Fuel Ionization Apparatus

Abstract

A fuel ionization apparatus according to the present Invention comprises: a first electrode unit and a second electrode unit provided in a fuel supply pipe through which fuel flows; and a pulse generation unit for applying electricity (pulses) of different polarities to the first electrode unit and the second electrode unit, wherein the first electrode unit and the second electrode unit are provided to be separated from each other so as not to overlap in the longitudinal direction of the fuel supply pipe, and can form an electric field over a predetermined length range of the fuel supply pipe.

Claims

1. A fuel ionization apparatus comprising: a first electrode unit and a second electrode unit installed on a fuel supply pipe through which a fuel flows; and a pulse generation unit configured to apply electricity (pulse) so that the first electrode unit and the second electrode unit become a positive electrode and a negative electrode having different polarities from each other, wherein the first electrode unit and the second electrode unit are installed to be separated from each other in a lengthwise direction of the fuel supply pipe, and wherein, as electricity (pulse) is periodically applied to the first electrode unit and the second electrode unit from the pulse generation unit, a polarity of the first electrode unit is periodically changed, wherein a polarity of the second electrode unit is changed to a polarity opposite to the polarity of the first electrode unit, so that directions of lines of electric force of an electric field formed over a predetermined length range of the fuel supply pipe are periodically reversed.

2. The fuel ionization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the fuel flows from a first position toward a second position in the fuel supply pipe, the first position is charged to a first polarity by the first electrode unit, the second position is charged to a second polarity by the second electrode unit, and an electric field which applies electrostatic force to the fuel is formed between the first position and the second position.

3. The fuel ionization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when a first position and a second position that are separated from each other in a lengthwise direction of the fuel supply pipe are defined in order in which the fuel flows, the first electrode unit is installed so that a first polarity is formed at the first position, the second electrode unit is installed so that a second polarity is formed at the second position, the pulse generation unit alternately applies positive electricity (pulse) and negative electricity (pulse) to the first electrode unit, the pulse generation unit applies, when applying positive electricity (pulse) to the first electrode unit, negative electricity (pulse) to the second electrode unit, and the pulse generation unit applies, when applying negative electricity (pulse) to the first electrode unit, applies positive electricity (pulse) to the second electrode unit.

4. The fuel ionization apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a third electrode unit applied with electricity of a preset polarity, wherein, when a first position, a second position and a third position that are separated from each other in a lengthwise direction of the fuel supply pipe are defined, the first electrode unit charges the first position to a first polarity, the second electrode unit charges the second position to a second polarity, the third electrode unit charges the third position to a third polarity, the first polarity and the second polarity are alternately reversed by the pulse generation unit, and the third polarity is continuously maintained as a positive polarity or is continuously maintained as a negative polarity.

5. The fuel ionization apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the third electrode unit charges the third position to the third polarity downstream of the first position and the second position, or charges the third position to the third polarity upstream of the first position and the second position.

6. The fuel ionization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode unit and the second electrode unit are installed on the fuel supply pipe, and an insulation covering which prevents a current of each electrode unit from flowing to the fuel supply pipe is installed between each electrode unit and the fuel supply pipe.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a fuel ionization apparatus using an electric field in accordance with the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of electric field generation means which is a main part of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a pulse generation unit which is a main part of the present invention.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating another fuel ionization apparatus of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

[0044] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the drawings are not to precise scale and may be exaggerated in thicknesses of sizes or shapes of components for descriptive convenience and clarity only. Furthermore, the terms specifically defined in consideration of the construction and function of the present invention may be changed according to the intention of users or operators or the practice. Definition of the terms should be made according to the overall disclosures set forth herein.

[0045] A fuel ionization apparatus or a fuel ionization method in accordance with the present invention may contribute to ionization of a fuel or atomization of fuel molecules by using a first electrode unit 11, a second electrode unit 12 and a pulse generation unit 15.

[0046] The fuel ionization apparatus illustrated in the drawings may include the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12 installed on a fuel supply pipe 20 through which the fuel flows. The fuel ionization apparatus may include the pulse generation unit 15 to control an electrical signal to be supplied to each electrode unit.

[0047] The pulse generation unit 15 may apply electricity of different polarities to the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12. For example, the pulse generation unit 15 may apply positive (+) electricity to the first electrode unit 11 and apply negative () electricity to the second electrode unit 12. Alternatively, the pulse generation unit 15 may apply negative () electricity to the first electrode unit 11 and apply positive (+) electricity to the second electrode unit 12.

[0048] The first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12 may be installed to be separated from each other so as not to overlap in the lengthwise direction of the fuel supply pipe 20. According to the present invention, it is possible to sufficiently secure an interval between the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12 within a range in which a spark does not occur.

[0049] In addition, an electric field may be formed by the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12 over a predetermined length range extending in not the widthwise direction but the lengthwise direction of the fuel supply pipe 20. An area in which the fuel flowing through the fuel supply pipe 20 is influenced by the electric field may extend in not the widthwise direction but the lengthwise direction of the fuel supply pipe 20. The length of the area of the electric field through which the fuel passes may be sufficiently secured. As the fuel passes through the electric field of the sufficient length, the fuel may be reliably ionized or atomized.

[0050] When the fuel flows from a first position toward a second position in the fuel supply pipe 20, the first position may be charged to a first polarity by the first electrode unit 11. The second position may be charged to a second polarity by the second electrode unit 12. The electric field which applies electrostatic force to the fuel may be formed between the first position and the second position.

[0051] Each of the first position and the second position may be a part of the inner circumferential surface of the fuel supply pipe 20 which comes into face-to-face contact with the fuel. In view of the flow of the fuel, the first position may be disposed upstream of the second position. Of course, the second position may be disposed upstream of the first position.

[0052] The first electrode unit 11 may charge the first position to the first polarity using an electric source inputted from the pulse generation unit 15.

[0053] The second electrode unit 12 may charge the second position to the second polarity using an electric source inputted from the pulse generation unit 15. The second polarity may include a polarity opposite to the first polarity. For example, when the first polarity is a positive polarity, the second polarity may be a negative polarity. When the first polarity is a negative polarity, the second polarity may be a positive polarity.

[0054] The electric field may be formed between the first position charged to the first polarity by the first electrode unit 11 and the second position charged to the second polarity by the second electrode unit 12. The corresponding electric field may be formed along the flow path of the fuel supply pipe 20 through which the fuel flows.

[0055] The first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12 may be installed to be separated from each other in the lengthwise direction of the fuel supply pipe 20.

[0056] The pulse generation unit 15 may apply pulses to the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12. Polarities of the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12 may be alternately reversed by the pulses (signals).

[0057] The first position and the second position that are separated from each other in the lengthwise direction of the fuel supply pipe 20 and sequentially through which the fuel flows may be defined.

[0058] The first electrode unit 11 may be installed such that the first polarity is formed at the first position. When the first position is the inner circumferential surface of the fuel supply pipe 20, the first electrode unit 11 may be installed on the outer circumferential surface of the fuel supply pipe 20 which faces away from the first position.

[0059] The second electrode unit 12 may be installed such that the second polarity is formed at the second position. When the second position is the inner circumferential surface of the fuel supply pipe 20, the second electrode unit 12 may be installed on the outer circumferential surface of the fuel supply pipe 20 which faces away from the second position.

[0060] The pulse generation unit 15 may alternately apply positive electricity and negative electricity to the first electrode unit 11.

[0061] When positive electricity is applied to the first electrode unit 11, the pulse generation unit 15 may apply negative electricity to the second electrode unit 12.

[0062] When negative electricity is applied to the first electrode unit 11, the pulse generation unit 15 may apply positive electricity to the second electrode unit 12.

[0063] According to a present embodiment, a first state in which first lines of electric force coming out of the first position and entering the second position are generated and a second state in which second lines of electric force coming out of the second position and entering the first position are generated may alternately occur. The fuel may be ionized and atomized while passing through the electric field in which the first state and the second state are alternately repeated.

[0064] The fuel ionization apparatus in accordance with the present invention may include a third electrode unit 13 to which electricity of a set polarity is applied.

[0065] When a first position, a second position and a third position separated from each other in the lengthwise direction of the fuel supply pipe 20 are defined, the first electrode unit 11 may charge the first position to a first polarity. The second electrode unit 12 may charge the second position to a second polarity. The third electrode unit 13 may charge the third position to a third polarity. The third position may be a part of the inner circumferential surface of the fuel supply pipe 20 which comes into face-to-face contact with the fuel. The third position may be formed downstream of the first position and the second position.

[0066] The first polarity and the second polarity may be alternately reversed between a positive polarity and a negative polarity by the pulse generation unit 15. The pulse generation unit 15 may provide pulse signals for alternately reversing the first polarity of the first electrode unit 11 and the second polarity of the second electrode unit 12, to the respective electrode units 11 and 12.

[0067] The third polarity may be continuously maintained as the positive polarity or may be continuously maintained as the negative polarity. The third electrode unit 13 may be connected to the pulse generation unit 15 or to a separate source to maintain the third polarity. In view of a direction in which the fuel flows, the third position may be formed upstream of the first position and the second position or may be formed downstream of the first position and the second position.

[0068] The third electrode unit 13 may charge the third position to the third polarity downstream of the first position and the second position. Alternatively, the third electrode unit 13 may charge the third position to the third polarity upstream of the first position and the second position.

[0069] The fuel supply pipe 20 may be connected to fuel distribution means 30 which includes a plurality of injectors 31.

[0070] Before being introduced into the fuel distribution means 30, the fuel may pass through an electric field which is formed on the fuel supply pipe 20 due to the presence of the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12.

[0071] The first electrode unit 11, the second electrode unit 12 and the third electrode unit 13 may be installed in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the fuel supply pipe 20. An insulation covering 21 may be installed between each electrode unit and the fuel supply pipe 20 to prevent a current of each electrode unit from flowing to the fuel supply tube 20.

[0072] In a high voltage pulse generator as a device in which an automobile igniter coil circuit (distributor) and a PWM pulse generator are combined, when a violent chemical reaction and molecular ionization are possible by an induced voltage, before intake air reaches a combustion chamber, ozone and nitrogen oxides are highly likely to be generated by bonding of the intake air with oxygen molecules or bonding of nitrogen molecules and oxygen molecules.

[0073] An ion means that a molecule or an atom is charged.

[0074] The number of protons in an atom does not change by an ordinary chemical change, but the number of electrons negatively charged may decrease or increase. For this reason, when an atom loses an electron, the atom is positively charged, and when an atom gains an electron, the atom is negatively charged. An ion which is positively charged is called a cation, and an ion which is negatively charged is called an anion.

[0075] In a fuel molecule, electrons are attracted toward a nucleus while orbiting around the nucleus, and the nucleus is at the center of an electron orbit. Therefore, due to the bonding force between molecules, during combustion, the fuel burned, with fuel particles not actively interacting with oxygen, enters exhaust gas, thereby causing incomplete combustion.

[0076] When a hydrocarbon fuel (methane molecules) is burned, hydrogen atoms are oxidized first. Carbon atoms are then successively burned. However, since hydrogen atoms are oxidized first in a combustion process, a substantially short combustion time is given to carbon atoms. Thus, a part of carbon is only partially oxidized due to the short combustion time. Due to this fact, incomplete combustion occurs. Although oxygen easily bonds with hydrogen, bonding reaction between oxygen and carbon is insufficient. For example, coal dust burns faster than a coal lump.

[0077] By applying the fuel ionization apparatus by an electric field to the fuel supply pipe 20 corresponding to a fuel inlet line, it is possible to reduce harmful exhaust gases such as carbon monoxide with optimal efficiency.

[0078] When an electric field is applied (a plus (+) electric field and a minus () electric field are simultaneously applied) around the fuel inlet line, chains of a cluster of molecules unravel, and fuel molecules that have agglomerated are aligned to bond with more oxygen molecules, by which combustion efficiency of the fuel may be improved.

[0079] An electric field is a vector field that surrounds charges and applies force to other charges to attract or repel the other charges. An electric field may be generated by charges, or may be generated by a time-varying magnetic field. An electric field is important in many fields of physics, and is used practically in electrical technology.

[0080] A PWM (pulse width modulation) signal is a way of generating a digital source into an analog signal. The PWM signal as a signal having two main components of a duty cycle and a frequency is used in a variety of control applications. The main use of the PWM signal is to control a DC motor, but the PWM signal may also be used to control mechanical parts such as a valve, a pump, a hydraulic device, a robot and an RC car.

[0081] A square wave pulse signal generated by pulse width modulation (PWM) may be transferred to a semiconductor drive. The drive may process the pulse signal and transfer the processed pulse signal to a PWM DIR (Arduino).

[0082] The PWM DIR may control a high voltage and a current generated by an inverter, using the plus (+) signal or the minus () signal of a pulse waveform. The PWM DIR may generate an electric field by causing positive electricity and negative electricity of a pulse waveform to simultaneously flow as shown in (a) and (b) of FIG. 4.

[0083] For example, the pulse generation unit 15 may simultaneously supply minus electricity to any one of the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12 through which plus electricity has flown and plus electricity to the other through which minus electricity has flown, by reversing positions. When one cycle (period) of a pulse is completed, the positions of polarities of an electric field are reversed back and forth twice. In this way, force applied to molecules by an instantaneous electric field position change is considered to be absolute for molecular vibration and ionization.

[0084] The third electrode unit 13 may constantly maintain not a pulse waveform but plus electricity without changing positions of polarities. As states of molecules ionized and spread by the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12 are maintained by the third electrode unit 13, fuel molecules may flow along the fuel supply pipe 20. The completion of such a pulse cycle of changing polarities has technically required long-time research and experiments, but the present applicant (inventor) has completed the pulse cycle and has applied the pulse cycle to the present invention.

[0085] According to the present invention, when the fuel flows through the fuel supply pipe 20, fuel molecules may be ionized to temporarily convert the molecules into a positive ion state. Fuel combustion in this state is much more efficient, and carbon monoxide emission is reduced. As a device for directly exposing a hydrocarbon-based fuel to an electric field, copper plates (respective electrode units) may be mounted to a copper pipe (the fuel supply pipe 20) with insulators interposed therebetween while maintaining a predetermined interval on a fuel line. The electric field generated by simultaneously supplying pulsed electricity by connecting the plus pulse signal and the minus pulse signal of a pulse waveform to the copper pipe as a voltage overcurrent exerts an influence on the polarization of carbon molecules in the fuel and spreads the molecules, exposing large surface areas that are easy to burn.

[0086] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, a fuel ionization method and a fuel ionization apparatus using an electric field in accordance with the present invention are characterized in that they are configured such that a first electrode unit 11 and a second electrode unit 12 are respectively installed with a predetermined interval therebetween in a lengthwise direction of a fuel supply pipe 20 which supplies a fuel to fuel distribution means 30 including a plurality of injectors 31, and through a pulse generation unit 15, power (pulse) is supplied and cut off with respect to the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12 with a predetermined time interval, so that an electric field is formed over a predetermined length range of the fuel supply pipe 20 and by the electric field, the fuel flowing along the fuel supply pipe 20 is supplied to the fuel distribution means 30 in an ionized or atomized state to be injected into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine through the injectors 31.

[0087] The fuel distribution means 30 is a common rail in the case of a diesel engine and a fuel distributor in the case of a gasoline engine.

[0088] The pulse generation unit 15 generates a pulse of 50 to 2,000 Hz, preferably, 50 to 500 Hz, and supplies the pulse to the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12.

[0089] Describing in more detail the configuration of the fuel ionization apparatus using an electric field in accordance with the present invention, the fuel ionization apparatus includes fuel distribution means 30 including a plurality of injectors 31 which inject a fuel into an engine; a fuel supply pipe 20 connected at one end thereof to the fuel distribution means 30 to supply the fuel to the fuel distribution means 30; electric field generation means 10 configured by a first electrode unit 11 and a second electrode unit 12 installed outside the fuel supply pipe 20 with a predetermined interval therebetween to generate an electric field when pulsed power is applied; and a pulse generation unit 15 including output parts which are connected to the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12, respectively, to apply or cut off pulses with a predetermined time interval.

[0090] In order to ensure that a current does not flow between the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12, an insulation covering 21 is interposed between the fuel supply pipe 20 and the electrode units 11 and 12. However, in the case where the fuel supply pipe 20 is a supply pipe made of a nonconductor such as plastic, the insulation covering 21 may be omitted.

[0091] The first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12 are configured by, for example, copper tubes having a thickness of 3 to 5 mm and a length of about 30 mm, and are installed so that an interval between the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12 formed in a lengthwise direction of the fuel supply pipe 20 is 3 to 25 mm, preferably, 5 to 10 mm. The interval between the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12 is related with the generation and intensity (electric field strength) of an electric field (or an electromagnetic field) formed over a predetermined length range in the lengthwise direction of the fuel supply pipe 20. According to repeated experiments by the present applicant, setting the interval to a range of 3 to 25 mm, preferably, 5 to 10 mm, showed the best effects.

[0092] The first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12 are not limited to the above configuration, and may have a different thickness and a different length as the occasion demands. Instead of the copper tubes, thin copper plates may be wrapped around the outer surface of the fuel supply pipe 20.

[0093] The pulse generation unit 15 is supplied with power of 12 to 24V and 10 to 15A, for example, from a vehicle battery or through a separate booster, and generates a pulse of 50 to 2,000 Hz, preferably, 50 to 500 Hz and applies the pulse to first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12.

[0094] After the fuel in a fuel tank (not illustrated) is compressed by a fuel pump, the fuel is supplied to the fuel distribution means 30 through the fuel supply pipe 20, and is injected into a combustion chamber of the engine through the injectors 31 installed in the fuel distribution means 30. When electricity is supplied (power is applied) to the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12 of the electric field generation means 10 installed on the fuel supply pipe 20, an electric field is formed between the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 11. As a magnetic field is formed in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the fuel by the electric field, bonds of various hydrocarbons forming fuel molecules are broken to be divided into carbon and hydrogen or are ionized. In addition, since the pulse generation unit 15 applies pulses to the first electrode unit 11 and the second electrode unit 12, the generation and extinction of an electric field are repeated in a very short time, and as a result, impact is applied to various hydrocarbons forming fuel molecules (or fuel particles). Accordingly, as chain bonds or benzene bonds of various hydrocarbons are broken, the size of fuel molecules (or particles) is reduced.

[0095] According to the fuel ionization method and fuel ionization apparatus using an electric field in accordance with the present invention, configured as described above, as an electric field is formed over a predetermined range of a fuel supply pipe through which a fuel flows along an internal flow path, fuel molecules influenced by the electric field are ionized and atomized, whereby combustion close to complete combustion may be achieved and as a result, emission of an unburned fuel or emission (or the emission amount) of pollutants due to incomplete combustion may be reduced, simultaneously accomplishing improvement in fuel efficiency of an engine and increase in output of the engine.

[0096] Although embodiments according to the present invention have been described above, the embodiments are only for illustrative purposes, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and other equivalent embodiments are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims. Thus, the true technical scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the appended claims.