Fuelly Forums - Exhaust manifold Steam boiler?

Oh my Goodness, somebody has already patented this idea, a Mr Megenbier, Karl Heinz. I got this from patents on line, he lives in the UK so maybe I could track him down and ask him for some help?

Quote:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows a water vapouriser of the invention applied to an engine. A water tank 10 is connected via a float chamber 9 and tubing 8 to a steam generator (boiler) 7 applied to the engine's exhaust. A steam tube 1 travels from the boiler 7 to a steam reservoir (condenser) 2, from which a steam tube 3 travels to the engine's air intake 4.

The water vapouriser has only two moving parts; a float and a needle valve.

The generator 7 produces steam which is fed through the link pipe 1 into the steam reservoir 2. The steam is then fed into the venturi of the carburettor in the case of a petrol engine, or into the intake manifold in the case of a diesel engine.

As shown in Fig.s 2 to 4, the steam reservior 2 comprises a cylindrical housing 107 having an air intake window 108 in its side wall. An air inlet pipe 105 passes axially through the housing 107, one end of the pipe 105 being provided with a filter 111 and the opposite end being provided with a plastics cap 104. A steam inlet pipe 101 passes through the window 108 and is held opposite an opening 120 in the side of the air inlet pipe 105 by straps 121 and 122 leaving a gap 103 between the end of the steam inlet pipe 101 and the opening 120. An outlet pipe 102 is secured to the air inlet pipe 105 directly opposite the opening 120, and passes out of the housing 107. The housing is provided with an external bracket 106.

The steam is fed through the condenser 2 so that the steam produced is wet. This is one of the key factors to the success of the water vapouriser. The condenser 2 also acts as a steam reservoir, thus ensuring a constant supply for sudden acceleration. Any steam produced is collected in the air stream and fed directly into the carburettor, eliminating the need for steam pressure. By feeding the steam directly into the venturi (or intake manifold) an even mixture of steam with the air and petrol vapour is ensured.

The device is self-metering in that it is controlled by the heat from the exhaust as well as being connected to the intake 4 of the carburettor. When the throttle is opened the pressure acting on the surface of the water inside the generator 7 is reduced, thus enabling steam to be produced at a lower temperature. The level of water in the generator 7 is controlled at a constant level by the float chamber 9.

When the mixture arrives in the cylinder of the engine it acts to slow or control the burn, thus enabling the use of a lower grade fuel. Immediately the engine fires the wet steam converts to dry steam, and in so doing increases in volume. When the cylinder temperature reaches 1,000 degrees Celsius, the dry steam converts back to hydrogen and oxygen, which are two combustible gases. This gives a second, or continued burn which, in response, burns the hydrocarbons, thus eliminating smoke from the exhaust, and so helping to eliminate pollution from the environment. This burning of the hydrocarbons gives "new engine" performance, extra power and less wear, particularly to valves etc.

One important safety feature in the system is that wet steam cannot be fed into a cold engine. Steam cannot be produced until the engine is hot. Laboratory tests for possible water contamination of the oil after a normal 6,000 mile oil change have concluded: "There is no effect of the steam generating system on the condition of the oil".

The device is useful in both petrol and diesel engines as NO x is controlled in both.

The water vapouriser can save up to twenty percent on fuel bills - petrol and diesel. Other advantages may be summarised as:

Less pollution
Increased power output
Smoother running
A cleaner engine
No exhaust smoke
Lower octane petrol.

Here is the link https://www.freepatentsonline.com/EP0461152.html

Its seems like it is a good idea, if I only had more money and time, I could patch something like this on my car, 20% FE increase with more power would be oh so nice.