Biofuel Cold Flow Additive Blend for Low-Temperature Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current additives fail to effectively lower the cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of fatty acid esters derived from rapeseed, used fat, sunflower, and soybean oils to -10°C or -20°C, and their cold flow properties deteriorate over time, leading to sedimentation and filter blockages.
Innovation Solution
A fuel oil composition containing a specific blend of ethylene copolymers and comb polymers, with a weight ratio of 10:1 to 1:10, which includes a copolymer of ethylene and 13 to 17 mol% acrylic or vinyl ester, and a comb polymer with structural units from olefins and ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, improving the cold flow behavior and stability of fatty acid esters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional additives are used to improve cold flow properties of fatty acid esters, then the CFPP can be reduced to some extent, but the cold flow properties deteriorate over time leading to sedimentation and filter blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite additive system combining polymeric esters (acrylic and/or methacrylic acid esters) with specific molecular weight ranges (1,000-10,000 g/mol) and comb polymers containing olefin and dicarboxylic acid structural units. This composite approach creates synergistic effects where the polymeric esters provide initial CFPP reduction while the comb polymers maintain long-term cold flow stability, preventing the sedimentation and filter blockages that occur with single-additive systems.
2Use of energy by moving object
If fatty acid esters with high content of saturated fatty acid esters are used, then the energy density and calorific value are improved, but the cold flow properties are significantly worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the additive system to resolve the contradiction between energy density and cold flow properties. By controlling the molecular weight of polymeric esters (1,000-10,000 g/mol), the comonomer ratio (13-17 mol% acrylic/vinyl ester), and the comb polymer structure (parameter Q = 23-27), the additive effectively modifies the crystallization behavior of saturated fatty acid esters, enabling high energy density fuels to maintain CFPP values of -10°C or below even with significant saturated ester content.
3Temperature
If the CFPP is reduced to -10°C or below using additives, then the fuel becomes usable in winter conditions, but the additive concentration and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves CFPP reduction to -10°C or below through optimized parameter ranges rather than excessive additive concentrations. The specific molecular weight range (1,000-10,000 g/mol), comonomer content (13-17 mol%), and comb polymer parameter (Q = 23-27) create highly efficient cold flow modification at low additive levels, avoiding the need for complex multi-component systems or high concentrations that would increase fuel formulation complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a fuel oil additive comprising A) a copolymer of ethylene and 13 to 17 mol% of at least one acrylic or vinyl ester with a C1-C18 alkyl group and a melt viscosity V140 of at most 80 mPas, and B) a comb polymer comprising structural units of B1) at least one olefin as monomer 1, which carries at least one C8-C18 alkyl group at the olefinic double bond, and B2) at least one ethylene-unsaturated dicarboxylic acid as monomer 2, which carries at least one C8-C16 alkyl group bonded via an amide and/or imide group, wherein the parameter QQ=∑iw1i⋅n1i+∑jw2j⋅n2j, where w1 is the molar fraction of the individual chain lengths n1 in the alkyl groups of monomer 1. w2 the molar fraction of the individual chain lengths n2 in the alkyl groups of the amide and/or imide groups of monomer 2, n1 the individual chain lengths in the alkyl groups of monomer 1,n2 the individual chain lengths in the alkyl groups of the amide and/or imide groups of monomer 2, i the running variable for the chain lengths in the alkyl groups of monomer 1, and j the running variable for the chain lengths in the alkyl groups of the amide and/or imide groups of monomer 2, which takes on values from 23 to 27.