Apparatus and method to selectively microemulsify water and other normally immiscible fluids into the fuel of continuous combustors at the point of injection

摘要

An ultrasonically enhanced continuous flow apparatus for selectively microemulsifying water and other normally immiscible fluids into the fuel of continuous combustors at the point of injection and a method for the same is disclosed. The apparatus includes an injector housing which in part defines a chamber adapted to receive a pressurized liquid and a means for applying ultrasonic energy to a portion of the pressurized liquid. The injector housing further includes an inlet adapted to supply the chamber with the pressurized liquid, and an exit orifice defined by the walls of an injector tip. The exit orifice is adapted to receive the pressurized liquid from the chamber via a vestibular cavity and pass the liquid out of the injector housing in the form of an emulsified, atomized plume. When the means for applying ultrasonic energy is excited, it applies ultrasonic energy to the pressurized liquid without mechanically vibrating the injector tip. The method involves supplying a pressurized liquid to the foregoing apparatus, applying ultrasonic energy to the pressurized liquid while not mechanically vibrating the injector tip while the exit orifice receives pressurized liquid from the chamber, and passing the pressurized liquid out of the exit orifice in the injector tip.