Abstract: A mixture formation means for the reformer of a fuel cell system or for a heater. The fuel feed includes a pressure impulse injection means and the mixture formation area is a swirl chamber having a discharge nozzle connected to the pressure impulse injection device. Also included is a fuel heater for preheating the fuel before injection in order to achieve complete vaporization of the fuel, such as diesel fuel.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 23, 2003
Date of Patent:
January 15, 2008
Assignee:
Enerday GmbH
Inventors:
Matthias Boltze, Christian Wunderlich, Matthias Jahn
Abstract: There is provided a water-hydrocarbon mixture. In one example, the mixture includes low-molecular weight hydrocarbon and between about 5% and about 70% water. The mixture is in the gaseous state, and is at a pressure that is below the critical pressure of the mixture. The mixture temperature is above about 28° C. less than the boiling point temperature of water at the mixture pressure and is below about 450° C. The mixture provides a local environment of water molecules, tending to limit hydrocarbon polymerization and other undesirable side reactions and keeping the hydrocarbon from precipitating from the mixture, for a faster, more complete combustion cycle characterized by lower emissions of carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, and volatile organic and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbon preferably includes hydrocarbon micro-droplets of a diameter of no more than about 1 &mgr;m.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 24, 2001
Publication date:
October 18, 2001
Applicant:
Quantum Energy Technologies
Inventors:
Brian S. Ahern, Charles W. Haldeman, John T. Preston