THE COTEFCO ENERGY GROUP, INC. (“COTEFCO”) is a full service alternative energy efficiency company - with a primary focus on equipment designed to beneficiate fossil fuels. Cottell Emulsion Fuel Company (a wholly-owned Virginia subsidiary) was formed in December, 2005. COTEFCO Corporation (Delaware) was formed in early 2006. COTEFCO Corporation is also the parent company of COTEFCO Industrial Boiler Systems, Inc. ("CBIS") - a Delaware Corporation - which was formed in early 2007 to bring COTEFCO technology to the industrial, commercial and institutional marketplace.
The Company has worked toward the completion of the commercial development of its "Emulsion to Combustion ("E2C") unit which has proven to be effective in reducing pollution while increasing performance of the engine or boiler. The ECS units are being offered by the Company under license from NoNox, Ltd. (Nassau, Bahamas). This proprietary technology was invented by Eric W. Cottell. The ECS system is the subject of both Provisional and final U.S. and International Patent applications by the inventor, Mr. Cottell (“Patent Pending”).
Eric W. Cottell is the only child of the late Eric C. Cottell - whose patents represent significant discoveries in water-in-oil emulsions for use as a fuel. The younger Mr. Cottell had an active technical role in both assisting his father in development of the earlier fuel emulsion patents and in maintaining and servicing units built under the original Cottell patents.
The new Cottell technology is available to COTEFCO under license from the younger Mr. Cottell and NoNox, Ltd. This technology has its roots in the senior Cottell Patents.
In the section below, COTEFCO makes available both recent product publicity and historical and other information-including news reports-about the original senior Cottell patents.
Newsweek (June 17, 1974) ~
A Solution to Air Pollution
In the wake of the energy-crisis a 50-year-old British-born inventor named
Eric Cottell has come up with an ingeniously simple and economically practical
solution -- one that is now exciting industry and government officials
alike.
In the conventional combustion process, fuel is combined with air and
turned. The result is carbon dioxide, water vapor and heavy oxides of nitrogen,
which are a prime cause of chemical smog. Cottell reasoned that if water
could largely replace air as a source of oxygen in combustion, this would
avoid the large amounts of nitrogen introduced by the air -- and thus eliminate
much of the noxious nitrogen oxides.
To accomplish this, he turned to a device he had patented 22 years ago
-- an ultrasonic reactor that emulsifies heavy liquids and is widely used
today to prepare such products as Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, cosmetics
and paint. By refining the reactor, Cottell was able to break water into
particles about one fifty-thousandth of an inch in diameter and to disperse
them evenly in oil (or gasoline) to create an emulsion that was 70 percent
oil and 30 percent water. When this emulsion was burned, Cottell found
:
(1) that there were far fewer waste products and
(2) that the small water droplets expand on heating, then explode into
steam, in turn shattering the oil into even finer particles, and thus increasing
the surface area of the fuel exposed for burning.
Last month Cottell divided his time between Washington, in talks with
officials of the Federal Energy Office, and Detroit, where he consulted
with engineers working to meet the tight 1976 automobile-emission requirements.
So far, auto tests have shown that with an ultrasonic reactor attached
to a carburetor, a car can get almost DOUBLE the normal miles per gallon
of gasoline -- with negligible exhausts. Cottell's company, Tymponic Corp.
of Long Island, N.Y., is also about to produce units for home oil burners
that will be no larger than a flashlight and cost $100 to $150.
Last winter, two Long Island schools converted to Cottell's system,
and both reduced their fuel usage by about 25%. Adelphi University reports
that it saved more than 3,500 gallons of oil per week! -- and reduced soot
output by 98 %."
Popular Mechanics (November 1972)
"A Furnace That 'Burns' Water"
by John F. Pearson
A revolutionary combustion system makes it possible to 'burn' emulsions
of fuel and water. It works in a car engine as well as an oil furnace -
and cuts pollutants, too.
It's impossible. An oil burner simply can't run on a fuel that is one-third
water -- tap water, at that. But I recently saw it done.
The demonstration was at the Bayville, NY home of Eric C. Cottell, a
British-born engineer and inventor. The gadget that made the "impossible"
happen is a Cottell invention called the Ultrasonic Reactor -- a device
resembling a long, slim electric motor. It contains a crystal stack at
one end and a mixing chamber at the other.
When a 60-cycle current is applied, the crystals vibrate at 20,000 cycles
per second, turning the reactor into a "super-blender". As shown in the
diagram, oil and water (70% oil, 30% water) flow into the reactor, where
a terrific vibrating force causes water and oil molecules to rupture. The
two liquids form an emulsion in which tiny particles of water are dispersed
throughout the oil. When this happens, says the inventor, the surface area
of the water is increased millions of times. Thus, when the emulsion hits
the furnace's combustion chamber, the water "explodes" into superheated
steam, adding to the energy ouput of the oil.
In hundreds of tests of his system, Cottell has found that ordinary
boilers run at efficiencies close to 100% -- as astounding result that
neither he nor leading combustion experts can explain. In the demonstration
I saw, gauges indicated that the emulsion produced the same amount of heat
as a 100% oil fuel.
In addition to stretching fuel, the system reportedly produces fewer
pollutants than standard oil combustion. The fact that one-third less oil
is burned is a key anti-pollution factor.
Though Cottell sees many potential applications for the reactor -- in
auto, ship and plane engines, for example -- he thinks the best immediate
application is in heating plants of large apartment buildings.
"This is by far my most exciting invention", says Cottell, who holds
patents in the fields of ultrasonics, hydraulics, and chemistry.
US Patent # 3, 749,318
US Cl. 239/102 ~ July 31, 1973
Combustion Method and Apparatus Burning an Intimate
Emulsion of Fuel and Water
Eric C. Cottell
Abstract ~
A combustion apparatus and process in which a water-in-oil emulsion
of liquid fuel, such as liquid hydrocarbons, containing from 10 to 50 %
water, the emulsion being produced without any substantial emulsifying
agent and preferably by sonic agitation, is burned.
The combustion of liquid fuel, such as liquid hydrocarbons, is a standard
method of power and/or heat generation. The combustion may be in a system
where the heat is transferred to another medium, such as water, with or
without boiling the water, or the fuel may be burned in various types of
internal combustion engines, such as those operating on Otto, diesel, or
other cycle. The amount of oxygen, usually air, is at least about theoretically
sufficient for complete combustion of the fuel elements.
Considerable problems have arisen. If there is a very large excess of
oxygen, the efficiency of the combustion process is lowered because a considerable
amount of the air, including inert nitrogen, has to be heated up. In the
case of an internal combustion engine, operating with excessive amounts
of oxygen can result in slow combustion, which can overheat and burn out
exhaust valves. If the combustion is with amounts of oxygen and fuel more
nearly in balance, for example with only a small excess of oxygen, problems
arise with incomplete combustion. This can result in excessive amount of
carbon monoxide and/or incompletely burned fuel, which may show up as unburned
hydrocarbons, soot and the like. Incomplete combustion lowers the combustion
efficiency and can also contaminate the equipment. In the case of internal
combustion engines, unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides
of nitrogen, generally symbolized by the formula NOx, are serious atmospheric
pollutants as they give rise to photochemical smog and the like. Contamination
of NOx from an IC engine usually results when combustion temperature is
high.
It has been proposed in the past to introduce streams of water into
a burner or to inject water into an internal combustion engine as it operates.
This has proven to reduce somewhat incompletely burned fuel deposited in
the form of carbon, and in the case of IC engines this can lower NOx production
and also in certain cases, such as aircraft piston engines, permit operating
for short times at higher power outputs with very rich mixtures which would
otherwise burn up the engine. Water injection, however, has serious drawbacks.
In the first place, it is very difficult to control relative amounts of
water and fuel precisely. Even if the control is maintained to a satisfactory
degree, efficiency drops because the water has to be vaporized, with its
extremely high latent heat, and heated up in the combustion, which takes
further power because of the high specific heat of water vapor. As a result,
water injection has only bee practically used in unusual circumstances.
Summary of the Invention ~
The present invention burns an extremely fine emulsion of water and
liquid fuel, normally hydrocarbonaceous fuel, in which the water droplets
are dispersed in an extremely fine average particle size. While the present
invention is not absolutely limited to the method by which the emulsion
is carried out, it is preferred to emulsify by using an ultrasonic probe
or other device which agitates the fuel and water to produce an extraordinarily
finely dispersed emulsion, because it is the fine dispersion that produces
the important new results which will be set out below; mere presence of
the water does not.
US Patent # 3,941,552
US Cl. 431/1 ~ March 2, 1976
Burning Water-in-Oil Emulsion Containing Pulverized Coal
Eric C. Cottell
Abstract ~
Pulverized coal is slurried with water then oil or if desired oil and
pulverized alkalis preferably lime or limestone is added and the mixture
subjected to sonic vibrations with an energy density of at least 11.625
watts per cm.sup.2. Liquid suspension is produced and any excess water
or oil separates out as a separate phase. Normally excess oil is used and
the excess oil phase can be recycled. The resulting dispersion is utilized
and burned in a furnace. A clean flame is produced which has the characteristics
of an oil flame and not a powdered coal flame. The addition of lime is
optional as its purpose is to reduce sulfur dioxide in burning where the
coal contains sulfur. If there is no sulfur or so little as to meet environmental
standards the addition of lime may be omitted. The amount of lime is preferably
at least about twice stoichiometric based on the sulfur content of the
coal. Up to 80% of sulfur dioxide produced on burning can react with the
lime and the calcium sulfate produced removed by conventional particle
separators.
US Patent # 4,048,963
US Cl. 123/25R ~ September 20, 1977
Combustion Method Comprising Burning an Intimate Emulsion
of Fuel and Water
Eric C . Cottell
Abstract ~
A combustion process in which a water-in-oil emulsion of liquid fuel,
such as liquid hydrocarbons, containing from 10 to 50% water and preferably
10 to 30% water is burned. The emulsion is produced, with little or no
added emulsifying agent, by sonic agitation, including a sonic generator
and an acoustic transformer having a larger cross-section coupled to or
in contact with the sonic generator than at its other end, at which emulsification
takes place, whereby the sonic energy density is increased. With the increased
sonic density an emulsion is produced which when burned produces a quality
of burn such that the combustion is faster, more complete, and cleaner,
with an increase in efficiency even up to 30% of water. The increase in
efficiency often equals that obtained by the burning of the same weight
of pure fuel in the conventional manner.
Description ~
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The combustion of liquid fuel, such as liquid hydrocarbons, is a standard
method of power and/or heat generation. The combustion may be in a system
where the heat is transferred to another medium, such as water, with or
without boiling the water, or the fuel may be burned in various types of
internal combustion engines, such as those operating on Otto, diesel, or
other cycle. The amount of oxygen, usually air, is at least about theoretically
sufficient for complete combustion of the fuel elements.
Considerable problems have arisen. If there is a very large excess of
oxygen, the efficiency of the combustion process is lowered because a considerable
amount of air, including inert nitrogen, has to be heated up. In the case
of an internal combustion engine also operating with excessive excesses
of oxygen can result in slow combustion, which can overheat and burn out
exhaust valves. If the combustion is with amounts of oxygen and fuel more
nearly in balance, for example with only a small excess of oxygen, problems
arise with incomplete combustion. This can result in excessive amounts
of carbon monoxide and/or incompletely burned fuel, which may show up as
unburned hydrocarbons, soot, and the like. Incomplete combustion lowers
the combustion efficiency and can also contaminate the equipment. In the
case of internal combustion engines, unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide,
and oxides of nitrogen, generally symbolized by the formula NO.sub.x, are
serious atmospheric pollutants as they give rise to photochemical smog
and the like. Contamination of nitrogen oxides from an internal combustion
engine usually results when combustion temperature is high.
It has been proposed in the past to introduce streams of water into
a burner or to inject water into an internal combustion engine as it operates.
This has proven to reduce somewhat incompletely burned fuel deposited
in the form of carbon, and in the case of internal combustion engines this
can lower nitrogen oxide production and also in certain cases, such as
aircraft piston engines, permit operating for short times at higher power
outputs with very rich mixtures which would otherwise burn up the engine.
Water injection, however, has serious drawbacks.
Problems have arisen in the control of relative amounts of water and
fuel precisely, and even if the control is maintained to a satisfactory
degree, efficiency drops because the water has to be vaporized.
It has also been proposed to produce an emulsion of hydrocarbon fuel
and water by sonic vibration and then to burn this emulsion in a burner.
This is described, for example, in the U.S. Pat. to Duthion, No. 3,658,302,
Apr. 25, 1972. The Duthion patent utilizes a form of sonic agitation produced
by impinging a jet of the liquids against the edge of a blade free to vibrate.
This form of sonic device is known in the art as a liquid whistle and was
developed by the inventor of the present application, whose earliest U.S.
Pat. is No. 2,657,032, Oct. 1953. While the emulsion produced is capable,
in some cases, of being burned in a burner, particularly when a considerable
amount of surfactant is added, it does not burn completely and produces
an amount of heat which is usually less than that obtained by burning the
fuel content because with the poor quality of emulsion the heat required
to vaporize the water reduces the efficiency.
The present invention deals with an improved water-in-oil emulsion with
which much higher efficiency is produced.
Cottell Patents @ Espacenet (European Patent Office)
Production of Fuel
Patent Number: US4377391
Publication date: 1983-03-22
Inventor(s): COTTELL ERIC C (US)
Applicant(s): COTTELL ERIC CHARLES (US)
Application Number: US19800194117 19801006
Priority Number(s): US19800194117 19801006; US19780915854 19780615
IPC Classification: C10L1/32; C10L9/00
EC Classification: C10L1/32B
Abstract ~
The production of fuel comprising an emulsion of coal particles,
oil and water or a dispersion of coal and oil in which pyrites, ash and other
impurities are removed from the coal particles and the particles reduced in size
by forming a slurry of contaminated coal particles and water and exposing that
slurry to violent sonic agitation to cause the impurities to be detached from
the coal particles and the particles to be reduced in size. The coal and
impurities are thereafter separated and the coal subsequently incorporated into
a fuel. The process may also be used to separate other minerals which are bonded
mechanically as distinct from chemically, to each other.
Process for Beneficiating and Stabilizing Coal/Oil/Water Fuels
Patent Number: US4326855
Publication date: 1982-04-27
Inventor(s): COTTELL ERIC C
Applicant(s): COTTELL ERIC CHARLES
Application Number: US19790118032 19791108
Priority Number(s): US19790118032 19791108
EC Classification: B01J19/10, B03B9/00B, C10L1/32B
Equivalents: BR8007307, DK152808B, DK152808C, DK469080,
FI74727B, FI74727C, FI803330, GR71927, ZA8006719
Abstract ~
A coal slurry containing 10-60% solids by weight is optionally first
coarsely ground to about 20-80 mesh. Contaminant matter released thereby,
may be separated by conventional means such as froth flotation which would
eliminate a large proportion of the ash which is energy consuming as well
as abrasive in nature. The "clean slurry" would now have water added back
and would be further ground to about 100-300 mesh particle size and would
then be cavitated by sonic energy making the particle size even smaller
and freeing any remaining contaminants including iron pyrites and ash.
To this, a mixture of oil is added and the coal, oil mixture is then sonified
during which process spherical agglomeration of the coal and oil occurs.
The agglomerate and water mixture is screened to separate out most of the
water leaving behind about 10-40% water in the coal, during which process
the contaminants are also discharged with the water. The spherical agglomerates
are mixed with a balance of oil to about 0.6 times the weight of the coal
to produce a stable thixatropic fuel with excellent pipe travel characteristics
due to a migration of a thin film of water to the boundry layer between
the bore of the pipe and the fuel. The process including the sonification
steps is also useful generally in the separation of solids by agglomeration.
Fuel Supply System
Patent Number: US4273078
Publication date: 1981-06-16
Inventor(s): COTTELL ERIC C
Applicant(s): COTTELL ERIC CHARLES
Requested Patent: US4273078
Application Number: US19780968582 19781211
Priority Number(s): US19780968582 19781211
IPC Classification: F02M37/00
EC Classification: F02M25/02B
Abstract ~
A fuel supply system comprises a supply tank with a main fuel conduit
leading to a combustion zone, such as an internal combustion engine, and
a secondary fuel conduit with flow restriction means is provided leading
from the lowermost region of the tank to rejoin the main fuel conduit prior
to the combustion zone so that any water accumulating in the tank is mixed
with fuel to be burned at the combustion zone.
Production of Fuels
Patent Number: US4218221
Publication date: 1980-08-19
Inventor(s): COTTELL ERIC C (US)
Applicant(s): COTTELL ERIC CHARLES
Application Number: US19780873301 19780130
Priority Number(s): US19780873301 19780130
IPC Classification: C10L1/32; B01F11/00
EC Classification: C10L1/32D
Abstract ~
Apparatus and method for producing a fuel comprised of oil and water
in which a mixture of oil and water is constituted as an emulsion by exposure
to agitation effective to cause cavitation within the mixture.
DE1053475 ~ No English title available.
GB836439 ~ Improvements relating to the automatic regulation of the
rate of flow of a fluid through a pipe or the like
GB738773 ~ Improvements relating to the automatic regulation of the
rate of flow of a fluid through a pipe or the like
GB1013757 ~ Rotating liquid whistle
DE2967000D ~ No English title available.
ES8200717 ~ No English title available.
NO823620 ~ No English title available.
NO803369 ~ No English title available.
NO793491 ~ No English title available.
IT1209772 ~ No English title available.
IT1124414 ~ Fuel supply for turbine or fuel injected IC engine
FI803330 ~ No English title available.
US5009197 ~ Method of removing oil from birds and animals
US4412842 ~ Coal beneficiation process
US4412512 ~ Fuel supply system
US4400177 ~ Fuels and methods for their production
US4377391 ~ Production of fuel
US4326855 ~ Process for beneficiating and stabilizing coal/oil/water
fuels
US4273078 ~ Fuel supply system
US4218221 ~ Production of fuels
US4048963 ~ Combustion method comprising burning an intimate emulsion
of fuel and water
US3941552 ~ Burning water-in-oil emulsion containing pulverized coal
US3696973 ~ Hand-Held Air Compressor and Liquid Spray Device
FR2196011 ~ No English title available.
FR2190247 ~ No English title available.
FR2113655 ~ No English title available.
WO8203085 ~ Processes for Clewaning Minerals...
EP0020711 ~ Fuel and Water Emulsification System.
EP0016184 ~ Fuels and Methods for their Production
DE2239408 ~ No English title available.
DE2230071 ~ No English title available.
DE1447328 ~ No English title available.
CH657067 ~ Process for separating suspended solids and agglomerated
other solids in suspending and bonding liquids respectively
CH572578 ~ No English title available.
CH562991 ~ No English title available.
CH536132 ~ No English title available.
CA1104345 ~ Residual Oil in Emulsion of Water with Distillate Oil
CA973795 ~ Combustion Method Comprising Burning an Intimate Emulsion
of Fuel and Water
CA967947 ~ Apparatus for Carrying Out Ultrasonic Agitation of Liquid
Dispersions
CA963375 ~ Combustion Method Comprising Burning an Intimate Emulsion
of Fuel and Water
CA962905 ~ Apparatus and Method for Producing a Fuel-Air Mixture by
Sonic Energy
BR8108998 ~ No English title available.
BE886087 ~ No English title available.
BE787603 ~ No English title available.
BE785280 ~ No English title available.
BE774982 ~ No English title available.
NL8006086 ~ No English title available.
