WO2000059751A1 - Reservoir combination for flammable fluids - Google Patents

Reservoir combination for flammable fluids Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000059751A1
WO2000059751A1 PCT/GB2000/001060 GB0001060W WO0059751A1 WO 2000059751 A1 WO2000059751 A1 WO 2000059751A1 GB 0001060 W GB0001060 W GB 0001060W WO 0059751 A1 WO0059751 A1 WO 0059751A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
flammable fluid
reservoir
improving composition
luminosity
combination according
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2000/001060
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Bernard John Crewdson
Original Assignee
Imperial Chemical Industries Plc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GBGB9907621.8A external-priority patent/GB9907621D0/en
Priority claimed from GBGB9912235.0A external-priority patent/GB9912235D0/en
Application filed by Imperial Chemical Industries Plc filed Critical Imperial Chemical Industries Plc
Priority to AU34411/00A priority Critical patent/AU3441100A/en
Publication of WO2000059751A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000059751A1/en

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
    • C10L1/00—Liquid carbonaceous fuels
    • C10L1/003—Marking, e.g. coloration by addition of pigments
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K1/00—Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units
    • B60K1/04—Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units of the electric storage means for propulsion
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0606—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/0612—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants from carbon-containing material
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Definitions

  • This invention relates to flammable fluids and in particular to the lower alcohols, especially methanol.
  • Flammable fluids are widely used as fuels or chemical feedstocks.
  • fuels such as alcohols
  • applications such as automobiles since they can be combusted cleanly and efficiently andtor be used directly, or, via conversion to hydrogen, to produce electricity in a fuel cell, particularly for electrically powered automobiles.
  • the automobile will require a reservoir, e.g. tank, of the flammable fluid e.g. methanol.
  • the reservoir of the flammable fluid will rupture and the contents ignite. This risk also occurs where flammable fluids are transported in road or rail tankers.
  • the luminosity of the flammable fluid can be increased by the incorporation of one or more additives.
  • additives in order that the flame is of adequate luminosity throughout the burning of the flammable fluid, it is often necessary to employ mixtures of additives in such quantities that the additional cost would be uneconomic.
  • the flammable fluid is subjected to catalytic reactions, for example where the flammable fluid is methanol and is catalytically converted into hydrogen for use in a fuel cell
  • the amounts of additives required are often such that the additives are liable to interfere with, or poison, such catalysts and/or with the fuel cell.
  • the amounts of additives required are often such that it is not economic to remove the additive from the flammable fluid between the reservoir thereof and the subsequent catalytic reaction stage or stages.
  • the present invention provides, in combination, a reservoir for containing a flammable fluid, a reservoir for containing a luminosity improving composition for said flammable fluid, sensor means sensitive to shock andtor heat, and discharge means for discharging the contents of the luminosity improving composition reservoir into the flammable fluid reservoir upon activation of said sensor means.
  • the invention also provides a method of improving the luminosity of a fire of a flammable fluid, comprising discharging a luminosity improving composition for said flammable fluid into said flammable fluid upon sensing conditions of shock and/or temperature that are liable to give rise to, or have resulted in, fire of, or rupture of a reservoir for, the flammable fluid.
  • the invention is of applicability to a static system, it is of particular utility in mobile systems, e.g. vehicles such as road, rail or nautical tankers transporting the flammable fluid, and vehicles, e.g. automobiles, where the flammable fluid is the vehicle fuel or a feedstock therefor.
  • any flammable fluid e.g. LPG, hydrogen, gasoline, (compressed) natural gas, alcohols such as methanol and ethanol, dimethyl ether, dimethyl carbonate, dimethoxymethane or similar fuels and fuels derived from or containing such materials. It is of particular utility for methanol.
  • the invention also provides a vehicle, particularly an electrically powered automobile wherein the electricity is produced by a fuel cell powered by methanol, or by hydrogen produced by reforming methanol, including such a combination.
  • the invention also provides a reservoir of a luminosity improving composition adapted to be connected to means for discharging its contents into a flammable fluid reservoir.
  • the sensor means may include shock sensitive means such as those employed for automobile air bags, preferably in combination with one or more sensors responsive to a rapid temperature increase and/or to a temperature exceeding a specified level. Additionally, or alternatively, where the flammable fluid reservoir is maintained at an elevated pressure, the sensor means may include means responsive to a sudden change in pressure in the flammable fluid reservoir.
  • the nature of the means for discharging the contents of the luminosity improving composition into the flammable fluid reservoir will depend upon the nature and amount of the flammable fluid and luminosity improving composition.
  • the flammable fluid and luminosity improving composition are preferably both liquid, at least when in their respective reservoirs, and the luminosity improving composition is preferably less volatile than the flammable fluid.
  • the discharge means is arranged to discharge the luminosity improving composition into the flammable fluid reservoir at a location below the liquid level in the flammable fluid reservoir.
  • a cartridge of compressed gas for example an inert gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen or, less desirably, a halogenated hydrocarbon, propane or nitrous oxide which are commonly used as aerosol propellants, may be employed to effect the discharge, or the reservoir of luminosity improving composition may be maintained under a pressure greater than that of the flammable fluid reservoir and the discharge means comprises means to provide communication between the reservoirs upon activation of the sensor means.
  • the luminosity improving composition reservoir may be a cartridge or tank disposed within, especially at or near the bottom of, the flammable fluid reservoir, and the discharge means may comprise means to rupture the luminosity improving composition reservoir.
  • the discharge means may be arranged to have two or more injection points into the flammable fluid reservoir. This may be desirable as the position of the flammable fluid in the reservoir may not be known, for example to cater for the situation where the reservoir is located in an automobile and, as a result of an accident, the latter is upside down or on its side.
  • the discharge means may be arranged to inject the luminosity improving composition via all the injection points, although one point could be selected based on an orientation sensor.
  • the discharge means may include means to discharge the luminosity improving composition through a nozzle as a high velocity jet in order to promote rapid mixing. Such an arrangement may allow effective mixing even if the nozzle is out of the flammable fluid owing to the orientation of the reservoir.
  • the system is preferably designed so that the reservoir of the flammable fluid is not over-pressurised by any propellant gas used to discharge the luminosity improving composition into the reservoir.
  • the volume of propellant will generally need to be small relative to the reservoir volume or the reservoir may need a pressure relief device.
  • the size of the reservoir of luminosity improving composition relative to that of the flammable fluid reservoir will depend on the proportion of luminosity improving additive required to achieve adequate flame luminosity. Generally it has been found that where the flammable fluid is methanol and the luminosity improving additive acts by incandescent soot formation upon combustion, typically the amount thereof is in the range
  • Typical luminosity improving additives for methanol include gasoline; aromatic hydrocarbons such as alkyl benzenes, e.g. tetramethylbenzene, toluene, xylenes, and indan; and cyclic non-aromatic hydrocarbons such as cycloheptatriene, tetrahydrodicyciopentadiene, 5-ethylidine-2-norbomene, 2,5-norbomadiene, 3-carene, bicyclo [2.2.1] hept-2,5-ene, alpha-pinene, and
  • the luminosity improving composition may be a metal or compound thereof having at least one strong spectral line in the visible spectrum, e.g. sodium, barium, cerium, strontium or potassium.
  • the metal compound e.g. a salt or an organo-metallic compound or an ester, is preferably soluble in the flammable fluid. Finely divided carbon particles may also be used as the luminosity improving composition.
  • the luminosity improving composition is preferably stored in the luminosity improving composition reservoir in the form of a finely divided powder or as a solution, suspension or colloidal dispersion in a solvent which may be the same as the flammable fluid or is a solvent that is miscible with the flammable fluid.
  • the luminosity improving additive composition be, or include, components that act as flame retarders or combustion inhibitors.
  • the invention is illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the invention applied to an electrically powered automobile.
  • a tank 10 is provided as a reservoir for methanol.
  • Tank 10 has a filler tube 11 , and a methanol exit line 12 supplying methanol as a feedstock to an integrated catalytic unit 13.
  • catalytic unit 13 methanol together with water supplied via line 14 from a tank 15, is passed at an elevated temperature over a methanol reforming catalyst, e.g. a supported copper/zinc oxide/alumina composition, wherein the mixture reacts to produce a mixture of hydrogen and carbon oxides.
  • a methanol reforming catalyst e.g. a supported copper/zinc oxide/alumina composition
  • the resulting gas mixture is then passed over a shift catalyst, e.g. also a copper/zinc oxide/alumina composition, to convert the bulk of the carbon monoxide in the gas mixture to carbon dioxide with the production of a further amount of hydrogen.
  • a shift catalyst e.g. also a copper/zinc oxide/alumina composition
  • the residual traces of carbon monoxide are removed by selective oxidation, using air introduced via line 16 as the oxidant and a suitable selective oxidation catalyst, e.g. a noble metal such as platinum or palladium on a support such as alumina.
  • a suitable selective oxidation catalyst e.g. a noble metal such as platinum or palladium on a support such as alumina.
  • the resulting gas mixture consisting essentially of hydrogen, carbon dioxide and a little nitrogen, is fed via line 17 to a fuel cell 18 to which air is also fed via line 19.
  • the net reaction is the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen from the air to produce water and electricity which is fed via cables 20 and suitable control systems to an electric motor 21 driving the automobile.
  • the exhaust gases from the fuel cell comprising some unreacted hydrogen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, and steam is fed via line 22 back to the integrated catalytic unit 13 wherein the residual hydrogen is catalytically combusted to produce heat and a further amount of water. Some or all of the water may be recovered and returned to the water tank15.
  • the heat produced by the exothermic shift, selective oxidation and catalytic combustion reactions is used to supply the heat required for the endothermic methanol reforming reaction.
  • the overall reaction is 2 CH 3 OH + 3 0 2 > 2 CO., + 4 H 2 0 + electricity
  • the combusted gas after any recovery of water vapour, is discharged to the atmosphere via exhaust pipe 23.
  • a reservoir 24 is provided containing a mixture of flame luminosity improving additives. This is attached to a cartridge 25 of compressed inert gas and to the bottom of the methanol tank 10 via a line 26.
  • One or more shock and/or temperature sensors 27 are mounted at a suitable location or locations on the automobile. When activated, the sensor 27 causes a valve 28 in line 26 to open allowing the compressed gas to discharge the luminosity improving additive mixture into the bottom of the methanol tank 10. Instead of employing a valve 28, the sensor may cause a frangible disc or other device in line 28 to rupture.
  • the cartridges may be located in the reservoir of flammable fluid with sensors internal or external to the reservoir.
  • the contents of the cartridge may be released by rupturing the cartridge either by some mechanical device or by releasing a propellant from cartridge 25 into the reservoir of the luminosity improving additives thus rupturing the latter by overpressure.

Abstract

A combination comprising a reservoir for containing a flammable fluid, a reservoir for containing a luminosity improving composition for said flammable fluid, sensor means sensitive to shock and/or heat, and discharge means for discharging the contents of the luminosity improving composition reservoir into the flammable fluid reservoir upon activation of said sensor means.

Description

RESERVOIR COMBINATION FOR FLAMMABLE FLUIDS
This invention relates to flammable fluids and in particular to the lower alcohols, especially methanol.
Flammable fluids are widely used as fuels or chemical feedstocks. There is an increasing interest in the use of fuels such as alcohols for applications such as automobiles since they can be combusted cleanly and efficiently andtor be used directly, or, via conversion to hydrogen, to produce electricity in a fuel cell, particularly for electrically powered automobiles. For such applications, the automobile will require a reservoir, e.g. tank, of the flammable fluid e.g. methanol. In the event of an accident, there is a risk that the reservoir of the flammable fluid will rupture and the contents ignite. This risk also occurs where flammable fluids are transported in road or rail tankers.
One problem with some flammable fluids, especially alcohols and in particular methanol, is that they burn with a flame that is barely visible in daylight and so in the event of such an accident and fire, the extent of the fire may be difficult to gauge thus presenting an unseen hazard to personnel or property.
The luminosity of the flammable fluid can be increased by the incorporation of one or more additives. However in order that the flame is of adequate luminosity throughout the burning of the flammable fluid, it is often necessary to employ mixtures of additives in such quantities that the additional cost would be uneconomic. Also, where the flammable fluid is subjected to catalytic reactions, for example where the flammable fluid is methanol and is catalytically converted into hydrogen for use in a fuel cell, the amounts of additives required are often such that the additives are liable to interfere with, or poison, such catalysts and/or with the fuel cell. Also the amounts of additives required are often such that it is not economic to remove the additive from the flammable fluid between the reservoir thereof and the subsequent catalytic reaction stage or stages.
In the present invention, these problems are overcome by adding the luminosity improver to the reservoir only in the event of an incident, such as an accident, that leads to, or is liable to lead to, rupture of the tank andtor a fire. The invention can thus be considered to be a safety device. Accordingly the present invention provides, in combination, a reservoir for containing a flammable fluid, a reservoir for containing a luminosity improving composition for said flammable fluid, sensor means sensitive to shock andtor heat, and discharge means for discharging the contents of the luminosity improving composition reservoir into the flammable fluid reservoir upon activation of said sensor means. The invention also provides a method of improving the luminosity of a fire of a flammable fluid, comprising discharging a luminosity improving composition for said flammable fluid into said flammable fluid upon sensing conditions of shock and/or temperature that are liable to give rise to, or have resulted in, fire of, or rupture of a reservoir for, the flammable fluid.
While the invention is of applicability to a static system, it is of particular utility in mobile systems, e.g. vehicles such as road, rail or nautical tankers transporting the flammable fluid, and vehicles, e.g. automobiles, where the flammable fluid is the vehicle fuel or a feedstock therefor. Furthermore while it is of utility in relation to any flammable fluid, e.g. LPG, hydrogen, gasoline, (compressed) natural gas, alcohols such as methanol and ethanol, dimethyl ether, dimethyl carbonate, dimethoxymethane or similar fuels and fuels derived from or containing such materials. It is of particular utility for methanol. The invention also provides a vehicle, particularly an electrically powered automobile wherein the electricity is produced by a fuel cell powered by methanol, or by hydrogen produced by reforming methanol, including such a combination.
The invention also provides a reservoir of a luminosity improving composition adapted to be connected to means for discharging its contents into a flammable fluid reservoir. The sensor means may include shock sensitive means such as those employed for automobile air bags, preferably in combination with one or more sensors responsive to a rapid temperature increase and/or to a temperature exceeding a specified level. Additionally, or alternatively, where the flammable fluid reservoir is maintained at an elevated pressure, the sensor means may include means responsive to a sudden change in pressure in the flammable fluid reservoir.
The nature of the means for discharging the contents of the luminosity improving composition into the flammable fluid reservoir will depend upon the nature and amount of the flammable fluid and luminosity improving composition. The flammable fluid and luminosity improving composition are preferably both liquid, at least when in their respective reservoirs, and the luminosity improving composition is preferably less volatile than the flammable fluid.
It is preferred that the discharge means is arranged to discharge the luminosity improving composition into the flammable fluid reservoir at a location below the liquid level in the flammable fluid reservoir. A cartridge of compressed gas, for example an inert gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen or, less desirably, a halogenated hydrocarbon, propane or nitrous oxide which are commonly used as aerosol propellants, may be employed to effect the discharge, or the reservoir of luminosity improving composition may be maintained under a pressure greater than that of the flammable fluid reservoir and the discharge means comprises means to provide communication between the reservoirs upon activation of the sensor means. For example the luminosity improving composition reservoir may be a cartridge or tank disposed within, especially at or near the bottom of, the flammable fluid reservoir, and the discharge means may comprise means to rupture the luminosity improving composition reservoir. The discharge means may be arranged to have two or more injection points into the flammable fluid reservoir. This may be desirable as the position of the flammable fluid in the reservoir may not be known, for example to cater for the situation where the reservoir is located in an automobile and, as a result of an accident, the latter is upside down or on its side. The discharge means may be arranged to inject the luminosity improving composition via all the injection points, although one point could be selected based on an orientation sensor.
The discharge means may include means to discharge the luminosity improving composition through a nozzle as a high velocity jet in order to promote rapid mixing. Such an arrangement may allow effective mixing even if the nozzle is out of the flammable fluid owing to the orientation of the reservoir.
The system is preferably designed so that the reservoir of the flammable fluid is not over-pressurised by any propellant gas used to discharge the luminosity improving composition into the reservoir. Thus the volume of propellant will generally need to be small relative to the reservoir volume or the reservoir may need a pressure relief device.
It will be appreciated that the size of the reservoir of luminosity improving composition relative to that of the flammable fluid reservoir will depend on the proportion of luminosity improving additive required to achieve adequate flame luminosity. Generally it has been found that where the flammable fluid is methanol and the luminosity improving additive acts by incandescent soot formation upon combustion, typically the amount thereof is in the range
3 to 10% by volume of the methanol. Typical luminosity improving additives for methanol include gasoline; aromatic hydrocarbons such as alkyl benzenes, e.g. tetramethylbenzene, toluene, xylenes, and indan; and cyclic non-aromatic hydrocarbons such as cycloheptatriene, tetrahydrodicyciopentadiene, 5-ethylidine-2-norbomene, 2,5-norbomadiene, 3-carene, bicyclo [2.2.1] hept-2,5-ene, alpha-pinene, and
2.6 3.5 quadricyclo [2.2.1.0 .0 ] heptane; and mixtures of two or more such compounds. Alternatively, or additionally, the luminosity improving composition may be a metal or compound thereof having at least one strong spectral line in the visible spectrum, e.g. sodium, barium, cerium, strontium or potassium. The metal compound, e.g. a salt or an organo-metallic compound or an ester, is preferably soluble in the flammable fluid. Finely divided carbon particles may also be used as the luminosity improving composition. The luminosity improving composition is preferably stored in the luminosity improving composition reservoir in the form of a finely divided powder or as a solution, suspension or colloidal dispersion in a solvent which may be the same as the flammable fluid or is a solvent that is miscible with the flammable fluid.
The luminosity improving additive composition be, or include, components that act as flame retarders or combustion inhibitors. The invention is illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the invention applied to an electrically powered automobile.
Referring to Figure 1 , a tank 10 is provided as a reservoir for methanol. Tank 10 has a filler tube 11 , and a methanol exit line 12 supplying methanol as a feedstock to an integrated catalytic unit 13. In catalytic unit 13, methanol together with water supplied via line 14 from a tank 15, is passed at an elevated temperature over a methanol reforming catalyst, e.g. a supported copper/zinc oxide/alumina composition, wherein the mixture reacts to produce a mixture of hydrogen and carbon oxides. CH3OH — > CO + 2 H2
Figure imgf000006_0001
The resulting gas mixture is then passed over a shift catalyst, e.g. also a copper/zinc oxide/alumina composition, to convert the bulk of the carbon monoxide in the gas mixture to carbon dioxide with the production of a further amount of hydrogen.
Figure imgf000006_0002
The residual traces of carbon monoxide are removed by selective oxidation, using air introduced via line 16 as the oxidant and a suitable selective oxidation catalyst, e.g. a noble metal such as platinum or palladium on a support such as alumina. The resulting gas mixture, consisting essentially of hydrogen, carbon dioxide and a little nitrogen, is fed via line 17 to a fuel cell 18 to which air is also fed via line 19. In the fuel cell, the net reaction is the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen from the air to produce water and electricity which is fed via cables 20 and suitable control systems to an electric motor 21 driving the automobile.
The exhaust gases from the fuel cell, comprising some unreacted hydrogen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, and steam is fed via line 22 back to the integrated catalytic unit 13 wherein the residual hydrogen is catalytically combusted to produce heat and a further amount of water. Some or all of the water may be recovered and returned to the water tank15. The heat produced by the exothermic shift, selective oxidation and catalytic combustion reactions is used to supply the heat required for the endothermic methanol reforming reaction. The overall reaction is 2 CH3OH + 3 02 > 2 CO., + 4 H20 + electricity
The combusted gas, after any recovery of water vapour, is discharged to the atmosphere via exhaust pipe 23.
In accordance with the invention, a reservoir 24 is provided containing a mixture of flame luminosity improving additives. This is attached to a cartridge 25 of compressed inert gas and to the bottom of the methanol tank 10 via a line 26. One or more shock and/or temperature sensors 27 are mounted at a suitable location or locations on the automobile. When activated, the sensor 27 causes a valve 28 in line 26 to open allowing the compressed gas to discharge the luminosity improving additive mixture into the bottom of the methanol tank 10. Instead of employing a valve 28, the sensor may cause a frangible disc or other device in line 28 to rupture.
Alternatively the cartridges may be located in the reservoir of flammable fluid with sensors internal or external to the reservoir. In this case the contents of the cartridge may be released by rupturing the cartridge either by some mechanical device or by releasing a propellant from cartridge 25 into the reservoir of the luminosity improving additives thus rupturing the latter by overpressure.

Claims

Claims
1 A combination comprising a reservoir for containing a flammable fluid, a reservoir for containing a luminosity improving composition for said flammable fluid, sensor means sensitive to shock and/or heat, and discharge means for discharging the contents of the luminosity improving composition reservoir into the flammable fluid reservoir upon activation of said sensor means
2 A combination according to claim 1 wherein the flammable fluid reservoir is adapted to be maintained at an elevated pressure, and the sensor means includes means responsive to a sudden change in pressure in the flammable fluid reservoir.
3 A combination according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the discharging means includes a cartridge of compressed gas to effect the discharge of the luminosity improving composition into the reservoir for the flammable fluid.
4. A combination according to any one of claims 1 to 3 comprising a reservoir of a flammable fluid, a reservoir of a luminosity improving composition for said flammable fluid, sensor means sensitive to shock and/or heat, and discharge means for discharging the contents of the luminosity improving composition reservoir into the flammable fluid reservoir upon activation of said sensor means.
5 A combination according to claim 4 wherein, when in their respective reservoirs, the flammable fluid and luminosity improving composition are both liquid
6 A combination according to claim 5 wherein the discharge means is arranged to discharge the luminosity improving composition into the flammable fluid reservoir at a location below the liquid level in the flammable fluid reservoir.
7 A combination according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the luminosity improving composition is less volatile than the flammable fluid.
8. A combination according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the flammable fluid is methanol
9 A combination according to claim 8 wherein the luminosity improving composition includes at least one compound or composition selected from gasoline, aromatic hydrocarbons, and cyclic non-aromatic hydrocarbons
10 A combination according to any one of claims 4 to 9 wherein the luminosity improving composition includes a metal or compound thereof having at least one strong spectral line in the visible spectrum
11 A combination according to any one of claims 4 to 10 wherein the metal compound is stored in the luminosity improving composition reservoir in the form of a finely divided powder or as a solution, suspension or colloidal dispersion in a solvent miscible with the flammable fluid.
12. A vehicle for transporting a flammable fluid, or powered by a motor for which the flammable fluid is the fuel or is a feedstock used to produce the power source for the motor, incorporating a combination as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11.
13. An electrically powered automobile according to claim 12 wherein the flammable fluid is methanol and the electricity powenng the automobile is produced by a fuel cell powered by methanol or by hydrogen produced by catalytic reforming of methanol.
14. A reservoir of a luminosity improving composition adapted to be connected to means for discharging its contents into reservoir for containing a flammable fluid.
15. A method of improving the luminosity of a fire of a flammable fluid, comprising discharging a luminosity improving composition for said flammable fluid into said flammable fluid upon sensing conditions of shock and/or temperature that are liable to give rise to, or have resulted in, fire of, or rupture of a reservoir for, the flammable fluid.
PCT/GB2000/001060 1999-04-06 2000-03-21 Reservoir combination for flammable fluids WO2000059751A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU34411/00A AU3441100A (en) 1999-04-06 2000-03-21 Reservoir combination for flammable fluids

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9907621.8A GB9907621D0 (en) 1999-04-06 1999-04-06 Flammable fluids
GB9907621.8 1999-04-06
GB9912235.0 1999-05-27
GBGB9912235.0A GB9912235D0 (en) 1999-05-27 1999-05-27 Flammable fluids

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1103593A1 (en) * 1999-11-24 2001-05-30 XCELLSIS GmbH Flame colouring additive for methanol for operating a fuel cell system

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0311790A1 (en) * 1987-09-18 1989-04-19 BASF Aktiengesellschaft Marked mineral oil product, and process to mark mineral oil products
US5266080A (en) * 1989-10-11 1993-11-30 The Standard Oil Company Methanol fuel containing flame luminosity agent
DE19846895A1 (en) * 1998-10-13 2000-04-20 Elenac Gmbh Fuel container for motor vehicles is connected to additional container of flame-colouring additive and has sensor to release additive in presence of fault signal

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0311790A1 (en) * 1987-09-18 1989-04-19 BASF Aktiengesellschaft Marked mineral oil product, and process to mark mineral oil products
US5266080A (en) * 1989-10-11 1993-11-30 The Standard Oil Company Methanol fuel containing flame luminosity agent
DE19846895A1 (en) * 1998-10-13 2000-04-20 Elenac Gmbh Fuel container for motor vehicles is connected to additional container of flame-colouring additive and has sensor to release additive in presence of fault signal

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1103593A1 (en) * 1999-11-24 2001-05-30 XCELLSIS GmbH Flame colouring additive for methanol for operating a fuel cell system
US6521364B1 (en) 1999-11-24 2003-02-18 Ballard Power Systems Ag Flame colorant additive for methanol for the operation of a fuel cell system

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