Fuel injection and mixing systems and methods of using the same

A fuel injection system, comprising:

• a) an injector body having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, and defining a fuel flow path therebetween, the fuel flow path having:
• i) a generally helical flow passage having an inlet end portion disposed proximate the fuel inlet of the injector body;
• ii) an expansion chamber downstream from and in fluid communication with the helical flow passage, wherein an outlet end portion of the helical flow passage is connected to the expansion chamber by way of at least one feed hole, and
• iii) a fuel delivery device in fluid communication with the expansion chamber for delivering fuel;
• and
• b) heating means in thermal communication with the injector body, the heating means adapted and configured for maintaining the injector body at a predetermined temperature to heat fuel traversing the flow path;
• c) wherein the heating means further includes a cartridge heater adapted and configured to heat the injector body.

A fuel injection and mixing system comprising:

• a) an injection housing including:
• i) an injector body having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, and defining a fuel flow path therebetween, the fuel flow path having:
• 1) a generally helical flow passage having an inlet end portion disposed proximate the fuel inlet of the injector body;
• 2) an expansion chamber downstream from and in fluid communication with the helical flow passage by way of at least one feed hole, and
• 3) a fuel delivery device in fluid communication with the expansion chamber for delivering fuel;
• ii) elongated heating means extending along an axial length of the injector body, the helical flow passage surrounding the heating means, the heating means being in thermal communication with the injector body, the heating means adapted and configured for maintaining the injector body at a predetermined temperature to heat fuel traversing the flow path;
• and
• iii) at least one injector for injecting a second fluid;
• b) a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the outlet of the injector housing for atomizing and mixing fine droplets of fuel from the fuel delivery device with the second fluid to provide a fuel vapor mixture;
• and
• c) a mixer structured and arranged in the mixing chamber for stabilizing and mixing the fuel vapor mixture.

A method of providing a fuel vapor mixture comprising the steps of:

• a) directing fuel into an injector body along a predetermined fuel flow path between a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet of the injector body, the fuel flow path having a generally helical flow passage with an inlet end portion disposed proximate the fuel inlet of the injector body;
• b) simultaneously heating and pressurizing the fuel traversing the fuel flow path using an elongated heating means extending along an axial length of the injector body, wherein the helical flow passage surrounds the heating means, the heating means being in thermal communication with the injector body and being adapted and configured to maintain the injector body at a predetermined temperature to heat fuel traversing the flow path;
• c) expanding the heated and pressurized fuel so as to promote atomization;
• d) atomizing the expanded fuel;
• and
• e) directing the fuel through a fuel delivery device.