CNT-Based Electrostatic Atomizing Fuel Injector Promoting Fuel Combustion Efficiency

Currently, more than 62 million registered cars and 6.4 million unregistered vehicles are operating in the United States, of which 64% are powered by gasoline engines. The annual consumption of gasoline hit a record high in 2007 at about 140 billion gallons. In 2007, the US government passed a bill to mandate an average fuel economy of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, thereby creating a great need for novel fuel-efficient devices for small internal combustion engines. To address this need, this project will develop a carbon nanotube (CNT) electrostatic atomizing fuel injection device. The device will employ a frontier carbon nanotechnology to significantly increase the distribution of uniform fuel droplets, thereby promoting fuel atomization and combustion. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The CNT fuel injector device would be expected to improve fuel combustion efficiency, greatly reduce the parasitic loss of output power, and reduce pollutant emission. Fuel injectors have replaced carburetors in almost all internal combustion applications. The world market for fuel injection systems was approximately $15B in 1992 and is expected to be much higher now.