METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING LIQUID HYDROCARBON FUELS

摘要

The described fuel conditioning unit includes a vaporization chamber, a heating element attached to a sidewall of the vaporization chamber, and at least one fuel nozzle, mounted on an end wall of the vaporization chamber, in fluid communication with a liquid fuel supply to produce a spray with a spray angle such that all of the spray impinges on an interior surface of the sidewall. At least one diluent gas port is in fluid communication with the vaporization chamber and a supply of diluent gas. The heating element is configured to heat a portion of the sidewall upon which the spray impinges to a temperature sufficient to flash vaporize the liquid fuel spray as it contacts the sidewall, and the diluent gas and vaporized liquid fuel combine to form a mixture that has a lower dew point than that of the liquid fuel in the absence of the diluent gas.