초록 ▼

Efficient fuel combustion catalyst delivery device and method are provided. A fuel combustion catalyst delivery device includes a storage vessel that contains a liquid. The liquid includes one or more catalytic materials. The storage vessel is attached to a nebulizer that can convert the liquid to a

Efficient fuel combustion catalyst delivery device and method are provided. A fuel combustion catalyst delivery device includes a storage vessel that contains a liquid. The liquid includes one or more catalytic materials. The storage vessel is attached to a nebulizer that can convert the liquid to an aerosol to be delivered into an air intake of a combustion zone. The aerosol can accelerate fuel combustion. The storage vessel and the nebulizer are made from materials suitable to be exposed to the liquid and the aerosol. The storage vessel and the nebulizer are also suitable to be placed in proximity to the combustion zone such as an engine compartment so that the aerosol can be delivered into the air intake of the combustion zone easily and effectively. The surfaces of the delivery device exposed to the liquid or the aerosol may be made of corrosion-resistant or inert materials if the liquid is acidic. The surfaces of the delivery device exposed to the liquid or the aerosol may be also made from materials that produce substantially no contaminants into the liquid. The nebulizer may convert the liquid to an aerosol at a rate between once per second and one hundred times per second. The nebulizer may have holes for passing the liquid where each of the holes has a size not greater than about 10 μm. The delivery device can deliver up to 500 ml or more of liquid as aerosol over 500 hours of operation.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus comprising: a storage vessel containing a liquid, the liquid including one or more catalytic materials, the storage vessel including surfaces exposed to the liquid, the surfaces of the storage vessel being inert to the liquid, the

What is claimed is: 1. A fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus comprising: a storage vessel containing a liquid, the liquid including one or more catalytic materials, the storage vessel including surfaces exposed to the liquid, the surfaces of the storage vessel being inert to the liquid, the storage vessel for coupling to or coupled to a nebulizer, the nebulizer for converting the liquid to an aerosol to be delivered into an intake air of a combustion zone, the aerosol including the one or more catalytic materials, the nebulizer including surfaces for being exposed to the liquid or the aerosol, the surfaces of the nebulizer including a first surface for converting the liquid in contact with the first surface to the aerosol, the first surface for being exposed to the liquid and the aerosol, the surfaces of the nebulizer being inert to the liquid or the aerosol, the surfaces of the first surface being inert to the liquid and the aerosol, the surfaces of the storage vessel, the surfaces of the nebulizer and the first surface capable of maintaining inertness for over 200 hours of operation of the nebulizer or for over 1000 hours of exposure to the liquid or the aerosol, wherein the nebulizer includes a piezoelectric device and wires; the piezoelectric device includes a first surface and electrical contacts; the surfaces of the nebulizer include surfaces of the piezoelectric device, the electrical contacts and the wires; wherein the surfaces of the piezoelectric device, the electrical contacts and the wires are for being exposed to the liquid or the aerosol; the surfaces of the piezoelectric device, the electrical contacts and the wires are inert to the liquid or the aerosol; and wherein the nebulizer further includes a retention chamber containing the piezoelectric device; the piezoelectric device is not mechanically attached to the retention chamber or any other component of the nebulizer; the surfaces of the nebulizer include surfaces of the retention chamber; the surfaces of the retention chamber are for being exposed to the liquid or the aerosol; and the surfaces of the retention chamber are inert to the liquid or the aerosol. 2. The fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nebulizer comprises: a chamber including the first surface, an inlet for air, and an outlet for at least the aerosol, wherein the surfaces of the nebulizer include surfaces of the chamber for being exposed to the liquid or the aerosol, and the surfaces of the chamber are inert to the liquid or the aerosol. 3. The fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus of claim 2, wherein the chamber is for collecting the aerosol and for providing a directional flow of the aerosol through the outlet. 4. The fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the materials of the storage vessel and the nebulizer that are for being exposed to the liquid or the aerosol are made from one or more of a polymer, a corrosion-resistant metal or a material coated with an inert material. 5. The fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid is acidic, and the liquid includes one or more of the following metals or compounds thereof: platinum, rhodium, rhenium, palladium, ruthenium, iridium, gold, aluminum, cerium, molybdenum and tin. 6. A fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus comprising: a storage vessel containing a liquid, the liquid including one or more catalytic materials, the storage vessel including surfaces exposed to the liquid, the surfaces of the storage vessel for introducing substantially no contaminants into the liquid, the storage vessel for coupling to or coupled to a nebulizer, the nebulizer for converting the liquid to an aerosol to be delivered into an intake air of a combustion zone, the aerosol including the one or more catalytic materials, the nebulizer including surfaces for being exposed to the liquid or the aerosol, the surfaces of the nebulizer including a first surface for converting the liquid to the aerosol, the first surface for being exposed to the liquid and the aerosol, the surfaces of the storage vessel, the surfaces of the nebulizer and the first surface capable of introducing substantially no contaminants into the liquid or the aerosol for over 200 hours of operation of the nebulizer or for over 1000 hours of exposure to the liquid or the aerosol, the nebulizer comprising a wick introducing substantially no contaminants into the liquid or the aerosol; and a housing protecting and holding the wick in place, the housing producing substantially no contaminants into the liquid or the aerosol, at least a portion of the wick and a portion of the housing placed within the storage vessel, wherein the storage vessel includes a bottom surface, wherein the wick and the housing extend substantially to the bottom surface, and wherein the storage vessel contains the liquid, the storage vessel coupled to the nebulizer, and the liquid is acidic. 7. The fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus of claim 6, wherein the nebulizer further comprises: one or more sensor devices for sensing the level of the liquid, at least a portion of the one or more sensor devices contained in the storage vessel and extending substantially to the bottom surface, the one or more sensor devices producing substantially no contaminants into the liquid or the aerosol. 8. The fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus of claim 7, wherein the storage vessel, the housing and the one or more sensor devices are made from one or more polymers, and the wick is made from a synthetic material, and wherein the housing contains the one or more sensor devices, and the one or more sensor devices are substantially not in contact with the liquid or the aerosol. 9. A fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus comprising: a nebulizer for coupling to or coupled to a storage vessel, the storage vessel containing a liquid, the liquid including one or more catalytic materials, the nebulizer for converting the liquid to an aerosol at a rate of once per second or more than once per second, the aerosol for being delivered into an intake air of a combustion zone, the nebulizer including a layer having holes for passing the liquid, each of the holes having a size not greater than about 10 μm, wherein the nebulizer includes a retention chamber, the retention chamber includes a piezoelectric device for producing the aerosol by vibration, the piezoelectric device for vibrating and moving within the retention chamber, the piezoelectric device is not mechanically attached to the retention chamber, and the piezoelectric device includes a ceramic layer and a corrosion-resistant conductive layer. 10. The fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus of claim 9, wherein the size of the holes is not greater than 5 μm. 11. The fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus of claim 9, wherein the nebulizer is for being turned on between four and eight times per second, and a vibration frequency of the layer for converting the liquid to the aerosol is between 0.33 MHz and 10 MHz. 12. The fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus of claim 9, wherein the liquid is for being convened into the aerosol at a rate of about 10 ml to 1000 ml over about 500 hours of operation. 13. The fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus of claim 9, wherein the storage vessel contains the liquid, the storage vessel is attached to the nebulizer, and the nebulizer is for being disabled to prevent the nebulizer from being operated using a refilled liquid or a different liquid. 14. The fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus of claim 9, wherein the storage vessel is made from one or more materials having a softening or deforming point above about 200° F., and wherein the nebulizer includes one or more components, and all of the one or more components of the nebulizer are made from one or more materials having a softening or deforming point above about 200° F. 15. The fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus of claim 14, wherein the one or more materials of the storage vessel include one or more high temperature plastics, and the one or more components of the nebulizer include one or more high temperature plastics. 16. A fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus comprising: a nebulizer for coupling to or coupled to a storage vessel, the storage vessel containing a liquid, the liquid including one or more catalytic materials, the nebulizer for converting the liquid to an aerosol at a rate of once per second or more than once per second, the aerosol for being delivered into an intake air of a combustion zone, the nebulizer including a layer having holes for passing the liquid, each of the holes having a size not greater than about 10 μm, and a control module and one or more sensors for recognizing the level of the liquid remaining in the storage vessel, wherein at least a portion of the one or more sensors is placed within the storage vessel, the storage vessel contains the liquid, and the storage vessel is coupled to the nebulizer. 17. A fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus comprising: a nebulizer for coupling to or coupled to a storage vessel, the storage vessel containing a liquid, the liquid including one or more catalytic materials, the nebulizer for converting the liquid to an aerosol at a rate of once per second or more than once per second, the aerosol for being delivered into an intake air of a combustion zone, the nebulizer including a layer having holes for passing the liquid, each of the holes having a size not greater than about 10 μm, and a control module and a vibration sensor, the vibration sensor for monitoring vibration of a vehicle or equipment to determine whether combustion is occurring, the control module for allowing the nebulizer to operate while the vibration is detected and for turning off the nebulizer when the vibration is not detected. 18. A fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus comprising: a nebulizer for coupling to or coupled to a storage vessel, the storage vessel containing a liquid, the liquid including one or more catalytic materials, the nebulizer for converting the liquid to an aerosol at a rate of once per second or more than once per second, the aerosol for being delivered into an intake air of a combustion zone, the nebulizer including a layer having holes for passing the liquid, each of the holes having a size not greater than about 10 μm, and a control module for evaluating fuel consumption to control an output of the aerosol. 19. A fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus comprising: a nebulizer for coupling to or coupled to a storage vessel, the storage vessel containing a liquid, the liquid including one or more catalytic materials, the nebulizer for converting the liquid to an aerosol at a rate of once per second or more than once per second, the aerosol for being delivered into an intake air of a combustion zone, the nebulizer including a layer having holes for passing the liquid, each of the holes having a size not greater than about 10 μm, and a control module for recording the total time the storage vessel is used, for recording the number of times storage vessels are replaced, wherein the nebulizer is coupled to the storage vessel. 20. The fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus of claim 17, wherein the nebulizer is for being disabled when the liquid contained in the storage vessel is consumed, wherein the nebulizer is coupled to the storage vessel. 21. The fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus of claim 18, wherein the nebulizer is for being disabled when the storage vessel is refilled, wherein the nebulizer is coupled to the storage vessel. 22. The fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus of claim 19, wherein the nebulizer is for being disabled when the storage vessel is opened, wherein the nebulizer is coupled to the storage vessel. 23. A fuel combustion catalyst delivery apparatus comprising: a nebulizer for coupling to or coupled to a storage vessel, the storage vessel containing a liquid, the liquid including one or more catalytic materials, the nebulizer for converting the liquid to an aerosol at a rate of once per second or more than once per second, the aerosol for being delivered into an intake air of a combustion zone, the nebulizer including a layer having holes for passing the liquid, each of the holes having a size not greater than about 10 μm, and wherein the nebulizer includes a chamber, and the chamber includes the layer for converting the liquid to the aerosol, the chamber includes a well above the layer, wherein the chamber and the well substantially prevent airflow over the layer when the nebulizer is not in operation.