Apparatus for Generating Electrolytic Gas Composite Fuel, and Method for Generating this Fuel

An electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus is disclosed having a mixing tank in which a liquid organic compound, such as an alkane, alcohols or ether, is stored so that a gaseous fossil fuel is continuously mixed with an electrolytic gas that is supplied as bubbles, an electrolytic gas supply device for supplying bubbles of electrolytic gas, and a fossil fuel supply device for supplying gaseous fossil fuel as bubbles. The fuel generation apparatus also includes an electrolytic gas composite fuel discharge device for discharging an electrolytic gas composite fuel that is produced by continuously mixing the electrolytic gas with the gaseous fossil fuel, an elevating portion capable of ascending and descending within the mixing tank, and a controller. The present invention further discloses a method for continuously mixing an electrolytic gas, generated by water electrolysis employing a basic electrolyte, with gaseous fossil fuel, and generating an electrolytic gas composite fuel.

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Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application 2008-22592, filed Feb. 1, 2008 and Japanese Patent Application 2008-290940, filed Nov. 13, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating an electrolytic gas composite fuel, which is a mixture of an electrolytic gas, which is obtained through electrolysis of water employing a basic electrolyte, and a gaseous fossil fuel, such as liquefied natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas, and a method for generating such a composite fuel.

2. Related Arts

It is well known that water (H2O) is ionized in a basic potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution, and that hydroxide ions OH− and hydrogen ions H+ are thus generated. The hydroxide ions OH− are also called anions, which are ions that move from a cathode (a negative electrode) to an anode (a positive electrode), while the hydrogen ions H+ are also called cations, which are ions that move from the anode (the positive electrode) to the cathode (the negative electrode). The hydrogen ions H+ are covalently bound with the water molecules H2O that are present in the solution, and generate “oxonium ions (H3O+)”. This indicates that in an environment wherein water and hydrogen ions coexist, i.e., in an electrolytic cell, most of the ions, due to covalent binding, are present as “oxonium ions H3O+”. Many apparatuses of this type, which use the electrolysis of water to generate an electrolytic gas, also called hydrogen-oxygen gas, have been disclosed, and an apparatus related to the present invention employs an electrolytic gas generated by performing electrolysis of water employing a basic electrolyte.

Conventional techniques are available for mixing water and a gaseous fossil fuel, under special conditions, and for burning the thus obtained fuel mixture: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 2002-5414 (patent document 1), Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 10-267260 (patent document 2) and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 2003-207107 (patent document 3).

A water-gaseous fossil fuel mixture combustion equipment are disclosed in patent document 1. According to the description presented therein, a fossil fuel, supplied as a mist, and water vapor are combined and this mixture is carried through a special pipe. As this pipe, a vapor passage is formed in a vapor manifold, which is also used for feeding a kerosine mist. In addition, first and second nozzle support tubes are formed in the vapor manifold, at the distal end of which a gas manifold is attached wherein first and second gas nozzles are mounted through which Brown's gas is injected. Thus, the combustion equipment described in this patent document not only combines a kerosine mist with water vapor, but also, to obtain a volatile combustive blend that will appropriately ignite and burn, blends this original mixture with Brown's gas in the gas manifold.

A combustion method for a composite water and fossil fuel emulsion, i.e., a water-emulsion fuel, and equipment therefor, are disclosed in patent document 2. According to this method, microwave (ultra high frequency) irradiation is used to heat and to vaporize the water-emulsion fuel mixture to obtain a gas. Then, the gas produced by heating the water-emulsion fuel gas that was heated and vaporized in this manner is supplied to a burner and burnt. As described in patent document 2, it is preferable that the gas supplied to the burner be blended with Brown's gas, with which a temperature of around 2000° C. can be obtained.

A Brown's gas combustion burner used for burning Brown's gas safely and stably is disclosed in patent document 3. In order to increase the safety of this burner, a Brown's gas inlet port and a gas ejection port communicate with each other in a border body, and one flame arrester, at the least, is provided inside the passageway for Brown's gas in the burner body. The methods and the equipment disclosed in these patent documents relate to the combustion of a gas that is produced by employing water vapor, or by adding to a fuel the Brown's gas that is obtained using water. And a fuel, supplied as a mist, or a composite fuel is fed to a combustion means, such as a burner, and is burnt.

An apparatus that mixes an organic gas compound, produced by the vaporization of a volatile organic liquid compound, with Brown's gas, and a manufacturing method therefor are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 2005-320416 (patent document 4).

According to the equipment and the method described in patent document 4, a volatile organic liquid compound is stored in a divided mixing tank, for which a partition wall is provided in which ventilation pores are formed that have diameters which inhibit the passage of bubbles of Brown's gas. With this arrangement, when Brown's gas is supplied as bubbles to the mixing tank and is mixed with an organic gas compound produced by the vaporization of the volatile organic liquid compound, a closed cell foam is formed and grown on the lower surface of the partition wall and a composite Brown's gas is produced. According to the disclosure in patent document 4, however, since the organic gas compound, which is produced by the vaporization of the volatile organic liquid compound stored in the mixing tank, is employed by being mixed with Brown's gas, the partition wall provided inside the mixing tank is not movable, and the method for halting and starting the supply of Brown's gas to the mixing tank and for obtaining the flammable organic compound gas are not disclosed, the structure described in this patent document is entirely different from that of the present invention.

The purpose of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus that mixes a gaseous fossil fuel with an electrolytic gas, produced by the electrolysis of water using a basic electrolyte, to generate an electrolytic gas composite fuel, and a generation method therefor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION (Object of the Invention)

The present inventors devoted much time to various studies of apparatuses that mix electrolytic gas and a gaseous fossil fuel, and developed an apparatus that can reduce carbon dioxide emissions, as well as considerably reducing the consumption of a gaseous fossil fuel that is used as a source gas, and that can generate a fuel capable of continuously providing thermal power for which the energy output is satisfactorily high. Therefore, one objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that mixes a gaseous fossil fuel with an electrolytic gas, produced through the electrolysis of water performed using a basic electrolyte, to generate an electrolytic gas composite fuel, and a generation method therefor.

(Means for Solving the Problems)

According to a first aspect of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus comprises:

a mixing tank 11 in which a liquid L, selected from among organic compounds such as alkanes, alcohols and ethers, is stored so that a gaseous fossil fuel is to be continuously mixed with an electrolytic gas that is supplied as bubbles to the mixing tank;

an electrolytic gas supply device 12 for supplying to the mixing tank bubbles of electrolytic gas that is produced through water electrolysis using a basic electrolyte;

a fossil fuel supply device 13 for supplying gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank as bubbles;

an electrolytic gas composite fuel discharge device 14 for discharging to a fuel use device 60 an electrolytic gas composite fuel that is produced by continuously mixing the electrolytic gas with the gaseous fossil fuel;

an elevating portion 15, which is capable of ascending and descending within the mixing tank, and on which a plurality of partition plates 51, 52 and 53, in which multiple pores are formed through which electrolytic gas and gaseous fossil fuel bubbles can not pass, are horizontally positioned and integrally mounted, and are immersed in the liquid L in the mixing tank, with peripheral surfaces facing interior mixing tank walls; and

a controller 20, for initiating or halting the supply of electrolytic gas and/or gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank, and for adjusting an amount supplied and a predetermined component ratio.

A second aspect of the invention relates to an electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus, wherein the liquid L selected from the organic compounds, such as alkanes, alcohols and ethers, is either gasoline, ethanol, methyl alcohol or dimethyl ether. A third aspect of the invention relates to an electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus, wherein the gaseous fossil fuel is one chosen from among liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal gas. A fourth aspect of the invention relates to an electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus, wherein a component of the electrolytic gas composite fuel generated by the electrolytic gas composite generation apparatus is a gas produced by the vaporization of the liquid L, which is an organic compound such as an alkane series member, an alcohol or an ether.

A fifth aspect of the invention relates to the electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus, wherein three of the partition plates 51, 52 and 53 are integrally attached to the elevating portion 15, and wherein the lowermost partition plate 51 is a stainless steel plate having a thickness of about 0.5 to 2.5 mm, preferably 1 to 2 mm, and a pore diameter of about 0.5 to 3.5 mm, preferably 1 to 3 mm, and the upper two partition plates 52 and 53 are meshed flat plates having pore diameters of about 0.2 to 1.5 mm, preferably 0.3 to 1 mm. The partition plates 51, 52 and 53 can be resin plates, and in this case, these plates may have a thickness of about 10 to 15 mm and a pore diameter of about 3 to 10 mm. In addition, upward tapered pores may be formed in the partition plates.

A sixth aspect of the invention relates to the electrolytic gas composite generation apparatus, wherein when multiple bubbles of the electrolytic gas and the gaseous fossil fuel have gathered on a lower face of the partition plates and upward migration of the bubbles is stagnant, or when bubbles pass through the small pores and migrate upward, the elevating portion 15 on which the partition plates are mounted is displaced upward or downward, and the controller 20 detects the upward or downward displacement of the elevating portion 15 to halt or start (resume) the supply of the electrolytic gas and the gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank.

A seventh aspect of the invention relates to the electrolytic gas composite generation apparatus, wherein the controller 20 detects a change in a pressure inside the mixing tank 11, and halts or starts (resumes) the supply of the electrolytic gas or the gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank. An eighth aspect of the invention relates to the electrolytic gas composite generation apparatus wherein, when the controller 20 has detected that the pressure inside the mixing tank has reached a predetermined pressure level, designated as a halting condition for the supply of gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank, the controller 20 halts the supply of the electrolytic gas to the mixing tank; and wherein when the controller 20 has detected that the pressure inside the mixing tank is lower than the predetermined pressure level, the controller starts (resumes) the supply of the electrolytic gas to the mixing tank.

A ninth aspect of the present invention relates to an electrolytic gas generator, employed for an electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus. This electrolytic gas generator 30, for supplying electrolytic gas to an electrolytic gas supply device 12, comprises, as shown in FIG. 3:

an electrolytic cell 300, for the generation of an electrolytic gas, including

    • an electrolyte inlet 31 formed in a bottom wall,
    • an outlet 35, formed in a top wall for extracting a mixture of an electrolyte and a generated gas,
    • an anode plate 32, internally arranged near the bottom wall,
    • a cathode plate 33, internally arranged near a top wall, and
    • an electrolyte spinning and passing portion 34, which has no electric connection, for spinning and passing an alkali electrolyte in a direction leading from the anode plate to the cathode plate;

an electrolytic gas/electrolyte separation cell 301, to which the mixture of the electrolytic gas and the electrolyte, extracted from the outlet 35 in the upper end of the electrolytic cell, is fed, and in which gas-liquid separation is performed for the mixture to separate gas components of the electrolytic gas from the electrolyte, so that only the gas components are externally extracted, while an electrolyte component is retained, internally;

an electrolyte forcible cooling device 302 for forcibly cooling the electrolyte that is retained in the electrolytic gas/electrolyte separation cell; and

an electrolyte circulation device 303, for circulating the electrolyte toward the electrolytic cell.

A tenth aspect of the invention relates to the electrolyte gas composite fuel generation apparatus, wherein, as shown in FIG. 4, the electrolyte spinning and passing portion 34, which is located between the anode plate 32 and the cathode plate 34 in the electrolytic cell 300, is formed of a predetermined number of metal plates 34-1 to 34-n, in each of which two to six electrolyte passage openings 47 are formed along the outer circumference, with point symmetry from the center. And the metal plates are arranged by sequentially displacing the electrolyte passage openings at a predetermined angle, so that the electrolyte is passed through the metal plates while spinning is being performed.

According to an eleventh aspect of the invention, an electrolytic gas composite fuel generation method comprises the steps of:

feeding, in a form of bubbles, a gaseous fossil fuel and an electrolytic gas, which is generated through the electrolysis of water using a basic electrolyte, to a mixing tank 11, in which a liquid L, an organic compound selected from among alkanes, alcohols and ethers, is stored;

repeating a mixing process to evenly mix the gaseous fossil fuel and the electrolytic gas;

preparing an elevating portion 15, which is capable of ascending or descending within the mixing tank, and on which a plurality of partition plates 51, 52 and 53, in which multiple pores are formed that are too small for bubbles of the electrolytic gas and the gaseous fossil fuel to pass through, are horizontally aligned and integrally mounted, and are immersed in the liquid L in the mixing tank, with their peripheral faces near the inner walls of the mixing tank;

detecting an upward or downward displacement, of the elevating portion 15 on which the partition plates are mounted, that occurs when multiple bubbles of the electrolytic gas and the fossil gas fuel have gathered on a lower face of the partition plates and upward migration of the bubbles is stagnant, or when bubbles pass through the small pores and migrate upward;

halting or starting (resuming) supply of the electrolytic gas and the gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank, or controlling an amount supplied and a predetermined component ratio; and

producing an electrolytic gas, composite fuel by continuously mixing of the electrolytic gas with the fossil gas fuel.

A twelfth aspect of the invention relates to the electrolytic gas composite generation method, wherein the supply of the electrolytic gas or the gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank is halted or started (resumed) upon the detection of a change in a pressure inside the mixing tank. A thirteenth aspect of the invention relates to the electrolytic gas composite generation method wherein the supply of the electrolytic gas to the mixing tank is halted upon detecting that the pressure inside the mixing tank has reached a predetermined pressure level, designated as a halting condition for the supply of gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank; and wherein the supply of electrolytic gas to the mixing tank is started (resumed) upon detecting that the pressure inside the mixing tank is lower than the predetermined pressure level.

(Advantages of the Invention)

According to the electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus of the invention, a gaseous fossil fuel and an electrolytic gas, produced through the electrolysis of water using a basic electrolyte, are fed under pressure into the bottom portion of the mixing tank 11, wherein a liquid, selected from among organic compounds such as alkanes, alcohols and ethers, is stored. Then, continuously, the electrolytic gas, in bubble form, is mixed with the gaseous fossil fuel, which is a source gas, and an electrolytic gas, composite fuel is produced. In this case, electrolytic gas and gaseous fossil fuel bubbles are fed into the mixing tank 11, and are mixed together and gather on the lower faces of the partition plates 51, 52 and 53, wherein multiple pores are provided that are too small for these bubbles to easily pass through. The partition plates are horizontally positioned, and integrally mounted, on the elevating portion 15, which freely ascends and descends within the mixing tank, and are immersed in the liquid in the mixing tank, with their peripheral faces near the inner walls of the mixing tank.

In the invention, since multiple pores are provided in the partition plates that have openings that are too small for the electrolytic gas and gaseous fossil fuel bubbles to pass through easily, these bubbles, as they are introduced, under pressure, into the bottom portion of the mixing tank 11, rise and gather on the lower face of each partition plate, forming a foam. Then, the upward migration of the bubbles becomes stagnant, and the pressure within the mixing tank 11 is increased. As a result, the elevating portion 15 on which the partition plates are mounted is raised. Then, as the foam is collapsing and bubbles are passing through the small pores in the partition plates and moving upward, the elevating portion 15 gradually descends. This upward or downward displacement of the elevating portion 15 is detected, for example, by a touch sensor, or else the change in the pressure within the mixing tank 11 is detected by a pressure sensor. In either event, when the elevating portion 15 ascends or the pressure within the mixing tank becomes high, the electrolytic gas generation apparatus is powered off to halt the supply of the electrolytic gas, and a throttle valve is closed to halt the supply, to the mixing tank 11, of the gaseous fossil fuel.

With this arrangement, it is confirmed that, when the electrolytic gas, composite fuel produced by the invention is burnt using a conventional heating burner that burns either liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), only about 40% of the LPG need be consumed to obtain the same quantity of heat as when only LPG is burnt, and the consumption of the LPG that is required is considerably reduced. Furthermore, since the supply of the electrolytic gas is halted under a specified condition, the consumption of power required to operate the electrolytic gas generation apparatus is also reduced. The electrolytic gas composition fuel that is produced and finally extracted from a discharge device 14 is a reformed fuel that, when burnt, provides almost complete combustion.

When the electrolytic gas and the gaseous fossil fuel are mixed in the above described manner, the combustion efficiency is remarkably improved, and the amount of gaseous fossil fuel that must be consumed to obtain a necessary quantity of heat can be considerably reduced. Furthermore, an electrolytic gas produced by an “electrolytic gas generation apparatus,” disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-277756 submitted by the present inventor, can be effectively employed as an electrolytic gas obtained through the electrolysis of water using a basic electrolyte. According to this generation apparatus, the electrolytic gas is efficiently and continuously generated, and is introduced, under pressure, into the mixing tank 11 via an electrolytic gas supply device 12. Since the electrolytic gas is basically generated through the electrolysis of water, it is apparent that relative to the quantity provided this material is extremely profitable economically.

By employing the electrolytic gas produced by the electrolysis of water, which is an inexpensive and abundant material, the combustion efficiency provided by carbon hydrogen gas and other carbon materials can be increased. Also, from the viewpoint of the effective use of energy resources, and the increase in the quality of heat that may be expected, it is profitable for the electrolytic gas, composite fuel to be produced by mixing the electrolytic gas with the gaseous fossil fuel.

The above strong combustion reaction is obtained by using the electrolytic gas, composite fuel that is extracted by employing the method of the invention. Furthermore, in this invention, a stronger and more active combustion reaction is available when a component of the electrolytic gas composite fuel is a gas obtained through the vaporization of an organic compound liquid, such as an alkane, an alcohol or an ether that is stored in the mixing tank. Such a strong combustion reaction as is provided by the electrolytic gas composite fuel produced by this invention, that the fuel can be employed not only for use with burners employed for heating equipment or for heating systems, but also for various types of heat engines that utilize the heat produced by combustion, including internal combustion engines, gas turbines and jet engines.

According to the invention, when the electrolytic gas and an appropriate type of gaseous fossil fuel are mixed together, the combustion reaction available with the gaseous fossil fuel becomes accessible, and can be used to provide a satisfactorily high thermal power energy output. As a result, compared with the heat production results obtained with a conventional combustion method that uses only the oxygen in the air, the amount of the gaseous fossil fuel that is required to provide the same quantity of heat is reduced by about 60%. Accordingly, since the amount of air required during combustion to obtain the same quantity of heat is reduced, heat production efficiency is increased, and the emission of combustion produced carbon dioxide is proportionally reduced. Therefore, the present invention is naturally useful as a global warming countermeasure, in addition to providing means by which to effectively conserve a fossil fuel, for which the estimated availability is finite, by reducing the amount of the fuel that must be consumed to perform a specific task. Moreover, since the emissions of sulfur oxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) are also considerably reduced, the present invention can be extremely profitable as an environmental pollution countermeasure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus of the present invention, and associated peripheral devices;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example basic arrangement for an electrolytic gas generator employed for the electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example structure for an electrolytic cell employed for the electrolytic gas generator in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example structure for individual circular plates of a metal plate group that is employed for the electrolytic cell of the electrolytic gas generator in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the state wherein the entire demonstration system is arranged for examining the performance of an electrolytic gas composite fuel produced by the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the state of a flame generated by the demonstration system, specifically, by the combustion burner, to examine the performance of the electrolytic gas composite fuel produced by the present invention.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described while referring to the accompanying drawings. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the present invention can be modified without departing from the spirit and the technical scope of the invention.

FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1A. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus of the invention, and associated peripheral devices.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus 10, according to the present invention, includes: a mixing tank 11, in which a liquid L, selected from among organic compounds such as alkanes, alcohols and ethers, is stored, and in which mixing of a fossil gas fuel with an electrolytic gas, having a bubble form, that is introduced at the bottom, is continuously performed; an electrolytic gas supply device 12, which supplies to the mixing tank 11 an electrolytic gas generated by the electrolysis of water performed while employing a basic electrolyte; a fossil fuel supply device 13, which supplies a gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank 11; and an electrolytic gas composite fuel discharge device 14, which discharges, to a fuel use device 60, an electrolytic gas composite fuel produced by the continuous mixing of the electrolytic gas with the fossil gas fuel.

A water electrolyser 30, which serves as an electrolytic gas generator for generating an electrolytic gas that will be described later, and a fossil gas fuel supply device 40, which is a gas cylinder, such as a liquefied petroleum gas cylinder, for supplying a gaseous fossil fuel, such as a liquefied petroleum gas, are connected to the electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus 10. An electrolytic gas composite fuel gas generated by this apparatus 10 is to be supplied to a combustion burner, or to another fuel use device 60. A controller 20 is also provided for halting or starting the supply of an electrolytic gas and/or a gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank 11, and for controlling the amount supplied and a predetermined ratio of components, and the operations performed by the individual sections of the system of the present invention.

An elevating portion 15, provided in the mixing tank 11, can freely ascend or descend therein, and a dependent portion 54 and partition plates 51, 52 and 53 are integrally mounted on the elevating portion 15. The dependent portion 54 is mounted with its peripheral ends being detachable from the upper end of an outer frame wall 16 of the mixing tank 11, and the partition plate 53 is fixed to the dependent portion 54 using four stainless steel connecting rods 57. The partition plate 52 is fixed to the partition plate 53 using stainless steel connecting rods 56, and the partition plate 51 is fixed to the partition plate 52 using coupling rods 55. In this arrangement, a gap S of about 5 to 10 mm is defined between the upper face of the dependent portion 54 and the upper face of an outer frame 17, so that the elevating portion 15 starts to ascend or to descend in accordance with a change in the internal pressure of the mixing tank 11.

The dependent portion 54 is a circular flat plate, in the center of which an opening 58 is formed for the introduction of an electrolytic gas composite fuel into the electrolytic gas composite fuel discharge device 14. In this embodiment, since the mixing tank 11 that is employed is cylindrically shaped, the dependent portion 54 and the partition plates 51, 52 and 53, which will be described later, also have flat circular shapes. However, the shapes of the dependent portion 54 and the partition plates 51 to 53 are not thereby limited, and they may be polygons having pentagonal, hexagonal or heptagonal shapes, which are provided in consonance with the internal shape of the mixing tank 11. Naturally, a number of types of polygons can be employed that correspond to the shape of the mixing tank 11.

In the partition plates 51, 52 and 53, which are provided for the elevating portion 15, a plurality pores are formed that have openings so small that electrolytic gas and gaseous fossil fuel bubbles can not easily pass through them. And the partition plates 51 to 53 are horizontally positioned and immersed in a liquid stored in the mixing tank 11, while the peripheral faces of the partition plates 51 to 53 are located near the inner wall of the mixing tank 11. The lowermost partition plate 51 can be a flat plate made of stainless steel or of a resin having a thickness of about 0.5 to 2.5 mm, or preferably, 1 to 2 mm, and pore diameters of about 0.5 to 3.5 mm, or preferably, 1 to 3 mm. The upper partition plates 52 and 53 can be meshed plates, made of stainless steel, or plates, made of a resin, that have pore diameters of about 0.2 to 1.5 mm, or preferably, 0.3 to 1 mm. When a resin is employed for the partition plates 51, 52 and 53, the thickness thereof can be about 10 to 15 mm, and the diameter of the pores formed therein can be about 3 to 10 mm and can be tapered upward.

With the arrangement wherein the partition plates for which multiple small pores are provided at a plurality of stages, when the electrolytic gas and a gaseous fossil fuel are introduced into the mixing tank 11, the dwell period of the bubbles and the injection pressure are adjusted to perform an appropriate and uniform mixing of the electrolytic gas and the fossil gas fuel. In this embodiment, three partition plates are provided for the elevating portion 15; however, the number of partition plates is not limited to three, and more than one partition plate can be employed, in accordance with the diameter and the density of small pores. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the outer ends of the dependent portion 54 are detachable from the upper end of the outer frame 16, so as to provide the ascending/descending structure of the elevating portion 15. As another structure, provided to enable an ascending and descending displacement, large openings may be formed at the locations in the partition plate 53 into which the connection rods 57, used for securely connecting the dependent portion 54 to the partition plate 53, are to be inserted, and the lower ends of the portions of the connecting rods 57 that are to be coupled with the partition plate 53 may be used as stoppers.

The intervals at which the partition plates 51, 52 and 53 are to be mounted for the elevating portion 15, can be adjusted in accordance with the type of a gaseous fossil fuel, employed for this apparatus, or in accordance with the production condition for an electrolytic gas composite fuel. For the adjustment of the intervals, previously prepared connecting rods having various lengths, may be processed to obtain predetermined lengths that correspond to desired intervals, or fitting screws may be employed to fix connecting rods at predetermined lengths that correspond to desired intervals. The diameter and the density of the small pores formed in the partition plates, and the intervals and the arrangement of the partition plates can be determined to obtain a desired mixing speed and a desired yield, while taking into account the following conditions: the type, the viscosity, the volume and the temperature of a liquid, such as an alkane, an alcohol or an ether compound, to be used to fill the mixing tank 11, a gaseous fossil fuel type and the amount available, the size of the generation apparatus and the rate of production of the electrolytic gas composite fuel.

A liquid L, selected from among organic compounds, such as those of alkane, alcohol and ether, is used to fill the mixing tank 11 to a level above the topmost partition plate 53. A liquid consisting of an organic compound of an alkane, an alcohol or an ether can be, for example, gasoline, ethanol, methyl alcohol, dimethyl alcohol or kerosine. An example gaseous fossil fuel supplied from the fossil fuel supply device 13 can be liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) or coal gas.

Further, an electrolytic gas composite fuel, produced by the apparatus of the invention, can contain a gas obtained by the vaporization of the liquid L, selected from among such organic compounds as those of alkane, alcohol or ether, stored in the mixing tank 11. When this vaporized gas is employed as a combustion improver for the electrolytic gas composite fuel, a stronger and more active combustion reaction can be provided. In this case, the liquid L must be supplied, as needed, to the mixing tank 11.

When the electrolytic gas and the gaseous fossil fuel are to be introduced from the electrolytic gas supply device 12 and the fossil fuel supply device 13 to the mixing tank 11, the injection pressure must be consonant with the pressure of the liquid L that is selected from among organic compounds, such as those of alkane, alcohol and ether, and is stored in the mixing tank 11, and is about 0.05 to 0.2 MPa, or preferably, 0.08 to 0.15 MPa. Check valves 102 and 103 are respectively arranged for the electrolytic gas supply device 12 and the fossil fuel supply device 13. These check valves 102 and 103 prevent the liquid in the mixing tank 11 from flowing out of the mixing tank 11 to the electrolytic gas generator 30 or the gaseous fossil fuel supply device 40, and especially inhibits the occurrence of such a phenomenon when the pressure in the mixing tank 11 becomes high.

The apparatus of this invention includes the controller 20 for starting or halting the supply of the electrolytic gas and/or the gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank 11, and for controlling the amount supplied and a predetermined component ratio (see FIG. 2). When a foam is produced by the gathering of multiple bubbles of the electrolytic gas and the fossil gas fuel on the lower face of a partition plate, and the upward migration is stagnant, an ascending displacement occurs of the elevating portion 15, whereon the partition plates 51 to 53 are mounted. The controller 20 detects this displacement by employing a touch sensor, for example, and halts the supply to the mixing tank 11 of the electrolytic gas and the gaseous fossil fuel from the electrolytic gas generator 30 and the gaseous fossil fuel supply device 40. On the other hand, when the foam has collapsed and bubbles are passing through the small pores and moving upward, the controller 20 detects a descending displacement of the elevating portion 15, and starts (resumes) the supply of the electrolytic gas and the gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank 11.

Furthermore, when the upward migration of bubbles is stagnant, or when bubbles are moving upward, the pressure within the mixing tank 11 is also changed. The controller 20 employs a pressure sensor to detect this change, and halts or starts (resumes) the supply of the electrolytic gas and the gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank 11. Specifically, when the controller 20 detects that the internal pressure of the mixing tank 11 has reached a level, predesignated as a condition for halting the supply of the gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank 11, the controller 20 halts the supply of the electrolytic gas to the mixing tank 11. And when the controller 20 detects that the internal pressure of the mixing tank 11 has dropped below the designated pressure, the controller 20 starts (resumes) the supply of the electrolytic gas to the mixing tank 11.

The halting or starting (resuming) of the supply of the electrolytic gas to the mixing tank 11 is controlled by powering on or off the electrolytic gas generator 30, and the halting or starting (resuming) of the supply of the fossil gas fuel to the mixing tank 11 is controlled by opening or closing of a throttle valve that is arranged at the fossil gas supply device 40, which is a gas cylinder, such as a liquefied petroleum gas cylinder. A control unit for controlling the entire operation performed by the individual sections is also provided, and since it is easy for one having ordinary skill in the art to constitute the control unit by employing a conventional technique, a detailed explanation for the control unit will not be given.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example basic arrangement for the electrolytic gas generator 30, for generating an electrolytic gas, employed for the electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus 10 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example structure for an electrolytic cell, for the generation of an electrolytic gas, employed for the electrolytic gas generator 30. In this embodiment, as is illustrated in FIG. 3, the electrolytic gas generator 30 includes: an electrolytic cell 300, used for the generation of an electrolytic gas; an electrolytic gas/electrolyte separation cell 301; an electrolyte forced cooling device 302; and an electrolyte circulation device 303. It is preferable that a line filter 38, for filtering out impurities, and an electrolyte outlet 39, for removing the electrolyte from the system, also be arranged for the electrolyte circulation device 303 at locations as shown in FIG. 3, or in accordance with the arrangements of other apparatuses of the same type.

An electrolyte inlet 31 is formed in the bottom of the electrolytic cell 300. Further, an anode plate 32 is located near the bottom of the electrolytic cell 300, while a cathode plate 33 is located near the top, and a predetermined number of metal plates 34-1 to 34-n are arranged, at predetermined intervals, between the two electrodes to serve as a electrolyte spinning and passing portion 34. The anode 32 and the cathode 33 can be made of stainless steel 304 or stainless steel 316. As will be described later, the individual metal plates 34 are not electrically connected to the electrodes 32 and 33 or to other portions, and are securely supported by a cylindrical insulating member 37 formed of an arbitrary type of plastic. The individual metal plates 34-1 to 34-n, which form the metal plate group 34, are not connected to each other either, and are at a potential that corresponds to a potential difference that is consonant with a potential gradient that is inevitably formed from the anode side to the cathode side by the electrolyte layer that fills the area between the anode 32 and the cathode 33. The metal plate group 34 functions to uniformly spin and impel the electrolyte that flows through the area wherein the plates 34 are interposed.

In this invention, since the electrolyte circulation device 303 forcibly circulates the electrolyte, and the metal plate group 34 that serves as a spinning and passing portion spins and impels and causes the electrolyte to flow, a rise of the temperature in the electrolytic cell 300 can be prevented. Therefore, a plastic, such as vinyl chloride, can be employed to form the external frame that securely supports the metal plate group 34, and as a result, the cost of manufacturing the electrolytic cell 300 can be considerably reduced. In addition, since the outside of the electrolytic cell 300 is covered by an insulating member, leakages of currents can be avoided. It is preferable that the metal plates 34-1 to 34-n be arranged at such an interval that a potential difference of 1.8 [V] is obtained between the individual metal plates 34. Electrolysis of water is performed during a process by which, while spinning, the electrolyte is passed from the anode 32 through the predetermined number of metal plates 34 to the cathode 33. As a result, an electrolytic gas is generated. When multiple metal plates 34 have been arranged, a large quantity of the electrolytic gas can be generated in the electrolytic cell 300. The mixture of the electrolytic gas and the electrolyte is extracted from an outlet 35 formed in the top.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating example metal plates for the metal plate group 34, formed in a predetermined number, e.g., between around 10 plates and equal to or greater than 100 plates, that are arranged between the anode 32 and the cathode 33 in the electrolytic cell 300. Metal plates 34 in this embodiment have a circular shape, as shown in FIG. 5; however, a polygonal shape, such as a pentagonal, hexagonal or heptagonal shape, may be employed. Further, in this embodiment, four electrolyte passage openings 47 are formed in each of the circular shaped metal plates 34, at positions which for a center C have point symmetry. Further, since circular metal plates 34 are employed for this embodiment, accordingly, the external frame for securely supporting the metal plate group 34 has a cylindrical shape. However, the shape of the external frame is not limited to the cylindrical, and when the metal plates 34 that are formed have a polygonal shape, such as pentagonal, hexagonal or heptagonal, the external frame can have a polygonal shape consonant with the shape of the metal plates 34.

The electrolyte passage openings 47, formed in each metal plate 34, are employed to permit the electrolytic gas and the electrolyte to flow from the anode 32 side to the cathode 33 side. During the assembly process for the metal plates 34, they are positioned so that the electrolyte passage openings 47 in each of them are sequentially displaced a set number of degrees, e.g., 15 degrees, as shown in [1] to [6] in FIG. 5. As a result, when a metal plate 34 is arranged at a predetermined interval above the one that is adjacent to the anode 32, the openings 47 therein are displaced 15 degrees counterclockwise. Further, when another metal plate 34 is further overlaid above that metal plate 34, the openings 47 therein are displaced at the same angle, i.e., 15 degrees. The same process is repeated for a predetermined number of metal plates 34, e.g., an appropriately selected number of from several tens to one hundred and several tens of metal plates 34, until the metal plate group 34 is securely supported by the cylindrical insulating member. It should be noted that the displacement angle of the openings 47 is not limited to 15 degrees.

The direct-current voltage to be applied between the anode 32 and the cathode 33 differs depending on the number of metal plates 34 interposed. However, the appropriate direct-current voltage is set so that a potential difference between the individual metal plates 34 is about 1.8 [V]. At this time, the metal plates 34-1 to 34-n are also arranged so as to gradually displace the openings 47 therein, from the anode 32 side to the cathode 33 side, at a predetermined angle, such as 15 degrees, so that the electrolyte can pass through in a spiral manner. When the electrolyte is flowing from the anode 32 toward the cathode 33, through the metal plates 34 that are located so that the openings 47 are gradually displaced at the set angle, the electrolyte is spun and forms an ascending stream along a flow path that is determined by the number of the metal plates 34 arranged and the displacement angle used for the openings 47. As a result, since the electrolyte is flowing while being regularly agitated, the electrolytic reaction is promoted, and it can be anticipated that the yield from the generation of an electrolytic gas will be increased.

It is convenient for about four to six openings 47 to be formed in the metal plates 34, because the openings 47 also demonstrate the effects for helping the rise of the electrolytic gas that is generated in accordance with the progress of the electrolytic reaction. Also, an electrolyte support port 36 equipped with a valve is also provided at the upper end of the electrolytic cell 300, in order to supply additional electrolyte. Instead of mounting the electrolyte supply port 36, a branch valve, for example, may be connected to a pipe that is connected to the electrolyte inlet 31 at the lower end of the electrolytic cell 300, so that electrolyte may be supplied through this branch valve.

The mixture of the electrolyte and the electrolytic gas, extracted from the electrolytic cell 300, is introduced through a lead-in channel 41 formed in the bottom. For the lead-in channel 41, a discharge portion, in which multiple tiny pores are formed, or that is made of a porous material, is projected inward from the bottom of the separation cell 301, and is used for injecting the mixture of the electrolyte and the electrolytic gas into the separation cell 301. In this arrangement, when the mixture passes through the discharge portion, the resistance of the gas component differs from the resistance of the electrolyte, dispersion of the gas component is accelerated, and a satisfactory gas-liquid separation is obtained. The gas component of the electrolytic gas, obtained during the gas-liquid separation process, is transferred via a pipe from a gas extraction port 45, located at the upper end of the separation cell 301, and is introduced to the mixing tank 11 via the electrolytic gas supply device 12.

On the other hand, the residual electrolyte in the separation cell 301 is removed through an electrolyte outlet 42 formed in the bottom of the separation cell 301, and one part of the electrolyte is transferred to the electrolyte forced cooling device 302, which cools the electrolyte to an appropriate temperature, and returns the electrolyte to the separation cell 301 through a cooled electrolyte inlet 43 formed in the bottom. In this case, it is preferable that the temperature of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell 300 be about 18° C. to 25° C., while taking the external temperature and the yield of the generated gas into account. It is also preferable that the operating temperature be maintained within the above described range, for an electrolytic reaction becomes unstable when the temperature is too low, and the electrolytic reaction efficiency is reduced when the temperature is too high.

The remainder of the electrolyte that was not transferred by the electrolyte forced cooling device 302 is again supplied, via the electrolyte circulation device 303, to the electrolytic cell 300. In this case, it is preferable that a ratio of the electrolyte to be transferred to the electrolyte forced cooling device 302 and the amount of the electrolyte to be returned directly to the electrolytic cell 300 be adjusted to their optimal values by using an appropriate controller, while taking into account the operating environment, such as the external temperature, the temperature of the electrolyte and the operating period. This operation is applied for a case, as shown in FIG. 3, wherein an electrolyte outlet pipe is formed in the bottom of the separation cell 301 and the pipe is branched into a transfer channel for the electrolyte forced cooling device 302 and a circulation channel for the electrolytic cell 300.

Another electrolyte outlet may be formed in the bottom of the separation cell 301 to circulate the electrolyte. According to this structure, the electrolyte that remains in the separation cell 301 and that has been cooled to an appropriate temperature is extracted through the electrolyte outlet, and is returned by the electrolyte circulation device 303, to the electrolytic cell 300. On the other hand, the electrolyte discharged from the outlet additionally provided is returned, by a separately provided circulation pump 44, from the electrolyte forced cooling device 302, to the separation cell 301, via the cooled electrolyte inlet 43.

With the above described arrangement, the electrolytic gas generator can efficiently and continuously generate the electrolytic gas. The electrolytic gas that is produced is extracted via the gas extraction port 45, located at the upper end of the separation cell 301, and is injected, under pressure, into the mixing tank 11 by the electrolytic gas supply device 12. When the electrolytic gas and the fossil gas fuel are injected into the mixing tank 11 under pressure applied by the electrolytic gas generator 30 and the fossil gas supply device 40, they are multiple bubbles. These bubbles are first gathered on the lower face of the lowermost partition plate 51 and become a foam, where mixing of the gas and the fuel is repeated. When a predetermined period of time elapses, the foam is collapsed and is changed to fine bubbles. The fine bubbles pass through the small pores formed in the partition plate 51, and are gathered on the lower face of the partition plate 52 to produce a foam. The produced foam is collapsed, and changed to fine bubbles, and likewise, the fine bubbles pass through the partition plate 52 and are gathered on the lower face of the partition plate 53 to repeat mixing. Since gathering and mixing is repeated, the electrolytic gas composite fuel is generated, and is supplied from the electrolytic gas composite fuel discharge device 14 to the fuel use device 60.

EXAMPLE 1

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the state wherein a demonstration system is installed to examine the performance of an electrolytic gas composite fuel produced by the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the state of a flame generated by the demonstration system, especially by a combustion burner. These diagrams were derived from photographs that were taken by Toshihiko Sato, resident of Moro-hongo 1544-1, Moroyama-cho, Iruma-gun, Saitama-ken, dated on Jan. 18, 2008. From the left in FIGS. 6 and 7, a combustion burner 60, an electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus 10, an electrolytic gas generator 30 and a controller 20 are shown. Since an LP gas cylinder 40, serving as a fossil fuel supply device, is installed outdoors, this device is not shown in these drawings.

The electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus 10 in the above described demonstration system had the following arrangement: gasoline was filled in a mixing tank 11, and a dependent portion 54 and three partition plates 51 to 53 were securely fixed, using stainless steel connecting rods, to provide an elevating portion 15 having an ascending/descending structure. In this example, the lowermost partition plate 51 was a stainless steel plate having a thickness of about 1.5 mm and a pore diameter of about 1.5 mm, and the upper partition plates were stainless steel mesh plates having a pore diameter of about 0.5 mm.

With this arrangement of the demonstration system, an experiment was conducted while an electrolytic gas, generated by the electrolytic gas generator 30, was supplied to the bottom of the mixing tank 11, and the LP gas was also supplied from the LP gas cylinder 40 under a designated pressure of about 0.1 MPa. For this experiment, the electrolytic gas generator 30 employed a potassium hydroxide electrolyte to generate an electrolytic gas, and a needle valve was employed for the fine adjustment of the quantities of the electrolytic gas and the LPG to be supplied to the mixing tank 11. In addition, an LPG combustion burner, ELGU150, made by Fulta Ennetsu Co., Ltd., for large heaters, such as commercial heating equipment, was employed as an additional device for burning an electrolytic gas composite fuel. The rated LPG consumption for this burner is about 2.4 m3 per hour.

The building, located in the Kanto area (Saitama prefecture), wherein the experimental demonstration system was operated, has a floor dimension of about 180 m2 and a ceiling height of about 5 m, and is covered with zinc-coated steel sheets, and several experiments were conducted therein at a designated temperature of 20° C. and for a period of one hour each. When about 15 minutes had elapsed following the activation of the demonstration system, and the supply of the electrolytic gas and the LP gas to the mixing tank 11 had been started, the operation of the electrolytic gas generator 30 was halted and the supply of the electrolytic gas was stopped, as was the injection of the LP gas. However, the burning condition of the electrolytic gas composite fuel was unchanged. Then, after about another 15 minutes had elapsed, the operation of the electrolytic gas generator 30 was started (resumed), and the supply of the electrolytic gas to the mixing tank 11 was begun, as was the injection of the LP gas. During the performance of experiments, such halting and starting (resuming) operations were intermittently repeated.

Experiment 1: Jan. 18, 2008, Weather Cloudy, External temperature 3.2° C., Room temperature 2.5° C. before the start of the experiment

Experiment 2: Jan. 19, 2008, Weather Fine, External temperature 0.5° C., Room temperature −0.2° C. before the start of the experiment

The demonstration system was operated for one hour for each experiment, at a heater outlet temperature of 45° C. and a designated room temperature of 20° C. Through measurements performed for both experiments, it was confirmed that the average LPG consumption was 0.71 m3/h and the room temperature was raised to 18.5 to 20° C.

In these cases, the average LPG consumption of 0.71 m3/h was only about 40% of the rated LPG consumption for the combustion burner 60. Further, during the experiments, by checking the readings obtained by a level sensor, it was found that the volume level of gasoline supplied to the mixing tank 11 was lowered only slightly. Further, since the electrolysis of water was performed during the experiments, several kWh of electric power and an amount of water were required; however, the amount of power and water was required was small, relative to the reduction in the rate of consumption of the fossil fuel.

Furthermore, when the fuel obtained by the present invention was burnt, it was confirmed that the density of carbon dioxide (CO2) contained in the emission gas was 5.4%, which when compared with the 10.7% for crude oil A and the 11.63% for LP gas, is extremely lower. Also, the density of the nitrogen oxide (NOx) contained in the emission gas was 39 ppm, and it was confirmed this is extremely lower than the 79 ppm for fuel oil A. Further, the combustion temperature of the fuel obtained by this invention was 1,010° C., and it was confirmed that this is higher than the 740° C. for fuel oil A.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus of this invention detects the ascending or descending displacement of the elevating portion and a change in the internal pressure of the mixing tank, and halts the supply of the electrolytic gas and the fossil gas fuel to the mixing tank. Therefore, when the electrolytic gas composite fuel produced by the invention is burnt using a conventional heater burner for burning LP gas, only about 40% of the LPG combustion level is required to obtain the same quantity of heat as when LP gas is burnt. Further, since when a specific operating condition is detected the supply of the electrolytic gas is halted, the consumption of the electric power required to operate the electrolytic gas generator is also reduced.

When the electrolytic gas composite fuel generated by the electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus of this invention is burnt, greater heat is generated than that which is obtained by the conventional combustion of a fossil fuel, and smaller amounts of impurities are produced. Therefore, the combustion efficiency was considerably improved, and accordingly, the consumption of the fossil fuel and the emission of carbon dioxide produced by combustion are reduced. This composite gas fuel is obtained by the electrolysis of water, and after the initial preparation of equipment has been completed, there is very little investment rise thereafter, because the cost of the electricity used for the electrolysis of water constitutes the main operating expenditure.

Further, the electrolytic gas composite fuel can be employed not only for a combustion device, such as a gas burner for burning fuel directly in an open space, but also for an internal combustion engine or a jet engine wherein a liquid or gas fuel is explosively burned within a closed space, and a boiler used for power generation, or another type of large boiler that employs a liquid, gas or solid fuel. In this case, when the electrolytic gas composite fuel is additionally supplied or injected into a combustion chamber, for example, it is anticipated that a stronger output will be obtained. That is, a greater thermal energy output will be obtained at a considerably lower fuel cost than that which is conventionally incurred, and a remarkable improvement in fuel efficiency can be expected. Thus, a great cost saving can be anticipated, and great energy saving effects obtained. Accordingly, the amount of carbon dioxide in exhaust gases will be considerably reduced, and this will have a large, beneficial effect as a global warming countermeasure. Moreover, the effective use of a fossil fuel for which there is a finite estimated availability can be expected, and the period individual resources can utilized can be extended.

Various other modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated that are within the scope of the following claims that in particular point out and distinctly describe the subject matter regarded as the invention.

Claims

1. An electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus comprising:

a mixing tank, in which a liquid, selected from among organic compounds such as alkanes, alcohols and ethers, is stored so that a gaseous fossil fuel is to be continuously mixed with an electrolytic gas that is supplied as bubbles to the mixing tank;
an electrolytic gas supply device, for supplying to the mixing tank bubbles of electrolytic gas that is produced through water electrolysis using a basic electrolyte;
a fossil fuel supply device, for supplying gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank as bubbles;
an electrolytic gas composite fuel discharge device, for discharging to a fuel use device an electrolytic gas composite fuel that is produced by continuously mixing the electrolytic gas with the gaseous fossil fuel;
an elevating portion, which is capable of ascending and descending within the mixing tank, and on which a plurality of partition plates, in which multiple pores are formed through which electrolytic gas and gaseous fossil fuel bubbles can not pass, are horizontally positioned and integrally mounted, and are immersed in the liquid in the mixing tank, with peripheral surfaces facing interior mixing tank walls; and
a controller, for initiating or halting the supply of electrolytic gas and/or gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank, and for adjusting an amount supplied and a predetermined component ratio.

2. The electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid selected from the organic compounds, such as alkanes, alcohols and ethers, is either gasoline, ethanol, methyl alcohol or dimethyl ether.

3. The electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gaseous fossil fuel is one chosen from among liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal gas.

4. The electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a component of the electrolytic gas composite fuel generated by the electrolytic gas composite generation apparatus is a gas produced by the vaporization of the liquid, which is an organic compounds such as an alkane series member, an alcohol or an ether.

5. The electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein three of the partition plates are integrally attached to the elevating portion, and wherein the lowermost partition plate is a stainless steel plate having a thickness of about 0.5 to 2.5 mm and a pore diameter of about 0.5 to 3.5 mm, and the upper two partition plates and are meshed flat plates having pore diameters of about 0.2 to 1.5 mm.

6. The electrolytic gas composite generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when multiple bubbles of the electrolytic gas and the gaseous fossil fuel have gathered on a lower face of the partition plates and upward migration of the bubbles is stagnant, or when bubbles pass through the small pores and migrate upward, the elevating portion on which the partition plates are mounted is displaced upward or downward, and the controller detects the upward or downward displacement of the elevating portion to halt or start the supply of the electrolytic gas and the gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank.

7. The electrolytic gas composite generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller detects a change in a pressure inside the mixing tank, and halts or starts the supply of the electrolytic gas or the gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank.

8. The electrolytic gas composite generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the controller has detected that the pressure inside the mixing tank has reached a predetermined pressure level, designated as a halting condition for the supply of gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank, the controller halts the supply of the electrolytic gas to the mixing tank; and wherein when the controller has detected that the pressure inside the mixing tank is lower than the predetermined pressure level, the controller starts the supply of the electrolytic gas to the mixing tank.

9. The electrolytic gas composite fuel generation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electrolytic gas generator, for supplying electrolytic gas to an electrolytic gas supply device, that includes
an electrolytic cell, for the generation of an electrolytic gas, including an electrolyte inlet formed in a bottom wall, an outlet, formed in a top wall for extracting a mixture of an electrolyte and a generated gas, an anode plate, internally arranged near the bottom wall, a cathode plate, internally arranged near a top wall, and an electrolyte spinning and passing portion, which has no electric connection, for spinning and passing an alkali electrolyte in a direction leading from the anode plate to the cathode plate;
an electrolytic gas/electrolyte separation cell, to which the mixture of the electrolytic gas and the electrolyte, extracted from the outlet in the upper end of the electrolyte, extracted from the outlet in the upper end of the electrolytic cell, is fed, and in which gas-liquid separation is performed for the mixture to separate gas components of the electrolytic gas from the electrolyte, so that only the gas components are externally extracted, while an electrolyte component is retained, internally;
an electrolyte forcible cooling device for forcibly cooling the electrolyte that is retained in the electrolytic gas/electrolyte separation cell; and
an electrolyte circulation device, for circulating the electrolyte toward the electrolytic cell.

10. The electrolyte gas composite fuel generation apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the electrolyte spinning and passing portion, which is located between the anode plate and the cathode plate in the electrolytic cell, is formed of a predetermine number of metal plates, in each of which two to six electrolyte passage openings are formed along the outer circumference, with point symmetry from the center; and wherein the metal plates are arranged by sequentially displacing the electrolyte passage openings at a predetermined angle, so that the electrolyte is passed through the metal plates while spinning is being performed.

11. An electrolytic gas composite fuel generating method comprising the steps of:

feeding, in a form of bubbles, a gaseous fossil fuel and an electrolytic gas, which is generated through the electrolysis of water using a basic electrolyte, to a mixing tank, in which a liquid, an organic compound selected from among alkanes, alcohols and ethers, is stored;
repeating and mixing process to evenly mix the gaseous fossil fuel and the electrolytic gas;
preparing an elevating portion, which is capable of ascending or descending within the mixing tank, and on which a plurality of partition plates, in which multiple pores are formed that are too small for bubbles of the electrolytic gas and the gaseous fossil fuel to pass through, are horizontally aligned and integrally mounted, and are immersed in the liquid in the mixing tank, with their peripheral faces near the inner walls of the mixing tank;
detecting an upward or downward displacement, of the elevating portion on which the partition plates are mounted, that occurs when multiple bubbles of the electrolytic gas and the gaseous fossil fuel have gathered on a lower face of the partition plates and upward migration of the bubbles is stagnant, or when bubbles pass through the small pores and migrate upward;
halting or starting supply of the electrolytic gas and the gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank, or controlling an amount supplied and a predetermined component ration, and
producing an electrolytic gas, composite fuel by continuously mixing of the electrolytic gas with the gaseous fossil fuel.

12. The electrolytic gas composite generation method according to claim 11, wherein the supply of the electrolytic gas or the gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank is halted or started upon the detection of a change in a pressure inside the mixing tank.

13. The electrolytic gas composite generation method according to claim 11, wherein the supply of the electrolytic gas to the mixing tank is halted upon detecting that the pressure inside the mixing tank has reached a predetermined pressure level, designated as a halting condition for the supply of gaseous fossil fuel to the mixing tank; and wherein the supply of electrolytic gas to the mixing tank is started upon detecting that the pressure inside the mixing tank is lower than the predetermined pressure level.

Patent History
Publication number: 20090194421
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 19, 2009
Publication Date: Aug 6, 2009
Inventors: Toshigoro Sato (Toda-shi), Toshihiko Sato (Saitama-ken), Nobuo Takayama (Saitama-ken)
Application Number: 12/356,019
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: With Control Responsive To Sensed Condition (204/555); Recirculation (204/237); With Heater Or Cooler (204/241)
International Classification: C25B 15/08 (20060101); C25B 9/00 (20060101); C10G 35/24 (20060101);