Residual fuel oil additive

Abstract

Fuel additives are disclosed for high-asphaltene carbonaceous fuels such as residual fuel oil or coal. Such additives provide improved combustion characteristics. Such improved combustion characteristics include one or both of improved efficiency and decreased emissions of pollutants. In particular, the fuel additives include an extract from a plant such as fescue, alfeque, or alfalfa, and optionally, an organometallic compound. The use of a fuel additive including both a plant extract and an organometallic compound is particularly useful in improving the combustion characteristics of fuels with particularly high asphaltene content.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60 / 753,318, filed Dec. 21, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The invention pertains to fuel additives for carbonaceous fuels having high asphaltene content such as residual fuel oil and coal. Benefits from the use of such fuel additives may include one or more of reduced particulate matter emissions, reduced nitrogen oxide emissions, and improved combustion efficiency.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Carbonaceous fuels with high asphaltene content such as residual fuel oil and coal tend to liberate large amounts of energy on combustion, and therefore, find utility in applications where a low cost, high energy fuel is desired. However, such high-asphaltene carbonaceous fuels generally burn with less efficiency than other hydrocarbon fuels, and may often contain quantities of undesirable compounds that limit combustion and ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]Embodiments of the present invention include systems, methods, and compositions which may provide improved combustion characteristics of high-asphaltene carbonaceous fuels. Examples of the combustion characteristics which may be improved by embodiments of the invention include one or both of increased combustion efficiency, and reduced pollutant discharge. Examples of the pollutants which may be reduced include one or more of ozone, particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide, polynuclear aromatic compounds, and soluble organic fractions.

Problems solved by technology

However, such high-asphaltene carbonaceous fuels generally burn with less efficiency than other hydrocarbon fuels, and may often contain quantities of undesirable compounds that limit combustion and result in elevated levels of pollutants.

However, in other parts of the world, asphaltene specifications tend to be either non-existent, or significantly higher than those in North America.

In Southern California, for example, emissions from ships entering the port of Los Angeles are considered to be a major cause of regional air pollution.

However, such an approach is difficult for residual fuels, and the drawbacks to such an approach include high costs in reconfiguring refinery processes, and possible negative effects on the quantity or quality of other refinery products.

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