Abstract:
A system and method of oxygenating liquid fuels, such as diesel fuel, heating oil, gasoline, and other combustible liquid fuels. Oxygenated fuel may be used by vehicles, aviation aircraft and heating systems to increase performance and efficiency and produce cleaner emissions. Liquid fuel is oxygenated by depositing concentrated oxygen gas directly into the fuel, typically when the fuel is stored in a container such as a fuel tank of a motor vehicle. Concentrated oxygen gas percolates with the liquid fuel, thereby producing oxygenated fuel. The use of oxygenation liquid fuel by a combustion system results in increased fuel efficiency, as seen by increased efficiency (such as better gas mileage and horsepower), and improvements in the quality of exhaust emissions, as seen by reduced amounts of CO 2  and NO produced during combustion of oxygenated liquid fuel.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present patent application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/701,844 filed on Jul. 22, 2005. The content of the aforementioned application is fully incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to oxygenating combustible fuels, such as diesel fuel, heating oil, gasoline, and other combustible fuels.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Soaring fuel prices have become a major concern in the United States and global economy, while poor air quality, as a result of burning conventional fuels, is a major concern for the environment as well as human health. High fuel prices increase the cost of getting to work, of taking a vacation, and heating a home and have become increasing burdensome for the average American.  
         [0004]     The high price per barrel of crude oil, the source of gasoline for automobiles and heating oil for home energy, directly and negatively affects the day-to-day lives of consumers. The cost of fuel has a direct affect on the price of goods and services; the increased cost associated with manufacturing and delivering products to parts of the U.S. is passed on to the consumer in the way of higher prices for items such as milk, produce, and other important necessities. Higher fuel prices have caused the airline industry to impose fuel surcharges on airline tickets. Cities have been forced to increase the price of public transportation to balance the strain on municipal budgets due to higher energy costs.  
         [0005]     In addition to the increased costs associated with commuting and travel, the average American household using heating oil is expected to spend 30-40% more on heating bills this winter due to the higher cost of oil. The cumulative affect is that ordinary day-to-day life for the average person has grown increasingly more expensive.  
         [0006]     There are well over 200 million passenger vehicles on American roads, and drivers travel close to 2 trillion miles per year. A more efficient fuel source could save the average driver thousands of dollars by improving the average miles per gallon of the vehicle, while cleaner fuel emissions would lessen the risk of damage to the environment.  
         [0007]     Reformulated gasoline has been used in an effort to increase fuel efficiency and improve air quality. Generally, there have been two different chemical additives that have been used in an attempt to improve the quality of fuel emissions and increase the miles-per-gallon per vehicle. There are serious drawbacks to these chemical additives, however.  
         [0008]     Chemical additives pose potential threats to the environment and human health. Environmental dangers include the risk of chemical spills and ground and water contamination, with the costs of clean-up treatments exceedingly high. Furthermore, there are no long term studies to show the effects of exposure to contamination of the environment with these chemical additives. This is problematic, since one of the common additives, ethanol, is a known carcinogen at certain doses and unintended exposure poses human health concerns.  
         [0009]     In the years since the Clean Air Act, the average number of vehicles per household has increased, with many more vehicles on U.S. roads and more drivers commuting longer distances to and from work, while gasoline prices in recent months have reached all time highs. Not coincidentally, the incidence of cardiopulmonary conditions such as heart disease, emphysema, and asthma is on the rise.  
         [0010]     Eliminating the combustion engine or reducing overall transportation of vehicles, are unattainable goals at this point in our society; thus a more desirable remedy to help increase fuel efficiency and improve air quality is needed.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0011]     Described herein is a system and method of oxygenating liquid fuels, such as diesel fuel, heating oil, gasoline, and other combustible liquid fuels. Liquid fuel is oxygenated by depositing concentrated oxygen gas directly into the fuel, typically when the fuel is stored in a container such as a fuel tank of a motor vehicle. An oxygen source provides concentrated oxygen gas, such that the concentrated oxygen gas percolates with the liquid fuel, thereby producing oxygenated fuel.  
         [0012]     Oxygenated fuel is transferred to a combustion unit, such as an engine, of a combustion system associated with propulsion or energy generation. The system and method of oxygenating fuel allow the combustion system to operate much more efficiently; miles per gallons are increased and harmful emissions produced by the burning of fuel are decreased.  
         [0013]     In one implementation, a small amount of concentrated oxygen gas is deposited into fuel contained a fuel container, such as a fuel tank of a motorized vehicle. As a result, it was observed that fuel mileage of the vehicle greatly improved. Additionally, the vehicle operated more efficiently with improved power. Also the amount of pollutants discharged by the vehicle was substantially reduced. For instance, the concentration of gaseous emissions, such as NO and CO, released by the truck into the environment were approximately halved.  
         [0014]     As an ancillary benefit to the reduction of pollutants released by automobiles as exhaust, it may be possible for the auto industry to reduce or eliminate catalytic converters from motorized vehicles. This would in turn increase the power of a vehicle, and reduce the overall cost of manufacturing the vehicle by eliminated the catalytic converter.  
         [0015]     Deposition of concentrated oxygen gas may be carried out by way of a conduit, such as a hose or tubing. The conduit may be manually inserted into the fuel container through a hole in the fuel container. In another implementation, the system is adapted so that the conduit remains fixed to the fuel container and attached to an oxygen source. Oxygen is transported from the oxygen source into the liquid fuel in the fuel container.  
         [0016]     Oxygenating fuel may be carried out on a periodic basis, such as daily, periodically during the day, and so forth. Depending on how the system is configured, the liquid fuel may be oxygenated manually or remotely. Oxygenated fuel appears to hold a concentration of the oxygen for approximately 12 to 24 hours, depending on environmental conditionals and whether the fuel tank is pressurized or not.  
         [0017]     Oxygenated fuel utilized by combustion systems increases combustion and performance that would be especially useful in the airline and trucking industries, as well as for daily commuters, by increasing fuel efficiency and decreasing harmful emissions. In addition, oxygenated fuel would enable aircraft, such as jets, to fly at higher altitudes, which has implications for the U.S. military.  
         [0018]     It is also noted that oxygen may deposited into the liquid fuel in solid form, such as a tablet.  
         [0019]     Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent with reference to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The figures are not drawn to scale.  
         [0021]      FIG. 1A  shows a system for oxygenating fuel.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1B  shows an overview of a method for increasing fuel efficiency of a fuel combustion system.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows an overview of an alternative method for oxygenating fuel using a vacuum pump.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  shows an overview of a fuel combustion system.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows an overview of a system for oxygenating fuels adapted to a heating system.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]      FIG. 1A  is an overview of a system  100  for increasing fuel efficiency of a fuel combustion system  112  (shown in  FIG. 1B ). The system  100  includes a fuel container  102 , an oxygen source  104 , and a conduit  106 , wherein the conduit facilitates deposition of a concentrated oxygen gas into the fuel container  102 , thereby allowing concentrated oxygen gas to percolate with a liquid fuel  108 .  FIG. 1B  shows an overview of a combustion system  112 , the combustion system  112  including a combustion unit  114  for combusting liquid fuel  108 .  
         [0027]     Fuel container  102  is any container used to hold a liquid fuel  108 . For example, suitable containers  102  include a gasoline can, a steel drum, a gasoline station tank, a fuel tank for a motorized vehicle, a fuel tank for a water vehicle (e.g., boat, ship, etc.) a fuel tank of an aviation aircraft, a tank for heating system, as well as other containers or tanks used to store liquid fuel.  
         [0028]     Liquid fuel  108  contained in fuel container  102  is a combustible fuel such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene or heating oil, or any other suitable combustible fuels.  
         [0029]     An oxygen source  104  provides concentrated oxygen gas with an oxygen concentration typically greater than 25%, which exceeds the concentration of oxygen gas normally found in air. In one implementation, the oxygen source is an oxygen gas having a concentration of greater than 85%.  
         [0030]     Oxygen source  104  is a tank or canister used to contain pressurized concentrated oxygen gas. In another implementation, the oxygen source  104  is an oxygen concentrator capable of creating of oxygen.  
         [0031]     A conduit  106  connects the oxygen source  104  to the fuel container  102  and facilitates the deposition of concentrated oxygen gas from the oxygen source  104  into the liquid fuel  108  contained in the fuel container  102 . In one implementation, the conduit  106  is adapted to remain attached to the fuel container  102 , in such a fashion as to reside with the fuel container  102 . Conduit  106  is threaded into the fuel container  102  and is submersed into the liquid fuel  108  through a portal  110 . Portal  110  may be a sealed hole through the wall of the fuel container  102  dedicated to the conduit  106  or may be the opening used to fill the container  102  with liquid fuel  108  normally protected by the cap.  
         [0032]     In one implementation, concentrated oxygen gas travels through the conduit  106  and is deposited into the liquid fuel  108  upon attachment of conduit  106  to, and engagement of, the oxygen source  104 . In another implementation, conduit  106  may remain attached to oxygen source  104  and be manually attached to the fuel container  102  at times when oxygenation is deposited into the fuel.  
         [0033]     In one implementation, the conduit  106  is rubber tubing, although conduit may be of any non-reactive material that is stable when inserted into a combustible fuel and capable of transferring oxygen gas. In another implementation, the distal end of the tubing submersed in the liquid fuel  108  is configured to contain multiple small pinholes. These pinholes (not shown) allow more oxygen to bubble up, become dispersed in the fuel and percolate throughout the container  102 .  
         [0034]     System  100  may be configured to reside as part of a vehicle or as part of a heating system. For example, vehicle may be manufactured to include an oxygen source  104  connected via a conduit  106  to fuel container  102 . Control over when oxygen is deposited into the fuel container  102  may be performed automatically by control system, such as a processing system of the vehicle.  
         [0035]     In another implementation, system  100  is configured as a kit, such that oxygen source  104  and conduit  106  are adapted to be compatible with motorized vehicles, such as automobiles, trucks and other motorized vehicles powered by a combustible liquid fuel. For example, the kit could be purchased in a store as a package containing an oxygen source  104 , conduit  106 , or any other necessary elements to secure the oxygen source  104  and conduit  106  onto a vehicle, thereby assembling system  100  as a mobile and portable system that travels with the vehicle.  
         [0036]     In another implementation, the oxygen source  104  may be replenished upon the complete discharge of concentrated oxygen gas by re-filling the oxygen source  104  with concentrated oxygen gas or by replacing the depleted oxygen source  104  with a newly charged oxygen source  104 , such as a fresh tank or canister of concentrated oxygen gas.  
         [0037]     In another illustrative embodiment, fuel container  102  is configured with a protective barrier as a safety measure to safeguard liquid fuel  108  from accidental combustion. Fuel container  102  may be adapted as a double-walled chamber (not shown) capable of holding liquid fuel  108 , wherein a space between the two walls contains an inert gas (a fire retardant) such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide. Preferably, a standard fuel tank of a motorized vehicle such as a truck or automobile would be replaced with a double-walled gas tank to safeguard the gasoline or diesel from accidental combustion when used in system  100 .  
         [0038]     Oxygenation of fuel occurs when tube  106  is deposited into fuel  108  and oxygen is discharged from source  104  into the fuel  108 . In one implementation, when oxygenation of fuel is carried out manually, the conduit  106  is placed directly into, and submersed in, the liquid fuel  108  of the fuel container  102  by inserting conduit  106  into the fuel container  102  through the portal  110 . Oxygenation of fuel is carried out when the oxygen source  104  is engaged and concentrated oxygen gas is transferred from the oxygen source  104  through the conduit  106  and into the fuel  108 . The concentrated oxygen gas is then allowed to percolate with the liquid fuel  108 . It may also be mixed around in the fuel using a swirling motion. When oxygenating is complete, the oxygen source  104  is disengaged such that concentrated oxygen gas no longer travels through the conduit  106  and into the liquid fuel  108  of the fuel container  102 .  
         [0039]     In one implementation, the oxygen source  104  is disengaged and the conduit  106  is removed from the fuel container  102  by threading the conduit  106  out of the fuel container  102  through the portal  110 . Alternatively, the oxygen source  104  is disengaged and the conduit  106  remains connected with the fuel container  102  such that when further oxygenation is desired, the oxygen source  104  is re-engaged.  
         [0040]      FIG. 2  shows oxygenation of liquid fuel  108  that is contained in a fuel container  102  that is separated from combustion system  112 . Here, fuel container  102  is a non-pressurized 55 gallon steel drum. System  100  is adapted to incorporate a second conduit  202  attached to a vacuum source  204 . The second conduit  202  is placed inside the fuel container  102  such that the conduit  202  is not in contact with the liquid fuel  108 . Oxygenation occurs when the vacuum source is engaged and conduit  202  is placed inside the fuel container  102  through a portal  110 , whereby the conduit  202  does not come into contact with the liquid fuel  108 . Conduit  106  is connected to the oxygen source  104  and connected to the fuel container  102  by is threading conduit  106  through the portal  110 , such that conduit  106  is submersed in the liquid fuel  108 . When oxygenation is completed, vacuum source  204  and oxygen source  104  are disengaged, conduit  106  and conduit  202  are removed from the fuel container  102  and portal  110  is secured by a gas cap. Oxygenated fuel stored in the fuel container  102  is now ready to be used in a combustion system  112 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 3  shows oxygenation of liquid fuel  108  contained in a fuel container  102  prior to combustion in a combustion unit  114 . Here, oxygen source  104  is secured at a separate location from the fuel container  102 , such that the oxygen source  104  is manually connected to the fuel container  102  by conduit  106 . Conduit  106  may be attached to the fuel container  102 , such that the conduit  106  is manually attached to the oxygen source  104  to carry out oxygenation of fuel. Alternatively, conduit  106  may remain attached to oxygen source  104 , in which case, conduit  106  is manually attached to fuel container  102  to carry out oxygenation of liquid fuel.  
         [0042]     In one implementation, oxygen source  104  is an oxygen tank or canister, or other oxygen generator, used to deposit concentrated oxygen gas into tanks of a fuel filling station or into the pump mechanism (not shown) used to fill vehicles.  
         [0043]     In another implementation, oxygen source  104  is an oxygen tank or canister, or oxygen concentrator and is located separately from, such that it is not fixed to, a vehicle  302  propelled by combustion unit  114 .  
         [0044]     In one implementation the combustion unit  114  is the engine of a motorized vehicle  302  such as a truck or automobile.  
         [0045]     In another implementation, the combustion unit  114  is the engine or turbine of aircraft aviation.  
         [0046]     Turning to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a heating system  400  using fuel oil  404 . Heating system  400  includes a fuel container  402  containing fuel oil  404  to which the oxygen source  104  attaches by way of the conduit  106 . Concentrated oxygen gas is deposited into the fuel oil  404  and allowed to percolate with the fuel oil  404  in the fuel container  102  prior to transfer to a combustion unit  114 .  
         [0047]     In another implementation, concentrated oxygen gas may be deposited into the carburetor of a motorized vehicle (not shown in figures).  
         [0048]     In yet another implementation, catalytic converters may be eliminated (or modified) from motorized vehicles utilizing system  100  of oxygenating fuel, as the levels of pollution are substantially reduced.  
         [0049]     The exemplary implementations herein are not necessarily limited to the exact details described herein, and various modifications may be made resulting in equivalent designs as would be evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art.