m.sup.3 and viscosity of 3.08 mPa.Math.s at 15° C. Such a colloidal suspension of mono-domain magnetic particles is called a ferromagnetic fluid. This colloidal suspension exists as a neutral ferrofluid that is chemically inert and that is only activated through the dynamic magnetic field.

[0128] The reservoirs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are filled respectively with diesel and/or bio-diesel fuel F, demineralized water W, ferromagnetic fluid, ammonia and methanol.

[0129] Predetermined amounts of diesel and/or bio-diesel fuel F, demineralized water, ferromagnetic fluid, ammonia and methanol are fed into the mixing tank 7. For instance: 75% diesel and/or bio-diesel fuel F, 15% demoralized water W, 2% ferromagnetic fluid, 1% ammonia, 7% methanol. The magnetite nano-particles MNP may be added to water W prior to emulsion.

[0130] In the filled mixing tank 7, the mixing devices 14 or at least their outlets 22 are submerged in a batch of mixture comprising the diesel and/or bio-diesel fuel F, demineralized water W, ferromagnetic fluid, ammonia and methanol previously fed to the mixing tank 7.

[0131] Pumps 9 are activated to recirculate the batch through the recirculation conduits 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d and said mixing tank 7. A flow of the mixture flows from the mixing tank 7, through the suction ends 12 of the return pipes 10, the return pipes 10, the pumps 9, the delivery pipes 11, into the mixing tank 7 and again into the suction ends 12.

[0132] Therefore, the mixture flows through the channels of the cavitation devices 15. In said cavitation devices 15, the mixture is subjected to the ultrasound waves and to the dynamic magnetic fields.

[0133] The mixture flows also through the ducts 20 of the mixing devices 14. In said mixing devices 14, the mixture is mechanically mixed by the rotating rotors 21 and also subjected to the dynamic magnetic fields.

[0134] In an off state, if no dynamic magnetic field is present, the magnetite nano-particles MNP exist within the mixture, but are kinetically inert. In an on state, with the magnetic field activated, the dynamic field alters the direction and intensity of said field in a preset pattern, such that magnetite nano-particles move within the emulsion in a specific pattern (circular, random, etc..). Magnetite nano-particles moving through the mixture at high speed and at a median size interval of 1-100 nanometers create turbulence at the nano-meter level and contribute to the formation of substantially smaller droplet sizes in the emulsion.

[0135] In case the magnetite nano-particles activated by the dynamic magnetic field are used in combination (synergic effect) with mixing via the mixing device 14 and/or the cavitation device 15, emulsion performance are maximized through decreasing mean emulsion droplet size and decreasing need for surfactant induced stability of nano-emulsions.

[0136] Due to the action of the mixing devices 14 and the pressure generated by the pumps 9, the mixture is sprayed in the mixing tank 7 by the mixing devices 14. Since the mixing devices 14 are skewed with respect to the central axis X-X of the mixing tank 7, a rotational motion is imparted to the mixture which also impacts against the fins or flaps 18.

[0137] At the end of the process, a stable emulsion of water W in diesel fuel F is obtained and the emulsion batch may be discharged from the mixing tank 7 through the discharge port 16 and discharge pipe 17.

[0138] The magnetite nano-particles MNP in the emulsion may be removed from the emulsion without damaging the emulsion, e.g. magnetically removed, and may be also reused.

[0139] In some embodiments, not shown in the attached Figures, the dynamic magnetic field generator/s 25 may be placed in other site/s along the recirculation conduit/s.

[0140] In some embodiments, not shown in the attached Figures, the dynamic magnetic field generator/s 25 may be coupled to the mixing device/s only or to the cavitation device/s only.

[0141] In some embodiments, rotation of the rotor/s 21 may be caused by the dynamic magnetic field/s generated by dynamic magnetic field generator/s 25 surrounding the rotor 21.