Ashless Amine Lubricant for Compression-Ignition Engine Acid Neutralization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engines face damage and reduced fuel economy due to ash formation from overbased detergents when switching between high-sulfur and low-sulfur fuels, necessitating a lubricant composition that can adapt to varying fuel sulfur levels while minimizing ash formation and emissions.
Innovation Solution
A lubricant composition for compression-ignition engines incorporating an ashless amine with a high total base number (TBN) and a detergent selected from metal sulfonates, phenates, salicylates, and thiophosphonates, which neutralizes acid without forming ash, allowing for reduced detergent usage and improved engine performance across different fuel sulfur levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If overbased detergent is used to neutralize acid from high-sulfur fuel combustion, then acid neutralization is improved, but ash formation increases and plates out onto engine components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the detergent from overbased detergent to amine additive. This parameter change allows the system to maintain acid neutralization capability while eliminating ash formation, as amines combust completely without leaving residual ash deposits on engine components.
Solution Approach 2:
The amine additive serves as a consumable acid neutralizer that is completely combusted and converted to harmless products (CO2, H2O, N2) rather than persisting as ash. This disposable approach allows the amine to neutralize acids during combustion while being fully consumed, leaving no harmful residues.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If overbased detergent is used in low-sulfur fuel to maintain acid neutralization, then acid neutralization is maintained, but excess detergent forms ash and damages engine components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detergent type parameter from overbased detergent to amine additive. This parameter change enables the system to provide adequate acid neutralization for low-sulfur fuel without the excess detergent forming ash deposits that damage engine components and reduce engine life.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If ash is formed from detergent combustion, then acid neutralization function is provided, but deposits build up on engine components and reduce fuel economy
Solution Approach 1:
The amine additive acts as a temporary, fully consumable acid neutralizer that is completely combusted during the fuel combustion process. It provides the necessary acid neutralization function but is entirely converted to harmless gaseous products, eliminating the formation of ash deposits that would otherwise reduce fuel economy by building up on engine components.
4Adaptability or versatility
If lubricant composition accommodates variations in fuel sulfur levels, then adaptability is improved, but composition complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the amine additive's inherent property of complete combustion without ash formation as a key parameter change. This single parameter change in the detergent type allows the lubricant composition to effectively accommodate variations in fuel sulfur levels, whether high-sulfur or low-sulfur fuel is used, without requiring complex formulation adjustments or multiple additive packages.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The lubricant composition effectively neutralizes acids, reduces ash formation, and minimizes engine damage, while maintaining fuel economy and controlling emissions, even when transitioning between high-sulfur and low-sulfur fuels.
Implementation Method 1
The amine is basic, soluble in base oils and fuels, and chemically stable, yet does not produce ash when combusted (i.e., is ashless according to ASTM D 874 and as understood in the art)
Implementation Method 2
The lubricant composition is added to the fuel to lubricate various components of the engine (e.g. the cylinder and the piston)
Implementation Method 3
the mixture is introduced into a cylinder of the engine and combusted to move a piston and power the engine
Data Source
AI summary
A lubricant composition for a compression-ignition internal combustion engine comprises: (i) an amine as an ashless fuel additive having a total base number (“TBN”) of from about 275 to about 600 mg KOH/g when tested according to ASTM D2896; and (ii) a detergent selected from metal sulfonates, phenates, salicylates, carboxylates, thiophosphonates, and combinations thereof. The lubricant composition has a TBN of from about 20 to about 130 mg KOH/g when tested according to ASTM D2896. The amine contributes greater than about 30% of the TBN of the lubricant composition. Further, a method of lubricating an internal combustion engine with the lubricant composition comprises the steps of injecting a fuel and the lubricant composition into a cylinder to form a mixture, and combusting the mixture via compression-ignition.