Combustible Mixed Butanol Fuels

Abstract

A fuel composition including mixed butanols, such as for example, 2-butanol, iso-butanol and tert-butanol, preferably 2-butanol and tert-butanol is provided. Methods of preparing and using the mixed butanols composition as combustible neat fuels and / or oxygenate fuel constituents in gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, aviation gasoline, heating oil, bunker oil, and the like are also provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 222,374, filed on Jul. 1, 2009, which hereby is incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a fuel component and composition and an octane enhancer, including the method of creating the same.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Internal combustion engines are commonly used on mobile platforms, in remote areas or in lawn and garden tools. There are various types of internal combustion engines. Spark type engines compress volatile fuels, such as gasoline, before ignition. Compression type engines take in air and compress it to generate the heat necessary to ignite the fuel, such as diesel.[0006]When a fuel (gasoline or diesel) is combusted, it produces pollutants in the form of hydrocarbons (HC), sulfuric oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monox...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]The current invention includes compositions of at least two of 2-butanol, iso-butanol or tert-butanol, in combination with or as a fuel for use in combustion or compression engines. In a preferred embodiment, 2-butanol, iso-butanol and tert-butanol are used. The at least two or more of 2-butanol, iso-butanol or tert-butanol are referred to as “mixed butanols” hereafter. Mixed butanols are useful as a combustible neat fuel or as an oxygenate fuel constituent in gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, aviation gasoline, heating oil, bunker oil or other similarly hydrocarbon based fuel stock to create a butanol enhanced fuel. The combustible neat fuel and the butanol enhanced fuel demonstrate numerous benefits in comparison to gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, aviation gasoline, heating oil, bunker oil or other similarly hydrocarbon based fuels without the mixed butanols. These benefits include increased demonstrated combustion efficiency, reduced emissions of harmful gases and particulate matter. Also, the butanol enhanced fuel and the combustible neat fuel show improved BTU content on a volumetric basis when compared to similar fuels containing substantial amounts of methanol or ethanol. In addition to these benefits, mixed butanols act as an octane enhancer as a replacement to tetra-ethyl-lead, MTBE, methanol, ethanol, MMT and other octane boosters. Mixed butanols do not suffer from the drawbacks associated with these other octane boosters. In the case of the butanol enhanced fuel, mixed butanols demonstrate low and stable Reid vapor pressure blending characteristics. Given the reduced corrosiveness of mixed butanols as compared to methanol / ethanol, the combustible neat fuel or the butanol enhanced fuel can be safely stored in existing storage and transportation facilities and can be used in modern engines without engine modifications. An added benefit is the low toxicity of the mixed butanols and the relative biodegradability which makes the mixed butanols a clear choice for environmental reasons to replace other octane boosters.

[0020]Butanol isomers, due to their different structures, have somewhat different physical properties. Isobutanol, 2-butanol, and n-butanol have only limited solubility in water, as contrasted to methanol, ethanol, and propanol, which are fully miscible with water. Therefore, the mixed butanol of the current invention provides environmental advantages over the use of C1-C3 alcohols. 2-butanol is particularly preferred as a predominant portion of the mixed butanols.

[0023]In the current invention, there is an absence of substantial amounts of long chain alcohols. Long chain alcohols, such as octanol and higher, are also absent. The mixed butanols are effective to raise octane rate in the absence of dodecanol, a commonly used octane booster, or other expensive oxygenates.

[0028]Similar to the lower alcohols, lower ketones (such as acetone) are highly water soluble. The current invention is practiced substantially in the absence of such lower ketones. Another advantage of the invention and the exclusion of the use of methanol and ethanol is the ability to also exclude long chain alkyl esters and fatty acids that are often used with methanol / ethanol to maintain a minimum Cetane number of about 40 and to assure that diesel burns efficiently.

[0029]Due to the beneficial Reid vapor pressure of the mixed butanols, the glycerol ether often added to methanol / ethanol fuels to reduce vapor pressure can be eliminated as well.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, fuels in warm climates tend to evaporate due to the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Unfortunately, at that time, many of the elastomeric engine seals, hoses and gasket components were designed only for gasoline or diesel and deteriorated with the use of ethanol.

Further limitations exist with respect to the use of grain-based fuels.

For example, grain ethanol is expensive to produce.

Furthermore, producing sufficient quantities of grain ethanol to satisfy the needs of the transportation industry is not practical because food crops and feed crops are and have been diverted into fuel.

However, long chain alcohols are relatively expensive to produce.

The methanol-based and ethanol-based diesel also suffer from the drawback that they need other additives, such as long chain alcohol, alkyl esters and fatty acids to maintain a minimum Cetane number above 40 and to assure the diesel burns efficiently.

MTBE is itself a pollutant, having an objectionable and strong odor and taste and having been classified as a potential human carcinogen.

MTBE leakage from underground storage tanks has created a demand for an alternative product, particularly as MTBE is soluble in water (42 g / L @ 25° C.) and is low in biodegradability thereby polluting ground water.

The industry is replacing MTBE with the use of fermented grain ethanol, but as discussed above, producing the necessary quantities of grain ethanol to replace MTBE is problematic in specific regions.

MMT is able to increase octane but it increases emissions, which may have an adverse effect on health and exhaust catalytic conversion systems.