Biofuel Cold Flow Additives via Composite Polymer Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing additives fail to reliably achieve a Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP) of −20° C. or lower for fatty acid esters derived from rapeseed, sunflower, and soya oils, and they lack stability when stored at cold temperatures, leading to a gradual increase in CFPP values.
Innovation Solution
An additive comprising ethylene copolymers and comb polymers with specific structural units, where the sum of molar averages of carbon chain lengths in alkyl radicals and amide/imide groups ranges from 23 to 27, is used to improve the cold flow behavior of fatty acid esters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing additives are used for fatty acid esters, then the cold flow behavior is partially improved, but the CFPP value cannot reliably reach −20° C. or lower and stability during cold storage is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a composite additive system combining two distinct polymer types: ethylene copolymers with vinyl esters and comb polymers with specific monomer compositions. This composite approach allows the additive to simultaneously achieve deep CFPP values (−20° C. or lower) and maintain stability during cold storage, resolving the limitation of single-component additives that could only partially improve cold flow behavior.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If triglycerides and fatty acid esters are used as fuel alternatives, then environmental benefits are achieved, but the flow behavior at low temperatures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the physical parameters of biofuels at low temperatures through the addition of polymer additives that change the crystallization behavior of triglycerides and fatty acid esters. The ethylene copolymer and comb polymer components interact with the fuel molecules to prevent excessive crystal formation and maintain fluidity, enabling the environmentally beneficial biofuels to flow properly at winter temperatures.
3Stability of the object's composition
If oils with high uniformity are used, then chemical consistency is improved, but cold flow properties deteriorate due to uniform crystallization
Solution Approach 1:
The additive system introduces local structural variations into the uniformly composed biofuel. The ethylene copolymer and comb polymer create localized regions with different crystallization characteristics that disrupt the uniform crystal network formation. This local modification allows the bulk fuel to maintain its chemical uniformity and stability while the localized additive-fuel interactions prevent excessive crystal growth and maintain cold flow properties.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an additive comprisingA) a copolymer of ethylene and 8-21 mol % of at least one acrylic or vinyl ester having a C1-C18-alkyl radical andB) a comb polymer containing structural units ofB1) at least one olefin as monomer 1, which bears at least one C8-C18-alkyl radical on the olefinic double bond, andB2) at least one ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid as monomer 2, which bears at least one C8-C16-alkyl radical bonded via an amide and/or imide moiety, wherein the sum QQ=∑iw1i·n1i+∑jw2j·n2jof the molar averages of the carbon chain length distributions in the alkyl radicals of monomer 1 on the one hand and the alkyl radicals of the amide and/or imide groups of monomer 2 on the other hand is from 23 to 27, wherew1 is the molar proportion of the individual chain lengths in the alkyl radicals of monomer 1,w2 is the molar proportion of the individual chain lengths in the alkyl radicals of the amide and/or imide groups of monomer 2,n1 are the individual chain lengths in the alkyl radicals of monomer 1,n2 are the individual chain lengths in the alkyl radicals of the amide and/or imide groups of monomer 2,i is the serial variable for the individual chain lengths in the alkyl radicals of monomer 1, andj is the serial variable for the individual chain lengths in the alkyl radicals of the amide and/or imide groups of monomer 2.