Fuels and fuel additives comprising ester derivatives of 5-methyl-2-furoic acid

Abstract

Ester derivatives of furoic acids and in particular of 5-methyl-2-furoic acid can be used as fuel as fuel additives. Such esters can be used to displace crude oil products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, etc. As fuel additives, such esters had been shown to improve the performance of spark ignition internal combustion engines, compression ignition internal combustion engines. In addition, testing shows indications that said molecule will improve the performance of air breathing engines as well.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority as a continuation in part of PCT application PCT / US2013 / 059836, filed Sep. 14, 2013; and to the following US provisional applications to which said application claimed priority: 61 / 818,418, filed May 1, 2013, 61 / 714,225, filed Oct. 1, / 2012, and 61 / 705,082, filed Sep. 24, 2012. This application claims priority as a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13 / 817,452, filed Mar. 5, 2013, and to the following applications to which said application claimed priority: PCT / US2011 / 048009 filed Aug. 17, 2011; 61 / 375,189, filed Aug. 19, 2010; and 61 / 375,367, filed Aug. 20, 2010. Each of the foregoing applications is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND ART[0002]The present invention concerns the use of molecules of Formula I (as shown in FIG. 1) as fuels and fuels additives, where R is hydrogen, alkyl, or aromatic with 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or combination of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and R[sub]1 ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]Improved fuel combustion efficiency as described above is reflected in measurements of octane rating and / or fuel economy and / or emissions quality. A further advantage of the present invention is that in a mixture comprising of molecules of Formula II and gasoline fuel the Reid vapor pressure of the fuel is not adversely affected. That is, the Reid vapor pressure is desirably lowered. This is a distinct advantage since potentially low cost, highly volatile, fuel components such as butanes can then be blended into the fuel without exceeding the desired vapor pressure limit.

[0013]Fuel blends for SIICE can comprise up to 100% of molecules of Formula II with appropriate modifications to the engine and / or fuel systems. For example, a high compression and / or forced induction engine with appropriate fuel pumps and fuel injectors with higher mass flow rate can utilize a fuel comprising up to 100% of molecules of Formula II.

[0014]Molecules of Formula II can comprise up to 100% by volume of the fuel for compression ignition internal combustion engines (CIICE) with little to no reduction in engine performance. In this case, 70% to 99.99% of the fuel will be composed of typical fuel blends that are used in CIICE, such as those used for transportation, recreation and general work, and which the properties of the mixture are referenced by standards such as ASTM D975. This fuel is commonly referred to as Diesel. The use of biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters) in the blend is also possible. The use of molecules of Formula II as described herein also serves to reduce and / or limit particulate matter generation in CIICE engines. The lubricating properties of molecules of Formula II can increase the useable life of the engine itself and / or components within the engine and / or the fuel systems. Molecules of Formula II that are particularly useful for this invention include those where R[sub]1 is an alkyl with between 1 and 12 carbon atoms.

[0015]Molecules of Formula II can be used at up to 100% to provide the energy required for the engine to generate work in fuel blends that are typical for use with external combustion engines.

[0016]Molecules of Formula II can comprise up to 50% by volume of the fuel for air-breathing combustion engines with little to no reduction in engine performance. In this case, 80% to 99.99% of the fuel can be composed of typical fuel blends that are used in air-breathing engines, such as those used for transportation, recreation and general work, and which the properties of the mixture are referenced by standards such as ASTM D1655 and / or ASTM D7566. This fuel is commonly referred to as Jet Fuel. The use of molecules of Formula II as described herein also serves to reduce and / or limit particulate matter generation in air-breathing engines. The lubricating properties of molecules of Formula II can increase the useable life of the engine itself and / or components within the engine and / or the fuel system. Molecules of Formula II that are particularly useful for this invention include those where R[sub]1 is an alkyl with between 1 and 12 carbon atoms.

Problems solved by technology

However, the use of MTBE in gasoline had been drastically reduced in later years due to contamination of large amount of groundwater as a result of comparatively small gasoline leaks.

However, the use of ethanol is limited to gasoline and even as a blended component in gasoline has some shortfalls.

This can result in the accelerated corrosion of a fuel system as well as plugging of fuel filters by the corrosion products.

Also, increased wear from the fuel wetted components, such as fuel pumps, injectors, etc., is a known phenomenon.

Another shortfall of ethanol is its comparatively low energy density, with regard to gasoline, a property that reduces the fuel economy of the vehicle.

Ethanol was tested heavily as a potential candidate to reduce particulate matter in diesel, but was shown to reduce the flash point to a level that renders the blend unusable in diesel engines.

Due to its low energy content, the use of ethanol in jet fuel is generally not acceptable by the engine manufacturer.

Other oxygenates showed similarly poor performance in both diesel and jet fuels.

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