JPS5880385A - Internal combustion engine fuel - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to fuel for internal combustion engines.

As the global oil supply decreases, there is a strong need to find a fuel to replace gasoline, which is a petroleum-based fuel.

For example, a blend of gasoline and ethyl alcohol, often referred to as "gasohol," is widely used because it reduces the amount of gasoline needed to run an internal combustion engine. There is. However, Koa Gunol contains 90 cIb of gasoline. It would of course be desirable to find an alternative fuel to gasoline that does not use any substances derived from petroleum, and the use of ethanol alone as an engine fuel is being explored; In addition to being a grain used as a grain, it has many other drawbacks.

However, if the efficiency of ethanol were improved, its use would of course become more attractive.

It is also highly desirable to use coal as a fuel for automobiles and other vehicles. One method that has been suggested for the use of coal as a fuel for internal combustion engines involves the conversion of coal to methanol. The methanol thus obtained is added to gasoline to obtain a fuel similar to gunol. Methanol, a gasoline additive (volume filler), performs a similar function to ethanol, but problems arise when methanol is added to gasoline. That is, if moisture, even a small amount, enters the vehicle tank, the methanol-gasoline mixture will separate, and the methanol and water will settle to the bottom of the tank and enter the engine, causing it to shut down.

, the use of methanol alone as a fuel has also been proposed,
By making slight improvements to the engine, such as increasing the engine's compression ratio and installing a heating system for low-temperature starting, a car can run on methanol alone. However, methanol produces only about half as many calories per gallon as regular gasoline. The combustion heat of gasoline and methanol is shown below.

Gasoline: 10.5 kilocalories/gram methanol = 4.7 kilocalories/gram or more, so the factory price of methanol produced at a coal-to-methanol conversion plant is about 55 to 6 points higher than the retail price of gasoline.
It turns out that we have to look at it at 5%. Unless the combustion characteristics of methanol are improved even slightly, methanol cannot be substituted for gasoline at its current price. However, it would be highly desirable to improve the combustion properties of methanol and, as a result, to economically use methanol as a gasoline replacement fuel. It should be noted that in addition to synthetically producing methanol from coal, methanol can also be produced from agricultural and forestry wastes such as wood chips, food waste, plants and fertilizers.

According to the present invention, the properties of methanol, ethanol or other lower alcohols used as fuel for internal combustion engines are significantly improved by the additive alkyl peroxide. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fuel based on methanol, ethanol or other lower alcohols which can be used as a partial or complete substitute for gasoline as a fuel for internal combustion engines.

First, the present invention will be described below from a broad and comprehensive perspective.

In broad and general terms, the present invention relates to fuel compositions for internal combustion engines, the fuel compositions containing methanol, ethanol or other lower alcohols and additives. This fuel composition may be used alone as a typical gasoline engine fuel, or it may be mixed with gasoline in any ratio for use in such engines.

The additive is an alkyl peroxide, and preferred alkyl peroxides are di-t-alkyl peroxides having the general formula where R3 to R6 are lower alkyl groups.

The most preferred additive is the formula %formula% It is di-t-butyl peroxide shown by

t having the general formula % (in the formula R, ~R, U is a lower alkyl group)
-Alkyl hydroperoxides are also used. A preferred t-alkyl hydroperoxide is t-butyl hydroperoxide having the formula %.

In accordance with the present invention, a suitable mixture of peroxide and methanol provides a fuel composition that burns approximately twice as efficiently as methanol alone and provides approximately the same miles per gallon as gasoline.

However, this fuel composition has combustion characteristics that cause autoignition and associated knocking in conventional gasoline engines. Of course, this problem can be overcome by engine design changes, but attempts to overcome this problem in current engines have shown that adding a predetermined amount of water and Improper Tools to the fuel composition will cause automatic ignition or It has been found that a fuel can be obtained that does not cause knocking, can replace conventional petroleum-based fuels, and can be mixed with petroleum-based fuels as a volume expander.

Furthermore, this isopropanol also reduces the problems associated with water-methanol mixtures.

In tests with meth alcohol, peroxide additives were shown to improve the performance of ethanol alone and gasol.

Thus, the desired fuel composition of the present invention comprises methanol and/or a mixture of ethanol and peroxide;
Other additives may also be included to improve the overall properties and performance of the fuel.

The use of peroxides as fuel additives has been suggested, for example in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,006,609 discloses the general addition of peroxides to improve the combustion efficiency of gasoline.

Barusch's U.S. Pat. The use of peroxide in admixture with diethyl ether is described.

Moser's "Motor Fuel Manufacturing Method"
U.S. Pat.
on) given to “Fuel for Internal Combustion Engines” No. 2,0
No. 93,008, Moser, No. 2107.059, Bader 7 Yer (B.
No. 4174,680 for "Diesel Fuel" by Adertscher et al., No. 2240.145 for "Motor Fuel Compositions" by Moser, and No. 2240.145 for "Motor Fuel Compositions" by Ba1ley et al. No. 2,891,851 to ``Fuel'' discloses the use of peroxide as an additive in diesel fuel.

Mingle, Jr., U.S. Pat. discloses the addition of carbon oxide to the fuel for removal.

US Pat. No. 3,869,262 to Mayerhoffer et al. for "Flutes and Additives for Preparing the Same" discloses the use of impropanol in gasoline. It lists numerous patent specifications'.

According to the present invention, the fuel composition preferably contains about 1.5-6% peroxide, with the remainder being substantially methanol. Throughout this specification, unless otherwise specified, percentages by volume are given at room temperature.Other additives may also be added to this composition. The fuel composition of the present invention may be used as it is or may be mixed with gasoline in any proportion. Some or all of the methanol may be replaced with ethanol to obtain an improved fuel.

In order to confirm the effects of the present invention, a 1973 Lincoln Continental (Lincoln Continental)
al ) was used to conduct the following tests. As a result of a series of experiments, we found that when peroxide is mixed with methanol in a predetermined ratio and minute adjustments are made in a vaporizer, methanol:
It became clear that the problems encountered with gasoline mixtures were resolved.

1. Mileage (miles/gallon) Di-t-alkyl peroxide (specifically di-1-butyl peroxide) and methanol were blended. 1
A mixture of 0% peroxide and 90% methanol was very effective, but a mixture of 15% peroxide and 85%
A mixture of methanol was found to be the most optimal ratio. The viscosity of this mixture is higher than gasoline, and the size of the Lincoln carburetor jet is E61/1000 (
61thouaandths) to 6971000
It was necessary to replace it with With a diene of this size, the oxide-containing mixture flows freely through the vaporizer. This procedure was the only modification made to the oxidizer in all experiments.

The Lincoln model adopted on August 12, 1979, consumed 10.3 gallons of regular 89 octane gasoline and traveled 120.8 miles. That is, the mileage per gallon is 11.
．． It was 73 miles.

August 30, 1979 - 104.5 miles in 9 gallons using a 50/50 blend of 85% methanol and 15% peroxide and regular 89 octane gasoline. In other words, the mileage per gallon is 11.6
It was 1 mile.

The above two tests were conducted under low temperature conditions and showed that the fuel mixture of the present invention had approximately the same mileage as gasoline.

2. Separation of mixture from water September 21, 1979 A mixture of 85% methanol and 15% peroxide and 93
When three ounces of water was added to one gallon of the 50-50 blend with octane unleaded gasoline, the water separated the mixture into two layers. Unexpectedly, the <-oxide remained with methanol and water despite being soluble in gasoline/hydrocarbons. The mixture was added as it was separated to a test tank located in the Lincoln. Once on the road, the Lincoln ran flawlessly even with the separated mixture. The Lincoln ran flawlessly on a methanol-peroxide-water mixture that did not contain ganori.

3. Low-temperature starting When di-t-butyl peroxide is added to methanol, a cold motor starts more easily than with methanol alone. This test was conducted in Florida, which has a mild climate, so it is only a casual observation.

4. Exhaust The exhaust gas from Lincoln was tested on September 21, 1979, and the following results were obtained.

The current government standard (at idle link speed) is 400 hydrocarbons P, P, M, hereinafter -acid, 2 carbons or less.

Methanol 85%-ζ-oxide 15% Mixture hydrocarbon 60P, P, M.

Carbon monoxide 0.1% Texaco unleaded 87 octane gasoline (comparison product) Hydrocarbons 250P, P, M.

Carbon monoxide 10 Ciamoco lead-free...Etest 93 Octane Gaso IJn (comparison product) Hydrocarbons 180P, P, M.

- Carbon oxide 7%
-50 mixture hydrocarbon 100P, P, M.

- Carbon oxide 2.6% Many tests were conducted using Lincoln, but no notable differences were observed in the gaskets or hoses.

Although di-t-alkyl peroxide is the most stable of the commercially available organic oxides, there has been interest in the long-term stability of methanol-peroxide mixtures. Methanol 8'5% - Di-tert-butyl peroxide 15% mixture 1 Gallo y'11977 5
Blend in a soot container on September 17th, 1979.
Stored for up to 2 days. They then put it in Lincoln's test tank and measured the mileage, and it showed almost the same mileage with the same amount as the newly blended mixture. On the same date, September 22, 1979, the same amount of methanol alone gave only 1/2 the mileage of the stock mixture and the new mixture.

The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.

Experiments 18 (B) and 18 (Q) When methanol alone was combusted by mixing di-t-butyl-oxide (hereinafter referred to as DTBP) and methanol at a volume ratio of 15/85. The mileage (miles/gallon = mpg) is 61% compared to
The fuel was boosted (methanol alone 5.96 mPg s, the mixture of the present invention 9.60 mPg).

Experiments 16 and t8 ([1) The data from these two experiments show that the mileage power of gasoline diluted with a 50% 4515 mixture of methanol and DTBP; about 91% of the mileage obtained with gasoline alone. %.

Experiments 17 (B) and 18 (Q) These data suggest that as the mixing ratio of methanol and DTBP becomes 80/20.75/25, the mileage power may be improved compared to the 85/15 mixture. There is.

Remainder 0 ■ B Y eye
3 = 3 spoons 1 1 1 ro
1 1 1 □Tenzan-ro I's 1 ←'s -l-1 life < 1 report ni go: ω 1 m- S= vessel bud 20 BO S 8 In addition to the above tests conducted on actual cars, Initial testing was done on small motors.

Details of these tests are provided below.

Motor: Kohler model 91
゜Made of cast iron, air-cooled, 4-cycle, bore 23/8', stroke 2#, displacement 886 cubic inches, spark plug gap set 10.025 inches, breaker-point gap
0.020 inch, horsepower 4HP engine is equipped with a handbrake (along with a defective spring balance gauge). The throttle was set at about 400 Qrpm with no load. Use the handbrake to slow down the motor to 250 or as much as possible.
All mixtures were operated near pm.

Experiment & 1: Five ounces of Texaco unleaded gasoline with a reported octane rating of approximately 91 was used. Speed g500rP
m, brake pressure 3 pounds, time 121/3 minutes.

Experiment A2: A mixture of 41/2 ounces of methanol and 1/2 ounce of butyl peroxide was used. speed 2
, 700 rpmA brakes 3 pounds, time 14 minutes.

Experiment & 3: A mixture of 4 1/2 oz methanol and 3/4 oz di-t-butylperoxy was used. Speed 2170 rpm 1 Brake 3 lbs. Time 15 1
/4 minutes.

Experimenter 4: A mixture of 41/2 ounces of methanol and 172 ounces of cumene hydroperoxide was used. speed 27
00 rpm, 3 lb brakes, time 173/4 minutes (exhaust gas had an unpleasant sweet odor).

Experimenter 5: 4 3/4 ounces of Experiment A2 mixture and 1/4 water.
A mixture of oz. Speed was 2.00 Orpm 1 brake 3 bond, time 18 3/4 minutes (leaner mixture (1 eaner m
1xture)k had to be used).

Experiment A6: 5 ounces of methanol was used with the throttle adjustment of Experiment A5. Speed 2.60Orpm,
The brakes were 3 pounds and the time was 10 3/4 minutes.

In the following experiment, the throttle was opened more and the engine speed was about 320 or
This is the result of driving at high speed using the brakes to reach a speed of pm.

Experimenter 10: Standard strength 190 grain alcohol 4 1/
A mixture of 2 oz. and 1/2 oz. di-t-butyl peroxide was used. Speed 4200 rpm, brake 31
/2 pounds, time 7172 minutes.

Experiment A12: 5 ounces of Texaco unleaded gasoline was used. The speed was 20 Orpm, the brakes were 9 pounds, and the time was 6 minutes (blue smoke was visible to the naked eye).

Experiment & 13: 5 oz of methanol was used. In order to obtain almost the same speed with high brake pressure, the throttle 7) was opened almost to its maximum. Speed 300 rpm.

Brake was 71/2 bond, time was 5 minutes.

General Motor
) company's Chevrolet
Recent studies on C1tation) have shown that
The mileage (miles/gallon) using di-t-butyl peroxide (DTBP)-methanol mixture is:
It was found that dramatic improvement was achieved when DTBP was 1.5 to 6 volumes, and that even negligible DTBP was effective. As is clear from the figure, when DTBP is 1%,
Methanol mileage increases to about 2 miles per gallon;
When DTBP was 1.5-6%, it increased to about 6-7 miles/gal. In the figure, X indicates the result (increase in mileage) obtained by actual measurements on the Chevrolet Citation, and 0 indicates the result obtained by the Lincoln (increase in mileage).
The value is written as the value obtained by multiplying the increase in distance traveled by 2, and this value almost coincided with the extrapolated value of Sigire citation.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or characteristics. Therefore, the above-mentioned specific examples illustrate the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these specific examples. The technical matters described in the claims and modifications included in the scope of equivalents thereof are also included in the present invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure is a graph showing the relationship between the added acid (volume %) of di-tert-butyl oxide (DTBP) and the increase in vehicle mileage (miles/gallon). Agent Patent Attorney Moritani -O

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A fuel for an internal combustion engine, comprising a lower alcohol and an effective amount of t-alkyl peroxide. 2. The fuel according to claim 2, wherein the alcohol is methanol, and the 1-alkyl peroxide is di-t-alkyl peroxide. 4. The fuel of claim 3, wherein the fuel composition is characterized by about 1.5 to 6 g of di-t-butyl peroxide. 5. Fuel according to claim 1, characterized by additives to reduce problems associated with water-methanol mixtures, auto-ignition and knocking. 6. A fuel according to claim 2, characterized by additives for reducing the problems associated with water-methanol mixtures, auto-ignition and non-king. 7. The fuel of claim 3, characterized by additives to reduce problems associated with water-methanol mixtures, auto-ignition and knocking. 8. The fuel of claim 4, characterized by additives to reduce problems associated with water-methanol mixtures, auto-ignition and knocking. 9. The fuel of claim 5, wherein the additive comprises isopropanol. 10. The fuel of claim 6, wherein the additive comprises impropatul. 11. The fuel of claim 7, wherein the additive comprises impropatool. 12. The fuel of claim 8, wherein the additive comprises impropatool. 13. A fuel for an internal combustion engine, comprising gasoline, a lower alcohol, and an additive containing an effective amount of t-alkyl peroxide. 14. The lower alcohol is methanol, and 1
The fuel of claim 13, wherein the -alkyl peroxide is di-t-alkylno(-oxide). 15. The fuel of claim 13, wherein the di-t-alkyl peroxide is di-t-butyl peroxide. 15. The fuel according to clause 14. 16.
- contains butyl peroxide and 85% methanol,
16. The fuel of claim 15, wherein the additive is mixed with gasoline in any proportion. 17. The fuel of claim 13, characterized by additional additives to reduce auto-ignition and knocking, problems associated with water-gasoline mixtures. 18. The fuel of claim 14, characterized by additional additives to reduce auto-ignition and knocking, problems associated with water-gasoline mixtures. 19. The fuel of claim 15, characterized by additional additives to reduce auto-ignition and knocking, problems associated with water-gasoline mixtures. 20. A fuel according to claim 16, especially fl- containing additional additives to reduce the problems associated with water-gasoline mixtures, auto-ignition and knocking. 21. The fuel of claim 17, wherein the additional additive comprises Improper Tool. 22. The fuel of claim 18, wherein the additional additive comprises isopropanol. 23. The fuel of claim 19, wherein the additional additive comprises isopropanol. 24. The fuel of claim 20, wherein the additional additive comprises impropatool.