Abstract: An on the fly fuel reformer device to produce variations in the autoignition and burning rate properties of a fuel by appropriate processing of some or all of a single fuel supply in its liquid form. The system includes a non-thermal plasma generator and/or a UV radiation source in contact with a fuel line so as to contact a multi-phase fuel in the line and dynamically modify the fuel to exhibit desired autoignition characteristics and burn rate such that the engine can operate with increased efficiency and lower emissions.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment can be an exemplary method, which can include, for example, generating a cool flame(s) using a plasma-assisted combustion, and maintaining the cool flame(s). The cool flame(s) can have a temperature below about 1050 Kelvin, which can be about 700 Kelvin. The cool flame(s) can be further generated using a heated counterflow burning arrangement and a an ozone generating arrangement. The heated counterflow burning arrangement can include a liquid fuel vaporization arrangement. The ozone generating arrangement can include a micro plasma dielectric barrier discharge arrangement. The plasma-assisted combustion can be generated using (i) liquid n-heptane, (i) heated nitrogen, and (iii) ozone.

Abstract: An on the fly fuel reformer device to produce variations in the autoignition and burning rate properties of a fuel by appropriate processing of some or all of a single fuel supply in its liquid form.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment can be an exemplary method, which can include, for example, generating a cool flame(s) using a plasma-assisted combustion, and maintaining the cool flame(s). The cool flame(s) can have a temperature below about 1050 Kelvin, which can be about 700 Kelvin. The cool flame(s) can be further generated using a heated counterflow burning arrangement and a an ozone generating arrangement. The heated counterflow burning arrangement can include a liquid fuel vaporization arrangement. The ozone generating arrangement can include a micro plasma dielectric barrier discharge arrangement. The plasma-assisted combustion can be generated using (i) liquid n-heptane, (i) heated nitrogen, and (iii) ozone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the average molecular weight of a complex mixture from a plurality of test samples of the complex mixture are disclosed. The method includes a) providing a chamber having two fixed conditions and one variable condition selected from three state variables of temperature, pressure and volume; b) introducing a test sample of known mass into the chamber; c) setting operating conditions of the state variables such that the test sample will be fully vaporized into a gaseous state without decomposition or chemical reaction; and d) measuring the change of the variable condition after full vaporization of the test sample is achieved. Steps b-d are repeated for several test samples having different masses. The average molecular weight of the complex mixture is determined as a linear gradient (slope) of the relationship for the change of variable condition as a function of test sample mass.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the average molecular weight of a complex mixture from a plurality of test samples of the complex mixture are disclosed. The method includes a) providing a chamber having two fixed conditions and one variable condition selected from three state variables of temperature, pressure and volume; b) introducing a test sample of known mass into the chamber; c) setting operating conditions of the state variables such that the test sample will be fully vaporized into a gaseous state without decomposition or chemical reaction; and d) measuring the change of the variable condition after full vaporization of the test sample is achieved. Steps b-d are repeated for several test samples having different masses. The average molecular weight of the complex mixture is determined as a linear gradient (slope) of the relationship for the change of variable condition as a function of test sample mass.