Lubricating Base Oil Isomerization for Low-Temperature Viscosity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lubricating oils face challenges in achieving both high fuel efficiency and low-temperature viscosity characteristics while maintaining high-temperature high-shear viscosity, due to the inverse relationship between low-temperature and viscosity-temperature characteristics, and the limitations of existing additives and refining processes.
Innovation Solution
A hydrocarbon-based lubricating base oil is produced through a process involving hydocracking/hydroisomerization of feed stock oils, with specific urea adduct value measurement and NMR analysis to optimize the ratio of normal and isoparaffins, and the addition of a poly(meth)acrylate-based viscosity index improver to enhance viscosity index and low-temperature performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the isomerization rate from normal paraffins to isoparaffins is increased to improve low-temperature viscosity characteristic, then the viscosity at low temperature is reduced, but the viscosity-temperature characteristic (viscosity index) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the isomerization reaction conditions (temperature, pressure, catalyst type, and reaction time) to achieve an optimal balance between low-temperature viscosity and viscosity index. By adjusting these parameters, the process produces base oils with both improved low-temperature flow properties and maintained viscosity-temperature characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite molecular structure in the base oil by combining isomerized components (isoparaffins) with controlled amounts of unisomerized normal paraffins and other hydrocarbon fractions. This composite composition allows the oil to exhibit both low-temperature fluidity from isoparaffins and high viscosity index from the balanced molecular distribution.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional evaluation standards (pour point, freezing point) are used to assess low-temperature performance, then production cost is reduced, but the evaluation accuracy for actual low-temperature viscosity characteristic is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical evaluation methods (pour point, freezing point tests) with a chemical composition-based evaluation system. By measuring and controlling the normal paraffin content and isomerization rate through analytical chemistry methods, the patent achieves more accurate prediction of low-temperature viscosity characteristics while maintaining practical applicability in production.
3Use of energy by moving object
If kinematic viscosity is reduced to improve fuel efficiency, then fuel efficiency is improved, but high-temperature high-shear viscosity is reduced leading to increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a base oil with differentiated molecular characteristics that provide different properties at different temperature ranges. The isomerized base oil structure provides low viscosity at operating temperatures for fuel efficiency, while maintaining sufficient high-temperature viscosity through controlled molecular weight distribution and branching patterns to ensure wear protection.
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 resulting lubricating oil composition exhibits superior fuel efficiency, low evaporation properties, and improved low-temperature viscosity at -35°C, while maintaining high-temperature high-shear viscosity at 150°C, without the need for synthetic oils, and reduces kinematic viscosity at 40°C and 100°C, significantly improving CCS viscosity at -35°C.
Implementation Method 1
Known methods for producing high-viscosity-index base oils include methods in which feed stock oils containing natural or synthetic normal paraffins are subjected to lubricating base oil refining by hydrocracking/hydroisomerization
Implementation Method 2
feed stock oils containing natural or synthetic normal paraffins are subjected to lubricating base oil refining by hydrocracking/hydroisomerization
Implementation Method 3
the urea adduct value is not greater than 4% by mass, the viscosity index is 100 or higher... (ii) the value obtained by dividing an integral value of a peak in 30 ppm by an integral value of total peaks in the range of from 0 ppm to 50 ppm for the 13C NMR spectrum of the lubricating base oil is 0.1 to 0.2
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing a hydrocarbon-based lubricating base oil comprising: a step of hydrocracking/hydroisomerization of a feed stock oil containing normal paraffins, so that a urea adduct value of an obtained treated product is not greater than 4 % by mass, a viscosity index is 100 or higher, an average of carbon atoms number is 23-31 as determined by gas chromatography distillation, a value obtained by dividing an integral value of a peak in 30 ppm by an integral value of total peaks in the range from 0 ppm to 50 ppm for the 13C-NMR spectrum is 0.1-0.2, and a product of a value obtained by dividing an integral value of peaks attributed to tertiary carbon atoms by an integral value of total peaks in the range of from 0 ppm to 50 ppm for the 13C-NMR spectrum, and the average of carbon atoms number, is 1.8-2.5.