Synergistic Fuel Additive for Injector Deposit Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel additives are ineffective in maintaining the efficiency of fuel injectors, particularly in low sulfur fuels, and may separate in hydrocarbon fuels due to high water solubility, leading to deposit formation and reduced engine performance.
Innovation Solution
A synergistic fuel additive mixture comprising an alkoxylated quaternary ammonium salt and a hydrocarbyl compound with hydrogen-bonding groups, which reduces deposit formation and improves injector performance by restoring power, is used in internal combustion engines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional quaternary ammonium salts are used as detergents, then deposit cleaning capability is improved, but water solubility increases causing separation in hydrocarbon fuels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the molecular structure of quaternary ammonium salts by changing the hydrocarbon chain length and branching parameters. Specifically, using alkyl groups with 8-25 carbon atoms (with at least one having 8+ carbons) adjusts the HLB value to reduce water solubility while maintaining detergent effectiveness, preventing separation in hydrocarbon fuels
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite detergent system by combining quaternary ammonium salts with specific hydrocarbyl compounds (containing hydrogen-bonding groups like carboxylic acids, phenols, or amides). This composite approach synergistically improves deposit cleaning capability while the hydrocarbyl component modulates solubility characteristics to prevent fuel separation
2Object-generated harmful factors
If low sulfur fuels are used, then emissions are reduced, but deposit formation in engines increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies detergent additives preliminarily to prevent deposit formation before it occurs. The quaternary ammonium salt and hydrocarbyl compound combination proactively cleans fuel injector surfaces and prevents sulfur-related deposits from forming, compensating for the reduced sulfur content's inability to provide natural cleaning
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the fuel system by introducing specific detergent compounds. The quaternary ammonium salt with modified alkyl groups and paired hydrocarbyl compound alters the chemical environment in the fuel system to prevent deposit formation that would otherwise occur with low sulfur fuels
3Object-affected harmful factors
If alkoxylated quaternary ammonium salts are used, then injector cleaning performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detergent function into two separate components: the alkoxylated quaternary ammonium salt providing the primary cleaning mechanism, and the hydrocarbyl compound providing secondary cleaning and solubility modulation. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured using established processes rather than requiring complex synthesis of a single multifunctional molecule
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 additive mixture effectively cleans up dirty fuel injectors, improves power recovery, and minimizes deposit formation in both direct and indirect injected engines, outperforming individual components in terms of power restoration and deposit reduction.
Implementation Method 1
The additive concentrate includes a mixture of (a) an alkoxylated quaternary ammonium salt... and (b) a hydrocarbyl compound containing a hydrogen-bonding group... synergistic fuel additive mixture that is effective to enhance the performance of fuel injectors
Implementation Method 2
a hydrocarbyl compound containing a hydrogen-bonding group other than an alkyl hydroxyl group... effectively cleans up dirty fuel injectors... minimizes deposit formation
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provide a sulfur-free and halogen-free synergistic additive concentrate for a fuel injected engine. The additive concentrate includes (a) an alkoxylated quaternary ammonium salt of the formula (R1)nN[(R2O)xH]m, wherein R1 contains from 1 to 25 carbon atoms, R2 contains from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, n and m are each integers from 1 to 3, provided n+m=4, and x is an integer of from 1 to 5; and (b) a material containing a hydrogen-bonding group other than an alkyl hydroxyl group selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbyl acid; hydrocarbyl polyacid; hydrocarbyl substituted hydroxybenzene; hydrocarbyl substituted succinic diamide, acid/amide, diacid, diester, ester/acid, amide/ester, imide; aminotriazole, and mixtures thereof, wherein the hydrocarbyl substituent has a number average molecular weight of from about 100 to about 1500, and wherein a weight ratio of (a) to (b) in the additive ranges from about 1:5 to about 1:1.