WO2003072686A2

WO2003072686A2 - Molecular fuel enhancer and method of molecular enhancement of fossil fuel

Info

Publication number: WO2003072686A2
Application number: PCT/US2003/006055
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark E. Campbell
Original assignee: Campbell Mark E
Priority date: 2002-02-26
Filing date: 2003-02-26
Publication date: 2003-09-04
Also published as: AU2003213607A8; AU2003213607A1; WO2003072686A3

Abstract

A vehicle molecular fuel enhancer and method includes providing a magnetic coil (19) and a heat source (22) for supplying heat and supplying electrical energy to the magnetic coil (19) to produce a magnetic field. Fuel is flowed past the magnetic coil (19) and the heat source (22) for magnetically polarizing the fuel and heating the fuel. A control (26) is provided that includes a fuel flow sensor (28) for sensing fuel flow. The electrical source (20) is adjusted as a function of the sensed fuel flow.

Description

MOLECULAR FUEL ENHANCER AND METHOD OF MOLECULAR ENHANCEMENT OF FOSSIL FUEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to fuel efficiency improvement and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for improving fuel efficiency at a molecular level. The invention is particularly adapted for use with combustion devices operating on liquid fossil fuels, including gasoline, diesel fuel, propane, methane, or the like. The present invention is particularly adapted for use with internal combustion engines and may be applied to vehicular engines and stationary engines, such as those used with generators.

As a result of rising fuel costs, depleting global resources and pollution, it is a long-felt need to improve efficiency of combustion devices, such as internal combustion engines. It is also desirable to reduce harmful emissions from the combustion process. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A molecular fuel enhancer and method of enhancement of fossil fuel in a vehicle, according to an aspect of the invention, includes providing a magnetic coil and a heat source. Electrical energy is supplied to the magnetic coil to produce a magnetic field. Fuel is flowed past the magnetic coil for magnetically polarizing the fuel and the heat source for heating the fuel. A control is provided having a fuel flow sensor for sensing fuel flow. The electrical energy supplied to the magnetic coil is adjusted as a function of the sensed fuel flow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle equipped with a molecular fuel enhancer, according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the fuel system of the vehicle in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating operation of the invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a molecular fuel enhancer; and Fig. 5 is an electrical block diagram of a control system, according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a molecular fuel enhancer 10 and method of molecular enhancement of fossil fuel, illustrated in a vehicle 12, includes a magnetic coil 19 for polarizing the fuel and a heat source 22 for heating fuel supplied to the vehicle engine 16 (Figs. 1- 4). Fuel is supplied from the vehicle fuel tank 14, through enhancer 10, then to fuel delivery system 18 of vehicle 12. The fuel delivery system may be a carburetion system, a fuel injection system, or the like. The magnetic coil polarizes the molecules in such a way that the molecules generally line up in the same orientation. The heat source raises the temperature of the molecules to spread the molecules apart. It is believed that this provides for more effective and efficient combustion by leaving greater room between the molecules and allowing greater interaction with the oxygen molecules in the atmosphere. Fuel enhancer 10 may be used alone or in combination with the synthetic atmospheric generator for fossil fuel disclosed in United States provisional patent application Serial No. 60/319,869, filed January 15, 2003 by Mark E. Campbell, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The magnetic coil is energized with an electric source 20. Electric source 20 supplies a direct current (DC) to the magnetic coil to produce a steady magnetic flux, or field. The electric source may supply constant, or persistent, or level, DC energy, or may supply pulsed DC energy. The electrical energy supplied to the coil is at a level that will produce the beneficial effect, but not so great as to interfere with the molecules of the additives traditionally supplied to fossil fuel, such as rust inhibitors, anti-knock agents, and the like. In particular, the magnetic field should not exceed a level that would break the bonds of the fuel additive molecule so that these molecules are delivered in tact to the combustion process. In the illustrative process, the field generated by coil 19 is less than approximately 40 Gauss. Because the amount of interaction with the molecules of the fuel is related to the number of molecules passing by the coil at any period, the field strength, as measured in Gauss, is varied as a function of fuel flow. This may be accomplished by providing a fuel flow sensor 28 somewhere in the conduit 24 that supplies fuel through coil 19 and heat source 22, or else between conduit 24 and fuel tank 14 or between conduit 24 and fuel injection system 18. Control 26 includes a circuit 30, which may be a microprocessor-based circuit, a digital processor or an analog circuit, which receives an output of fuel flow sensor 28 and provides a signal 29 to control the operation of electrical source 20.

Circuit 30 also receives outputs from a first temperature sensor 32 and a second temperature sensor 34. First temperature sensor 32 monitors ambient temperature at the location of fuel enhancer 10, such as under the hood of the vehicle. Second temperature sensor 34 monitors the temperature of the fuel that exits from heat source 20. Circuit 30 compares the outputs of temperature sensors 32, 34 and controls heat source 22 in a manner that provides for a particular elevation in temperature of the fuel. First temperature sensor 32 may be positioned to measure temperature at an inlet portion of conduit 24, but could directly measure ambient air temperature or the temperature of the fuel anywhere between fuel tank 14 and heat source 22. Second temperature sensor 34 may be positioned to measure temperature at an outlet portion of conduit 24, but may measure fuel temperature anywhere between heat source 22 and fuel injection system 18. In the illustrative embodiment, a 30-degree Fahrenheit temperature rise is maintained, but the particular level may depend upon values of the components in the system and the type of application in which it is installed.

In the illustrative embodiment, heat source 22 is supplied heat by an electronic device, such as a Peltier device 38. In such a system, the heat is transferred from the atmosphere to the fuel. To assist in this function, a heat transfer device 40 is provided. The temperature increase provided by heat source 22 is controlled by controlling the drive signal applied to Peltier device 38 in a known manner. Heat source 22 supplies heat to a chamber 42, which provides a portion of conduit 24, which may be provided with a serpentine flow path. Alternatively, heat source 22 may be heated with the cooling fluid of the vehicle. Because the cooling fluid is typically heated well above ambient temperatures, it provides a free source of heat. In this embodiment, the heat source includes a heat exchanger between the cooling fluid and the fuel and a control device to control the rate of heat transfer to the fuel. This control device may be a fluid flow control valve, or the like. The control device is controlled from an output of circuit 30.

The invention provides a unique method and apparatus whereby, as fuel flows into the inlet, it is magnetically polarized, such as by using a coil. The magnetic field intensity is electronically controlled utilizing a DC component through the coil that allows adjustability of the intensity dependent upon the flow of the fuel through it. The fuel may be gasoline or other combustible internal combustion engine fuel. The magnetic field should be adjusted to provide sufficient magnetism to maximize the reaction without having an excess. Excess magnetism may cause adverse consequences with the additives within the fuel. Upon exiting the coil, the magnetically polarized fuel is heated, such as to an average of approximately 30 degrees Fahrenheit greater than surrounding ambient temperature. The invention provides a noticed improvement in both fuel economy and emissions. The fuel flow may be monitored by a micro-controller and a flow sensor in combination or with a direct interface to the engine RPM sensor. Such interface may be provided through interfacing with a diagnostic connector. It automatically adjusts the intensity of the magnetic field by adjusting the DC component to the coil.

In order to maintain optimal desired temperature, the heat added should be variable with the magnetic field. This can be done in various ways, such as by using a Peltier effect device to electronically heat the fuel with a temperature sensor feedback into a microcontroller to allow for an easy real-time interface and portable fuel unit.

An optimal distance for placement of the fuel unit would be less than or equal to three feet from the engine fuel intake. This is because both the heat and molecular action may diminish with the distance traveled by the fuel before entering the combustion cycle.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the invention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

I claim:

1. A vehicle molecular fuel enhancer, comprising: a magnetic coil; an electrical source for supplying electrical energy to said magnetic coil to produce a magnetic field; a heat source for supplying heat; a conduit for flowing fuel past said magnetic coil for magnetically polarizing the fuel and said heat source for heating the fuel; and a control, said control including a fuel flow sensor for sensing fuel flow, said control adjusting said electrical source as a function of sensed fuel flow.

2. The enhancer of claim 1 wherein said control controls said heat source in order to elevate the temperature of the fuel to a particular level above ambient heat condition.

3. The enhancer of claim 2 wherein said particular level is approximately 30 degrees Fahrenheit above ambient heat condition.

4. The enhancer of claim 1 wherein said conduit flows fuel past said magnetic coil prior to flowing the fuel past said heat source.

5. The enhancer of claim 1 wherein said conduit flows fuel past said heat source prior to flowing the fuel past said magnetic coil.

6. The enhancer of claim 1 wherein said heat source comprises an electronic heat source.

7. The enhancer of claim 6 wherein said heat source comprises a Peltier device.

8. The enhancer of claim 1 wherein said heat source comprises engine-cooling fluid.

9. The enhancer of claim 1 wherein said enhancer is used with a vehicle having a fuel delivery system.

10. The enhancer of claim 9 wherein said enhancer is positioned about three feet or less from said fuel delivery system.

11. The enhancer of claim 1 wherein said electrical source supplies a variable DC component to said magnetic coil.

12. The enhancer of claim 11 wherein said variable DC component is one chosen from a pulsed-DC source and a persistent DC source.

13. The enhancer of claim 1 wherein said magnetic coil produces a magnetic field having a value less than approximately 40 Gauss.

14. The enhancer of claim 2 wherein said control includes a first temperature sensor at an inlet portion of said conduit and a second temperature sensor at an outlet portion of said conduit and wherein said control determines the particular level as a temperature difference between said temperature sensors.

15. A method of molecular enhancement of fossil fuel in a vehicle, comprising: providing a magnetic coil; supplying electrical energy to said magnetic coil to produce a magnetic field; providing a heat source for supplying heat; flowing fuel past said magnetic coil for magnetically polarizing the fuel and said heat source for heating the fuel; and providing a control, said control including a fuel flow sensor for sensing fuel flow, including adjusting with said control the electrical energy supplied to said magnetic coil as a function of sensed fuel flow.

16. The method of claim 15 including controlling said heat source with said control in order to elevate the temperature of the fuel to a particular level above ambient heat condition.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said particular level is approximately 30 degrees Fahrenheit above ambient heat condition.

18. The method of claim 15 including flowing fuel past said magnetic coil prior to flowing the fuel past said heat source.

19. The method of claim 15 including flowing fuel past said heat source prior to flowing the fuel past said magnetic coil.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said heat source comprises an electronic heat source.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said heat source comprises a Peltier device.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein said heat source comprises engine-cooling fluid.

23. The method of claim 15 used with a vehicle having a fuel delivery system.

24. The method of claim 23 including positioning said magnetic coil about three feet or less from said fuel delivery system.

25. The method of claim 15 including supplying with said electrical source a variable DC component to said magnetic coil.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said variable DC component is one chosen from a pulsed-DC source and a persistent DC source.

27. The method of claim 15 including producing with said magnetic coil a magnetic field having a value less than approximately 40 Gauss.

28. The method of claim 16 wherein said control includes a first temperature sensor at an inlet portion of said conduit and a second temperature sensor at an outlet portion of said conduit and including determining the particular level as a temperature difference between said temperature sensors.