Abstract: An insert may include an outer sleeve that includes a first tubular portion and a first disk portion perpendicular to the first tubular portion at an end of the first tubular portion. An inner sleeve includes a second tubular portion and a second disk portion perpendicular to the second tubular portion at an end of the second tubular portion. The second tubular portion of the inner sleeve may be configured to be inserted in the first tubular portion of the outer sleeve. The first disk portion of the outer sleeve may include a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface includes a recess configured to accommodate the second disk portion of the inner sleeve when the second tubular portion is inserted in the first tubular portion.

Abstract: A first fuel storage portion is disposed on the upstream side of a fuel supply device of an engine so as to be contiguous with an air-intake passage of the fuel supply device. A blow-back suppression plate for suppressing blow-back from the air-intake passage is disposed between a filter element and the first fuel storage portion of an air cleaner. A suction-back passage is formed such that fuel accumulated in a fuel accumulation portion in the air cleaner is suctioned back through the suction-back passage into the air-intake passage. The suction-back passage allows communication between the fuel accumulation portion in the air cleaner and a suction-back port formed at the downstream-side end of the first fuel storage portion.

Abstract: A humidifier with regular addition of fixed quantity of essential oil is located in public areas and configured such that humidified air contains fragrance regularly. The humidifier is provided with a main body, water storage bucket mounted to the main body, and essential oil supplier mounted to the main body. The essential oil supplier includes a casing, at least one essential oil bottle within the casing and stored with essential oil, at least one peristaltic pump corresponding to each bottle and connected to the main body to be controlled. Each peristaltic pump is controlled by the main body, such that fixed quantity of essential oil is supplied regularly by the humidifier with the water storage bucket being not dismounted to keep fragrance in atomizing air continuous and eliminate the problem of only presence of fragrance at the beginning of addition of essential oil due to conventional method of addition.

Abstract: A vehicular fuel system with onboard fuel characterization including an onboard combustion modifier source capable of supplying a combustion modifier agent, such as hydrogen, and a fuel tank capable of storing a fuel. An injector-igniter is operative to direct inject the fuel and a proportionate amount of the modifier agent into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. An engine control unit is operatively connectable to the combustion modifier source and the injector. The system may further comprise a mixing valve operative to proportionately mix the fuel and modifier agent. The combustion modifier source may be a tank containing hydrogen or a thermo-chemical reactor, for example.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a water vapor transfer unit and a fluid flow distribution feature, the water vapor transfer unit including a first plate having a plurality of first flow channels for receiving a flow of a first fluid therein, and a second plate having a plurality of second flow channels for receiving a flow of a second fluid therein. The fluid flow distribution feature is configured to control at least one of a volume of flow of the first fluid through the first flow channels and a volume of flow of the second fluid through the second flow channels, wherein at least one of a flow distribution of the first fluid across the first plate and a flow distribution of the second fluid across the second plate is varied.

Abstract: A carburetor for increasing the efficiency and horse power of an internal combustion engine. The carburetor generally includes a body including a throat extending therethrough, a deflector plate extending inwardly towards a cross-sectional center within the throat, a venturi member extending within the throat downstream of the deflector plate and including a channel fluidly connected thereof, and a throttle plate disposed within the throat downstream of the venturi member. The deflector plate is directed towards the channel to redirect at least a portion of an air stream entering the throat through the channel to mix with a fuel stream injected within the channel. A water supply line injects a hot water stream within the throat downstream of the venturi member, wherein the hot water stream mixes with the fuel stream to atomize the fuel stream for vaporization within the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An emulsion fuel is provided which is usable as a fuel for combusting an internal combustion engine under an appropriate combustion condition. A slight amount of air is added to, and is mixed with, a liquid mixture between a fuel oil as a continuous phase and water as a dispersed phase. In this manner, since air bubbles reduced in buoyancy is hydrophobic, the air bubbles do not adhere the surfaces of water droplets, and are dispersed in the fuel oil, increasing a gas-liquid interfacial area (combustion surface area) and exerting surface activity (similar to the function of a surfactant) due to electrostatic polarization. This makes it possible to prevent the coalescence of fine water droplets and stabilize the water droplets in the emulsion fuel.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of operating a boiler fired with liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons are described. Fuel and atomizing air are supplied to the burner of the boiler wherein the atomizing air is subjected to a moistening process prior to mixing with the fuel. Heated water is vaporized and is contacted with the atomizing air. The generated water vapor together with the atomizing air is supplied to the burner. In this manner, the portion of the NOx emissions in the flue gas of the boiler can be reduced.