Gasification of liquid fuels

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Drawing sheet — no readable text.

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Patented June 18, 1929. S. 1,717,767

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GASIFICATION OF LIQUIDFUELS.t/

Application filed August 10, 1925, Serial No. 49,445, and in Spain August 18, 1924. Many investigators have considered the I have found the following method par-55 question of supplying stationary or automo- ticularly suitable for carrying the process bile explosion engines with heavy oils. The according to the invention into effect. process which many of them have adopted This method consists in making use of a 5 could not be more simple; to decompose by vaporizer having double walls between which heat the said heavy oils and carburet, by circulate the exhaust gases of the engine; 60 means of the gases produced, the air drawn this vaporizer is filled with carbon, and a in by the engine. Now the heavy oils pro-Small current of air is led to it which is ob duce, when they are broken up, gases having tained by means of the Suction of the engine. 10 a high calorific value, but at the same time . The fuel mixed with air passes into the deposit a large amount of carbon which internal chamber of the vaporizer, this mix- 65 rapidly fouls the parts of the apparatus in ture passing previously through a tube with which the said decomposition is obtained, which the apparatus is provided from for which reason it has not been possible to which the result is obtained that when the i5 make practical use of the said process. latter is working the fuel enters the said in The object of the invention is to prevent ternal chamber in a vaporized condition. 70 the formation of these prejudicial deposits In order to obtain the necessary tempera of carbon and for this purpose air and water ture the engine is previously started up with are introduced into the liquid fuel vaporizer, gasoline for the purpose of Warming by 20 heated to a high temperature, at the same the exhaust gases the carbon which has time as the fuel, the quantities of these two been placed in the internal chamber of the 75 substances being regulated in such a way apparatus. This rise in temperature to that the carbon is partially burnt and con- gether with the current of air causes the verted into carbon monoxide, the result be- carbon to become rapidly red hot and this. 25 ing obtained that approximately one quarter is the moment to commence to introduce into of the said carbon is oxidized by the water, the vaporizer the desired liquid fuel, the 80 which has been previously decomposed by supply of gasoline to the engine being cut heat into oxygen and hydrogen, and the re- off at the same time.

maining three quarters by the air. The vaporizer is naturally provided with 30 It is clear that it is not necessary in the a pipe leading the gases produced to the process according to the invention to employ engine. 85 water since the carbon may be removed by The figure shows one specific embodiment. air alone although in this case full use is not of the invention.

made of the power contained in the fue. 1 is the intake manifoid of the engine, 35 The air and water may enter the vaporizer leading to a carburetor. 2 is a bi-pass through the same duct as the liquid fuel or which leads directly to the engine. is 90 through other independent ducts, and the the exhaust ports of the engine 3. 4 is said vaporizer may be heated electrically, the exhaust pipe. 9 illustrates a body of with a suitable lamp, by red hot carbon, by carbon employed in the device. 10 is a 40 means of the exhaust gases of the engine or preheating and vaporizing chamber for the , by the combination of two or more of these oil which enters through 5. 8 is a filtering 95 e.S. chamber for separating out the carbon The process may be carried out, for ex- formed by the decomposition of the oil. 12 ample, by combining the first and the fourth and 11 are separating screens. 6 are air in 45 of the means indicated. - let pipes. . . J W By means of the process according to the The operation will be clear from the pre- 00 invention both mineral and vegetable oils ceding description. Oil alone or with may be gasified and it is based on the same steam, water or air is introduced through 5, reactions which take place for obtaining is vaporized in 10 and decomposed in 9. 50 those gases called poor gases and water gases Any carbon which passes with the gases. fron any solid fuel, with the sole difference through screen 11 is filtered out in section 105 9f the preliminary decomposition by heat of 8. The oxidizing gas, such as steam, air or the liquid fuels gasified by the process ac- water, which is introduced through 5 will cording to the invention. burn out any carbon formed through decora

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position of the fuel. Additional air, wa vapourized by the heat of the exhaust into ter or steam may be introduced through 6 the carbon mass thus heated, the air and to aid in the combustion of the carbon. vapourized fuel being introduced separately In order to assist the decomposition of into the said-mass. t 5 the heavy fuels the carbon may be mixed 2. In combination with an internal com 30 with ordinary catalytic agents which lower bustion engine, an exhaust, manifold, a emperature of decomposition of the said chamber disposed therein and longitudinally

For some of these, such as certain vege surrounded thereby, said chamber having a gas outlet at one end thereof, means con 10 table oils in particular, it is not necessary to necting put in carbon since it is sufficient to obtain of said said outlet with the inlet manifold engine, means at the other end of their decomposition with the temperature of said the exhaust gases, if the internal chamber is screenschamber to introduce oil thereto, filled with hydrogenizing and dehydrating from eachdisposed end in said chamber spaced thereof to define three spaces 40 15 copper.

catalyzers, such as magnesia and catalytic or zones, a mass of carbon filling the mid What I claim is: - dle space or zone defined by the screens, pipe means communicating with the said 1. The method of gasifying heavy liquid middle fuels for internal combustion engines which municating space or zone, and pipe means com with the end space or zone near 45 20 consists in raising to a red heat a mass of est the gas outlet carbon by the heat of the exhaust gases, by gas may be introduced from the chamber, where aspirating air through the said mass by the into said spaces suction of the engine so that it is partially O InZOeS.

testimony whereof I have signed my burned with any deposited carbon and the 25 temperature of Ele mass thereby maintained, name to this specification. and introducing liquid fuel which has been t ANTONIO VELAZQUEZDIAZ.