Fuel processing device having magnetic coupling and method of operating thereof
View Patent ↗A fuel processing device has a magnetic coupling that transfers rotational energy from a motor to a fuel homogenizer. The magnetic coupling has magnetic members that may be isolated from contact with fuel.
1. A method of processing fuel, comprising:
providing a coupling having a drive element with a first magnetic member and a driven element with a second magnetic member, the drive element being magnetically coupled to the driven element by the first and second magnetic members;
providing a fuel homogenizer having a stator and a rotor rotatably mounted with respect to the stator, wherein the rotor is rotatably coupled to the driven element of the coupling;
providing fuel to the rotor;
providing rotational energy to the drive element, the rotational energy rotating the drive element and the first magnetic member, wherein the first magnetic member transfers rotational energy to the second magnetic member and rotates the rotor; and
shearing asphaltenes in the fuel with opposed surfaces of the rotor and the stator as the fuel travels through a gap extending between the rotor and the stator in a direction substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the rotor, wherein the gap progressively narrows from an inlet portion of the gap to an outlet portion of the gap.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drive element is rotatably mounted within a bearing bracket.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic member comprises at least one ring of magnets disposed on the drive element.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the second magnetic member comprises at least one ring of magnets disposed on the driven element; and
the second magnetic member is arranged concentrically with the first magnetic member.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing fuel comprises:
providing a plurality of fuel types to the homogenizer.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing fuel comprises:
providing a mixture of fuel and water to the homogenizer.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing a coupling comprises:
providing a containment shell disposed between the first and second magnetic members.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first magnetic member is exposed to a gap between the containment shell and the drive element.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein a gap between the containment shell and the drive element is hermetically sealed at least in part by the containment shell and the drive element.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
the coupling comprises a shaft rotatively coupled to the driven means and to the rotor;
an interior of the containment shell is in fluid communication with the gap extending between the rotor and the stator; and
fuel flows from the homogenizer into the containment shell when the shaft rotates.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coupling comprises:
a shaft rotatively coupled to the driven means and to the rotor.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shaft is mounted in at least one sleeve bearing.
13. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
coupling a motor to the shaft to provide the rotational energy to the shaft, thereby rotating the rotor.
14. The method of claim 13 , comprising operating the motor in a rotational speed range of about 1000–3000 RPM.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
fuel from the rotor may enter an interior of the containment shell but is isolated from an exterior of the containment shell.