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
  • C10L1/023—Liquid carbonaceous fuels essentially based on components consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen only for spark ignition

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an improved fuel mixture for internal combustion engines, notably those engines which are powered by gasoline.
• engines which are powered by gasoline.
• mixtures of gasoline and alcohol most notably ethanol
• alcohol most notably ethanol
• Current gasohol products contain approximately 10 percent by volume alcohol with the balance being chiefly gasoline together with conventional additives (e.g. combustion catalysts, etc.).
• the present invention is directed to an admixture which used in combination with various ratios of gasoline and alcohol enables higher proportions of alcohol to be effectively employed without sacrificing performance or damaging the internal combustion engine.
• the alcohol and additive mixture of the present invention consists essentially of an alcohol and from about 3 to about 40 percent and preferably. 20 to about 30 percent by volume, based on the alcohol of a ketone having the general formula
• R 1 and R 2 which may be the same or different, are each an alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and up to about 1.5 grams (e.g., from about 0.3 to about 1.5 grams, and preferably 0.36 to 1.2 grams), per gallon of the alcohol and ketone mixture of an alkali metal carbonate in finely divided form.
• alcohol such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol or mixtures thereof is added in an amount of about 10 percent by volume to gasoline mixtures to form a fuel mixture referred to as gasohol.
• This alcohol is generally at least 190 proof.
• Alcohols containing greater amounts of moisture heretofor have been considered unsuitable as for use in gasoline mixtures as such low proof alcohols are inefficient and potentially hazardous to the engine due to their high water content.
• the addition of a ketone in accordance with the present invention optionally in combination with the finely divided alkali metal carbonate (e.g.
• the invention further embodies a fuel additive consisting essentially of a ketone having the general formula
• R 1 and R 2 which may be the same or different, are each an alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and from about 10 to about 15 grams of an alkali metal carbonate in finely divided form per gallon of ketone.
• a fuel suitable for operating an internal combustion engine which comprises from about 35 to 90 percent and suitably about 60 to about 70 percent by volume gasoline and up to 65 percent (preferably from about 30 to 40 percent) by volume of the alcohol and acditive mixture described hereinabove.
• the fuel mixture contains from about 60 to 90 percent by volume gasoline and from about 40 to 10 percent by volume of said alcohol and addiiive mixture.
• An especially preferred ratio is 65 percent gasoline and 35 percent alcohol and additive mixture.
• the fuel mixture of the present invention burns cleaner and exhibits less carbon deposit than current gasohol or gasoline fuels.
• the resulting fuel mixture meets or exceeds federal and state emission requirements.
• the alcohol and additive mixture contains up to about 40 percent, and suitably from about 20 to about 30 percent based on the weight of the alcohol of a ketone having the formula noted above. While a variety of ketones could be employed, an especially preferred ketone is selected from the group consisting of acetone, methyl-ethyl ketone or mixtures thereof. Acetone is especially preferred due to its ready availability and low cost.
• the amount of ketone may vary within the range stated and preferably ranges from about 25 percent based on the volume of the alcohol.
• the alkali metal carbonate most suitable is sodium carbonate, but it is also envisioned that one might employ with equal efficiency potassium carbonate, lithium carbonate or mixtures thereof in a finely divided state.
• the carbonate must be in a sufficiently fine divided state to readily mix with the alcohol, acetone and gasoline and not clog fuel jets or lines. Thus, powdered particles of at least 100 mesh or finer are preferred.
• the carbonates serve to enhance the fuel mixture by apparently controlling the amount of water which may be present. When used only a small amount of the carbonate need be present and generally from about 0.3 to about 1.5 grams per gallon of the alcohol and ketone mixture need be employed. Preferably one utilizes approximately 0.36 to 1.2 grams of the carbonate per gallon of alcohol and ketone mixture.
• An especially preferred fuel mixture according to the present invention comprises: about 60 to 70% by volume gasoline; and about 40 to 30% by volume of an alcohol and additive mixture consisting essentially of: about 86 to 63 percent, by volume ethanol; about 37 to 14 percent by volume of a ketone selected from the group consisting of acetone, methylethyl ketone and mixtures thereof; and optionally about 0.3 to 1.5 grams of sodium carbonate per gallon of alcohol and ketone mixture.
• the presence of the ketone in combination with the alcohol appears to enhance the combustibility of the resulting fuel mixture when admixed with gasoline.
• the fuel additive may be employed both with unleaded as well as leaded type gasolines currently available on the market. .
• the carbonate may be added directly to the alcohol or mixtures of the alcohol and acetone.
• the ingredients may be individually, and with no critical order of addition, added to the gasoline within the proportions described.
• a gasoline additive was prepared by thoroughly mixing together the following materials in the amounts indicated: acetone 1 gallon sodium carbonate 12 grams per gallon of acetone in powder form.
• Example 1 The additive of Example 1 was mixed with varying amounts of unleaded regular gasoline and alcohol (190 proof ethanol). The resulting fuel mixture was then tested in a 1979 Dodge Aspen equipped with a 2-barrel carburetor. The tests were carried out at 50 mph. Fuel mileage figures were determined by taking a minimum of five tests and averaging the totals. For purposes of comparison, tests were also run using unleaded regular gas. The results are set forth in Table I.
• Tests were conducted using a variety of motor vehicles employing varying ratios of gasoline, ethanol and acetone. The tests were conducted at 50 to 55 mph unless noted otherwise, and fuel mileage figures were determined by taking a minimum of three tests and averaging the totals. For comparative purposes, the tests were also run in each vehicle using the unleaded regular gas alone. The results are set forth in Table II.
• the additive was also found to be effective at both speeds of 35 as well as 55 miles per hour. Additional observations included idling periods and acceleration and deceleration at stop lights, shopping center parking lots, and other specifically designated points.

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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)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

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• 1981
  • 1981-11-20 EP EP19820900066 patent/EP0065559A4/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 1981-11-20 WO PCT/US1981/001541 patent/WO1982001889A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1981-11-20 JP JP50008382A patent/JPS57502001A/ja active Pending
  • 1981-11-20 BR BR8108890A patent/BR8108890A/pt unknown

Patent Citations (2)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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