Ternary fuel compositions containing biodiesel, plant oil and lower alcohols for feeding diesel-cycle motors

Abstract

Fuel compositions based on biodiesel, lower alcohols and plant oil for feeding Diesel cycle engines, enabling more perfect burning, less emission of pollutants and less formation of internal deposits of impurities onto the inner surface of engines. Since the blends exhibit density similar to that of diesel oil, as well as chemical affinity for the latter (since it contains biodiesel, which performs the function of co-solvent), the present invention also relates to compositions of quaternary blends, that is, junction of the ternary blends proposed (biodiesel, lower alcohol and vegetable oil) with petroleum diesel in the most varied proportions. The preferred embodiment of this invention provides the replacement of fuel of non-renewable source (diesel oil) by others of renewable source, which are natural, non-toxic, biodegradable and that have excellent technical performance.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to the technology that deals with fuel compositions based on biodiesel, alcohol like anhydrous alcohol, and vegetable oil, to be applied to Diesel cycle engines. Moreover, these compositions are technologically superior to Diesel oil, since they promote more perfect burning, less emission of pollutants and less formation of impurities deposits on the internal components of engines. Alternatively, the invention also deals with compositions as described above, associated to petrodiesel, in different proportions.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Biodiesel, a traditional substitute for diesel oil, since it has cetane number and viscosity suitable for use on Diesel cycle engines, is a very expensive product, because, besides the high price of raw material (vegetable oil), there is cost aggregation on the order of 25% in the processing phase.[0003]On the other hand, cheaper fuels like “in natura” vegetable oils, and chiefly ethanol,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021](i) decrease in the delay in ignition of the final fuel (blends of biodiesel, alcohol, preferably anhydrous ethanol, and vegetable oil) due to the lower flash point of alcohol and to its greater volatility and higher cetane number of biodiesel, which means an increase in the thermal efficiency and greater acceleration, mainly at low rotations, due to the more intense vaporization of the fuel used;

[0022](ii) decrease in the final viscosity of the fuel used in comparison with the use of the most varied pure vegetable oils, which facilitates the pulverization of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber and results in decrease or elimination of the formation of sludge and varnish (caused by polymerization of the fuel—coking) in the injection pump, on the injection nozzles and inside the cylinders, besides contributing to a more complete combustion, with the consequent increase in thermal efficiency and reduction in emission of pollutants, among which are nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and free hydrocarbons;

[0023](iii) lowering of the temperature of beginning of crystallization (cloud point) of the final fuel because they contain alcohol, preferably ethanol or methanol, in their composition, leading to smaller start problems when such blends are used in environments of low temperatures.

Problems solved by technology

Biodiesel, a traditional substitute for diesel oil, since it has cetane number and viscosity suitable for use on Diesel cycle engines, is a very expensive product, because, besides the high price of raw material (vegetable oil), there is cost aggregation on the order of 25% in the processing phase.

On the other hand, cheaper fuels like “in natura” vegetable oils, and chiefly ethanol, exhibit technical problems when used on Diesel cycle engines.

Vegetable oils, in spite of having cetane number compatible with compression ignition engines, have too high viscosity, which leads to the formation of carbon and sludge deposits on the engines, when they are used.

On the other hand, ethanol has too low viscosity and cetane number, which does not meet the requirements for a good fuel for Diesel cycle.

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