Fuel injector for an internal combustion engine

A fuel injector for vaporizing a liquid fuel for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• (a) at least one capillary flow passage, said at least one capillary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end;
• (b) a fluid control valve for placing said inlet end of said at least one capillary flow passage in fluid communication with the liquid fuel source and introducing the liquid fuel in a substantially liquid state;
• (c) a heat source arranged along said at least one capillary flow passage, said heat source operable to heat the liquid fuel in said at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to change at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state and deliver a stream of substantially vaporized fuel from said outlet end of said at least one capillary flow passage;
• and
• (d) means for cleaning deposits formed during operation of the apparatus
• wherein said means for cleaning deposits includes said fluid control vlave, said heat source and an oxidizer control valve for placing said at least one capillary flow passage in fluid communication with an oxidizer, said heat source also being operable to heat the oxidizer in said at least one capillary flow passage to alevel sufficient to oxidize deposits formed during the heating of the liquid fuel, wherein said oxidizer control valve for placing said at least one capillary flow passage in fluid communication with an oxidizer is operable to alternate between the introduction of liquid fuel and the introduction of oxidizer into said capillary flow passage and enable in-situ cleaning of said capillary flor passage when the oxidizer is introduced into said at least one capillary flow passage.