Fred Sparber alerted me to the following patent: US# 4,557,734 now expired ....
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=14&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=4451267&OS=4451267&RS=4451267 Which is in the public domain and which teaches a method of minimal processing for raw vegetable oil, or perhaps even raw oil-algae... in which the simple emulsification, or possibly sonication with water and alcohol and a cheap emulsifier can provide a highly energetic fuel, and with a resultant high effective conversion of that fuel into energy in an unmodified diesel engine. >From the patent abstract: One area of particular interest relates to fuels for commercial and agricultural vehicles that are powered by diesel engines. The prospect of farmers becoming self-sufficient in regard to their energy needs has led to investigations of vegetable oils as diesel fuel substitutes. Deterrents to this concept are the generally inferior fuel properties of crude vegetable oils as compared to those of diesel oil. Of particular concern is the inherently high viscosity which causes poor atomization in direct-injected diesel engines. This results in fouling of the injectors and cylinders as well as a buildup of noncombusted fuel in the crankcase causing a thickening of the lubricating oil. This invention relates to a blended vegetable oil fuel which circumvents many of these problems. VERY INTERESTING ! Here we have a public domain solution to several related problems of small farm or aquaculture operations, which can produce lots of raw biomass (algae) but need a minimal secondary system for getting that biomass into a proper fuel for a normal diesel engine. Here it is folks, no royalty required! This could be one of those minor (but actually major) little "nails" which builds an entire new energy infrastructure... Jones
