CA1255503A - Flame luminosity improvers for methanol - Google Patents
Flame luminosity improvers for methanolInfo
- Publication number
- CA1255503A CA1255503A CA000451958A CA451958A CA1255503A CA 1255503 A CA1255503 A CA 1255503A CA 000451958 A CA000451958 A CA 000451958A CA 451958 A CA451958 A CA 451958A CA 1255503 A CA1255503 A CA 1255503A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- composition
- volume
- methanol
- fraction
- aromatic
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
- C10L1/00—Liquid carbonaceous fuels
- C10L1/02—Liquid carbonaceous fuels essentially based on components consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen only
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Liquid Carbonaceous Fuels (AREA)
- Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A methanol fuel composition with improved flame luminosity comprising methanol and a petroleum hydrocarbon mixture which includes selected aromatic and saturate/olefin fractions and forms an azeotropic mixture with all of the methanol and has a select boiling range.
A methanol fuel composition with improved flame luminosity comprising methanol and a petroleum hydrocarbon mixture which includes selected aromatic and saturate/olefin fractions and forms an azeotropic mixture with all of the methanol and has a select boiling range.
Description
125S5C.a, 3
2 This invention relates to a methanol fuel
3 composition with improved flame luminosity comprising
4 methanol and a select petroleum hydrocarbon mixture.
More particularly, this invention is directed to the 6 improved flame luminosity of methanol which results by 7 combining methanol with a petroleum hydrocarbon mixture 8 comprising selected aromatic and saturate/olefin frac-9 tions to form an azeotropic mixture and which combi-nation has a select boiling range.
11 The use of methanol as a fuel for various 12 needs, such as in spark ignition engines, is becoming 13 more and more of interest because of the varying 14 availability of different petroleum fuels and the change in costs of such fuels. One of the problems 16 that exists with the use of methanol is that it burns 17 with a light blue flame that is almost invisible under 18 normal light conditions such as daylight or a lighted 19 room. Because it burns with such a nonluminous flame, the use of methanol presents a special safety hazard, 21 especially when used as a fuel. Thus, a methanol spill 22 could be very dangerous since its ignition might not be 23 visible to people in the near vicinity.
24 The use of co-fuels such as volatile hydro-carbons has been shown to enhance flame luminosity and 26 visibility as disclosed in "Use of Co-Fuels to Increase 27 the Luminosity of Methanol Pool Fires: Some Prelimi-28 nary Findings" by J. E. Anderson and W. O. Siegl, 29 presented to Division of Petroleum Chemistry, Inc., A.C.S., Kansas City Meeting, September, 1982. As ~ .
~ .
1Z~55~P3 1 generally shown in ~hi_ article, such combinations of 2 methanol with a co-fuel did not provide flame lumi-3 nosity over the entire burning cycle.
4 Other teachings showed that flame luminosity could be improved by adding gasoline, toluene or 6 reformate to methanol containing 5 and 10 vol. %
7 pentane. By adding 5% toluene to the pentane contain-8 ing methanol fuel, the flame was visible until about 50 9 to 70% of the methanol was consumed. By using 15~
gasoline in methanol, a visible light persisted until 11 all the liquid was consumed. See "Environmental 12 Implication of the Use of ~lcohol-Fuel Highway 13 Vehicles" by E. E. Ecklund, T. J. Timbario and P. W.
14 McCallum, presented to the 75th Annual Meeting of Air Pollution Control Association, New Orleans, June 20-25, 16 1982 and "Methanol Fuel Modification for Highway 17 Vehicle Use" by J. L. Keller, G. M. Nakaguchi and J. C.
18 Ware, Final Report, U. S. Dept. of Energy EY-76-C-04-19 3683, published as NTIS document HCP/W3683-18, 1978.
While such methanol fuel combinations containing fairly 21 large amounts of gasoline do provide flame luminosity, 22 problems due to water sensitivity have developed.
23 Accordingly, there is the need to develop a 24 methanol fuel system which burns with a luminous flame throughout its burning cycle and additionally does not 26 have any problems related to water contamination and 27 water sensitivity.
29 Now in accordance with this invention, it has been found that a methanol fuel composition which 31 combines methanol with a select petroleum hydrocarbon lZS5SQ~
l mixture has imprcved Elamc iuminosity and is relatively 2 water insensitive.
3 More particularly, this invention is 4 directed to a methanol fuel composition with improved flame luminosity which comprises methanol and a 6 petroleum hydrocarbon mixture of:
7 a) at least about 2 volume ~ based on the 8 total volume of the composition of an aromatic hydro-9 carbon fraction, said fraction including at least about 1 volume % based on the total volume of the composition ll of aromatic hydrocarbons which distill substantially 12 uniformly over a wide boiling range having an initial 13 boiling point of less than about 240F and a final 14 boiling point of greater than about 375F, and b) at least about l volume ~ based on the 16 total volume of the composition of a saturate/olefin 17 hydrocarbon fraction, 18 said petroleum hydrocarbon mixture having an l9 initial boiling point of less than about 150F and a final boiling point of greater than about 375F and 21 combines with the methanol to form an azeotropic mix-22 ture which includes all of the methanol, said compo-23 sition being capable of burning with a luminous flame 24 throughout its burning cycle and is effectively water insensitive when small amounts of water are present.
26 Another embodiment of this invention relates 27 to the method of operating a spark ignition engine 28 comprising the improvement of using the methanol fuel - lZ55503 1 composition of this invention which contains a par-2 ticular petroleum hydrocarbon mixture and which burns 3 with a luminous flame throughout its burning cycle.
4 ~ETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As previously indicated, the present inven-6 tion relates to a methanol fuel composition exhibiting 7 improved flame luminosity and comprising methanol and a 8 petroleum hydrocarbon mixture which includes select 9 aromatic and saturate/olefin fractions.
The select aromatic and saturate/olefin 11 fractions which comprise the petroleum hydrocarbon 12 mixture used in the composition of this invention can 13 generally be obtained from any of the commonly avail-14 able petroleum hydrocarbon mixtures or crude oils. Such petroleum materials usually comprise a mixture of 16 paraffinic, cycloparaffinic (naphthenes), olefinic and 17 aromatic hydrocarbons. The selected fractions are 18 obtained from the starting petroleum materials by 19 refining and separation techniques which are well known in the petroleum art including distillation, cracking, 21 thermal diffusion, reforming etc.
22 The saturate/olefin hydrocarbon fraction of 23 the petroleum hydrocarbon mixture will generally 24 include paraffins, straight and branched chained, and cycloparaffins as well as some olefins. The cyclo-26 paraffins comprise not only the monocyclic compounds, 27 but the polycyclics and the alkyl substituted deriva-28 tives thereof. While this fraction will generally be 29 derived from petroleum mixtures and crude oils where the saturate components, i.e., paraffins and cyclo-31 paraffins comprise the larger or predominant portion, 32 nevertheless, there may be some olefinic components -12~5503 1 present. In fac~, the fLâotior,s derived from some 2 operations, such as a cracking process, can contain 3 amounts of olefins which can vary up to about 20 vol.%
4 or even higher. Typical olefins will include the mono and diolefins such as cyclopentadiene. The 6 saturate/olefin hydrocarbon fraction will generally 7 comprise at least about 1 volume % and preferably at 8 least about 1.4 volume %, such volume based on the g total volume of the composition.
The aromatic hydrocarbon fraction will gen-11 erally comprise at least about 2~ by volume and pre-12 ferably at least about 2.5% by volume based on the 13 total volume of the composition and will contain a 14 number of different compounds. This aromatic hydro-carbon fraction will include at least about 1 volume %
16 based on the total volume of the composition of a 17 mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons which distill sub-18 stantially uniformly over a wide boiling range having 19 an initial boiling point of less than about 240F and a final boiling point of greater than about 375F. By 21 distilling substantially uniformly it is meant that 22 this portion of the aromatic fraction will distill at a 23 fairly uniform rate, i.e., a rate such that the dis-24 tillation curve (temperature vs. percent distilled) is relatively smooth or even over the entire range and 26 does not sharply increase or decrease at any particular 27 point. In other words, this aromatic mixture will 28 comprise a number of different hydrocarbons which dis-29 till at different temperatures throughout the desired temperature range and are present in sufficient quan-31 tities to provide distillation which is substantially 32 uniform, i.e. the distillation rate is generally smooth 33 or even over the temperature range. What in effect is 34 needed to obtain a generally uniform distillation is a small amount, usually less than about 10 volume %, of a ."
12~SS1~3 1 large number of different ~ompounds. Typical compounds 2 found in the aromatic fraction are the alkylbenzenes 3 such as toluene, the xylenes and p-cymene, the poly-4 cyclic aromatics such as naphthalenes, biphenyl, acenaphthene, fluorenes, phenanthrenes, mononaphthene 6 benzenes and dinaphthene benzenes. It is understood 7 that branched or substituted ring components are also 8 included in the defined aromatic fraction.
9 Generally, both the aromatic and saturate/
olefin fractions will be comprised of a mixture of 11 compounds containing about 5 to about 12 carbon atoms.
12 Each fraction will generally contain a variety of 13 branched substituents and may contain small amounts of 14 sulfur and nitrogen content. In determining or defining the aromatic and saturate/olefin fractions as 16 used in this invention, the procedure "Hydrocarbon 17 Types by FIA," ASTM D-1319 is used. A further descrip-18 tion of petroleum hydrocarbon fractions of this type 19 and typical compounds in such petroleum compositions is given in Kirk-Othmer, "Encyclopedia of Chemical 21 Technology," 2nd Edition, Vol. 14, pp. 845-855, 1967.
22 The petroleum hydrocarbon mixture comprising 23 the aromatic and saturate/olefin fractions as defined 24 herein will generally comprise at least about 3 volume ~ and preferably at least about 4 volume % of the total 26 composition; however greater amounts can be used with 27 cost efficiency being a prime factor in determining the 28 upper limit for the amounts to be used. The important 29 thing about this added petroleum hydrocarbon mixture is that it form an azeotropic mixture which includes all 31 of the methanol. While the azeotrope could comprise 32 part of the petroleum hydrocarbon mixture itself, it 33 must include all of the methanol. This makes it pos-34 sible for the petroleum mixture or luminosity component 1 to be co-distilled ~ith the rethanol and to impart 2 luminosity as long as a flame exists. As noted 3 earlier, the select wide boiling aromatic component 4 which makes up part of the aromatic fraction, must distill substantially uniformly over a range having an 6 initial boiling point of less than about 240F and a 7 final boiling point of greater than about 375F. The 8 petroleum hydrocarbon mixture, i.e. combined aromatic 9 and saturate/olefin fractions must have an initial boiling point of less than about 150F and a final 11 boiling point of greater than about 375F. In 12 determining the boiling points of various components, 13 ASTM D-86Jis a procedure that is generally followed.
14 Another important advantage of using the particular composition of this invention is that it is 16 relatively water insensitive to small amounts of water.
17 In using certain hydrocarbon components, such as 18 gasoline, other problems can develop when water is 19 present. Thus problems such as phase separation or increased volatility can develop in such compositions 21 when fairly small amounts of water are present. The 22 composition of this invention has been found to be 23 water insensitive even when amounts of water of up to 24 about 3 volume % are present and still retains its ability to maintain flame luminosity. By the term 26 "flame luminosity" as used throughout this application 27 is meant that the flame is clearly visible and distin-28 guishable.
29 The composition of this invention may be used in several applications but is particularly useful 31 as a fuel for operating a spark ignition engine.
32 Generally, the methanol will comprise the 33 major amount of this composition, i.e., at least about ~255S~3 1 50 volume % and preferably ~t least about 80 volume %
2 based on the total volume of the composition.
3 ~ primer such as dimethyl ether is a par-4 ticularly ~seful additive to the fuel composition of this invention in certain applications since it pro-6 vides good volatility at low temperatures to help in 7 cold starting. The amount of primer will depend on 8 ambient temperatures and the particular engine being 9 used. Typically about 2 to about 7 volume % based on the total volume of the composition will be used.
11 Minor amounts of other additives generally 12 used with fuel compositions of this type may be 13 included in the composition of this invention, e.g.
14 corrosion and rust inhibitors, antioxidants, etc.
Typically, the total amount of other additives, i.e., 16 besides the petroleum hydrocarbon mixture and primer, 17 will be less than about 1 volume % based on the total 18 volume of the composition.
19 Further details and illustrations of this invention will be found in the following examples.
21 Example 1 22 A fuel composition comprising methanol and 23 optionally dimethyl ether primer was tested for flame 24 luminosity after adding a number of petroleum hydro-carbon mixtures with the following results as shown in 26 the table below.
27 These results clearly show that composition 28 containing the amounts and the saturate/olefin and 29 aromatic fractions in accordance with this invention as lZ~5503 1 shown by the use of the ~I'xed h~droformate or combi-2 nations of toluene and light cat naphtha provide flame 3 luminosity over 100% of the entire burning cycle. In 4 contrast to this, other additive mixtures did not give the desired flame luminosity at least not over the 6 entire burning cycle. Additionally, the compositions 7 in accordance with this invention were found to hold 8 more than 3 volume % water without phase separation or 9 a change in volatility.
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~ a~ ~ c ~
C 0 o o o cr o ~ o ~ ~ o o o ~ c: ~
u a~ ~ a~ o~ o ~ o ~ ~ O o v .~1 o ~ ~ O ~ I ~ V
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~ C V ~., O~ ~ U
:~ SV ~ 3~, c,~, 14 0 v-.~ .
o~ v V ~ V
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~ c s~a~ , ~o ~ ~ ~
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oO
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V O ~ ~ CO ~ ~ O~ ~ CD ~ CO a~ E~ O u ~ ~,
More particularly, this invention is directed to the 6 improved flame luminosity of methanol which results by 7 combining methanol with a petroleum hydrocarbon mixture 8 comprising selected aromatic and saturate/olefin frac-9 tions to form an azeotropic mixture and which combi-nation has a select boiling range.
11 The use of methanol as a fuel for various 12 needs, such as in spark ignition engines, is becoming 13 more and more of interest because of the varying 14 availability of different petroleum fuels and the change in costs of such fuels. One of the problems 16 that exists with the use of methanol is that it burns 17 with a light blue flame that is almost invisible under 18 normal light conditions such as daylight or a lighted 19 room. Because it burns with such a nonluminous flame, the use of methanol presents a special safety hazard, 21 especially when used as a fuel. Thus, a methanol spill 22 could be very dangerous since its ignition might not be 23 visible to people in the near vicinity.
24 The use of co-fuels such as volatile hydro-carbons has been shown to enhance flame luminosity and 26 visibility as disclosed in "Use of Co-Fuels to Increase 27 the Luminosity of Methanol Pool Fires: Some Prelimi-28 nary Findings" by J. E. Anderson and W. O. Siegl, 29 presented to Division of Petroleum Chemistry, Inc., A.C.S., Kansas City Meeting, September, 1982. As ~ .
~ .
1Z~55~P3 1 generally shown in ~hi_ article, such combinations of 2 methanol with a co-fuel did not provide flame lumi-3 nosity over the entire burning cycle.
4 Other teachings showed that flame luminosity could be improved by adding gasoline, toluene or 6 reformate to methanol containing 5 and 10 vol. %
7 pentane. By adding 5% toluene to the pentane contain-8 ing methanol fuel, the flame was visible until about 50 9 to 70% of the methanol was consumed. By using 15~
gasoline in methanol, a visible light persisted until 11 all the liquid was consumed. See "Environmental 12 Implication of the Use of ~lcohol-Fuel Highway 13 Vehicles" by E. E. Ecklund, T. J. Timbario and P. W.
14 McCallum, presented to the 75th Annual Meeting of Air Pollution Control Association, New Orleans, June 20-25, 16 1982 and "Methanol Fuel Modification for Highway 17 Vehicle Use" by J. L. Keller, G. M. Nakaguchi and J. C.
18 Ware, Final Report, U. S. Dept. of Energy EY-76-C-04-19 3683, published as NTIS document HCP/W3683-18, 1978.
While such methanol fuel combinations containing fairly 21 large amounts of gasoline do provide flame luminosity, 22 problems due to water sensitivity have developed.
23 Accordingly, there is the need to develop a 24 methanol fuel system which burns with a luminous flame throughout its burning cycle and additionally does not 26 have any problems related to water contamination and 27 water sensitivity.
29 Now in accordance with this invention, it has been found that a methanol fuel composition which 31 combines methanol with a select petroleum hydrocarbon lZS5SQ~
l mixture has imprcved Elamc iuminosity and is relatively 2 water insensitive.
3 More particularly, this invention is 4 directed to a methanol fuel composition with improved flame luminosity which comprises methanol and a 6 petroleum hydrocarbon mixture of:
7 a) at least about 2 volume ~ based on the 8 total volume of the composition of an aromatic hydro-9 carbon fraction, said fraction including at least about 1 volume % based on the total volume of the composition ll of aromatic hydrocarbons which distill substantially 12 uniformly over a wide boiling range having an initial 13 boiling point of less than about 240F and a final 14 boiling point of greater than about 375F, and b) at least about l volume ~ based on the 16 total volume of the composition of a saturate/olefin 17 hydrocarbon fraction, 18 said petroleum hydrocarbon mixture having an l9 initial boiling point of less than about 150F and a final boiling point of greater than about 375F and 21 combines with the methanol to form an azeotropic mix-22 ture which includes all of the methanol, said compo-23 sition being capable of burning with a luminous flame 24 throughout its burning cycle and is effectively water insensitive when small amounts of water are present.
26 Another embodiment of this invention relates 27 to the method of operating a spark ignition engine 28 comprising the improvement of using the methanol fuel - lZ55503 1 composition of this invention which contains a par-2 ticular petroleum hydrocarbon mixture and which burns 3 with a luminous flame throughout its burning cycle.
4 ~ETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As previously indicated, the present inven-6 tion relates to a methanol fuel composition exhibiting 7 improved flame luminosity and comprising methanol and a 8 petroleum hydrocarbon mixture which includes select 9 aromatic and saturate/olefin fractions.
The select aromatic and saturate/olefin 11 fractions which comprise the petroleum hydrocarbon 12 mixture used in the composition of this invention can 13 generally be obtained from any of the commonly avail-14 able petroleum hydrocarbon mixtures or crude oils. Such petroleum materials usually comprise a mixture of 16 paraffinic, cycloparaffinic (naphthenes), olefinic and 17 aromatic hydrocarbons. The selected fractions are 18 obtained from the starting petroleum materials by 19 refining and separation techniques which are well known in the petroleum art including distillation, cracking, 21 thermal diffusion, reforming etc.
22 The saturate/olefin hydrocarbon fraction of 23 the petroleum hydrocarbon mixture will generally 24 include paraffins, straight and branched chained, and cycloparaffins as well as some olefins. The cyclo-26 paraffins comprise not only the monocyclic compounds, 27 but the polycyclics and the alkyl substituted deriva-28 tives thereof. While this fraction will generally be 29 derived from petroleum mixtures and crude oils where the saturate components, i.e., paraffins and cyclo-31 paraffins comprise the larger or predominant portion, 32 nevertheless, there may be some olefinic components -12~5503 1 present. In fac~, the fLâotior,s derived from some 2 operations, such as a cracking process, can contain 3 amounts of olefins which can vary up to about 20 vol.%
4 or even higher. Typical olefins will include the mono and diolefins such as cyclopentadiene. The 6 saturate/olefin hydrocarbon fraction will generally 7 comprise at least about 1 volume % and preferably at 8 least about 1.4 volume %, such volume based on the g total volume of the composition.
The aromatic hydrocarbon fraction will gen-11 erally comprise at least about 2~ by volume and pre-12 ferably at least about 2.5% by volume based on the 13 total volume of the composition and will contain a 14 number of different compounds. This aromatic hydro-carbon fraction will include at least about 1 volume %
16 based on the total volume of the composition of a 17 mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons which distill sub-18 stantially uniformly over a wide boiling range having 19 an initial boiling point of less than about 240F and a final boiling point of greater than about 375F. By 21 distilling substantially uniformly it is meant that 22 this portion of the aromatic fraction will distill at a 23 fairly uniform rate, i.e., a rate such that the dis-24 tillation curve (temperature vs. percent distilled) is relatively smooth or even over the entire range and 26 does not sharply increase or decrease at any particular 27 point. In other words, this aromatic mixture will 28 comprise a number of different hydrocarbons which dis-29 till at different temperatures throughout the desired temperature range and are present in sufficient quan-31 tities to provide distillation which is substantially 32 uniform, i.e. the distillation rate is generally smooth 33 or even over the temperature range. What in effect is 34 needed to obtain a generally uniform distillation is a small amount, usually less than about 10 volume %, of a ."
12~SS1~3 1 large number of different ~ompounds. Typical compounds 2 found in the aromatic fraction are the alkylbenzenes 3 such as toluene, the xylenes and p-cymene, the poly-4 cyclic aromatics such as naphthalenes, biphenyl, acenaphthene, fluorenes, phenanthrenes, mononaphthene 6 benzenes and dinaphthene benzenes. It is understood 7 that branched or substituted ring components are also 8 included in the defined aromatic fraction.
9 Generally, both the aromatic and saturate/
olefin fractions will be comprised of a mixture of 11 compounds containing about 5 to about 12 carbon atoms.
12 Each fraction will generally contain a variety of 13 branched substituents and may contain small amounts of 14 sulfur and nitrogen content. In determining or defining the aromatic and saturate/olefin fractions as 16 used in this invention, the procedure "Hydrocarbon 17 Types by FIA," ASTM D-1319 is used. A further descrip-18 tion of petroleum hydrocarbon fractions of this type 19 and typical compounds in such petroleum compositions is given in Kirk-Othmer, "Encyclopedia of Chemical 21 Technology," 2nd Edition, Vol. 14, pp. 845-855, 1967.
22 The petroleum hydrocarbon mixture comprising 23 the aromatic and saturate/olefin fractions as defined 24 herein will generally comprise at least about 3 volume ~ and preferably at least about 4 volume % of the total 26 composition; however greater amounts can be used with 27 cost efficiency being a prime factor in determining the 28 upper limit for the amounts to be used. The important 29 thing about this added petroleum hydrocarbon mixture is that it form an azeotropic mixture which includes all 31 of the methanol. While the azeotrope could comprise 32 part of the petroleum hydrocarbon mixture itself, it 33 must include all of the methanol. This makes it pos-34 sible for the petroleum mixture or luminosity component 1 to be co-distilled ~ith the rethanol and to impart 2 luminosity as long as a flame exists. As noted 3 earlier, the select wide boiling aromatic component 4 which makes up part of the aromatic fraction, must distill substantially uniformly over a range having an 6 initial boiling point of less than about 240F and a 7 final boiling point of greater than about 375F. The 8 petroleum hydrocarbon mixture, i.e. combined aromatic 9 and saturate/olefin fractions must have an initial boiling point of less than about 150F and a final 11 boiling point of greater than about 375F. In 12 determining the boiling points of various components, 13 ASTM D-86Jis a procedure that is generally followed.
14 Another important advantage of using the particular composition of this invention is that it is 16 relatively water insensitive to small amounts of water.
17 In using certain hydrocarbon components, such as 18 gasoline, other problems can develop when water is 19 present. Thus problems such as phase separation or increased volatility can develop in such compositions 21 when fairly small amounts of water are present. The 22 composition of this invention has been found to be 23 water insensitive even when amounts of water of up to 24 about 3 volume % are present and still retains its ability to maintain flame luminosity. By the term 26 "flame luminosity" as used throughout this application 27 is meant that the flame is clearly visible and distin-28 guishable.
29 The composition of this invention may be used in several applications but is particularly useful 31 as a fuel for operating a spark ignition engine.
32 Generally, the methanol will comprise the 33 major amount of this composition, i.e., at least about ~255S~3 1 50 volume % and preferably ~t least about 80 volume %
2 based on the total volume of the composition.
3 ~ primer such as dimethyl ether is a par-4 ticularly ~seful additive to the fuel composition of this invention in certain applications since it pro-6 vides good volatility at low temperatures to help in 7 cold starting. The amount of primer will depend on 8 ambient temperatures and the particular engine being 9 used. Typically about 2 to about 7 volume % based on the total volume of the composition will be used.
11 Minor amounts of other additives generally 12 used with fuel compositions of this type may be 13 included in the composition of this invention, e.g.
14 corrosion and rust inhibitors, antioxidants, etc.
Typically, the total amount of other additives, i.e., 16 besides the petroleum hydrocarbon mixture and primer, 17 will be less than about 1 volume % based on the total 18 volume of the composition.
19 Further details and illustrations of this invention will be found in the following examples.
21 Example 1 22 A fuel composition comprising methanol and 23 optionally dimethyl ether primer was tested for flame 24 luminosity after adding a number of petroleum hydro-carbon mixtures with the following results as shown in 26 the table below.
27 These results clearly show that composition 28 containing the amounts and the saturate/olefin and 29 aromatic fractions in accordance with this invention as lZ~5503 1 shown by the use of the ~I'xed h~droformate or combi-2 nations of toluene and light cat naphtha provide flame 3 luminosity over 100% of the entire burning cycle. In 4 contrast to this, other additive mixtures did not give the desired flame luminosity at least not over the 6 entire burning cycle. Additionally, the compositions 7 in accordance with this invention were found to hold 8 more than 3 volume % water without phase separation or 9 a change in volatility.
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s ~ ~ C VO
~ a~ ~ c ~
C 0 o o o cr o ~ o ~ ~ o o o ~ c: ~
u a~ ~ a~ o~ o ~ o ~ ~ O o v .~1 o ~ ~ O ~ I ~ V
m c c- o ~a ~, C O O
v a) v C
C ~, O O
E ~ 0 O
~ C V ~., O~ ~ U
:~ SV ~ 3~, c,~, 14 0 v-.~ .
o~ v V ~ V
0 ~, c ~ C
C O h S
O ~ ~D ~ ~ a) _~ V ~0~ 0c E~ e ~ . v~
~ c s~a~ , ~o ~ ~ ~
Ql SV ~ ~ t` ~O ~r .~ ~ ~ D S ~ V ~ V~
oO
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o 0 _I c la c ~r _I ~ ~ ~ a~ 0 0 . . ..~n ~ ~ v s O ~ o C~ O ~ ~ ~ C C U~
V O ~ ~ CO ~ ~ O~ ~ CD ~ CO a~ E~ O u ~ ~,
Claims (8)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A methanol fuel composition with improved flame luminosity which comprises a major amount of methanol, and a petroleum hydrocarbon mixture of:
(a) at least about 2 volume % based on the total volume of the composition of an aromatic hydro-carbon fraction, said fraction including at least about 1 volume % based on the total volume of the composition of aromatic hydrocarbons which distill substantially uniformly over a wide boiling range having an initial boiling point of less than about 240°F and a final boiling point of greater than about 375°F and (b) at least about 1 volume % based on the total volume of the composition of a saturate/olefin hydrocarbon fraction, said petroleum hydrocarbon mixture having an initial boiling point of less than about 150°F and a final boiling point of greater than about 375°F and combines with the methanol to form an azeotropic mixture which includes all of the methanol, said composition being capable of burning with a luminous flame throughout its burning cycle and also capable of holding at least 3 volume % water without phase separation based upon the total volume of the composition.
(a) at least about 2 volume % based on the total volume of the composition of an aromatic hydro-carbon fraction, said fraction including at least about 1 volume % based on the total volume of the composition of aromatic hydrocarbons which distill substantially uniformly over a wide boiling range having an initial boiling point of less than about 240°F and a final boiling point of greater than about 375°F and (b) at least about 1 volume % based on the total volume of the composition of a saturate/olefin hydrocarbon fraction, said petroleum hydrocarbon mixture having an initial boiling point of less than about 150°F and a final boiling point of greater than about 375°F and combines with the methanol to form an azeotropic mixture which includes all of the methanol, said composition being capable of burning with a luminous flame throughout its burning cycle and also capable of holding at least 3 volume % water without phase separation based upon the total volume of the composition.
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein an effective priming amount of dimethyl ether is present.
3. The composition of claim 1 wherein at least about 2.5 volume % of said aromatic fraction and at least about 1.4 volume % of said saturate/olefin fraction is present.
4. The composition of claim 3 wherein an effective priming amount of dimethyl ether is present.
5. In the method of operating a spark ignition engine the improvement comprising using the composition of claim 1 as the fuel to provide a luminous flame throughout the burning cycle.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said fuel contains an effective priming amount of dimethyl ether.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein at least about 2.5 volume % of said aromatic fraction and at least about 1.4 volume % of said saturate/olefin fraction is used.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said fuel contains an effective priming amount of dimethyl ether.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US48973583A | 1983-04-29 | 1983-04-29 | |
| US489,735 | 1983-04-29 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1255503A true CA1255503A (en) | 1989-06-13 |
Family
ID=23945064
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000451958A Expired CA1255503A (en) | 1983-04-29 | 1984-04-13 | Flame luminosity improvers for methanol |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0127316B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS59207987A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU577528B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1255503A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3474459D1 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK214584A (en) |
| NO (1) | NO841655L (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ207977A (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4932979A (en) * | 1987-08-27 | 1990-06-12 | Xl, Inc. | Methanol fuel mixture |
| WO1990003421A1 (en) * | 1988-09-21 | 1990-04-05 | Xl, Inc. | Methanol fuel mixture |
| US5147413A (en) * | 1989-07-20 | 1992-09-15 | The Standard Oil Company | Methanol fuel containing flame luminosity agent |
| US5266080A (en) * | 1989-10-11 | 1993-11-30 | The Standard Oil Company | Methanol fuel containing flame luminosity agent |
| JPH0739582B2 (en) * | 1991-11-22 | 1995-05-01 | 吉彦 篠尾 | Low pollution fuel composition |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2441737A1 (en) * | 1974-08-30 | 1976-03-11 | Gerhard Goldmann | Liquid hydrocarbon motor fuels - contg alcohol-water mixts., to reduce combustion residues and save fuel |
-
1984
- 1984-04-13 CA CA000451958A patent/CA1255503A/en not_active Expired
- 1984-04-25 DE DE8484302782T patent/DE3474459D1/en not_active Expired
- 1984-04-25 EP EP19840302782 patent/EP0127316B1/en not_active Expired
- 1984-04-26 NO NO841655A patent/NO841655L/en unknown
- 1984-04-27 DK DK214584A patent/DK214584A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1984-04-27 JP JP8422484A patent/JPS59207987A/en active Pending
- 1984-04-27 AU AU27474/84A patent/AU577528B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1984-04-27 NZ NZ20797784A patent/NZ207977A/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DK214584A (en) | 1984-10-30 |
| DK214584D0 (en) | 1984-04-27 |
| DE3474459D1 (en) | 1988-11-10 |
| AU2747484A (en) | 1984-11-01 |
| JPS59207987A (en) | 1984-11-26 |
| EP0127316A3 (en) | 1985-12-27 |
| NO841655L (en) | 1984-10-30 |
| EP0127316A2 (en) | 1984-12-05 |
| AU577528B2 (en) | 1988-09-29 |
| NZ207977A (en) | 1986-09-10 |
| EP0127316B1 (en) | 1988-10-05 |
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