GB2108526A

GB2108526A - Improvements in firelighters

Info

Publication number: GB2108526A
Application number: GB08231612A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gunter Kretzschmann
Original assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
Current assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
Priority date: 1981-11-07
Filing date: 1982-11-05
Publication date: 1983-05-18
Also published as: BE894933A; NL8204295A; DE3144288A1

Abstract

White firelighters comprise a support substance carrying therein an energy source which contains from 1 to 80% by weight of soft paraffins. These firelighters, by the use of soft paraffins, and especially slack waxes, as blending agents have a reduced fuel oil or petroleum content without a corresponding reduction in their calorific value, igniting qualities or stability.

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in firelighters The present invention relates to improvements in so-called "white" firelighers. White firelighers, i.e. emulsion-like compositions with a support substance (e.g. consisting of urea-formaldehyde precondensate) and carrying therein fuel oil as the energy source, and methods of producing them are already known (vide German Patent 1504012, column 1, lines 40-52).

Firelighters of this kind have proved very effective for initiating combustion in coal furnaces.

However, in view of the worldwide oil shortage, there is a danger that high costs may render use of these lighters uneconomical or even impossible.

Investigations vvere therefore carried out with a view to replacing, as far as possible, the fuel oil as the energy source in firelighers of this kind by equally effective products which are readily available.

However, the first attempt at blending the fuel oil used as the energy source with higherviscosity liquid oils such as, for example, paraffin oils or white oils, on the one hand, or soft or hard solid paraffins, on the other hand, was unsuccessful. Although some of these substances could be processed to form solidified emulsions and then be cut up into white blocks or bricks, when used, i.e. when the lighters thus obtained were burned, it was found that the substances contained therein ran or dripped,out largely unburned and thus failed to perform their function, namely of producing a local development of heat.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that certain blending agents, that is to say substitution products, based on higher-viscosity hydrocarbons, and in particular soft paraffins, are suitable for use in white firelighters permitting a considerable saving in the quantity of fuel oil required.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a white firelighter, comprising a support substance carrying therein an energy source which contains from 1 to 80% by weight of soft paraffins.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a process for the production of the firelighters of the invention in which the said soft paraffins are incorporated into the said support substance by intensive stirring to produce an emulsion-like composition which by the addition of a hardener is subsequently solidified.

According to a yet further aspect of the invention there is provided the use of the firelighters of the invention for igniting coal.

The soft paraffin cutting agents are preferably so-called slack waxes, and preferably have a flash point of from about 100 to 1 85 C, or more preferably from 1 20 and 1 50 C.

These slack waxes may be obtained, for example, as by-products (in addition to many other products) in oil refining or in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and have a pasty or unctuous consistency.

Suitable soft paraffins generally have a setting point of from about 1 5 to 40"C, preferably 20 to 30"C and usually have an oil content of from 1 5 to 50%, preferably from 1 5 to 35%, by weight.

Three typical representatives of this group are listed below.

Oil Slack Slack Wax Soft paraffin Wax T RF 1 S 5 Setting point ( C) 27 23 22 Oil content (weight %) approx. 20 25 55 Density (g/ml) 0.768 0.77 0.77 Flash point 135 145 180 ('C) Soft paraffins may be used in white firelighters in quantities of from 1 to 80%, preferably 30 to 50%, by weight of the petroleum content, in partial replacement for the fuel oil etc., which serves as the energy source without impairing the calorific value, igniting qualities and stablity of the firelighter.

The firelighters of the invention may be produced in a manner known per se, e.g. as described in German Patent 1 504012. In the production of the firelighters of the invention it is also possible to use a mixture of petroleum or fuel oil, which may be supplied from the refinery, already containing a suitable proportion of dissolved or dispersed slack wax.

The firelighters of the invention may be used in the conventional manner: the firelighter is ignited and then the coal which is to be lit is placed over it.

The following examples illustrate, without restricting the invention, the composition of some possible firelighters according to the invention: Example 1 Resin emulsifier solution 15% by weight Fuel oil/diesel oil 50% by weight Oil slack wax T 31% by weight Hardener solution 4% by weight Firelighter 100% by weight Example 2 Resin emulsifier solution 12.5% by weight Kerosene 25.0% by weight Slack wax RF 1 58.5% by weight Hardener solution 4.0% by weight Firelighter 100.0% by weight

Claims

1. A white firelighter comprising a support substance carrying therein an energy source which contains from 1 to 80% by weight of soft paraffins.

2. A firelighter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said energy source contains from 30 to 50% by weight of soft paraffins.

3. A firelighter as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2 wherein the said soft paraffins comprise slack waxes.

4. A firelighter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the said soft paraffins have a flash point of from 100 to 1 85 C.

5. A firelighter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the said soft paraffins have a setting point of from 1 5 to 40"C.

6. A firelighter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the said soft paraffins have an oil content of from 1 5 to 60% by weight.

7. A firelighter containing soft paraffins substantially as herein described in either of Examples 1 and 2.

8. A process for the production of firelighters as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the said soft paraffins are incorporated into the said support substance by intensive stirring to produce an emulsion-like composition which by the addition of a hardener is subsequently solidified.

9. A process as claimed in claim 8 wherein a mixture of petroleum and/or fuel oil containing dissolved or dispersed slack wax is incorporated into the said support substance.

1 0. Use of firelighters as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 for igniting coal.