An onboard fuel separation apparatus separates a material fuel (gasoline) into
a high-octane fuel having a higher octane value than the material fuel and a low-octane
fuel having a lower octane value than the material fuel using a separation membrane
which selectively allows high-octane value components (such as aromatic components)
permeate through the membrane. The apparatus increases the ratio of the amount
of the high-octane value components permeating through the membrane to the amount
of the high-octane value components contained in the material fuel by, (A) Controlling
the temperature of the material fuel supplied to the membrane (B) Increasing partial
pressure of the low-octane value components on the high-octane fuel side of the
membrane and removing volatiles from the permeate, and (C) Bypassing volatiles
in the material feed around the membrane.