WO2008135801A2

WO2008135801A2 - Adjustable fuel power booster component composition

Info

Publication number: WO2008135801A2
Application number: PCT/IB2007/001187
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brenes Mario Araya
Original assignee: Brenes Mario Araya
Priority date: 2007-05-08
Filing date: 2007-05-08
Publication date: 2008-11-13
Also published as: WO2008135801A3

Abstract

An adjustable fuel power booster component composition having three components: (A) an ignition accelerator which is preferably normal propyl nitrate and/or diterbutyl peroxide; (B) propylene glycol monoalkyl ether and/or butylene glycol monoalkyl ether; and (C) methyl carbonate and/or ethyl carbonate and/or propyl carbonate and/or butyl carbonate, which may be used mixed in any proportion with methylal (dimethoxymethane) or ethylal (diethoxymethane). The adjustable fuel power booster component composition of the present invention can be used by itself or in mixture with gasoline, diesel or burning oils in combustion engines without the need for modification thereof. The adjustable fuel power booster component composition enables low energy content alcohol based fuels to substitute conventional fuels, such as gasoline or diesel, in conventional non-modified internal combustion engines, thereby generating lower amount of toxic gas emission all the while providing more power.

Description

ADJUSTABLE FUEL POWER BOOSTER COMPONENT COMPOSITION

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an adjustable fuel power booster component composition. More particularly, it relates to adjustable fuel power booster component composition that increases power and lowers toxic gas emissions when it is mixed with hydrocarbon fuels and/or low energy content alcohol based oxygenated fuels.

Background Art

Hydrocarbon fuels, such as oil, are not renewable. Further, the volatile nature, including the fluctuation in price, ongoing social instability and war in the areas where oil is harvested has made the look for other power sources a high priority. Still further, hydrocarbon fuels, such as oil, emit a high level of toxic byproduct into the atmosphere . In fast developing countries where regulations are lax at best, people are seeing their once beautiful cities turn into chocked valleys of toxic fumes from burned hydrocarbon fuels. This has sparked a world wide debate and call for burning cleaner, reusable fuels or additives that reduce dependency on hydrocarbon fuels.

Some of these substituted fuels include alcohol based oxygenated fuels, which can be produced in most countries from renewable resources such as agricultural crops or organic waste. Further, alcohol based oxygenated fuels burn significantly less toxic byproduct wherein some produce none at all. Due to these advantages, there is interest to use alcohol based oxygenated fuels as main fuels in conventional and preferably non-modified internal combustion engines. However, the search for an alcohol-based substitute fuel that does not require the modification of the traditional oil or gas-based combustible engine has encountered problems and remains unresolved in the prior art .

The problems that face the prior art include lower energy- content than conventional fuels that require a highly different air/fuel mixture. To compensate for the lower energy content and to be competitive on a "liter to liter" basis with conventional fuels, alcohol -based fuels would require higher combustion efficiency than that attained with conventional hydrocarbon-type fuels. With such lower efficiency, said alcohol based oxygenated fuels are forced to use more liters per horsepower and their costs can therefore not be compared in a "liter to liter" basis with other fuels.

Alcohol-based fuels have a very high ignition temperature and a very low flame speed. Therefore, the engines require modification to raise the compression ratio. This solution requires the modification of engine manufacturing plants around the world and the engines would have a significantly higher manufacturing cost. Nowhere in the prior art can an existing hydrocarbon-based fuel (i.e., gasoline) combustible engine be used with an alcohol -based or other alternate fuel without some level of modification.

Further, when alcohol-based fuels are burned in gasoline engines, the maximum pressure is obtained at a relatively late moment, and i.e. when the piston is rapidly descending; thus lowering the combustion efficiency. Some publications describe the incorporation of low energy content alcohol based oxygenated fuels as the main component in gasoline, by adding explosives such as nitro-paraffin, in order to attain a maximum pressure near to the expansion cycle. By doing so, during combustion, said explosives liberate approximately double the energy that is liberated by methanol or ethanol . However, at low speeds the engine knocks, toxic emissions are produced, the octane number is reduced, and the risk of having phase separation remains. Even with the additives, the engine components need modification because the required air/fuel ratio is different. Also, the combustion chamber requires modifications, due to the significantly higher compression ratio.

When alcohol-based fuels are burned in diesel engines, the cetane number decreases and the engine power decreases. Several attempts have been made to solve these problems in diesel engines, by adding moderate explosives such as the widely known "cetane improvers", with the objective to reduce ignition temperature and to form premature ignition spots to promote flame propagation. However, higher amounts of toxic emissions are produced, the risk of having phase separation remains and the cost increases. In addition, there is the chance of the engine malfunctioning, unless engine modifications are made or some engine components are changed.

The inventor is aware of the following prior art wherein attempts to provide alternate fuels have been made. In those inventions, alcohols are used as the main component of the fuel or methods for using alcohols, alcohol based fuels and other fuels with normal propyl ether and diethyl ether, dimethyl ether, methyl ethyl ether and methyl-tert-butyl ether.

EP No. 0019340 Al, shows a method of operating a diesel engine using methanol or ethanol as the main fuel, by adding organic compounds such as dimethoxymethane, methoxymethanol , diethyl ether, dimethyl ether, methyl ethyl ether, or methyl propyl ether.

Japanese Patent No. 1259091, discloses a biofuel composition made with methanol and alcohol ether or an aromatic carbon additive, such as dimethoxymethane, diethoxyethane, methyl -tert-butyl ether, and other fuels such as xylene and toluene, etc.

Japanese Patent No. 2000026871, discloses a biofuel composition comprising methanol, heavy gasoline and an additive agent such as normal propyl ether mixed with methyl -tert -butyl ether.

In those inventions wherein glycol ethers are employed as a constituent of a fuel additive composition or in methods to reduce pollution and consumption, improve the cosolvency, avoid freezing and promote the cleaning of carbonaceous deposits, the following patents are known in the prior art.

US Patent Aplication No. 2003/0217505 Al, describes that at least one alkyl propylene glycol ether must be present in the novel formulation of the fuel additive composition of the invention, in order to reduce gasoline pollution.

EU Patent Application No. 0407 950 Al, dicloses the use of a polyoxyalkylene glycol monoalkyl ether as a compound useful as an additive for diesel, alone or in an additive composition.

US Patent No. 6,183,525, shows a fuel additive composition to reduce toxic emissions wherein glycol alkyl ether is a constituent of said composition.

UK Patent Aplication No. 2071140 A, describes the use of glycol ethers such as dipropylene glycol methyl ether or diethylene glycol methyl ether, mixed with an alcohol or 2- methoxymethanol , as suitable compounds to avoid fuel freezing.

US Patent Aplication No 5,314,511 discloses a diesel additive to reduce fuel emissions and improve fuel economy, which contains di-tert-butyl peroxide in a combination with a propylene or butylene glycol monoalkyl ether or polyols.

US Patent No. 4,753,661 describes the use of a fuel conditioner to avoid phase separation, having average molecular weights between 250 and 500. The conditioner includes a glycol mono ether (diethylene glycol monomethyl ether) mixed with mineral oil hydrocarbon fuels, to decrease fuel consumption and carbonaceous deposits.

In those inventions wherein normal propyl ether is emplopyed as an ingredient of fuel additive compositions or wherein methods to reduce the fuel emissions and to improve ignition have been described, the applicant is aware of the following prio art

AU Patent No. 8425207 discloses the use of methylal, trioxane and/or triethylene glycol dinitrate, as a good ignition enhancer and suitable for alcohol or diesel engine applications .

AU Patent Aplication No 30,045/67 discloses the use of a hydrocarbon fuel containing methylal, to reduce harmful gas emissions .

US Patent Aplication No. US 2002/0020107 Al, discloses the use of dimethoxymethane, when added to a hydrocarbon fuel containg from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, to reduce gas emissions.

In those inventions wherein mixtures of normal propyl ether and methanol, as fuel constituents, are employed, in methods to reduce emissions, the applicant is aware of the following prior art.

RU Patent No. 2165957 describes a method to produce gasoline, wherein the methylal-methanol fraction is considered a part of the fuel that helps to reduce the toxicity of gasoline combustion product.

US Patent No. 4,668,245 discloses a fuel composition wherein the main component is an alcohol having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, gasoline or gasoline individual components, or dimethoxymethane . In addition, it discloses an additive obtained from the reaction of a carboxylic acid and amine. In those inventions wherein methanol and glycolic ethers are combined as mixtures, as a part of a fuel additive composition, to be used in methods to prevent freezing, to function as a co-solvent, to clean injector nozzles, and to reduce contaminant emissions, the following patents are known.

GB Patent No. 2071140 describes the use of methanol, 2- methoxyethanol and glycol ethers of the class of dipropylene glycol methyl ether, as additives or as additive contituents, to prevent fuel freezing.

Japanes Patent No. 02194089 A, discloses the use of a methanol additive, to prevent the attachment of carbonaceous deposits to the inyectors nozzles. Said additive is a polyoxyalkylene glycol mono ether.

GB Patent No 766,591 describes mixtures of diethylene glycol monoethyl ether with alcohols, acetals and other ethers, to improve gasoline for avoiding engine problems when moisture is present .

All of the above listed prior art disclose the use of additives diluted in methylal and ethers mixed with alcohol, and gasoline or diesel, to lower toxicity in emission gases, to improve energy yield and to use the alcohol as the main component .

With that being said, none of the above prior art discloses or can be combined in way that is obvious to one skilled in the art to make what is clearly needed to improve upon the prior art. That is, the prior art does not disclose an adjustable fuel power booster component composition with a synergistic effect produced by compounds such as propylene glycol monoalkyl ether or butylene glycol monoalkyl ether that when mixed in a defined proportion with a product such as normal propyl nitrate and also combined with a third component such as dimethyl or diethyl carbonate and then added to hydrocarbon fuels and/or an alcohol based oxygenated fuels, has the capacity of increasing power, avoiding modifications on conventional engines once designed for using hydrocarbon fuels air- fuel and compression ratios, reducing toxic gas emissions and improving cetane number in diesel engines and octane number in gasoline engines.

It would therefore be advantageous, and a vast improvement to the prior art, to have such a booster component that when blended with main fuels like hydrocarbon fuels and/or oxygenated fuels, allows for adjustments to the ignition temperature, flame speed, level of explosivity and cetane or octane number; permits low energy content components to more be competitive on a "liter to liter" basis with higher energy content fuels; avoids phase separation when small amounts of water are present in the hydrocarbon fuel; produces less contaminant gas emissions; increases the octane number when used as a gasoline substitute and the cetane number when used as a diesel substitute; and also reduces opacity when used as diesel substitute.

Disclosure of Invention

I have invented an adjustable fuel power booster component composition, which under specified defined proportions of its components, and when mixed with low energy content alcohol based fuels to be used in its pure form, or in mixtures with hydrocarbon fuels, enables low energy content alcohol based fuels to substitute conventional fuels, such as gasoline or diesel, in conventional non-modified internal combustion engines, and thereby generating a low toxic gas emission.

My adjustable fuel power booster component composition includes the following three components: (A) an ignition accelerator which is normal propyl nitrate and/or diterbutyl peroxide that that can be replaced with one or more ignition accelerators of the following less preferred compounds: acetone peroxide, meta-nitrobenzotadecylamide di or triethylene glycol dinitrate, and alkyl or cycloalkyl nitrates having up to 10 carbon atoms such as: allyl nitrate, heptyl nitrate, 2- ethylhexyl nitrate, butyl nitrate, ethyl nitrate, amyl nitrate and isopropyl nitrate; (B) propylene glycol monoalkyl ether and/or butylene glycol monoalkyl ether, that can be replaced with one or more of the following less preferred compounds : propoxyalcohol and/or butoxyalcohol wherein said alcohol contains from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, polyoxypropylene glycol monoalkyl ether or polyoxybutylene glycol monoalkyl ether with a boiling point in the range from 39 to 190 Celsius degrees for the substitution of gasoline, or, in the range from 39 to 350 Celsius degrees for the substitution of diesel or oils,- and (C) methyl carbonate and/or ethyl carbonate and/or propyl carbonate and/or butyl carbonate, which may be used and mixed in any proportion with methylal (dimethoxymethane) or ethylal (diethoxymethane) .

The three components of said adjustable fuel power booster component composition can be obtained from both petr oleum or vegetal matter/organic waste (biomass) and oxygen from the air; and then can be mixed with additives for gasoline or diesel with lubricants, such as palm oil, dimmerized unsaturated fatty acid, isoamyl ester, and also amines; antioxidants, ouher cetane improvers and corrosive inhibitors.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

This invention describes a novel technical approach for solving the aforementioned problems in the prior art and makes novel and revolutionary improvements to the state of the art . This is done by providing a product that improves the performance of hydrocarbon fuels as well as alcohol based fuels which have poor energy content compared to conventional fossil fuels .

The adjustable fuel power booster component composition includes the following three components: (A) an ignition accelerator which is normally propyl nitrate and/or diterbutyl peroxide that that can be replaced with one or more ignition accelerators of the following less preferred compounds: acetone peroxide, meta-nitrobenzotadecylamide di or triethylene glycol dinitrate, and alkyl or cycloalkyl nitrates having up to 10 carbon atoms such as: allyl nitrate, heptyl nitrate, 2- ethylhexyl nitrate, butyl nitrate, ethyl nitrate, amyi nitrate and isopropyl nitrate (B) propylene glycol monoalkyl ether and/or butylene glycol monoalkyl ether, that can be replaced with one or more of the following less preferred compounds: propoxyalcohol and/or butoxyalcohol wherein said alcohol contains from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, polyoxypropylene glycol monoalkyl ether or polyoxybutylene glycol monoalkyl ether with a boiling point in the range from 39 to 190 Celsius degrees for the substitution of gasoline, or, in the range from 39 to 350 Celsius degrees for the substitution of diesel or oils; and (C) is methyl carbonate and/or ethyl carbonate and/or propyl carbonate and/or butyl carbonate, which may be used mixed in any proportion with methylal (dimethoxymethane) or ethylal (diethoxymethane) .

When my adjustable fuel power booster component composition is mixed with a low energy content alcohol based fuel and/or high energy content hydrocarbon fuel, in defined proportions and according to the kind of fuel that will be replaced or mixed, the impact that my adjustable fuel power booster component composition has on the entire mentioned fuel mixture, is characterized by the following features: • It becomes more competitive on a "liter to liter" basis with pure conventional fuels, permitting that present gasoline or diesel engines could be used without requiring changes in engines components and that the fuel tank could be filled totally, partially and alternately with any amount of conventional fuel.

• It works competitively, containing low cost, highly oxygenated fuels made from biomass.

• It releases propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide from component (B) at a precise moment before the combustion process occurs, thereby helping to increase maximum pressure near to the expansion cycle start . Said propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide is produced from component (B) , that by the ignition precursory effect of component (A) , it is compressed at a high temperature at the end of the compression cycle. It then experiences thermal decomposition and releases propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide, which, in addition to being produced, burns and thereby helps to burn the remaining fuel, and also induce a rapid volumetric expansion of the gas that reduces the available space for the combustion of the remaining fuel. Such reduction of the available space for the combustion of the remaining fuel produces some effects in the engine that are similar to increasing the compression ratio: the flame propagation speed is increased, there is no need for lowering the ignition temperature of the components that have higher ignition temperature and to have a distillation curve similar to commercially available hydrocarbon fuels. Finally, very high combustion efficiency is obtained.

• It behaves as a co-solvent, remaining in a single phase even when, in the whole mixture, small amounts of water are present. Such single-phase stability is maintained in mixtures with hydrocarbon fuels and/or alcohol based fuels and even when the fuel is exposed to high ambient moisture, such as cold weather and limited water filtration.

• It produces combustion at lower temperatures compared to conventional fuels allowing the manufacturers to use more economic and lighter cooling system.

• It produces a colder flame when compared to conventional fuels; and depending on the proportions, it can become water-extinguishable, therefore reducing accident risks in vehicles catching fire, which in turn allows the manufacturers to build safer engines.

• It can be adjusted to have a larger octane number than pure gasoline, even when used in a mixture with gasoline and said gasoline is the main component of the mixture.

• It can be adjusted to have a lower opacity than pure diesel, even when used in a mixture with diesel and said diesel is the main component of the mixture.

• It can be adjusted to a larger cetane number than pure diesel, even when used in a mixture with diesel and said diesel is the main component .

The preferred component (A) of said adjustable fuel power booster component composition used in the present invention is normal propyl nitrate (NPN) . NPN can be prepared by reacting n-propyl alcohol with 70% nitric acid dissolved in ethyl acetate. During the reaction the temperature must be kept at 20 ⁰C, the product can then be extracted by distillation. NPN can also be prepared by re-acting a continuous stream of propyl alcohol below the surface of a stirred mixed acid composed of 20% nitric acid, 68% sulfuric acid, and 12% by weight of water in an open stainless steel vessel cooled to 0-5 ⁰C. Additional mixed acid is also simultaneously introduced at about a third of the depth of the liquid. An overflow pipe maintains a constant reactant level and the effluent product is separated, washed with aqueous 10% sodium carbonate solution, and dried by- passage through a Filtrol packed tower with 50% isopropyl alcohol as the solvent at 0 ⁰C. Yield is about 66.5%.

Component (B) of the adjustable fuel power booster component composition of the present invention is propylene glycol mono-alkyl ether and/or butylene glycol monoalkyl ether. Some examples of such compounds are: propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monopropyl ether, propylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, propylene glycol mono-t-butyl ether, propylene glycol mono-n- amyl ether, propylene glycol mono-t-amyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monoethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monopropyl ether, dipropylene glycol mono-n- butyl ether, dipropylene glycol mono-t-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol mono-n-amyl ether, dipropylene glycol mono-t-amyl ether, tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether, tripropylene glycol monoethyl ether, tripropylene glycol monopropyl ether, tripropylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol mono-t-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol mono-n-amyl ether, tripropylene glycol mono-t-amyl ether, and other compounds of the same class. Additional examples are propylene glycol monophenyl ether and other compounds of the same class. Derivatives corresponding to 1,2 -butylene oxides can be used, including dibutylene glycol mono methyl ether, dibutylene glycol monoethyl ether, dibutylene glycol mono-n-propil ether, dibutylene glycol mono- isopropyl ether, dibutylene glycol mono- n-butyl ether, dibutylene glycol mono-t-butyl ether, tributylene glycol mono methyl ether, tributylene glycol monoethyl ether, tributylene glycol mono-n-propil ether, tributylene glycol mono-isopropyl ether, tributylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, tributylene glycol mono-t-butyl ether and other compounds of the same class. In addition, derivatives corresponding to 2,3- butylene and propylene oxides, can be used in alternate embodiments.

The most preferred compounds are those with boiling points in a range from 41 to 188 Celsius degrees when they are used for gasoline and from 39 to 350 Celsius degrees when used for diesel or burning oil. Propylene glycol monoalkyl ether or butylene glycol monoalkyl ether can be replaced with the following less preferred compounds: i) propoxyalcohols and/or butoxyalcohols wherein said alcohols have from 1 to 4 carbon atoms: examples include propoxymethanol , butoxymethanol , propoxyethanol , butoxyethanol, propoxy-n-propanol , propoxy-iso- propanol, butoxy-n-propanol , butoxy-iso-propanol , propoxy-n- butanol, propoxy-sec-butanol , propoxy-iso-butanol, propoxy- tert-butanol, butoxy-n-butanol, butoxy-sec-butanol , butoxy-iso- butanol, butoxy-tert-butanol ; and ii) polyoxypropylene glycol monoalkyl ether and/or polyoxybutylene glycol monoalkyl ether with boiling points in the range from 39 to 190 Celsius degrees when used in gasoline or in the range from 39 to 350 Celsius degrees when is used in diesel or oils.

All of the above-mentioned compounds that correspond to component (B) , when combined in the defined proportion with a product such as normal propyl nitrate from component (A) and dimethyl or diethyl carbonate from component (C) , under defined pressure and temperature and prior to the combustion process, releases propylene oxide or butylene oxide. These compounds are responsible for the very high combustion efficiency of the adjustable fuel power booster component composition.

The propylene glycol monomethyl ether or butylene glycol mono methyl ether can be produced from biomethanol and glycols obtained from agricultural crops such as sugar cane, tapioca, corn, sorghum, etc. The chemical process for the production of said glycols involves two basic steps. In the first step, there is a catalytic hydrogenation to convert glucose or a monosaccharide into sorbitol. The second step is a continuous catalytic process known as hydrocracking, which uses steam to convert sorbitol molecules into glycols, which are purified by distillation.

Component (C) of the adjustable fuel power booster component composition of the present invention, consists of dimethyl and diethyl carbonate which are commercially made from methanol, carbon monoxide and oxygen in a reactor at moderate pressure and temperature. This component may be used by mixing it in any proportion with methylal (dimethoxymethane) or ethylal (diethoxymethane) .

The adjustable fuel power booster component composition of the present invention may be used in a mixture with fuels such as diesel or bio-diesel or with a fuel comprising one or more of the hydrocarbon components of gasoline from petroleum, synthetic or bio gasoline, burning oil, mineral oil, vegetal oil and alkoxy-terminal polyoxymethylenes mixtures to name just a few.

The adjustable fuel power booster component composition of the present invention increases the octane number of the main fuel by increasing the proportion of dimethyl or diethyl carbonate from component (C) . This component (C) has an octane number that exceeds 120. The adjustable fuel power booster component composition of the present invention can increase the cetane number of the main fuel by increasing the proportions of normal propyl nitrate coming from component (A) which helps to increase the level of explosivity and flame speed. Said adjustable fuel power booster component composition also decreases the ignition temperature and toxic gas emissions by increasing the proportion of propylene glycol monoalkyl ether and/or butylene glycol monoalkyl ether.

Therefore, the ignition temperature and the cetane or octane number, may be changed by varying the proportion of the components of said adjustable fuel power booster component composition, to obtain the defined proportion required to trigger the releasing of propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide in a precise moment, near to the expansion cycle start, at the moment of maximum pressure and prior to the combustion process so as to obtain a very high combustion efficiency. Propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide produced by the thermal decomposition of propylene glycol monoalkyl ether or butylene glycol monoalkyl ether, come as a result of the confinement inside the combustion chamber and high pressure and temperature, and this is what generates an efficient combustion. Some racing cars have used propylene oxide, feeding the engine from a separate tank, for increasing the engine's power yield. However, this was prohibited due to the high toxicity for humans and the extreme care required for handling this compound. Propylene glycol monolakyl ether or butylene glycol monoalkyl ether, when used as described herein, works as a carrier to "transport and release" said oxides without the associated toxic effects, during or after the combustion process.

The defined proportion for each one of the three components in the adjustable fuel power booster component composition of the present invention is set according to the operational conditions of the combustion chamber. The operational conditions of the combustion chamber in a diesel engine are different that that of the operational conditions of the combustion chamber in a gasoline engine. Therefore, when said adjustable fuel power booster component composition is mixed with another fuel, the defined proportion for each one of the three components is selected according to the particular kind of fuel to be used in the mixture. Thus, the defined proportion of each one of the three components of said adjustable fuel power booster component composition is different for a mixture containing diesel and for a diesel engine, than for a mixture containing gasoline and for a gasoline engine.

The process of obtaining the three components mixtures of said adjustable fuel power booster component composition involves the mixing of the three components simultaneously or sequentially without any particular order. Additives can be added before, at the same time or after the preparation of said mixtures.

In summary, the compositions of the present invention and the method for their use, opens avenues for larger use of low energy content alternative fuels in conventional internal combustion engines, without the need for modification.

Specifically, the present invention provides for an adjustable fuel power booster component composition that enables high oxygen content fuel components to be used in larger portions when operating in conventional, non-modified engines, helping to lower overall fuel cost. Usually the more oxygen content the fuel has, the less expensive it is. For same air/fuel ratio and similar density of fuel, increasing the weight of the fuel by incorporating oxygen, cost much less than by incorporating hydrocarbon compositions. Further, the adjustable fuel power booster component composition of the present invention, when under specified defined proportions for its components and when mixed with hydrocarbon fuels and/or low energy content alcohol based fuels, increases the fuel's power to the mixture of all of it's components, has the property of being miscible with oxygenated fuels, as well as for allowing the vehicle' s tanks to be filled totally partially, or alternately with conventional fuel .

Still further, the adjustable fuel power booster component composition, when under specified defined proportions for its components and when mixed with hydrocarbon fuels and/or low energy content alcohol based fuels, for the substitution of gasoline, increases the octane number, and for the substitution of diesel it reduces the opacity and increases the cetane number thereof. Still, even further, the adjustable fuel power booster component composition of this invention, when under specified defined proportions of its components and when mixed with low energy content alcohol based fuels or with low energy content alcohol based fuels mixed with hydrocarbon fuels, reduces contaminant production, generates new opportunities for biomass alternative fuels and creates ways to increase energetic independence from oil producers, reducing unemployment, increasing agro- industrial activities, reducing imports in many undeveloped countries, lowering poverty, without increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and contributing to avoid the effect known as "Global Warming."

Another advantage for this inventive adjustable fuel power booster component composition, which under specified defined proportions of its components and when mixed with low energy content alcohol based fuels or with low energy content alcohol based fuels mixed with hydrocarbon fuels, makes the main fuel burn at lower temperatures than conventional fuels, allowing the possibility of building engines with lower quality requirements, giving to manufacturers the opportunity to build engines with a lower cost, lighter, with a better weight-to- power ratio and with a lower cost cooling system. More advantages include an adjustable fuel power booster component composition that under specified defined proportions of its components and when mixed with low energy content alcohol based fuels or with low energy content alcohol based fuels mixed with hydrocarbon fuels, produces a flame that is colder and can be easily extinguished with water, reducing accident risks in vehicles catching fire and giving the opportunity to the manufacturers to build safer engines. Further, this adjustable fuel power booster component composition, when under specified defined proportions of its components can be blended with fuels containing low energy content alcohol based fuel components, which can be made from biomass and oxygen from the air, without sacrificing competitive performance. Even more, this adjustable fuel power booster component composition, which under specified defined proportions of its components and when mixed with hydrocarbon fuels and/or low energy content alcohol based fuels or hydrocarbon fuels, maintains a single phase even if there is a small amount of water.

The defined proportions mentioned above for the three components for the adjustable fuel power component composition of the present invention in the preferred embodiment range from .001 to 99.998% v/v for component (A); 0.001 to 99.98% for component (B); and 0.001 to 99.998% v/v for component (C). However, in an alternate embodiment, the ranges are 2 to 16% v/v for component (A) 2 to 16% v/v for component (C) and 68 to 96% v/v for component (C) . Yet in another alternate embodiment, the ranges are 2 to 14% v/v for component (A) ; 2 to 36% v/v for component (B) and 50 to 96% v/v for component (C) . Of course, other ranges can be employed to achieve the same results in the same way and in the same manner. Therefore, it is understood that the ranges set forth directly above are not meant to be limiting in the percentage mixtures that can be employed with the novel adjustable fuel power booster component composition of the present invention.

The adjustable fuel power booster component composition of the present invention can also include meta- nitrobenzoctadecylamide and/or nitrobenzoctadecylamide . In a preferred embodiment, about 0.3% to about 11% by weight is utilized. These compounds assist in decreasing corrosion levels and improving lubrication properties to a level where accelerated deterioration is avoided in the long range.

Claims

Claims :

1. An adjustable fuel power booster component composition for improving the combustion performance of hydrocarbon and/or alcohol based fuels, said composition comprising at least three components, wherein a component (A) is an ignition accelerator chosen from the group consisting of normal propyl nitrate, diterbutyl peroxide, acetone peroxide, meta-nitrobenzotadecylamide di or triethylene glycol dinitrate, and alkyl or cycloalkyl nitrates having up to 10 carbon atoms, chosen from the group consisting of allyl nitrate, heptyl nitrate, 2-ethylhexyl nitrate, butyl nitrate, ethyl nitrate, amyl nitrate and isopropyl nitrate; wherein a component (B) is chosen from the group consisting of propylene glycol monoalkyl ether, butylene glycol monoalkyl ether, methyloxyalcohol , ethyloxyalcohol , propoxyalcohol, butoxyalcohol, wherein any of said alcohols contain from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, polyoxypropylene glycol monoalkyl ether and polyoxybutylene glycol monoalkyl ether; and wherein a component (C) is chosen from the group consisting of methyl carbonate, ethyl carbonate, propyl carbonate, and butyl carbonate mixed with methylal

(dimethoxymethane) or ethylal (diethoxymethane) .

2. The adjustable fuel power booster component composition of Claim 1, wherein three components are employed and wherein component (A) is normal propyl nitrate or diter butyl peroxide or a mixture thereof, component (B) is propylene glycol monoalkyl ether or butylene glycol monomethyl ether, or a mixture thereof, and component (C) is methyl carbonate or a mixture thereof, mixed with methylal (dimethoxymethane) or ethylal (diethoxymethane) .

3. The adjustable fuel power booster component composition of Claim 1, wherein component (B) has a boiling point within the range of 39 to 190 Celsius degrees when used with gasoline and within the range of 39 to 350 Celsius degrees when used with diesel or oil .

4. The adjustable fuel power booster component composition of Claim 1, wherein the proportion of component (A) is from .001 to 99.998% v/v, the proportion of component (B) is from 0.001 to 99.98% v/v and the proportion of component (C) is from 0.001 to 99.998% v/v.

5. The adjustable fuel power booster component composition of Claim 1, wherein the proportion of component (A) is from 2 to 16% v/v, the proportion of component (B) is from 2 to 16% v/v and the proportion from component (C) is from 68 to 96% v/v.

6. The adjustable fuel power booster component composition of Claim 1, wherein the proportion of component (A) is from 2 to 14% v/v, the proportion of component (B) is from 2 to 36% v/v and the proportion of component (C) is from 50 to 96% v/v.

7. The adjustable fuel power booster component composition of Claim 1, wherein said composition is employed as the a fuel component in a standard non-modified gasoline or diesel engine, and in engines manufactured or modified to function with alcohols and/or fuels with a high alcohol content .

8. The adjustable fuel power booster component composition of Claim 1, wherein propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide is released during a combustion process within an engine employing said composition for providing a maximum pressure near an expansion start cycle in said engine.

9. The adjustable fuel power booster component composition of Claim 1, further comprising from about 0.3% to about 11% by weight of meta-nitrobenzoctadecylamide or nitrobenzoctadecylamide or a mixture thereof.

10. The adjustable fuel power bosster component composition of Claim 1, wherein a high percentage of normal- propyl nitrate and/or di-tert-butyl peroxide is employed for component (A) for the prupose of increasing engine power output .