Process and apparatus using circulating gas stripping loop for on-board production of volatile fuel to operate an internal combustion engine

Claim 2

In a spark ignited internal combustion engine, a process for producing a volatile fuel from a liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range comprising vaporizing a portion of said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range in a pressurized gas stripping loop by contacting with a substantially inert stripping gas circulating under pressure, separating the vapor and said stripping gas from the residual fuel, condensing the vapor to produce a liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range for use during a selected period of engine operation, separating said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range from said stripping gas and recycling said stripping gas to the contacting step.

Claim 3

A process of claim 1 wherein said stripping gas is nitrogen.

Claim 4

A process of claim 1 wherein said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range is heated prior to said contacting.

Claim 5

A process of claim 1 wherein said stripping gas is characterized by being non-reactive with the hydrocarbon fuels and non-condensable under the conditions used in the process.

Claim 6

A process of claim 4 wherein said stripping gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, argon, helium, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and methane.

Claim 7

A process of claim 1 wherein said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range is heated to aid vaporization and the gas stripping loop is maintained at the same pressure.

Claim 8

A process of claim 6 wherein the gas stripping loop pressure ranges from about 20 to about 100 psia.

Claim 9

In a liquid fuel system for a spark ignited internal combustion engine adapted to deliver liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range to the fuel induction means and to deliver liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range to said fuel induction means during selected periods of engine operation, the improvement comprising a pressurized circulating gas stripping loop including: a. mixing means adapted to mix said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of gasoline boiling range with a substantially inert stripping gas whereby a portion of said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range is vaporized and a vaporous mixture of hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range And inert stripping gas is formed, b. separating means to recover said vaporous mixture from the residual fuel, c. means to condense liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range from said vaporous mixture, d. means to separate said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range from said stripping gas, and e. means to feed said stripping gas to said mixing means.

Claim 10

In a liquid fuel system for a spark ignited internal combustion engine adapted to deliver liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range to the fuel induction means and to deliver liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range to said fuel induction means during selected periods of engine operation, the improvement comprising a pressurized circulating gas stripping loop including: a. mixing means adapted to mix said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of gasoline boiling range with a substantially inert stripping gas whereby a portion of said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range is vaporized and a vaporous mixture of hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range And inert stripping gas is formed, b. separating means to recover said vaporous mixture from the residual fuel, c. means to condense liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range from said vaporous mixture, d. means to separate said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range from said stripping gas, and e. means to feed said stripping gas to said mixing means.

Claim 11

The fuel system of claim 8 having pump means in said means to feed said stripping gas for circulating said stripping gas.

Claim 12

The fuel system of claim 9 having a liquid fuel conduit connecting the gasoline tank to said mixing means, heating means in said liquid fuel conduit adapted to heat said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range prior to said mixing whereby the vaporization of said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range is facilitated.

Claim 13

The fuel system of claim 10 wherein said heating means increases the temperature of said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range to at least about 25* F higher than that of said stripping gas.

Claim 14

The fuel system of claim 8 wherein said mixing means is a mixing nozzle designed to atomize said stripping gas with said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range whereby a portion of said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range is vaporized.

Claim 15

In a method of operating a spark ignited internal combustion engine adapted to reduce noxious exhaust emission, said method comprising delivering liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range to the fuel induction system of said engine during start and warm-up of said engine and delivering liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the normal gasoline boiling range to said fuel induction system after said engine attains normal operating temperature, the improvement comprising generating said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range from the liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the normal gasoline boiling range by mixing with said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the normal gasoline boiling range a pressurized circulating substantially inert stripping gas, whereby a portion of said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range is vaporized, separating said gas containing the vapor from the residual fuel which is depleted in volatile components, condensing said vapor from said gas to produce a liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range, separating said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range from said gas and recirculating said gas to said mixing step, said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline goiling range being available for use during start and warm-up of said engine.

Claim 16

In a method of operating a spark ignited internal combustion engine adapted to reduce noxious exhaust emission, said method comprising delivering liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range to the fuel induction system of said engine during start and warm-up of said engine and delivering liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the normal gasoline boiling range to said fuel induction system after said engine attains normal operating temperature, the improvement comprising generating said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range from the liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the normal gasoline boiling range by mixing with said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the normal gasoline boiling range a pressurized circulating substantially inert stripping gas, whereby a portion of said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range is vaporized, separating said gas containing the vapor from the residual fuel which is depleted in volatile components, condensing said vapor from said gas to produce a liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range, separating said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline boiling range from said gas and recirculating said gas to said mixing step, said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the lower gasoline goiling range being available for use during start and warm-up of said engine.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 wherein said mixing is carried out by a mixing nozzle designed to atomize said gas with said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13 having a pump means to provide for recirculating said gas.

Claim 19

The method of claim 13 wherein said liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range is heated prior to contacting with said stripping gas to facilitate the vaporization.