Fuel compositions and methods thereof

Abstract

Anti-knock gasoline fuel compositions are provided including anti-knock additives and mixtures thereof. The octane quality of fuel for an internal combustion engine improved with the anti-knock additives.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY [0001] This application claims the benefit of filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 60 / 562,028 filed on Apr. 14, 2004 and 60 / 643,620 filed on Jan. 13, 2005, which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to anti-knock gasoline fuel compositions and methods of increasing octane index of the gasoline fuel. The invention also relates to methods of improving anti-knock of gasoline fuel by admixing the above-referenced compositions without significant environmental consequences. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0003] Fuels, particularly gasoline grade fuels have undergone many changes over the years in order to improve engine performance and reduce engine emissions. Many octane improving compounds used for improving engine performance and extending fuel supplies, such as tetraethyl lead, aromatic compounds, methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl, methyl tertiary butyl ether (“MTBE”) and other s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] The present invention relates to anti-knock fuel compositions and methods of increasing the octane index of gasoline using compounds of Formula I and optionally other additives. The invention also relates to methods of making high-octane gasoline or super octane refinery stream by admixing naphtha or low octane gasoline with above-referenced compositions without significant environmental consequences. A gasoline mixture can include organic compounds, oxygenates, organometallics, and solvents. The actual percentages of in the gasoline mixture can be optimized as needed to produce the desired increase in octane, using empirical methods. Octanising technology of the present invention can be applicable in both up-stream and down-stream of a refinery by using naphtha as a base fuel for up-stream and a sub-grade gasoline is a base fuel for downstream.

[0023] Embodiments of the invention may have one or more of the following advantages. The composition advantageously provides improved anti-knock properties. The composition of the present invention can provide antiknock additives for fuels as a refinery stream additive or in gasoline fuels used for internal combustion engines. The compositions of this invention can potentially replace fossil fuel up to 49% with renewable ethanol while providing significant boost in octane number. The composition can address formulation of clean fuels, increase octane requirement, increase compliance to emission standards, and use renewable fuel in conventional gasoline formulations.

Problems solved by technology

Many octane improving compounds used for improving engine performance and extending fuel supplies, such as tetraethyl lead, aromatic compounds, methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl, methyl tertiary butyl ether (“MTBE”) and other such additives, have fallen into disfavor because of concerns about adverse environmental consequences arising from their use.

If the engine is operated with a gasoline fuel, which has a lower octane number than the minimum requirement for the engine, “knocking” can occur.

Knocking occurs when a gasoline fuel spontaneously and prematurely ignites or detonates in the engine prior to spark plug initiated ignition.

Further accumulation of deposits on the intake valves of internal combustion engines, however presents problems.

The accumulation of such deposits is characterized by overall poor drivability including hard starting, stalls, and stumbles during acceleration and rough engine idle.

However, the use of chloro or fluoro compounds, as antiknock agents may be environmentally undesirable due to their detrimental effect on the ozone layer.

There are several limitations to the above described compounds as anti-knock fuel additives, for example, high cost, relatively low antiknock quality, hydrolytic, thermal or oxidative instability, low solubility in gasoline, environmental concern or high solubility in water.

Images