Fuel injection nozzle and method of use
AssigneeUniversity of Seville
InventorAlfonso Gañán-Calvo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Atomized particles within a desired size range (e.g., 1 micron to about 5 microns) are produced from two immiscible fluids, the first a fuel source containing the formulation to be atomized, and a second fluid source which is contained in a pressure chamber surrounding at least the area where the first liquid is to be provided. The invention provides a method for the formation of small, relatively uniform fuel particles for use in internal combustion engines and a nozzle-type apparatus for providing the particles to a combustion chamber.
Claims15
A liquid hydrocarbon fuel stream characterized by forming a stable microjet over a portion of the stream, wherein the stable microjet is formed by a surrounding gas flowing in the same direction, said gas having a greater velocity than the liquid wherein the stable microjet comprises a diameter dj at a given point A in the stream characterized by the formula:
- d j ≈ ( 8 ρ l Π 2 Δ P g ) ¼ Q ½
- wherein dj is the diameter of the stable microjet, ≈indicates approximately equally to where an acceptable margin of error is ±10%, Q is the liquid flow rate, ρ1 is the density of the liquid and ΔPg is change in gas pressure of gas surrounding the stream at the point A.
A monodisperse aerosol of fuel particles in air, the particles characterized by having the same diameter with a deviation in diameter from one particle to another in a range of from about ±3% to about ±30%, wherein the particles are formed from the stable microjet by the effect of capillary instability of the microjet, and wherein the stable microjet comprises a diameter dj at a given point A in the stream characterized by the formula:
- d j ≈ ( 8 ρ l Π 2 Δ P g ) ¼ Q ½
- wherein dj is the diameter of the stable microjet, ≈indicates approximately equally to where an acceptable margin of error is ±10%, Q is the liquid flow rate, ρ1 is the density of the liquid and ΔPg is change in gas pressure of gas surrounding the stream at the point A.
A fuel injection nozzle, comprising:
- a means for providing fuel, said means comprising a fuel entrance port and a fuel exit port;
- and
- a pressure chamber for providing a pressurized fluid to an area surrounding the fuel exit port,
- wherein the exit port has a diameter in the range of from about 0.01 mm to about 2 mm, and the pressure chamber exit opening has a diameter in the range of about 0.01 mm to about 2 mm, and further wherein the nozzle in operation creates a stable microjet of fuel having a diameter dj at a given point A in the stream characterized by the formula:
- d j ≈ ( 8 ρ l Π 2 Δ P g ) ¼ Q ½
- wherein dj is the diameter of the stable microjet, ≈indicates approximately equally to where an acceptable margin of error is ±10%, Q is the liquid flow rate, ρ1 is the density of the liquid and ΔPg is change in gas pressure of gas surrounding the stream at the point A.
A method for producing atomized fuel, comprising the steps of:
- forcing a liquid hydrocarbon fuel through a channel of a feeding source in a manner which causes the liquid to be expelled from an exit opening;
- forcing a gas through a pressure chamber in a manner which causes the gas to exit the pressure chamber from an exit orifice downstream of a flow path of the liquid expelled from the exit opening of the feeding source;
- wherein a stable liquid-gas interface is maintained and the liquid hydrocarbon fuel forms a stable microjet wherein the stable microjet comprises a diameter dj at a given point A in the stream characterized by the formula:
- d j ≈ ( 8 ρ l Π 2 Δ P g ) ¼ Q ½
- wherein dj is the diameter of the stable microjet, ≈indicates approximately equally to where an acceptable margin of error is ±10%, Q is the liquid flow rate, ρ1 is the density of the liquid and ΔPg is change in gas pressure of gas surrounding the stream at the point A.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.