Importance

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Abstract

A fuel supply system for a single or multi-cylinder internal combustion engine (1) of the compression ignition kind (e.g. a diesel engine) and including a liquid fuel injection pump (2) for injecting liquid fuel into the combustion chamber(s) of the engine (1); the system employing a main supply source of liquid alcohol fuel (4) such as methanol as the principal fuel for the engine and an ether pilot fuel having a wider flammability range and lower ignition temperature than the principal alcohol fuel. Prescribed quantities of the ether pilot fuel are arranged to be delivered to the engine (1) during operation for mixing with the principal fuel (4) and ignition of the delivered pilot fuel to raise the temperature of the fuel mixture in the combustion chamber(s) sufficiently to enable full ignition under compression of the principal fuel. The system preferably including an apparatus for producing the ether pilot fuel from a bypass supply (7,8,9) of the principal liquid alcohol fuel (4) by way of a heat exchanger/catalytic convertor device 10; and including a condensation separator (16,18) for removal of at least a part of any readily condensible content of the pilot fuel before delivery to the engine (1) to permit ignition under compression of the delivered pilot fuel.

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First Claim