Butanol Fuel Compatibility with Elastomers and Fiberglass

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for improved alternative fuel compositions and processes that conserve oil reserves while meeting environmental and automotive performance standards, particularly regarding the compatibility of butanol-containing fuels with automotive materials and components, where limited information is available on the effects of butanol on these materials.

Innovation Solution

Development of hydrocarbon compositions with at least 12% renewable components comprising butanol, which are compatible with elastomers and fiberglass tank resins, maintaining or improving performance properties such as durometer hardness, tensile strength, and electrical conductivity, and reducing emissions, through methods that compare these properties with ethanol-containing fuels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If butanol-containing fuels are used to replace ethanol-containing fuels, then fuel economy and energy content are improved, but compatibility with automotive materials and components becomes uncertain due to limited information available

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel economyVSAvoidcompatibility with automotive materials

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary compatibility testing of butanol-containing fuels with various automotive materials (elastomers, fiberglass tank resins) before widespread adoption. This advance evaluation establishes baseline data on material interactions, allowing engineers to identify compatible materials and make informed decisions about fuel formulation and material selection, thereby resolving the uncertainty about compatibility while maintaining the energy benefits of butanol

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent systematically varies the concentration of butanol in fuel blends (e.g., B5, B10, B15, B20 formulations) to determine the threshold levels at which compatibility issues arise. By changing the butanol concentration parameter and observing material responses, the study identifies safe operating ranges that maintain both fuel economy benefits and material compatibility, resolving the contradiction between energy content and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If higher concentrations of butanol are used in fuel blends, then gasoline displacement and energy content are improved, but potential negative effects on automotive materials increase due to unknown compatibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegasoline displacementVSAvoidpotential material degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent evaluates fuel blends with progressively higher butanol concentrations (B5, B10, B15, B20) to determine the maximum safe concentration level. By testing partial (lower concentrations) and excessive (higher concentrations) butanol content, the study identifies the optimal range that achieves maximum gasoline displacement while remaining below the threshold for material degradation, thus resolving the contradiction between quantity of renewable fuel and potential harmful effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses small-scale laboratory testing with various material samples to rapidly screen for compatibility issues before full-scale implementation. This approach uses minimal amounts of both fuel and test materials to gather sufficient data, allowing high concentrations of butanol to be evaluated safely and economically for their potential to displace gasoline without causing widespread material damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Loss of substance

If butanol-containing fuels are adopted as alternative fuel, then oil reserve conservation is improved, but lack of performance data on automotive materials creates uncertainty

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil reserve conservationVSAvoidperformance data on materials

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent generates its own performance data by conducting systematic compatibility testing with automotive materials. Rather than relying on external sources or making assumptions, the study independently measures the effects of butanol-containing fuels on elastomers, fiberglass tank resins, and other materials, thereby creating the missing information needed to support oil reserve conservation through informed fuel adoption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the need for extensive field testing and trial-and-error approaches with controlled laboratory experiments using standardized test methods. By substituting systematic laboratory measurement for mechanical trial-and-error in the field, the study efficiently generates reliable performance data on material compatibility, reducing information loss while supporting alternative fuel adoption for oil conservation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9217737B2Multimedia evaluation of butanol-containing fuels

Publication Date: 2015.12.22 GEVO INC

AI summary

The present invention is related to hydrocarbon compositions comprising butanol that have substantially the same or improved performance properties than comparable hydrocarbon compositions comprising ethanol and to methods for identifying such compositions.