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WO1997003279A9 - Combustion d'un carburant nanopartage - Google Patents

Combustion d'un carburant nanopartage

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Publication number
WO1997003279A9
WO1997003279A9 PCT/US1996/011474 US9611474W WO9703279A9 WO 1997003279 A9 WO1997003279 A9 WO 1997003279A9 US 9611474 W US9611474 W US 9611474W WO 9703279 A9 WO9703279 A9 WO 9703279A9
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fuel
ofthe
combustion
combustion chamber
shock wave
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1996/011474
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English (en)
Other versions
WO1997003279A1 (fr
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed filed Critical
Priority to AU64868/96A priority Critical patent/AU6486896A/en
Publication of WO1997003279A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997003279A1/fr
Publication of WO1997003279A9 publication Critical patent/WO1997003279A9/fr

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  • This invention relates to hydrocarbon fuels, and more particularly relates to hydrocarbon fuel compositions and techniques for combusting such hydrocarbon fuel compositions.
  • the invention provides, in one aspect, a method for combusting a hydrocarbon fuel to generate and extract enhanced translational energy, wherein the hydrocarbon fuel is partitioned into nanometric fuel regions having a diameter less than about 1000 angstroms, and either before or after the nanopartitioning, is introduced into a combustion chamber.
  • a shock wave excitation of at least about 50,000 psi with an excitation rise time of less than about 100 nanoseconds is then applied to the nanopartitioned fuel.
  • a fuel partitioned into such nanometric regions enables a quantum mechanical condition in which translational energy modes ofthe fuel are amplified, whereby the average energy ofthe translational energy mode levels is higher than it would be for a macro-sized, unpartitioned fuel.
  • the combustion chamber has a moveable momentum transducer to which extracted translational energy can be transferred; preferably, this momentum transducer is a reciprocating piston.
  • the shock wave excitation is applied at a time coincident with positioning ofthe reciprocating piston at a top-dead- center position in the combustion chamber.
  • the amplified translational energy spectra resulting from nanopartitioning of a fuel to be combusted and shock excitation ofthe fuel both in accordance with the invention, provides enhanced translational energy and momentum exchange with the piston.
  • the invention provides a method for combusting a hydrocarbon fuel to generate and extract enhanced translational energy; a hydrocarbon fuel is first introduced into a combustion chamber having a reciprocating piston. Then a first shock wave excitation is applied to the hydrocarbon fuel in the combustion chamber to initiate a combustion event. After initiation ofthe combustion event, a plurality of shock wave excitations are then applied during the combustion event. Each ofthe first and plurality of shock waves are at least about 50,000 psi with an excitation rise time of less than about 100 nanoseconds. Additionally, each shock wave excitation is applied in a direction to produce a shock wave front aligned with reciprocating motion ofthe piston. Preferably, the first shock wave excitation is applied at a time coincident with positioning ofthe reciprocating piston at a top-dead-center position in the combustion chamber.
  • the invention provides a combustible fuel consisting of distinct hydrocarbon fuel molecular aggregations.
  • Each such hydrocarbon fuel molecular aggregation has a diameter of less than about 1000 angstroms.
  • the hydrocarbon fuel molecular aggregations each have a diameter of less than about 100 angstroms, and more preferably, each hydrocarbon fuel molecular aggregation has a diameter of greater than about 20 angstroms.
  • the combustible fuel consists of distinct hydrocarbon fuel droplets each having a diameter of less than about 1000 angstroms and greater than about 50 angstroms.
  • the hydrocarbon consists of petroleum or consists of gasoline, in which case an alcohol phase is preferably included.
  • a second phase that is immiscible with the hydrocarbon fuel is included; the second phase in other embodiments consists of a solvent, which preferably is water.
  • a surfactant phase is included.
  • the combustible fuel consists of a water phase and a hydrocarbon fuel phase and the waterand fuel phases each consist of distinct molecular aggregations each having a diameter of less than about 1000 angstroms.
  • the invention provides, in another aspect, an internal combustion engine.
  • the engine provides a combustion chamber and a fuel supply consisting of distinct hydrocarbon fuel molecular aggregations each having a diameter of less than about 1000 angstroms.
  • a fuel supply injector is connected between the hydrocarbon fuel supply and the combustion chamber, and an air intake supply injector is connected to the combustion chamber.
  • the combustion engine further provides a piston slidingly engaged in the combustion chamber and having a piston head oriented parallel with one wall ofthe combustion chamber.
  • a combustion ignitor is positioned in the one wall ofthe chamber oriented parallel with the piston head for igniting the hydrocarbon fuel injected into the combustion chamber.
  • the combustion ignitor consists of a shock wave excitation initiator for igniting the hydrocarbon fuel and for producing a shock wave excitation having a planar shock wave front parallel to the piston head.
  • a shock wave excitation applied in accordance with the invention to combustion of any fuel, and preferably to a nanopartitioned fuel, enhances momentum exchange during the combustion process in at least three ways.
  • a shock wave applied to a fuel produces a transient pressure pulse in the fuel, during which translational energy mode amplification is produced.
  • initiation of a planar shock wave front along the translational axis corresponding to that of a piston stroke enhances transfer of momentum to the piston from the one translational mode ofthe fuel that corresponds to the piston stroke axis.
  • the supersonic speed ofthe shock wave excitation enhances transfer of an appreciable amount of energy from the fuel before the combusted fuel re-equilibrates and repartitions the enhanced translational energy back into other energy modes.
  • the invention provides an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber; a fuel supply injector and an air intake supply injector are connected to the chamber.
  • An amount of hydrocarbon fuel is provided in the combustion chamber, the fuel being characterized by fuel droplets having a diameter of less than about 1000 angstroms.
  • a piston is slidingly engaged in the combustion chamber and has a piston head oriented parallel with one wall ofthe combustion chamber.
  • a combustion ignitor is positioned in the one wall cf the chamber oriented parallel with the piston head for igniting the hydrocarbon fuel injected into the combustion chamber.
  • the combustion ignitor consists of a shock wave excitation initiator made up of an electrical discharge device, an acoustic transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, or a shock wave excitation initiator characterized by an ability to produce a shock wave excitation of at least about 50,000 psi with an excitation rise time of less than about 100 nanoseconds and an excitation repetition rate of at least about 30 excitations/second.
  • the combustion chamber includes a nickel catalyst positioned on a wall ofthe combustion chamber, a piston in the chamber is characterized by reciprocation in the combustion chamber based on a two-stroke combustion cycle, and the fuel supply injector is made up of an array of injector orifi.
  • the invention provides a combustion chamber including a fuel supply injector positioned in a wall ofthe chamber.
  • An amount of hydrocarbon fuel is provided in the chamber, the fuel being characterized by hydrocarbon fuel molecular aggregations having a diameter of less than about 1000 angstroms.
  • a combustion ignitor is positioned in one wall ofthe chamber for igniting the hydrocarbon fuel injected into the combustion chamber.
  • a moveable momentum transducer is positioned in the chamber for extracting momentum from hydrocarbon fuel combustion in the chamber.
  • the hydrocarbon fuel contains water, and preferably, the moveable momentum transducer consists of a reciprocating piston.
  • the combustion ignitor consists of a shock wave initiator for igniting the hydrocarbon fuel and for producing a shock wave excitation having a planar shock wave front traveling in the direction of extraction by the momentum transducer.
  • the invention provides a combustion chamber having a fuel supply injector that is made up of an array of injector orifi positioned in a wall ofthe chamber - each orifice has a diameter in the range of microns for injecting an amount of hydrocarbon fuel into the combustion chamber at a pressure of at least about 10,000 psi to partition the injected hydrocarbon fuel into molecular aggregations of less than about 1000 angstroms.
  • the invention provides a combustion chamber having a fuel supply injector, an air intake supply injector, and a piston slidingly engaged in the combustion chamber and with a piston head oriented parallel with one wall ofthe combustion chamber.
  • a shock wave excitation initiator is positioned in the one wall ofthe combustion chamber oriented parallel with the piston head.
  • the shock wave excitation initiator is characterized by a capability to produce a shock wave excitation of at least about
  • the invention provides a method of surface treatment of a condensed matter host lattice for causing a condensed matter guest species dissolved in the host lattice to undergo dynamic anharmonic oscillations.
  • host lattice surfaces are treated to provide surface features having a radius of curvature less than about 2000 angstroms on the surfaces, whereby the dissolved guest species undergoes dynamic anharmonic oscillations.
  • the host lattice comprises nickel and the guest species comprises deuterium.
  • the nanopartitioned fuel system and combustion schemes provided by the invention are applicable to a wide range of combustion technologies, including, e.g., internal combustion engines, turbine engines, and jet engines, among others; superior combustion efficiency is provided by the fuel system and combustion schemes ofthe invention.
  • combustion technologies including, e.g., internal combustion engines, turbine engines, and jet engines, among others; superior combustion efficiency is provided by the fuel system and combustion schemes ofthe invention.
  • Other features and advantages ofthe invention will be apparent from the description of a preferred embodiment, and from the claims.
  • Fig. 1 is a rendering of a conventional X-ray photo-spectroscopy plot of X-ray intensity as a function of molecular orbital energy for a hypothetical condensed matter sample
  • Fig. 2 A is a plot ofthe Jahn-Teller coupling parameter ⁇ as a function ofthe percent bond overlap of electron molecular orbitals of second nearest neighbor hydrogen atoms near the Fermi energy;
  • Fig. 2B is a plot of nuclear displacement oscillation amplitude as a function ofthe Jahn-Teller coupling parameter ⁇ ;
  • Figs. 3A-3D illustrate the steps of producing a palladium-nickel clad wire according to one aspect ofthe invention
  • FIGS. 4A-4F illustrate the steps of a first method for lithographically defining nanoscopic surface features according to another aspect ofthe invention
  • Figs. 5A-5F illustrate the steps of a second method for lithographically defining nanoscopic surface features according to another aspect ofthe invention
  • Fig. 6 schematically illustrates a cell activation and measurement set-up according to one aspect ofthe invention
  • Fig. 7 schematically illustrates the activation cell of Fig. 6 in more detail
  • Fig. 8 schematically illustrates the anode of Fig. 7 in more detail
  • Fig. 9 diagrammatically illustrates quantum translational energy level spacing in a condensed matter system
  • FIGs. 10A-10G illustrate various apparatus configurations for nanopartitioning a fuel in accordance with the invention
  • Fig. 11 schematically illustrates an example combustion chamber configuration in accordance with the invention.
  • Fig. 12 schematically illustrates an example shock wave excitation initiator configuration in accordance with the invention.
  • Fig. 1 there is shown a conventional X-ray photo-spectroscopy plot of X-ray intensity (horizontal axis) as a function of molecular orbital energy (vertical axis) for a hypothetical condensed matter sample.
  • the vertical axis also depicts specific molecular orbital energy levels for the sample. Beginning with the orbital of lowest energy, some number of molecular orbitals ofthe sample are fully occupied, up to an energy level above which the molecular orbitals are unoccupied. The fully occupied orbitals are each associated with a specific symmetry and steric state.
  • the Fermi energy, E f is defined as that energy level halfway between the energy level ofthe highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and that ofthe lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO).
  • the energy gap, ⁇ E is defined as the energy difference between the energy levels ofthe HOMO and LUMO.
  • the population ofthe HOMO shifts toward the LUMO, and the mean energy ofthe molecular orbitals shifts a corresponding amount.
  • the HOMO and LUMO can actually co-exist at the same energy level. This condition is referred to as orbital degeneracy.
  • orbital degeneracy Under degenerate molecular orbital conditions, condensed matter systems generally find it energetically favorable to lower the free energy ofthe system by dynamically distorting, or in extreme cases, statically distorting to a state of symmetry lower than its existing symmetry state.
  • An example of such a distortion is a cubic material undergoing a trigonal lattice distortion.
  • This static distortion is one embodiment ofthe well-known Jahn-Teller effect, relating to condensed matter distortion.
  • Jahn-Teller effect when electron molecular orbital degeneracy conditions are achieved, both static distortions and dynamic distortions are possible and both result in an energetically more favorable state.
  • the electrons in the degenerate molecular orbitals can tunnel back and forth in space between degenerate orbitals, centered on separate atoms, at very high rates, where the tunneling rate is denoted as ⁇ c .
  • the amplitudes of these tunneling oscillations are under certain conditions so large that the positive nuclei ofthe parent atoms to the tunneling electrons respond to the oscillations in some fashion, i.e., the electron oscillations may couple to the parent nuclei lattice.
  • the amplitude ofthe oscillations ofthe parent nuclei, in response to the electron tunneling oscillations is termed ⁇ .
  • the Jahn-Teller coupling parameter, ⁇ characterizes the degree of degeneracy of a particular molecular orbital energy configuration, and correlates that degree to a measure ofthe electronic molecular orbital overlap ofthe configuration.
  • the coupling parameter ⁇ has a range between 0 and l A.
  • oscillations are characterized as thermal parabolic oscillations expected of harmonic oscillation behavior.
  • the ⁇ parameter decreases below V2
  • the overlap of molecular orbitals increases.
  • tunneling oscillations of electrons in the degenerate molecular orbitals become less and less harmonic in character.
  • This type of tunneling oscillation is referred to as anharmonic oscillation because the oscillations are derived from statistical fluctuations in molecular orbital occupancy and are nearly insensitive to temperature, unlike harmonic oscillations, which are thermal in nature.
  • systems characterized by a ⁇ parameter less than about V* become so structurally unstable during dynamic tunneling oscillations that they statically distort to a lower symmetry and settle into a new harmonic condition, like the cubic to trigonal distortion mentioned above.
  • the orbital degeneracy of a condensed lattice system may be selectively "tuned", or specified, to provide a desired degree of molecular orbital overlap.
  • tuning the degeneracy ofthe system to, e.g., increase the system degeneracy, the ⁇ coupling parameter characterizing the material is in turn (or inherently) decreased.
  • the energy gap, ⁇ E is directly related to the rate of molecular orbital electron tunneling, T R , by:
  • T R Ae- ⁇ E/ ⁇ (1)
  • K is the Boltzmann constant
  • T degrees Kelvin. From this relationship (1) it is clear that as the energy gap between the HOMO and LUMO approaches zero, the electron tunneling rate T R correspondingly increases.
  • the tunneling electrons impart their oscillatory motion to the corresponding parent nuclei; the nuclei are effectively "dragged" through the anharmonic oscillatory motion ofthe tunneling electrons.
  • the corresponding rate of anharmonic nuclei oscillation is also, as expected, related to the degree of molecular orbital overlap, via the coupling parameter ⁇ .
  • d separation between second nearest neighbor nuclei (the correlation distance between molecular orbitals of opposite phase, ⁇ + and ⁇ " (not the lattice parameter))
  • h Plank's constant.
  • the amplitude of parent nuclei oscillation, ⁇ resulting from the degree of anharmonicity caused by orbital overlap, as given by the coupling parameter ⁇ , mathematically ranges between 0-1.7A, for ⁇ ranging between 0-0.5, although, as explained above, ⁇ values close to zero are physically meaningless.
  • a measure of the coupling parameter ⁇ provides a means for correlating a degree of molecular orbital overlap, or degeneracy, to the amplitude of nuclear displacement resulting from anharmonic oscillations of electrons in the degenerate molecular orbitals.
  • the parent nuclei (e.g., deuteron) displacement amplitude ⁇ increases to over 10 times the amplitude associated with thermal (harmonic) oscillations.
  • the parent nuclei displacement amplitude may realistically approach or exceed 0.6 A.
  • the average distance of closest approach of adjacent parent nuclei which are anharmonically oscillating is determined based on the displacement amplitude ⁇ , described above, and the interstitial site distance between two such oscillating nuclei. With this interstitial distance between the nuclei, or bond separation parameter, given as d, the average distance of closest approach for adjacent anharmonically oscillating nuclei is given as d-2 ⁇ . This distance may be equivalently considered as the average distance of penetration into the coulomb barrier achieved by adjacent oscillating nuclei.
  • the inventors herein have recognized that the probability for interaction of neighboring nuclei may be dramatically increased via enhancement ofthe anharmonic nuclei oscillation phenomenon discussed above, and further that this anharmonic oscillation may be "tuned” by specifying a particular molecular orbital degeneracy (and corresponding electron orbital tunneling) via a corresponding degree of molecular orbital overlap.
  • ⁇ molecular orbital degeneracy
  • ⁇ c the frequency of anharmonic oscillation
  • the coupling parameter ⁇ thus provides a mechanism for correlating a given state of molecular orbital degeneracy with a probability of nuclei interaction.
  • a molecular orbital degeneracy state is selected which, for a given condensed matter system, minimizes the distance of closest approach of nuclei during oscillations while at the same time maximizing the frequency of those oscillations.
  • the anharmonicity ofthe dissolved hydrogen or deuterium nuclei sublattice residing in the host lattice may be enhanced to achieve the conditions described above, i.e., a large displacement amplitude, ⁇ , ofthe hydrogen or deuterium nuclei and a correspondingly small distance of closest approach, and a high oscillation frequency of deuterium or hydrogen nuclei.
  • ⁇ the displacement amplitude of the hydrogen or deuterium nuclei
  • a high oscillation frequency of deuterium or hydrogen nuclei It must be emphasized that it is the electron molecular orbital topology ofthe host lattice that creates an energy state giving rise to degenerate sublattice orbitals related to the second nearest neighbors of, e.g., H-H guest bonding orbitals.
  • it is the nuclei ofthe guest sublattice that are set in anharmonic motion as a result ofthe orbital topology.
  • the invention herein provides methods for enhancing this sublattice anharmonicity via "tuning" ofthe host lattice molecular orbital degeneracy. These methods, described below, all provide common results: they act to promote second nearest neighbor bonding between sublattice nuclei; and they thereby promote maximization ofthe anharmonic oscillation amplitude and oscillation frequency ofthe sublattice nuclei.
  • the lattice parameter, a, ofthe palladium atoms in the lattice 3.6 A.
  • the space in the palladium lattice may be populated by a guest species, e.g., introduction of deuterium nuclei dissolved in the lattice to occupy octahedral and tetrahedral interstitial locations ofthe lattice, via electrolytic charging. After this charging, the deuterium nuclei constitute second nearest neighbors (with each other) in a degenerate orbital condition.
  • Deuterium is the preferred guest nuclei species, but hydrogen is also an acceptable guest species.
  • palladium silver provides the highest degree of guest deuterium nuclei anharmonicity.
  • This silver compound increases the dA-s ⁇ antibonding component ofthe palladium-deuterium molecular orbitals, at concentrations up to about 23% silver, thereby promoting more overlap ofthe second nearest neighbor D-D(.y ⁇ ) bonding molecular orbitals and providing an enhanced molecular orbital degeneracy.
  • a particular deuterated palladium silver compound, Pd Ag 23 D, is preferred for a bulk alloy embodiment, but other palladium silver compounds, as well as other metal compounds such as Au-Ni, Cu-Pd, Cu-Ni, Ni-Pd, Cu-Ni, Ni-Ti, Zr-P, Pd-P, Ni- Zr, Zr-Pd, and Zr-Ti also provide a degree of anharmonicity sufficient to enhance interaction of deuterium nuclei in the alloy lattice.
  • other alloy compounds are also suitable.
  • the average distance of closest approach of a D-D nuclei pair is 0.5 A. This distance is closer than even the bond distance in deuterium gas, which is 0.7 A.
  • the average distance of closest approach must be reduced below 0.5 A to observe any strong force interactions at a rate above the expected background rate.
  • the probability, or expectation value, of finding an anharmonically oscillating deuteron pair inside the strong force envelope is dramatically enhanced by small reductions in this distance of closest approach to reduce this distance below 0.5 A.
  • Specific details ofthe energy potential between the deuterium atoms in this anharmonic system are unknown.
  • a semi-qualitative analysis may be performed using an expression derived by Sichlen and Jones for the rate, R, of D-D nuclei interaction, using a Morse potential, as follows:
  • the nature ofthe strong force nuclei interaction having a rate quantified by the above equation is not here specified; rather, the chemical and physical conditions that amplify the probability for the occurrence of this strong force interaction are provided by the enhanced anharmonicity system ofthe invention.
  • the strong force interaction of deuterium nuclei which are anharmonically oscillating occurs in the host lattice with a high degree of coherency.
  • Condensed matter systems in which the deuteron nuclei motions are synchronized to such a high degree are expected to generally tend toward conditions that favor 3- and 4-body strong force interactions.
  • the anharmonic tunneling oscillations described herein occur in a space regime such that the inertial wavelength ofthe deuterons is much greater than that typically associated with high- energy events.
  • substantial overlap of the wave-functions of nearby nuclei, even those outside ofthe interaction envelope of a nuclei pair, can be expected.
  • interference effects of the low-energy tunneling oscillations can not be dismissed.
  • the deBroglie wavelength of a wave/particle deuteron is increased by 107 over that of scatter high energy experiments.
  • interference effects ofthe tunneling phenomena can not be discounted.
  • Anharmonic oscillations resulting from specific molecular orbital degeneracy may be understood from another viewpoint.
  • the amplitude, ⁇ , ofthe anharmonic oscillations may be equated with the energy ofthe oscillating system.
  • the energy ofthe oscillator thereby correlates a wavelength with the oscillating particle.
  • the wavelength, ⁇ , of an anharmonically oscillating deuteron coincides with the length of a potential well, here the Coulomb barrier, a resonance is expected.
  • Tuning ofthe anharmonicity of a condensed matter system thus acts to adjust the wavelength ofthe wave/particle entity (here, the deuteron) to induce particular resonances.
  • the induced resonance further enhances the oscillation amplitude, ⁇ , and can dramatically increase the probability of a strong force interaction between neighboring nuclei.
  • the inventors herein have recognized that in addition to precisely selecting an alloy host lattice for enhancing anharmonicity of guest deuterium nuclei, the application of an electric field may be employed to shift the HOMO and LUMO populations and energy spectra of a given host lattice to achieve molecular orbital degeneracy and enhanced anharmonicity. It is recognized, however, that E-fields are confined to the near-surface region of conducting materials. Therefore, E-fields only control the system anharmonicity in a region ofthe system whose depth is less than about 200 A-deep into the bulk of a host material.
  • NSP nanometric surface preparation
  • Such preparation is intended to impart nanoscale surface topology to the host lattice; this topology acts to create a low coordination ofthe surface atoms.
  • Surfaces with a low coordination of atoms develop anharmonic properties owing to orbital de-localization at regions of high curvature, where the radius of curvature of such regions is generally less than 0.2 ⁇ m.
  • Nanometric surface preparation like the application of E-fields. is confined to effect only the surface and near surface regions of a host lattice.
  • Electric fields which are limited to the near surface of a metal, make substantial changes to the local force constants and accompanying vibrational response of near-surface atoms of a metal.
  • Anharmonic oscillations driven by molecular orbital degeneracy are modified by the applications of electric fields, mediated by the local adjustments to the force constants.
  • these effects are distributed over the interaction distance ofthe anharmonic potentials, which may extend normal to the surface over many lattice parameters.
  • a strong E-field insures that a high concentration of deuterium (or other guest species) is obtained and maintained within the lattice; and a strong E-field provides a driving force to further delocalize the D(l_r) orbitals ofthe host lattice nuclei, beyond that resulting from a particular selection of host alloy.
  • nanometric surface preparation acts to adjust the local coordination of surface atoms, as explained above.
  • High curvature surfaces such as prismatic edges and asperities, are optimal low atomic coordination surfaces, and may be fabricated with existing technology to create a high density of such features with nanometric curvature radii of less than 0.2 ⁇ m.
  • the new atomic coordinations produced by the resulting surface topology induce variations in electron molecular orbitals expected of atoms of a smooth surface; these electron molecular orbitals have different size, shape, orientation and, perhaps most importantly, population than those associated with a smooth surface.
  • the new molecular orbital occupancy levels associated with this lower atomic coordination tend to shift the Fermi level such that the degeneracy ofthe system is increased, and the anharmonicity ofthe system is correspondingly increased.
  • NSP surfaces enhance the dissolution of hydrogen isotopes in a host lattice during electrolysis, thereby promoting population of tetrahedral sites in the host lattice.
  • Such a topology is achieved on a diamond die by positioning a high-power laser, for example, a CO 2 or YAG laser, focused to a spot size of less than 30 ⁇ m, at sufficient power to ablate diamond, to locally evaporate carbon on the inside radial surface ofthe die.
  • the laser is focused to a desired diameter spot size, which is preferably not more than 30 ⁇ m, and either raster scanned or modulated in a pulsed fashion along the inner wall ofthe diamond die.
  • This rastering or pulsing action results in the effective "drilling" of beveled holes in the diamond die.
  • Pulsed laser sources as opposed to continuous wave sources, provide the most flexibility for "customizing" the imparted relief topology.
  • the inner wall surface ofthe die may be sculptured in a predefined way to provide beveled features.
  • the resulting features may be smoothed with a laser annealing step or subsequent diamond paste polishing step to remove rough spots on the interior of the holes.
  • the diamond die is processed to intentionally impart nanometric and microscopic features into the trailing edge, i.e., smallest diameter, ofthe die.
  • a diamond abrasive in the form of a paste, may be applied to a diamond die to provide topology on the inner surface ofthe die by scoring that surface as the paste is passed through the die.
  • host lattice wire e.g., nickel or palladium wire
  • the wire will take on the relief structure ofthe die; handling care is called for to avoid post-process rounding ofthe nanometrically sharp features on the drawn wire.
  • conventional wire drawing technology is designed to minimize topological features on drawn wire, and thus, typically includes a surface polishing step. Such a polishing step is disadvantageous for this process.
  • the wire drawing process Prior to being drawn through a prepared diamond die, the wire to be processed is cleaned via a series of solvent washes, for example: wash (1 )— 15 minute immersion in 40°C trichloroethane with ultrasonic agitation; wash (2)-- 15 minute immersion in fresh 40°C trichloroethane with ultrasonic agitation; wash (3) — 15 minute immersion in room-temperature acetone with ultrasonic agitation; wash (4)— 15 minute immersion in room-temperature methanol with ultrasonic agitation; wash (5)-- 15 minute immersion in room-temperature isopropanol with ultrasonic agitation; and final wash (6) ⁇ 30 minute rinse in distilled water.
  • wash (1 ) 15 minute immersion in 40°C trichloroethane with ultrasonic agitation
  • wash (2)--- 15 minute immersion in fresh 40°C trichloroethane with ultrasonic agitation wash (3) — 15 minute immersion in room-temperature acetone with ultras
  • multi-clad wire of nickel and palladium may be fabricated to provide enhanced anharmonicity due to both a specific alloy combination and surface topology.
  • such multi-clad wire is fabricated using a solid, cylindrical copper rod 10, a solid, cylindrical nickel rod 12 of a diameter less than the diameter ofthe copper rod, and a palladium sheet 14 having a length equal to that ofthe copper and nickel rods. The length and diameters ofthe rods are determined based on the desired final length and diameter ofthe multi-clad wire to be produced.
  • the copper rod 10 is machined to remove copper from the interior ofthe rod, thereby creating a copper tube.
  • the inner diameter 16 ofthe copper tube is preferably machined to match the diameter of a cylindrical assembly 18 comprising the nickel rod 12 around which is wrapped the palladium sheet 14.
  • a next step shown in
  • the nickel rod-palladium sheet assembly 18 is pressed into the copper tube 10 to form a billet.
  • a copper cap 20 having a centrally located hole is then welded to one end ofthe billet and a pumping lead 22 is attached to the cap hole.
  • the pumping lead 22 is connected to a vacuum system and the billet is evacuated via the system for approximately 12 hours at a temperature of 300°C. At the end ofthe evacuation period, the pumping lead 22 is weld-sealed to isolate the billet from atmosphere, and the assembly is cooled to room temperature. Once the billet is cooled, it is extruded, using conventional extruding techniques, to have an outside diameter of not more than 2 inches. Then, using a group of successively smaller dies, the extruded billet (now a wire) is drawn through the dies from largest die to smallest, in sequence, to reach a final desired diameter. After the final die drawing, the copper cladding tube is etched off of the palladium sheet to expose the palladium-nickel assembly.
  • an arbitrarily-shaped host lattice material piece may be mechanically processed to create a planar surface having nanometric topology using a lapping process as follows. If the piece is rather small, it is first mounted on a quartz optical flat using a low-melting point temperature wax. The optical flat is first positioned on a hot plate at approximately 90°C. The temperature ofthe optical flat is then increased until a small portion of wax melts on the flat, at which point the rectangular piece is positioned on the melted wax. The optical flat, now supporting the rectangular sample, is then removed from the hot plate and cooled to room temperature.
  • the host lattice sample alone, or a supported smaller sample is positioned on a nylon lapping pad of a standard lapping plate on a polishing wheel.
  • a polishing slurry consisting of standard soluble 5 ⁇ m diamond oil paste and mineral kerosene is loaded on the wheel to lubricate the sample during the lapping process. With the lubricated sample in place, the wheel is run for about 30 minutes, throughout which time the lubrication is maintained.
  • the nylon lapping pad is replaced with a new pad and the sample is positioned on the pad and lubricated with standard 2 ⁇ m diamond oil paste and mineral kerosene.
  • the wheel is then run again for 30 minutes.
  • the nylon pad is again replaced and the sample is run on the wheel for 45 minutes using 0.5 ⁇ m diamond oil paste and mineral kerosene as the lapping lubricant.
  • the nylon pad is again replaced and the sample is run on the wheel for 2 hours using 0.1 ⁇ m diamond oil paste and mineral kerosene as the lapping lubricant. This last lapping process using diamond paste imparts the desired nanometric features on the planarized surface.
  • the sample is removed from the flat, after the last lapping process, by melting the wax on the flat using a hot plate and removing the sample from the melted wax.
  • the sample is preferably cleaned at the end ofthe lapping procedure, following the multistage solvent cleaning process described above in connection with the wire drawing procedure, or other suitable cleaning procedure.
  • a diamond stylus is used to mechanically scribe the surface of a host lattice material in a predetermined scribe pattern.
  • the diamond stylus is preferably "ultrasharp" in that the effective working tip diameter ofthe stylus is of nanometric proportions, and can thereby produce nanometric-sized scribe patterns.
  • the stylus is precisely moved across the surface ofthe material using a computer-controlled actuating mechanism.
  • scratched relief topology is imparted to the surface of, e.g., a sheet of host lattice material. It is not required that the original surface topology ofthe sheet be planar, but rather, the topology may even be slowly undulating.
  • Active sensors for example, or other means ofthe computer-controlled actuating mechanism permit an array of styli to ride lightly on the surface, no matter its topology, and additionally, restrict the depth of cut to, e.g., less than 2 ⁇ m. In this way, a large surface area can be processed in an acceptable time period.
  • such a nanometrically processed sheet may be used in its initial form as a sheet or may be wound into a small spatial volume, to form a coiled tube, much in the manner of an electrolytic capacitor design.
  • nanometric surface features are produced using the diamond stylus scribing scheme described above, in combination with a "post-scribe" ultrasonic anodic etch process.
  • the application of an E- field during the etching serves to populate antibonding orbitals in the near surface ofthe host lattice, thereby facilitating decohesion of, typically, metallic bonds.
  • Such an anodic etch is carried out using, e.g., a solution of hydrochloric acid diluted with three parts water.
  • a platinum electrode may be employed, for example.
  • the anodic cell is operated under reverse bias at several milliamps/cm 2 for a selected time period, such as 300 seconds, sufficient to produce a high density of nanoscale features on the surface ofthe host lattice material.
  • Ultrasonic agitation ofthe anodic etch bath promotes feature formation.
  • the two-step scribe-anodic etch process produces a high density of nanoscale features on any size host lattice sheet.
  • Vapor deposition techniques that are customized to favor discontinuous, rather than smooth and continuous deposition characteristics result in sub-micron sized nucleation sites that enhance the anharmonicity of the underlying substrate surface. Conversely, vapor deposition of a smooth coating over a highly textured surface achieves this same result of sub-micron sized asperities.
  • An example of this process is the autoclaving of open-cell polystyrene. The decomposition resulting from the autoclaving produces a carbonaceous skeleton with very small feature sizes.
  • Chemical vapor deposition is a molecular level process whereby two molecules react only when conjoined on a hot surface, This thermally activated process is thus useful in producing a selected surface topology, because the two or more molecular species employed in the process do not react in the gas phase.
  • Deposition onto a heated substrate can be precisely controlled with adjustments to the temperature ofthe substrate, as well as the relative composition ofthe gas phase constituents. For this application, deposition quality and thickness are best obtained at low pressures, an operating regime providing the ability to produce very thin layers. This is especially true for an articulated surface, such as a pyrolized organic foam. Coating the interior regions of such a surface is referred to as chemical vapor infiltration (CVI).
  • CVI chemical vapor infiltration
  • ultrathin coatings are preferred for this application, lest the small pores ofthe foam plug up and obstruct the nanometric surface reactivity.
  • That technique should optimally provide a high density of surface asperities, which preferably include points, prisms, and comers, or comprise any geometries having features with a radius of curvature less than 0.5 ⁇ m. but preferably less than 0.2 ⁇ m. Such features provide a location of small radius curvature. Geometries having a radius of curvature more than 0.2 ⁇ m will enhance anharmonicity to some extent, but to a lesser degree than smaller curvature surface features.
  • Nonlinear Lattices Physical Review Letters, Vol. 70, no. 25, p.3935, 1993, it is known that energy localization occurs in one-dimensional nonlinear lattices.
  • the inventors herein have recognized that in three dimensions, discrete nanodots or nanocrystals of anharmonic metals can develop large amplitude oscillations resulting from quantum size effects.
  • nonlinear nanodot structures favor the growth of large amplitude, low frequency anharmonic lattice oscillations.
  • Such intrinsically localized vibrational states augment the anharmonicity enhancement provided by the schemes described above and provide a mechanism for sustaining resonant dynamic Jahn-Teller oscillations.
  • Grain boundaries, stacking faults, free surfaces and abrupt compositional variations are materials structures that discretize or partition condensed matter to develop the vibrational instabilities that are recognized by the inventors herein to promote nuclei interaction.
  • the simplest such method is grain refinement, which may be produced via splat cooling, atomization, selective deposition techniques, and cold working. Cold working by mechanical attrition has been shown to provide nanograined, polycrystalline material d e ⁇ composition by Koch, in "The Synthesis and Structure of Nanocrystalline Materials
  • lithographic wet-etch techniques may be used.
  • a bare substrate 30 of a selected host lattice material for example, nickel
  • a selected crystallographic orientation for example, the 110 or 100 orientation.
  • the 110 crystal faces are favored in the case of a nickel host lattice substrate because the 110 planes support the highest solubility of hydrogen isotopes of any crystallographic planes.
  • photoresist 32 is spun on the substrate and exposed using a patterned lithographic mask 34 having a selected pattem of sub-micron sized geometries.
  • the maximum pattem dimension, d. or "duty cycle" of repeated pattem is about 0.2 ⁇ m in length.
  • the unexposed resist is then removed using standard techniques to produce a photoresist etch mask.
  • the underlying substrate is then anisotropically etched using an appropriate etch to produce grooves in the substrate surface having a depth, h. of less than about 1 ⁇ m.
  • Grooves of a greater height are less preferable because they would allow the prismatic faces of grooves exceeding about 1 ⁇ m to reconstruct to a more harmonic, high atomic coordination state.
  • the substrate 30 is provided with a topology of steps 36 which all ideally exhibit sha ⁇ comers and straight walls.
  • a bare substrate 30 oriented in a preferred crystallographic orientation of [100] has photoresist spun on its surface.
  • the resist is then exposed using a mask having a maximum pattem width, d, of 1 ⁇ m in a grid pattem.
  • the unexposed resist is removed using standard resist process techniques and the substrate is preferentially etched through openings in the remaining photoresist etch mask.
  • the preferential etch stops on the 111 crystallographic planes ofthe substrate lattice which act as etch stop planes and cause the etch to end at the intersection ofthe 111 planes within the substrate.
  • the substrate surface comprises a pattem of grooves 38 having sha ⁇ points at the peak ofthe groove and a correspondingly reverse pointed indentation into the substrate surface.
  • these grooves act to produce a low coordination of surface atoms, and consequently, to increase the anharmonicity ofthe hydrogen or hydrogen isotope dissolved in the surface material. It is intended that altemative lithographic techniques may also be employed to create suitable surface topology structures which enhance the anharmonicity ofthe surface material.
  • etch processes attack the most reactive regions of a surface preferentially over the less reactive regions. The less reactive regions are then, in turn, what is left exposed at the end ofthe etch process. These exposed regions are generally characterized by localized molecular orbitals.
  • mechanical processes as opposed to etch processes, do not selectively modify surface regions of particular reactivity, thereby retaining the original surface reactivity, to a large extent.
  • wet-chemistry techniques such as electroplating and chromatography, also provide mechanisms for creating finely dispersed nanometric structures on the surface of a material to enhance the material anharmonicity.
  • enhanced anharmonicity of a material is achieved using nanometric-sized particles of a second material to promote selected surface geometry via a process such as electroplating the material of interest.
  • nanometric particles such as fullerenes are coated with 3-20 atomic layers of a selected host lattice material, such as Ni, Ti, Pd, Zr, or their alloys discussed above.
  • the diameter ofthe coated fullerene (C 60 )-material coating combination is between 10-30 A.
  • the outer metal atomic layers have such a low coordination of atoms in this geometry that the outermost electron molecular orbitals ofthe layers de-localize and enhance the anharmonicity ofthe metal layer at its surface.
  • coated particles such as metalized fullerenes must be distributed in some inert media, such as xeolites or carbonaceous devitrified foams.
  • the inert media serves two functions: it provides a support structure for the fullerenes, and it accommodates suspension of each C 0 Fullerene ball such that they each provide the entire
  • a superlattice of alternating materials is produced to enhance anharmonicity ofthe alternating materials at each superlattice layer interface.
  • alternating layers of two materials are created using molecular beam epitaxy, organo-metallic chemical vapor deposition, evaporation, laser ablation, or sputtering techniques to fabricate a prespecified superlattice configuration.
  • these deposition and growth processes are highly controlled such that they produce high quality superlattice stmctures having abrupt interfaces at each layer.
  • Preferred material groups for the alternating superlattice layer pairs include Au-Ni, Cu-Pd, Cu-Ni, Ag-Pd, Ni-Pd, Cu-Ni, Ni-Ti, Zr-P, Pd-P, Ni-Zr, Zr-Pd, and Zr-Ti. Other layer material groups may also be suitable.
  • the layer thicknesses preferably vary from about 1 - 30 nm, depending on the growth or deposition technique.
  • the interfacial regions where one material layer meets the next are characterized by lattice distortion, altered atomic coordinations and orbital de-localization. As explained in the discussion above, these conditions promote an enhancement ofthe system's anharmonicity, and corresponding enhancement of nuclei interaction rate.
  • Ion sputtering of metallic targets is perhaps the superlattice fabrication process most amenable to a large area processing scheme.
  • Such large area processing is ideal for creating a host lattice stmcture of desired size.
  • the substrate is placed is a vacuum chamber, after which the chamber is evacuated.
  • An ion beam is directed at, for example, a nickel target located in the chamber or with access to the chamber, and nickel vapors are deposited onto the substrate.
  • the ion beam is alternately directed at the nickel target and, for example, a copper target, for a prescribed amount of time sufficient to deposit alternating layers of nickel and copper.
  • Typical deposition times are based on a deposition rate of less than about 2 nanometers/minute.
  • a superlattice of 30 Ni-Cu layers, each 2 nm-thick, may be processed in one hour.
  • the temperature ofthe superlattice substrate is selected to maximize the abmptness of each layer junction, keeping in mind that low temperature depositions reduce the amount of alloying at, for example, each Ni-Cu interface.
  • the active volume of less than about 5 ⁇ m in thickness generates heat, due to anharmonicity effects on deuterium nuclei interaction at each interface ofthe superlattice, that cannot be transferred away from the interface as effectively as heat generated at the extemal surface ofthe superlattice.
  • the interior ofthe lattice begins to "overheat” as the heat production via anharmonic interactions exceed the thermal diffusivity ofthe lattice materials.
  • Temperature does not strongly effect anharmonic oscillation, as it does harmonic oscillation, but several hundred degrees Centigrade of generated heat may be sufficient to initiate a static Jahn-Teller distortion that results in quenching anharmonic oscillations.
  • Still other surface processing techniques are intended by the invention herein. For example, ion implantation of, for example, Cr into Ni, creates surface damage ofthe Nickel and provides a mechanism for producing the desired atomic delocalization.
  • FIG. 6 there is shown an experimental setup 40 for producing and measuring the effect of enhanced anharmonicity on the interaction of guest sublattice nuclei dissolved in a host lattice.
  • This setup 40 comprises, for example, an interaction cell
  • the interaction cell 45 which is monitored to provide indicative signals via a pressure line 47, a cu ⁇ ent line 48, a radiation line 51, and a voltage line 52. Each of these signal lines are provided to an analog to digital converter (A/D) 54, which is connected to a PC 56, provided with a display 58.
  • A/D analog to digital converter
  • the interaction cell 45 consists of, for example, a 30 liter Pyrex calorimetry vessel 46 containing heavy water, light water, or a suitable mixture ofthe two. and a suitable electrolyte, such as 0.6 Molar potassium carbonate (K CO 3 ) in which are submerged electrodes 50, 52, described below. Nonwater-based electrolytic solutions may also be suitable.
  • the containment vessel 46 serves primarily to contain the electrolyte and not decompose contamination into electrodes submerged within it.
  • the electrolyte provides a source of protons or deuterons without contaminating the surface ofthe electrodes. It also serves to establish a high double potential just outside the surface ofthe electrodes that provides a voltage gradient which shifts the dynamic equilibrium of solvation and favors a high density of protons or deuterons in the solid, once such species dissolves in the solid, as explained below.
  • the volume of electrolyte is of secondary importance. Heat transfer mechanisms are the main pu ⁇ ose ofthe water. Water is excellent in this capacity because it is chemically stable, inflammable, and has a large specific heat. Other electrolytes may be used.
  • the electrical conductivity as well as the polarizability ofthe electrolyte may be preferably optimized for a given type of electrode material.
  • NaCO 3 or RbCO 3 may be used.
  • Also submerged in the liquid within the containment vessel are two thermocouples
  • Each ofthe thermocouples is monitored by suitable apparatus, such as the PC 56 ofthe experimental setup.
  • the containment vessel 46 is provided with a Teflon lid (not shown), which is to be loosely mounted on the vessel once the vessel configuration is in place. The looseness of the mounting is intended to allow pressure release during operation such that no hazardous pressure build-up occurs within the vessel. Additionally, a pressure relief valve 59 may be provided on the vessel lid. The lid also provides for the pressure line mentioned above, and sensing lines for a gauge, for example, a Bourdon gauge, and a radiation detector 51.
  • the radiation detector may be mounted either inside or outside the vessel, or preferable, one detector is mounted inside while a second detector is mounted outside ofthe vessel. The detector located inside the vessel may be located, for example, very close to the electrode 50.
  • One suitable detector for Tritium is the Bicron Industries Co ⁇ .
  • a programmable DC power supply 62 is connected to the electrodes 50, 52 within the vessel via co ⁇ esponding connections 66, 64, in a configuration as given below.
  • the electrodes within the vessel comprise a cathode 50 and an anode 52.
  • the cathode 50 consists of, for example, a perforated Teflon spacer 68 having an 8-inch diameter, around which is wound a suitable host lattice material, such as nickel wire 70, or other selected material.
  • a suitable amount of nickel wire is approximately 2-20 pounds of wire.
  • Such nickel wire 70 might comprise 0.003" nickel-200 wire. This commercially available wire is composed of >98.5% nickel, with small amounts of iron and cobalt.
  • the wire may be treated with any ofthe surface topology processes described above to enhance the anharmonicity ofthe wire system.
  • the wire may be pulled through a laser-treated diamond die (as described above) such that surface relief stmctures on the die impart co ⁇ esponding nanometric topological stmctures on the wire surface.
  • the wire may be loosely braided into a cable of 125 strands, or some other braid scheme.
  • the cable is wrapped loosely around the Teflon spacer such that a maximum amount of wire surface area is exposed.
  • the braiding scheme also provides the ability to increase the surface area for a given amount of wire material.
  • Other cathode wire and material alternatives are also suitable.
  • the wrapped spacer 68 is entirely submerged in the liquid within the containment vessel.
  • the cathode 50 comprising the spacer 68 and wire 70, is connected to the negative line 66 ofthe power supply 62 via a spot- welded solid nickel rod 72, or other connecting line.
  • This rod is thick enough to carry a high cu ⁇ ent density without overheating a connecting fitting 74 in the vessel lid.
  • a scintillation material is plated with nickel and attached to the cathode configuration 50 described above. This configuration provides a radiation detector mechanism in intimate contact with host lattice material, and may be connected to the radiation detector line 51 described above.
  • a sheet of planar nickel or palladium alloy NSP processed as described above via, e.g. diamond scribing and anisotropic etching, is used in its sheet form as a cathode, or altematively, rolled in a manner like that of electrolytic capacitors, forming a coiled tube which provides a large cathode surface area within a comparatively small volume.
  • a cathode configuration like the others, is entirely submerged in the liquid within a containment vessel.
  • the rolled stmcture is particularly efficient in that it allows the liquid to deliver the protons or deuterons while at the same time providing a surface cooling mechanism via flushing of the liquid across the cathode surface.
  • the anode 52 is shown in more detail.
  • the anode consists of, for example, a cage 76 of chemically inert metal, such as titanium or nickel, which is plated with 0.0005" platinum.
  • the cage diameter is 6" and the cage height is 6".
  • Such a cage is made of top and bottom metal rings 78, 80, respectively, connected between which are metal fins 82, each fin having the dimensions of 0.030" in thickness and 5/8" in width.
  • a number of such fins, five for example, are spot-welded to the top and bottom rings 78, 80.
  • the particularly chosen size and number of fins is based on the amount ofthe cathode material used. Without an adequate anode surface size, the operation ofthe cell set-up may become cu ⁇ ent limited.
  • the top ring 78 is also spot- welded to a 1/8" nickel rod 84 for connection to the positive line 64 ofthe power supply 62.
  • the power supply is set to provide a voltage drop of not less than 0.5 volts below the hydrogen overvoltage of 1.43 V forward biased between the anode and cathode.
  • Electrolysis proceeds during the voltage application to dissolve a large ratio of hydrogen isotope, e.g., deuterium, into the host lattice; ideally a guest-host ratio of greater than 0.8 is achieved via the electrolysis.
  • nanoscale features on the host lattice e.g., the nickel wire surface
  • Further enhancement is provided using a chopped DC voltage rather than a constant DC voltage.
  • the use of this signal scheme is motivated as follows. Maintenance of a high guest loading ratio requires a strong electric field gradient at the host surface. However, unintentional impurities in the electrolytic cell may hinder the existence of this gradient; such impurities in the cell invariably transport to the surface ofthe cathode, where they deposit on the cathode host surface. The impurities generally establish a polarization layer on the surface that reduces the effectiveness ofthe E-field there.
  • the applied voltage is thus prefe ⁇ ed to be a positive DC voltage with a duty cycle of between 5-2000 Hz, e.g., a square wave signal with a positive DC offset voltage, and an amplitude switching no less than 0.5 V below the hydrogen overvoltage of 1.43 V.
  • a positive DC voltage with a duty cycle of between 5-2000 Hz, e.g., a square wave signal with a positive DC offset voltage, and an amplitude switching no less than 0.5 V below the hydrogen overvoltage of 1.43 V.
  • the near surface ofthe host cathode acts like a diode, magnifying charge transport in the forward bias mode and restricting transport of dissolved guest species back out ofthe surface.
  • the DC chopping voltage acts to shift the dynamic equilibrium to a state favoring higher concentrations of guest species.
  • the current density ofthe operating cell is determined based on the cell's operating environment; the cu ⁇ ent density ofthe cathode host material is preferably not more than 100 mA/cm .
  • the power density is minimized via a cathode design providing an increase in surface to volume ratio ofthe cathode.
  • the cathode host material may be fabricated, as described above, as large, thin sheets, and then the two electrodes may be interleaved with anode stmctures wound in parallel with the cathode in a design like that of an electrolytic capacitor.
  • the electrode sheets are ideally fabricated thinly, for example, as thin as 0.001 ", separated by a distance of 0.025". This separation distance is provided by some insulating media, e.g., even the liquid itself. Heat resulting from the operation of such an anode-cathode configuration in the operating cell electrolyte is transfened via cycling ofthe electrolyte through the cylindrical volume.
  • the electrolyte temperature is operated at a selected point for optimizing transport of heat from the electrodes.
  • the electrolyte may be maintained at or near its boiling point because this phase change can transport energy at a constant temperature.
  • Operation of a cell in the manner described above provides optimization ofthe materials and system for enhancing anharmonic oscillations ofthe system and co ⁇ espondingly enhancing the probability for interaction of nuclei within the lattice.
  • the methods ofthe invention taught herein for producing this enhancement are all based on recognition by the inventors herein that nanometric discretization of highly nonlinear materials produces large localized vibrational instabilities, giving rise to large-amplitude oscillation of nuclei within the material. Such oscillation provides a co ⁇ esponding enhancement ofthe potential for nuclei in the material to interact.
  • nanometric discretization of anharmonic materials i.e., nonlinearly bonded materials
  • nanometric discretization of anharmonic materials is recognized by the inventors to enable and accommodate nonequilibrium conditions that provide enhancement of energetic reactions such as combustion processes.
  • aggregations of condensed matter are recognized to possess unique quantum mechanical energy localization properties when the bonding between atoms in the aggregations is nonlinear and the size ofthe aggregations is in the sub-micron regime.
  • nonlinear atomic bonding is meant to characterize electronic interactions and their effect on the oscillations of parent nuclei whose subsequent displacement modes are not characterized by simple harmonic motion.
  • Such nonlinear nanometric aggregations provide the ability to accommodate quantum confinement conditions in a condensed matter system. It is this quantum confinement condition, in combination with nonlinear inter-atomic bonding, that supports a nonlinear, nonequilibrium response to an extemal excitation in an energetic reaction such as a combustion process.
  • Hydrogen-bonded fuels such as hydrocarbons are recognized by the inventors to be uniquely well-suited as an anharmonic condensed matter system that can be manipulated to accommodate quantum confinement conditions whereby the fuel exhibits a nonequilibrium response during a combustion process. Hydrogen-bonded fuels are found to possess a substantial component of anharmonicity due to the substantial nonlinearity in the hydrogen intermolecular bonding.
  • a composition of hydrogen- bonded fuel is specified in the invention for achieving a combination of quantum confinement and nonlinear inter-atomic bonding that produces a nonequilibrium combustion process.
  • T PV/R, (7) where R is the gas constant.
  • E the molar energy, E, of an ideal gas is a function solely of its temperature, namely as
  • thermodynamic equilibrium Throughout the time that a molecular system such as condensed matter hydrocarbon fuel system undergoes a chemical reaction during, e.g., combustion, the system is not at thermodynamic equilibrium. Therefore, the classical thermodynamic assumptions discussed above do not apply to the system during the combustion process, and can only be applied to end products ofthe process when they reach equilibrium. In particular, the equipartition energy principle assumption of only three equally populated translational modes as the sole contributor to energy conversion is not applicable. Instead, partitioning of energy among any of translational, vibrational, rotational, and electronic energy modes must be considered and must be expected to change with time during the course ofthe combustion process.
  • shock wave phenomena provide an energy transfer process by which a selected one ofthe three possible translational energy modes may be preferentially excited over the other translational modes and the rotational, vibrational, and electronic modes, due to anisotropic local pressure conditions in which more energy is directed along the direction ofthe selected translational mode than in directions normal to the shock wave front.
  • the cohesive binding energy in a fuel undergoing a combustion event that is enhanced by a shock wave is liberated anisotropically into the forward direction ofthe shock wave propagation.
  • a shock wave magnifies any nonlinearities ofthe fuel system; in other words, the nonlinear, anharmonic characteristics of hydrocarbon fuels, as discussed above, are enhanced by shock wave phenomena, to thereby enhance the quantum mechanical nature of specific fuel compositions, as explained below.
  • a hydrocarbon fuel composition is specified which preferentially skews the energy released by the fuel during combustion into the translational energy modes over the vibrational, rotational, and electronic energy modes.
  • this fuel composition synergistically reacts with a shock wave during a combustion event to further skew the released combustion energy into a desired one ofthe three translational modes.
  • Partitioning of energy among the possible translational, rotational, vibrational. and electronic energy modes of a quantum mechanical system is determined based on temperature, entropy, and intemal energy conditions ofthe system. This partitioning follows a so-called partition function, Q. that is separately defined for each possible energy mode. At equilibrium, there exists a well-defined distribution of energy mode populations that is reflected in a general statement of system temperature, T, based on how intemal energy in the system is partitioned, as:
  • T dS/dU, (9)
  • S is the entropy ofthe system, giving a measure ofthe system partitioning among the accessible energy states
  • U is the intemal energy ofthe system, giving a measure ofthe motion ofthe system components.
  • the entropy, S, and intemal energy, U are each in turn determined based on the system partition function Q as:
  • the partition function Q determines both the entropy and intemal energy of a system.
  • the quantum mechanical rules governing the nature of partitioning of energy modes of a system are co ⁇ elated with the number of possible energy distributions possible for a given system. Indeed, not all conceivable distributions are physically possible, based on quantum mechanical considerations for a given system; there exists limitations upon the number of ways that molecules of a system may be distributed among the energy modes, or equivalently, limitations upon the ways in which energy may be partitioned among the system molecules.
  • the partition function is needed to quantify quantum mechanical partitioning considerations, in answer to the questions of which of all conceivable energy mode distributions are physically possible for a given system, and what the probabilities of occu ⁇ ence are for those distributions that can exist.
  • each wave function, ⁇ k (j), of energy, ⁇ j is either empty or filled with no more than one particle.
  • the total number of particles of a given energy level, « j is determined by quantum mechanics as being equal to or less than the degeneracy ofthe level g j .
  • Each distinct way of assigning «j indistinguishable particles among g j distinct but indistinguishable wave functions is a distinct and microscopically separate state, or microstate. Each of such microstates produces the same macroscopically observable state, or macrostate.
  • the probability of occu ⁇ ence of any given macrostate is proportional to the number of possible microstates that could lead to it.
  • ⁇ z> ⁇ lq(dqld(kT)).
  • the mean molar vibrational energy, ⁇ > v is determined based on the general expression (14) for average molecular energy, as:
  • Figure 9 depicts the energy level spacing and particle population distribution, e.g., molecular population distribution, for any one ofthe three translational modes of an arbitrary region in a semi-infinite condensed matter medium.
  • the translational energy mode spacing and population is depicted on the left ofthe figure.
  • the "stack" of energy levels in the figure is meant to depict the condition in which the energy of a given level is higher than that ofthe energy levels depicted below that level.
  • the spacing between the energy levels is relatively small.
  • the population of these closely-spaced levels is random, due to the balancing of entropy and intemal energy considerations, as discussed above with expressions (10) and (11); each level may be populated by 0, 1 or 2 molecules.
  • the driving force to maximize entropy i.e., randomness
  • An example of such a decrease would be a change in system dimension from the micron-regime or greater to the nanometric regime.
  • This decrease in size causes a given energy level, e.g., ⁇ 2 oo, to move from a first energy to a higher energy, depicted as ⁇ 200 '.
  • the ⁇ 200 and ⁇ 200 ' energy levels also co ⁇ espond to the weighted average energy for the macro-sized and reduced-size systems, respectively. Their marking explicitly illustrates that the average translational energy is increased by the reduction in system size.
  • each translational energy level is inversely proportional to the size, or volume, ofthe system being characterized.
  • the difference in energy between two adjacent translational energy levels is inversely proportional to the volume, or confinement region size, ofthe system, and energy level spacing therefore increases in co ⁇ espondence with an increase in the energy ofthe translational energy levels.
  • the highest energy ofthe energy level spectra ofthe reduced- volume system is increased over that ofthe macro-size system, whereby higher energy levels are available to be populated in the reduced-volume system.
  • the characteristic of dS/dU for the system is negative, i.e., the change in entropy with respect to intemal energy is negative, co ⁇ esponding to a condition of population inversion, as a result ofthe decrease in entropy and increase in energy levels.
  • a system condition also refe ⁇ ed to as a negative temperature condition, is understood by the inventors to display counterintuitive responses to excitations and unanticipated driving forces for controlling the return ofthe system to thermodynamic equilibrium.
  • a hydrocarbon fuel is nanopartitioned to set up a system condition like that just described, in which the energy levels ofthe translational modes ofthe fuel system are spaced widely apart, whereby the weighted average ofthe translational energy levels is higher than it would be for a macro-sized embodiment ofthe hydrocarbon fuel system.
  • the expanded translational energy levels of such a nanopartitioned fuel combined with the lower symmetry population of those energy levels, controls the allowable exit channels for combustion products emitted by combustion ofthe nanopartitioned fuel.
  • the quantum characteristics of a nanopartitioned fuel define the range of allowable translational energies that the fuel can produce through combustion ofthe fuel.
  • a nanopartitioned fuel enables combustion products to take on a higher level of translational energy than is enabled by conventional, continuous fuel systems.
  • This ⁇ E t expression defines the spacing between, e.g., the ⁇ i.i.o energy level and the ⁇ o.o energy level.
  • the spacing between two translational energy levels is given by expression (33) to be ⁇ E t ⁇ 1.7 x IO "20 kcal/mole.
  • the Boltzmann constant-temperature relation which at room temperature is about 0.59 kcal/mole, it is seen that indeed, at large dimensions, or equivalently, for macroscopically-sized systems, the separation between energy levels in the translational energy mode is immeasurably small, and further that many states above the ground state are populated, because ⁇ E t is so much smaller than kT.
  • the separation between levels ofthe rotational energy mode may be determined for the carbon monoxide system based on an expression for this rotational state separation, ⁇ E r , as:
  • ⁇ E V hc ⁇ e , (35) where c is the speed of light and ⁇ e is the characteristic Debye frequency.
  • the partition function for the electronic energy mode is a constant, and the separation between the ground and first excited electronic states is given by the ionization energy ofthe system under consideration.
  • the carbon monoxide system exhibits a translational energy mode spectrum that is amplified over that ofthe same system at macro-sizes.
  • the excess translational energy that may be accommodated by the amplified energy mode spectrum results in extraction of energy quanta from the other energy modes into the translational mode; particularly from the rotational and vibrational modes.
  • the skewing ofthe translational mode population to higher energy levels is compensated for by a reduction in the mode populations ofthe other energy modes.
  • the excess energy and mode population required to compensate for the nanopartitioned translational energy mode increase is primarily provided by the rotational mode, because the energy levels ofthe rotational mode are spaced closely together, whereby there is a large population available for extraction. This is illustrated in the above example for carbon monoxide, where it is seen that the spacing between rotational energy levels is much less than kT at room temperature. In contrast, the energy level spacing for the vibrational and electronic modes of isolated molecules are so much larger than kT that only the ground state of these modes is likely to be populated, and as a result, these modes do not have a viable energetic population to offer for translational energy compensation.
  • this characterization ofthe various energy mode levels and populations is specifically directed to intramolecular energy modes, i.e., energy modes of an isolated molecule. In a condensed matter system such as a hydrocarbon fuel, these energy modes also exist, but additional modes also exist for characterizing the cohesive binding energy between the molecules ofthe fuel.
  • This cohesive binding energy may be characterized by an intermolecular vibrational energy mode, or equivalently, by an electronic energy mode.
  • intermolecular vibrational and electronic energy modes characterizing cohesive binding energy have closely-spaced energy levels. Populations of intermolecular vibrational and electronic energy modes therefore provide viable chemical binding energy states that may be tapped for amplified translational energy compensation.
  • a nanopartitioned fuel in accordance with the invention provides the ability to extract, by way of a combustion event, energy from all possible energy modes ofthe fuel, in contrast with conventional fuel and combustion systems, in which only translational energy may be appreciably extracted.
  • the extraction of energy from the rotational energy mode of a condensed matter hydrogen fuel system into the translational mode of that system is enabled by the conelation between translational and rotational levels that characterize hydrogen bonded systems.
  • the invention herein contemplates an extension of this phenomena to any anharmonic condensed matter system; any anharmonic condensed matter system, in any form, when partitioned to a size regime where quantum confinement conditions prevail, will produce energy localization, whereby the energy spectra ofthe system are skewed to translational energy modes.
  • such a fuel system is preferably nanopartitioned such that the fuel consists of distinct, separate fuel regions, e.g., fuel droplets, that are each of a sub-micron diameter, and more preferably that are each of a diameter of between about 10 A and 100 A.
  • the partitioned fuel regions constitute hydrocarbon fuel molecular aggregations; as such, each molecular aggregation contains multiple molecules of hydrocarbon fuel. Partitioning ofthe fuel on a micro or milli scale, i.e., in the range of microns or millimeters, is found to produce less than optimal conditions for quantum confinement phenomena to prevail.
  • nanopartitioning thus preferably is not below about 10 A.
  • the nanopartitioned hydrocarbon fuel system may consist of any number of components, as will be understood by those in the field of petroleum processing, that are desirously included to achieve specific combustion conditions.
  • a hydrocarbon fuel may consist of a gasoline-alcohol mixture or other mixture, such as those conventionally designed to provide combustion enhancement agents.
  • Nanopartitioning of a hydrocarbon fuel is achieved in accordance with the invention by way of any of a wide range of techniques. These techniques may all be applied to any of four main classes of fuel systems, or other suitable fuel systems.
  • a hydrocarbon fuel is combined with an immiscible fluid, e.g., a liquid that is substantially insoluble in the fuel; many materials commonly refe ⁇ ed to as solvents are acceptable such immiscible fluids.
  • an emulsion of a fuel and other immiscible fluid is combined with a surfactant.
  • a third class of fuel systems is characterized by fuel combined with a surfactant only, and a final fourth class of fuel systems includes fuel only, i.e., includes neither a surfactant nor a solvent in the partitioned fuel system.
  • a fuel system 100 consisting of any ofthe four fuel system component combinations given above, is held in a beaker 102 or other containment vessel.
  • An ultrasonic hom 104 is positioned with respect to the beaker such that one end 106 ofthe hom is immersed in the fuel system.
  • the ultrasonic hom in a conventional manner produces ultrasonic cavitation in the fuel system, whereby vapor pockets 108 form in the fuel system, resulting in a texturing ofthe fuel system.
  • This texturing produces distinct fuel regions or droplets, e.g., hydrocarbon molecular aggregations, each of which are of a micron or sub-micron dimension.
  • the peak pressure pulses overcome the intrinsic tensile strength ofthe solvent.
  • the solvent consists of, e.g., water
  • the peak pressure pulses produced by the ultrasonic hom 104 exceed 150 Mpa, or 1500 Atm.
  • This pressure level is that at which the intrinsic tensile strength of water may be overcome.
  • ultrasonic cavitation in a liquid system is enhanced at surface inhomogeneities ofthe system, where gas pockets, or nuclei, easily form. Such nuclei, or distinct gaseous regions, are prevented from dissolving by any of several possible mechanisms, once the nuclei exceed a critical size.
  • the dynamic tensile strength, or cavitation threshold, for a fuel- water system thus depends upon the size ofthe produced gaseous nuclei, the surface tension ofthe system, and the near-past pressure conditions of the system. This may be understood in part by the fact that cavitation produced by one pressure pulse event may result in nuclei that affect the threshold for subsequent cavitation conditions.
  • a fuel system e.g., a fuel-solvent combination 110
  • a homogenization tube 112 which includes a frit 114 positioned at a point along the length ofthe tube.
  • the frit 114 consists of quartz, polytetrafluorocarbon, available as Teflon®, nylon, or other inert material in which a number of pores 116, several of which are shown schematically, have been formed through the length ofthe frit material.
  • the frit pores formed by conventional methods, are preferably each of a diameter in the micron range, and preferably are less than 100 ⁇ m in diameter.
  • the fuel system 110 to be nanopartitioned is passed through the homogenization tube and frit at high pressure, e.g., 20,000 psi - 40,000 psi; upon exit, the processed system 118 takes on a partitioning profile that co ⁇ esponds to the frit size and process pressure.
  • Very small frit pores and/or very high process pressures are known to result in destruction of fuel, solvent, and surfactant molecular stmctures.
  • a starting amount of a fuel system 120 to be partitioned is held in a beaker 122 or other suitable vessel, to which is attached an input port 124.
  • Any one component ofthe fuel system e.g., a solvent or surfactant, or all components of a fuel system can be injected 126 into the vessel via the input port 124 at high pressure.
  • Such high pressure injection acts to agitate the amount of fuel system already in the vessel, resulting in gaseous cavitation nuclei sites 108, and partitioning ofthe liquid system.
  • a starting amount of a fuel system 126 can be held in a beaker 128, to which is attached a homogenization tube 130.
  • the tube 130 includes a frit section 132, like that shown in greater detail in Fig. 10B.
  • One component or all components ofthe fuel system can be injected 134 through the frit tube 130 at high pressure, whereby they are partitioned by the frit pores.
  • the partitioned components initiate cavitation events that produce nuclei sites 108 in the fuel system, resulting in further partitioning ofthe system.
  • the ultrasonic cavitation hom technique like that shown in Fig.
  • an ultrasonic transducer as shown in Fig. 10E can be employed to partition a fuel system.
  • a fuel system 136 to be partitioned is held in a first beaker 138, which itself is submerged in an ultrasonic bath 140, held in an exterior vessel 142.
  • the ultrasonic bath and fuel system are agitated by way of a conventional ultrasonic transducer/pulse generator 144.
  • Application ofthe ultrasonic pulses results in mechanical agitation ofthe fuel system to the point that it is separated into distinct confinement regions.
  • agitation of a fuel system can be accomplished by way of a sti ⁇ ing mechanism.
  • the fuel system to be partitioned 148 is held in a vessel 150, into which is submerged a sti ⁇ ing tool 152.
  • the sti ⁇ ing tool preferably includes a geometric end section 154 consisting of a looped configuration or other geometric configuration that enhances sti ⁇ ing and agitation.
  • the sti ⁇ ing tool is rotated, e.g.. as shown, in the fuel system.
  • the fuel system is agitated to the point that it is effectively separated into distinct nanopartitioned molecular aggregations.
  • an atomization technique can be employed in accordance with the invention to nanopartition a fuel system.
  • a fuel system to be partitioned 158 is injected at high pressure into an atomizer 156.
  • the atomizer is provided with an outlet port 160 having a dimension on the order of microns, and preferably less than 100 ⁇ m in diameter. High pressure injection ofthe fuel system through the atomizer results in atomized molecular aggregations 162 ofthe fuel at the atomizer outlet.
  • this atomization process is sensitive to the size ofthe outlet port size and the atomization pressure; molecular destmction ofthe fuel system may occur at very high pressures or very small port dimensions. Accordingly, it is preferable to employ the atomization process using a "safe" range of pressures and port dimensions and if necessary, combine the atomization process with another process, e.g., a cavitation process, to achieve a desired nanopartitioning dimension.
  • any ofthe mechanical partitioning techniques provided by the invention are applicable to any combination of fuel system components.
  • a fuel-only system is one in which no additives are included; here the fuel alone is partitioned to the desired nanometric confinement condition.
  • the fuel may consist of any acceptable hydrocarbon fuel, e.g., gasoline, and may include additives such as ethanol, methanol, or other additive, as is conventional.
  • a fuel system comprising a combination of a fuel and an immiscible fluid is by definition made up of a fuel and another phase or phases that are substantially insoluble with the fuel.
  • Many liquids known as solvents exhibit this characteristic for a range of specific fuels.
  • Appendix A provides a listing of example solvents that are contemplated by the invention. This listing is meant to provide examples only and does not limit the scope of solvents or other immiscible fluids contemplated by the invention. The only requirement of solvents to be employed in accordance with the invention is that they be substantially insoluble in a selected fuel.
  • water is the preferable fuel system solvent phase.
  • Water exhibits a high degree of anharmonicity. Water thus provides the ability to produce a synergistic fuel-solvent combination that is strongly anharmonic overall, whereby energy and population exchange between various energy modes is easily accommodated.
  • the low cost and high abundance of water are two additional factors that make water a preferable solvent.
  • Surfactants are known to enhance the stability of an emulsion.
  • a surfactant phase may be employed in a fuel-solvent-surfactant combination in accordance with the invention to enhance the stability of a fuel-solvent emulsion over time. It must be noted that a surfactant is not, however, required in the fuel system, but rather, acts as a stabilization enhancer. If long-term stability of a fuel-solvent emulsion combination is not required, or if a specific nanopartitioned fuel-solvent combination is found to exhibit adequate stability for a given application, a surfactant may be unnecessary.
  • a surfactant may also be combined with a fuel alone to enhance partitioning ofthe fuel, without combination with a solvent.
  • Appendix B provides an example listing of surfactants contemplated by the invention. As with Appendix A, Appendix B is meant to provide examples only; the scope of surfactants contemplated by the invention is not limited to this list.
  • a material that is substantially insoluble in both a fuel and solvent phase or surfactant phase can be added to a fuel-solvent combination or fuel-surfactant combination.
  • a material may, e.g., act as an agent for producing a size-specific precipitation reaction that is not expected of a conventional surfactant material.
  • This size-specific precipitation should most preferably be tailored to the desired nanopartition dimensions of the fuel.
  • Additional fuel system combinations e.g., a fuel and one or more other non- solvent, non-surfactant materials, is also contemplated by the invention; any such combination preferably accommodates nanopartitioning of the fuel component in the system.
  • any components added to a fuel in a combination nanopartitioned fuel system do not increase production of pollutants during combustion ofthe fuel system and do not degrade engine components by way of, e.g., abrasive wear or chemical co ⁇ osion, beyond that which a fuel itself might produce. It is not required that the mechanical nanopartitioning techniques described above or the other nanopartitioning techniques to be discussed below produce a specific nanopartitioning confinement of any solvent phases, surfactant phases, or other immiscible phases combined with a fuel in the nanopartitioned fuel system.
  • nanometric fuel regions e.g., hydrocarbon fuel molecular aggregations
  • Solvents, surfactants, other immiscible phases, or other materials included in a fuel system may be partitioned in the nano-regime or smaller, partitioned in the micron, milli, or other regime, or may remain completely unpartitioned.
  • supercritical fluid processing techniques can be employed in accordance with the invention in a process whereby mixtures selectively precipitate out into uniformly sized aggregations having a size dimension that is determined by the pressure and temperature ofthe process.
  • supercritial H 2 O and CO 2 fluids are together employed to nanopartition a fuel-water system combination.
  • the critical temperature of carbon dioxide is 31°C at a pressure of 73 atmospheres.
  • the critical temperature of water is 374°C at a pressure of 218 atmospheres.
  • This supercritical combination when maintained at a temperature above the critical temperature of either component, exhibits high solubility with a hydrocarbon fuel, in contrast with the low solubility that characterizes both substances at lower solubility temperatures.
  • a mixture of fuel, H O, and CO 2 is held above a temperature of 374°C at a pressure of 218 atmospheres, to completely dissolve the three components into a homogeneous mixture.
  • This pressure-sensitive mixture exhibits low viscosity, high diffusivity, and low surface tension.
  • a second step the pressure and temperature are rapidly reduced.
  • This sudden decrease reduces the solubility ofthe dissolved fluids in the hydrocarbon fuel.
  • Such a sudden decrease is accomplished, e.g., by aspirating the supercritical mixture from a vessel in which the high pressure, high temperature conditions are maintained, out through an injector nozzle.
  • the hydrocarbon fuel precipitates out ofthe mixture with an extremely fine size scale that is determined by the hydrodynamic flow conditions ofthe nozzle. This precipitation is what produces a desired nanopartitioning ofthe fuel component in the system.
  • the supercritical mixture is emitted from an orifice having a cross- section of 625 ⁇ m .
  • the flow rate ofthe mixture out ofthe nozzle is about 10 SLPM.
  • the time required for the mixture to expand to ambient pressures is about IO "7 seconds, co ⁇ esponding to a supersonic velocity. At this velocity, shock waves are induced in the liquid as it cools adiabatically. The resulting supersaturation condition ofthe mixture leads to catastrophic nucleation processes whereby nuclei of a dimension less than about 100 A are produced.
  • the resulting mixture consists of nanopartitioned fuel confinement regions, e.g., hydrocarbon molecular aggregations, in a fuel-water combination.
  • a catalytic reformation reaction is enabled and initiated to partition a fuel system mixture.
  • a chemically reactive site is set up to allow a cluster of two components to nucleate and grow to a certain size, after which the components are detached from the site.
  • This two-step sequence is preferable carried out at a plurality of surface sites simultaneously, whereby a reasonable volume of nanopartitioned fuel system components are produced in a short time.
  • intemal surfaces of a reaction vessel are conditioned to include such nucleation sites.
  • a densely- packed granular material e.g., a chalcogenide
  • the nanopartitioning techniques discussed above are but examples of a wide range of processes that effectively produce a fuel system in which the fuel component is nanopartitioned.
  • the nanopartitioning techniques contemplated by the invention are not limited to specific techniques or types of techniques; but rather, are characterized in general by their ability to effectively partition a hydrocarbon fuel into sub-micron regions of confinement, e.g., hydrocarbon molecular aggregations, that enable translational mode energy localization and rebalancing of energy among various energy modes in the fuel.
  • combustion processes in accordance with the invention optimize population of fuel system translational modes and effectively extract the enhanced translational energy ofthe fuel before the combusted fuel molecules thermalize and return to randomized energy mode levels and populations.
  • the combustion process ofthe invention sets up an enhanced translational velocity and energy profile for combustion products. This anisotropic energy mode profile is selected and motivated based on considerations of combustion velocity and energy profiles and their effectiveness at transferring momentum to a piston or other such moveable momentum transducer in a combustion chamber.
  • a conventional combustion process extracts energy from a hot, fully equilibrated gas and transfers a conesponding amount of momentum to a piston.
  • combustion products are characterized by a full complement of translational, rotational, vibrational, and electronic energy spectra; and additionally, each ofthe three possible translational energy modes - one for each linear coordinate direction - are equally populated.
  • a simple geometric analysis demonstrates that rotational, vibrational, and electronic energy modes of combustion products do not, however, contribute to momentum exchange with, or thmst of, a translating piston; indeed, only combustion energy in the one translational mode whose linear coordinate axis coincides with the translational axis ofthe piston stroke appreciably contributes to the piston thrust.
  • the inventors herein have recognized that superior momentum transfer is achieved in a combustion process that employs a nanopartitioned fuel, which as explained above exhibits population skewing to the translational energy modes ofthe fuel during combustion, and that employs an energy extraction technique to enhance transfer of energy from the one translational energy mode whose axis conesponds to that of, e.g., a piston stroke, or that ofthe axis of movement of other such moveable momentum transducer.
  • the energy extraction technique is also selected to preferably extract an appreciable amount of, e.g., the piston-aligned translational energy before the fuel system returns to equilibrium and the various energy modes become more equally populated.
  • the energy extraction technique to be employed by a combustion process is achieved with a planar shock wave applied to a nanopartitioned fuel as the fuel is combusted.
  • a combustion chamber in accordance with the invention therefore preferably accommodates apparatus for initiating such a shock wave.
  • combustion of a nanometrically partitioned fuel is enhanced by a shock wave excitation in three ways. First, as explained above with regard to Fig. 9, a shock wave applied to a nanopartitioned fuel produces a transient pressure pulse in the fuel, during which the translational energy mode skewing ofthe fuel is amplified.
  • initiation of a planar shock wave excitation along the translational axis co ⁇ esponding to that of, e.g., a piston stroke, or that of another moveable element, such as a turbine blade enhances transfer of momentum to the piston from the one translational mode ofthe fuel that co ⁇ esponds to the piston stroke axis.
  • the supersonic speed ofthe shock wave excitation enhances transfer of an appreciable amount of energy from the fuel before the combusted fuel re-equilibrates and repartitions the enhanced translational energy back into other energy modes.
  • shock wave excitation in a combustion event in more detail, as a shock wave excitation passes through a nanopartitioned fuel, very high local pressures develop in the fuel along the direction ofthe shock wave front propagation. The condensed matter densification resulting from this pressure leads to additional energy level separation and population skewing ofthe one translational energy mode that co ⁇ esponds to the direction ofthe shock wave front propagation.
  • the shock wave excitation favors the energy level population ofthe translational energy mode aligned with the shock wave front, whereby the intemal energy ofthe combustion products is moved to a more anisotropic state. Stimulation ofthe population of one ofthe fuel's translational modes spectra to a non-equilibrium condition even greater than that produced by the nanopartitioning ofthe fuel is therefore achieved by the shock wave excitation.
  • the second function ofthe shock wave excitation namely, efficient transfer of energy along a given translational axis from a conesponding translational energy mode to a piston, is a function ofthe force with which the shock wave front propagates through the combustion chamber along the translational axis ofthe piston. Alignment ofthe shock wave front with the translational energy mode of highest energy localization results in transfer of energy from that mode to a far greater degree than any ofthe other modes because the shock wave front applies high forces along the direction of that mode. This alignment thereby provides the link between translational mode energy enhancement and the extraction of that enhanced amount of energy. Because the shock wave itself produces enhancement ofthe one translational energy mode, such alignment is inherent. The alignment causes the H 2 O and CO 2 molecules formed during combustion ofthe nanopartitioned fuel to have enhanced velocity components in the direction ofthe piston, whereby a superior degree of momentum transfer is accomplished.
  • the third function ofthe shock wave excitation is based on high speed ofthe excitation relative to a combustion event.
  • Shock waves are fundamentally characterized as phenomena in which the magnitude ofthe excitation exceeds the response characteristics ofthe medium through which the shock wave propagates. This effect is compounded in a nonlinear, i.e., anharmonic, condensed matter system in which, unlike an elastic, or harmonic, condensed matter system, the amplitude of an excitation is not independent of the frequency and velocity of propagation ofthe excitation.
  • the magnitude ofthe shock wave excitation in the nanopartitioned fuel and the co ⁇ esponding enhanced excursion ofthe fuel from equilibrium is fundamentally magnified by the speed and frequency ofthe shock wave excitation.
  • a combustion chamber 200 in accordance with the invention for combusting nanopartitioned fuels.
  • the combustion chamber includes a piston 206 which slidingly reciprocates in response to a combustion event along the long axis ofthe chamber interior 208, such axis of reciprocation being indicated by the two-headed a ⁇ ow in the figure.
  • a shock wave initiator shown generally as 210, is positioned at the end ofthe chamber opposite the piston shaft 212 with a distal end 214 exposed to the chamber interior 208, and from which the shock wave is preferably emitted.
  • the shock wave initiator is preferably hermetically sealed in the combustion chamber.
  • a shock excitation mechanism in accordance with the invention is not limited to a specific apparatus or type of apparatus, but instead, is characterized in general by an ability to produce an intense, supersonic reaction front that is largely planar and directed along the motion ofthe piston.
  • the shock wave initiator 210 is electrically isolated from the combustion chamber
  • Power for the shock wave initiator is provided by, e.g., a power supply 218, connected to the shock wave initiator by way of heavily insulated wires.
  • a fuel stream is admitted to the interior combustion chamber 208 from, e.g., a fuel tank or other fuel reservoir 222, via a fuel injection port 224.
  • the fuel supply preferably consists of a fuel system like that described above, wherein fuel in the fuel system is characterized by hydrocarbon droplets, or molecular aggregations, each of a sub-micron dimension, and preferably of a dimension of between about 10 A and 100 A.
  • Air is admitted to the chamber interior 208 from an air injection port 226. The injected fuel and air are mixed in the chamber by conventional means.
  • a combustion process in accordance with the invention preferably is initiated with a high-intensity, broad shock front 228 produced by the shock wave initiator.
  • the shock front 228 travels along the axis of piston reciprocation, shown in the figure by the double-headed a ⁇ ow.
  • the shock wave is reflected and travels back to the opposite chamber end, where it is again reflected.
  • the shock wave travels back and forth through the chamber along the axis of piston reciprocation, imparting many supersonic impulses to the piston head, each impulse transferring more momentum from the non-equilibrated combustion reaction products to the piston head.
  • the time scale ofthe shock wave excitation and reflection is so short compared with the time scale ofthe combustion event that a plurality of shock excitations can be initiated during one combustion event and a plurality of shock wave reflections occur during one combustion event.
  • a repetitive cycle of shock wave excitations is synchronized with the cycle of reflecting shock waves such that they combine to produce a coherent composite shock excitation rather than two excitations fronts moving in opposite directions.
  • the shock wave initiator is preferably capable of initiating a shock wave in the fuel- air mixture with a shock excitation characterized by a sub-millisecond rise time, and most preferably characterized by a nanosecond rise time.
  • the shock wave initiator be capable of producing a shock repetition cycle of at least about 30 impulses per second, or more preferably, between about 100 and 600 impulses per second.
  • a shock wave cycle repetition can result in high pressure loading on the interior ofthe chamber, and accordingly, it is preferable that the piston and chamber components all be characterized by a strength higher than that of conventional, spark-ignited engines.
  • the combustion chamber and piston are of a strength comparable to that of diesel engine components, and generally are characterized by an ability to endure high loading without fatigue.
  • combustion chamber walls of a weight greater than might be used for conventional combustion chamber walls; the individual shock wave impulses could deform lightly constmcted chambers.
  • Other components generic to combustion chamber constmction e.g., journal bearings, should also preferably be of diesel strength.
  • the shock wave front may be characterized as being formed by large temperature and pressure gradients.
  • the fuel-air gas mixture local to the shock initiation point is rapidly pressurized and heated even before any chemical reaction occurs. Once a critical temperature and pressure are reached in the local gas mixture the chemical reaction of combustion is intentionally and controllably initiated. This initiation acts to accelerate the motion ofthe shock front and to further amplify the local pressure and temperature.
  • the chain-carrier concentration in the reaction zone grows until it approximates the concentration ofthe reactants themselves. At these local conditions, virtually every reaction collision results in a reaction. While the specific nature of shocked reaction kinetics is unpredictable, it is known that certain fuel-air mixtures will themselves develop shock excitations under such conditions. Here the mixture bums at an ever-increasing rate until the deflagration rate, i.e., flame burning rate, exceeds some critical velocity.
  • Implicit in the mechanism of transition from deflagration to detonation is the existence ofthe predetonation bum ofthe flame. This distance of flame travel prior to full detonation may be quite long in conventional combustion, even exceeding the length ofthe combustion chamber. Increased combustion pressure causes faster detonation development relative to low pressure. It is thus preferable in the invention to set the combustion chamber conditions for high pressures in the range of, e.g., diesel engine pressure. This high pressure, in combination with the intentionally induced shock wave pressure front, ensures a small distance of flame travel prior to detonation.
  • a shock wave initiator in accordance with the invention preferably is embodied by a high-speed, high-intensity discharge apparatus that produces a planar pressure front emanating from the inception of discharge.
  • a discharge apparatus is shown in cross section in Fig 12.
  • the shock wave initiator consists of a cylindrical insulator 230 or other suitably shaped insulator consisting of, e.g., a ceramic material, in the center of which is positioned a conducting section 232.
  • An outer annular conducting section 234 encircles the outer axial surface ofthe cylindrical insulator 230.
  • the radial distance between the center conductor and the outer annular conductor is about 1 cm.
  • the cylindrical shock wave initiator is charged and discharged by an resistor- inductor-capacitor circuit 236, or other suitable circuit, connected to the initiator by way of cabling 238.
  • the charge/discharge circuit preferably is characterized by very low inductance, whereby a very short discharge rise time, e.g.. of less than about 100 nsec, and more preferably in the range of about 10 nsec to 20 nsec, is produced.
  • a horizontal breakdown event occurs between the inner central conductor and the outer annular conducting region. This horizontal breakdown event produces a planar shock wave front of a peak equivalent pressure of preferably greater than about 50,000 psi, and more preferably, greater than about 90,000 psi.
  • planar shock wave front 228 evolves in time to produce a planar supersonic impulse that upon reaching a piston head in a combustion chamber effectively transfers momentum from a combustion reaction to the piston head.
  • a discharge device similar to that of Fig. 12 is discussed by Pate et al. in U.S.
  • Pate's analysis and discharge apparatus design focus only on promotion of rapid combustion by way of one discharge ignition event
  • the inventors herein have recognized that such a discharge apparatus can be adapted as a shock wave initiator in accordance with the invention for enhancing the anisotropic energy properties of a nanopartitioned fuel.
  • positioning of such a discharge apparatus such that the axis of shock wave excitations it produces is aligned with a piston stroke axis results in enhanced momentum transfer, as explained previously.
  • adaptation and control ofthe discharge apparatus to produce a synchronized, repetitive cycle of shock excitations during one combustion event produces further momentum transfer enhancement.
  • An altemative shock wave initiator in accordance with the invention consists of a piezoelectric shock apparatus, i.e., an actuator that can move abmptly within the combustion chamber to produce a pressure wave that superimposes itself over a compressed fuel-air mixture to be combusted.
  • the piezoelectric actuator is controlled to produce a planar pulse just prior to auto ignition.
  • the actuator may be embodied by, e.g., a piezoelectric actuator element, as is commonly known and available, coupled to a large-area planar surface element positioned at the interior combustion chamber surface.
  • the actuator element is positioned parallel to the piston head such that the actuator delivers a shock excitation along the axis ofthe piston stroke.
  • the planar surface element ensures that the shock wave front is directed along the piston stroke for maximum momentum transfer to the piston.
  • a radio frequency pulse_generator is formed out ofthe combustion chamber-piston configuration itself.
  • the top surface ofthe piston head and the surface ofthe combustion chamber opposite the piston head serve as electrodes in an induction circuit.
  • Each are coated with an insulating layer such that they are electrically isolated from each other.
  • a timed power pulse of high frequency preferably greater than 100 MHz and more preferably greater than
  • 1GHz is delivered between the electrodes by way of a power circuit.
  • the power delivered by the pulses induces ionization of gases close to the surface ofthe electrodes.
  • This ionization process initiates a detonation wave across the entire electrode surface, thereby initiating a planar shock wave at each surface.
  • the duration of each power pulse is not critical because only several microseconds are required to initiate the shock wave from the ionization layer.
  • a flash lamp known also as a discharge lamp, may be positioned along the surface ofthe combustion chamber opposite the piston head. The high frequency discharge lamp is operated to produce a sheet of radiation across the chamber surface where it is positioned, whereby a simultaneous initiation of combustion is achieved at the surface.
  • Such a high-speed electromagnetic impulse produces a supersonic combustion initiation because, characteristically, high- frequency electromagnetic radiation possesses sufficient energy to break the chemical bonds in hydrocarbon fuels. Visible and near-ultraviolet radiation can initiate combustion in a near-critical fuel-air mixture.
  • the speed of light is the only limitation as to the speed with which the radiation initiates a shock-wave combustion event.
  • Other shock wave initiation mechanisms suitable for the nanopartitioned fuel combustion system ofthe invention will be understood by those skilled in the art to not require specific apparatus or geometry, but only to necessarily provide a high-speed, high- intensity shock wave front that is planar and that is aligned with the axis of reciprocation of a piston or other moveable momentum transducer in the combustion chamber.
  • the shock wave initiation is preferably controlled to produce a very fast pulse rise time that coincides with top-dead-center positioning ofthe piston, at which point the fuel-air mixture to be combusted is in its highest state of compression and a position of greatest mechanical advantage.
  • any shock wave initiator employed in accordance with the invention also is preferably capable of producing multiple shock excitations, during one combustion cycle, that are synchronized with prior shock excitations reflecting in the chamber.
  • the combustion apparatus may be adapted to reduce or eliminate production of nitrous oxide, NO x , emissions by application of a precious metal or other transition metal to interior surfaces ofthe combustion chamber and the top ofthe piston head.
  • a precious metal or other transition metal Precious metals and transition metals, and their alloys, have been shown to decompose ozone; and it has been observed that the production of nitrous oxide emissions is primarily controlled by an intermediate reaction involving ozone. Control ofthe production ofthe intermediate ozone species therefore controls the nitrous oxide in output emission.
  • Application of a metal such a nickel to intemal surfaces ofthe combustion chamber, e.g., in the form of a catalyst lowers ozone concentration and reduces NO x production by the combustion event.
  • Performance of a combustion chamber in accordance with the invention may be improved further by employing a fuel system injector, shown generally at 224 in Fig. 11 , that injects a fuel system at extremely high pressure through many orifi simultaneously into the combustion chamber.
  • a fuel system injector shown generally at 224 in Fig. 11 , that injects a fuel system at extremely high pressure through many orifi simultaneously into the combustion chamber.
  • High fuel system injection pressures of between, e.g., about 10,000 psi and 50,000 psi permit delay in the sequence of shock wave excitation initiations until the piston is positioned at top-dead-center.
  • this piston-shock initiation conespondence is prefe ⁇ ed so that the fuel system reactants are pulsed when at their highest state of compression.
  • the fuel system is injected into the combustion chamber in an instantaneously abrupt time period. This condition is approached as a practical matter by injecting the fuel system through many orifi rather than only one orifice.
  • the parallel injection profile produced by injection through the orifi anay further enhances mixing of the fuel system with injected air.
  • air is injected into the combustion chamber at the top-dead-center positioning ofthe piston cylinder head. More complete combustion of the fuel system reactants is achieved by efficient and fast mixing ofthe injected fuel system and the injected air.
  • the fuel system injection orifi anay are each of a small port dimension, e.g., in the micron regime, whereby the fuel system is atomized upon injection through the anay.
  • This high pressure atomization injection promotes enhanced shearing ofthe fuel system components; further partitioning ofthe fuel system may thus be accomplished by the injection anay. Indeed, a fuel system may be nanopartitioned entirely by the injection process without the need for an additional pre-combustion nanopartitioning technique.
  • Such a duel injection/nanopartitioning scheme may be preferable for fuel systems known to have only short stability times during which nanopartitioned fuel regions remain separated and stable.
  • a multiple-orifi injection system is not an absolute requirement ofthe invention: conventional injection systems, while perhaps providing less superior performance capabilities, are nevertheless adequate for combustion of nanopartitioned fuel systems.
  • a shock wave initiator mechanism may be employed to itself nanopartition, as well as ignite, a fuel injected to a combustion chamber.
  • This combined partitioning/ignition scheme may be preferable for the reasons given above, namely, for nanopartitioning a specific fuel system known to have only a short separation stability time.
  • the consumption of a nanopartitioned fuel during combustion ofthe fuel may be reduced in a combustion chamber in accordance with the invention by reducing the intemal friction ofthe piston as it reciprocates along the length ofthe combustion chamber.
  • the sliding friction between the edges ofthe piston head and the interior chamber walls wastes energy in the form of heat. This heat is conventionally removed by way of a cooling system and so does not contribute to mechanical work produced by the combustion.
  • the piston sliding friction can be reduced by improved lubrication or by reduction in the size of the piston head edge that contacts the interior chamber walls. A reduction in the size ofthe piston also reduces the power transfened to the piston, however, and thus does not provide measurable reduction in fuel consumption for a given power level.
  • piston sliding friction is preferably reduced by employing a two- stroke cylinder instead of a conventional four-stroke cylinder.
  • the two-stroke combustion process produces twice as many explosions per unit of sliding friction as are produced by a four-stroke engine scheme.
  • two-stroke engines have not been favored because the level of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, soot, and nitrous oxide emissions produced by such an engine has generally not met the required emissions standards.
  • Use of a two-stroke combustion process in combination with a catalyst, such as nickel, to combust a nanopartitioned fuel results in a marked decrease in the amount of undesirable emissions, whereby the efficiency of a two-stroke engine may be attained without the expected accompanying toxic emissions.
  • the fuel consumption of a combustion chamber in accordance with the invention may be further reduced by operation in a fuel system-to-air mixture ratio that is lean. It is known that fuel consumption may be reduced by such a mixture; intimate mixing of an injected fuel stream in a lean proportion to an injection air stream promotes more complete combustion and results in a degree of combustion that would conventionally be achieved only through a less lean fuel-air mixture. High pressure conditions applied to pre-ignited fuel-air mixtures also promotes lower fuel consumption. It is thus preferable that high pressure, e.g., a pressure level in the turbo diesel range, be combined with a lean fuel-air ratio to achieve reduced fuel consumption. These operating conditions are best canied out in a combustion chamber of diesel strength that can accommodate a high intemal chamber pressure and shock wave excitation.
  • a nanopartitioned fuel system may be employed in any combustion or burning engine or other apparatus, e.g., in turbine engines, jet engines, or other apparatus in which a nanopartitioned fuel system is burned or combusted to transfer momentum in a desired direction conesponding to a moveable momentum transduction mechanism, such as a piston, that produces work.
  • a shock excitation scheme provided by the invention synergistically enhances the anisotropy of nanopartitioned fuel products, such a shock excitation scheme is not an absolute requirement for combustion or burning of a nanopartitioned fuel.
  • the shock excitation combustion scheme ofthe invention may be applied to any fuel system, whether or not the fuel system is nanopartitioned.
  • the shock excitation acts with any fuel to reduce the randomness ofthe reaction products and promote anisotropy, in the direction ofthe shock wave front, ofthe energy to be transfened from the reaction products to a mechanism for producing work.
  • Monohydric Alcohols Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol Isoamyl acetate Ailyl alcohol Methyl acetate Amyl alcohol Iso-propyl acetate Isoamyl alcohol Haolgen Alcohols: tert-Amyl alcohol n-Butyl alcohol 2-Chioroethanol Ether Esters: Isobutyl alcohol sec-Butyl alcohol Butoxyethyl acetate Cyclohexanol Polyhydric Alcohols: 2-Ethoxyethyl acetate Ethyl alcohol 2-Methoxyethyl acetate 2-Ethyl-l -butanol Ethylene glycol Tetrahydrofurfuryl acetate 2-Ethyl-l -hexanol Methyl alcohol Propyl alcohol Aromatic Alcohols: Haolgen Esters: Isopropyl alcohol
  • Aromatic Halogen Compounds 2-Chloro-2-methylpropane Ketones: 1 -Chloropentane
  • Neohexane 1 ,2,3-Trichloropropane Acetonitrile n-Octadecane Benzonitrile n-Octane Naphthenic Hydrocarbons: n-Pentane Nitro Compounds:
  • Phenols Commercial Chemicals: Other Solvents: o-Cresol Kerosense Acetonitrile m-Cresol Ligroin 2-Butanol p-Cresol (BP range 60-80C) Butyl alcohol
  • Nonionic surfacants Esters of polyhydric alcohols; alkoxylated amides; esters of polyoxyalkylene, polyoxypropylene and of polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene glycols; ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols; tertiary acetylenic glycols; and polyoxyethylated alkyl phosphates.
  • Anionic surfactants Carboxylic acids and soaps; sulfated esters, amides, alcohols, ethers and carboxylic acids (all salts); sulfonated petroleum, aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons, esters, amides, amines, ethers, carboxylic acids, phenols and lignins (all salts); acylated polypeptides (salts); and phosphates.
  • Cationic surfactants Amines; amine salts, trialkylamine oxides; n-polyethoxylated long chain amines; quatemary ammonium salts; heterocyclic amines (salts); alkylolamine-fatty acid condensates (oxazolines); alkyl phosphonamides; amphoterics; perfluoro compounds, sequestrants, ilicones and inorganic cationics.
  • P.O.E Polyoxyethylene (Polyethylene glycol) and the abbreviation “P.O.P.” refers to Polyoxypropylene.
  • Caprylic acid Abietic acid Pelargonic acid coconut oil fatty acids
  • Capric acid Com oil fatty acids Lauric acid
  • Cottonseed oil fatty acids Myristic acid
  • Soya oil fatty acids Palmitic acid Tallow fatty acids
  • Hydrogenated fish oil fatty acids Behenic acid
  • Tall oil (fatty acids) Undecylenic acid Dimer acids
  • Oleic acid Trimer acids Erucic acid
  • Hydrogenated castor oil Ricinoleic acid Lanolin Naphthenic acid
  • Perfluoro surfactant - cationic Silicone defoamer water dispersible Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid disodium Sodium tetraborate salt Sodium carbonate
  • Sodium silicate Sodium dihydroxyethyl glycinate Alkyl benzene sulfonic acid (propylene Trisodium nitrilotriacetate tetramer) Sodium citrate Sulfonates:
  • Methyldodecylbenzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride n- Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride

Abstract

L'invention décrit un système de combustion d'un carburant d'hydrocarbure pour générer et extraire une énergie de translation accrue. Dans ce système, le carburant d'hydrocarbures est nanopartagé en régions de carburant de l'ordre du nanomètre ayant chacune un diamètre inférieur à environ 1000 angströms; soit avant soit après le nanopartage, le carburant est introduit dans une chambre à combustion où une excitation par onde de choc d'au moins 50 000 psi, avec un temps de montée de l'excitation inférieur environ à 100 nanosecondes, est appliquée au carburant. Un carburant partagé en de telles zones de confinement quantique de l'ordre du nanomètre permet d'obtenir une condition mécanique quantique dans laquelle les modes d'énergie de translation du carburant sont amplifiés, l'énergie moyenne des niveaux des modes d'énergie de translation étant plus élevée qu'elle ne le serait pour un carburant non partagé de taille macroscopique. La combustion d'un tel carburant nanopartagé fournit une extraction d'énergie de translation accrue par le biais, par exemple, d'un piston alternatif car seul le mode d'énergie de translation de produits de combustion contribue de façon appréciable à l'échange de quantités de mouvement avec le piston. Cette excitation par onde de choc appliquée à la combustion de n'importe quel carburant, et de préférence à un carburant nanopartagé, accroît l'extraction et l'échange de l'énergie de translation pendant la combustion en augmentant l'amplification du mode d'énergie de translation dans le carburant et en augmentant le transfert d'une quantité appréciable d'énergie depuis ce mode de translation vers le piston avant que le carburant soumis à la combustion ne rééquilibre l'énergie de translation en d'autres modes d'énergie.
PCT/US1996/011474 1995-07-11 1996-07-10 Combustion d'un carburant nanopartage WO1997003279A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU64868/96A AU6486896A (en) 1995-07-11 1996-07-10 Combustion of nanopartitioned fuel

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US50071095A 1995-07-11 1995-07-11
US08/500,710 1995-07-11

Publications (2)

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WO1997003279A1 WO1997003279A1 (fr) 1997-01-30
WO1997003279A9 true WO1997003279A9 (fr) 1997-03-06

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WO (1) WO1997003279A1 (fr)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6010544A (en) * 1997-12-18 2000-01-04 Quantum Energy Technologies Supercritical water fuel composition and combustion system
DE19942064A1 (de) * 1999-09-03 2001-03-15 Kassner Lydia Arbeitsweise eines Verbrennungsmotors
WO2010108090A1 (fr) * 2009-03-20 2010-09-23 Hydro Electron Ventures Agrégats aqueux confinés dans des nano-environnements
CN102337051A (zh) * 2011-06-29 2012-02-01 魏永红 一种无苯环保稀释剂

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US4203393A (en) * 1979-01-04 1980-05-20 Ford Motor Company Plasma jet ignition engine and method
IT1141984B (it) * 1981-02-26 1986-10-08 Ernesto Marelli Apparecchiatura ad ultrasuoni per il trattamento particolarmente di liquidi
JPS6010074B2 (ja) * 1982-08-13 1985-03-14 日本油脂株式会社 分散燃料組成物
DE3905284A1 (de) * 1989-02-21 1990-08-23 Bvm Triebwerkstechnik Verfahren zur optimierten verbrennung von kraftstoffen bei minimaler co-emission und vorrichtung zur durchfuehrung des verfahrens
US5237964A (en) * 1992-11-30 1993-08-24 Constantin Tomoiu Internal combustion engine with a new sequence of operation and combustion

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