Fuel Additive Mixtures for Low Temperature Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel additive concentrates containing friction modifiers made from diethanolamine and fatty acids are unstable at low temperatures, making it difficult to formulate stable fuel compositions that remain fluid and homogeneous, which is essential for improving friction, wear reduction, and fuel economy in direct injection gasoline engines.
Innovation Solution
A fuel additive concentrate comprising a mixture of N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)alkylamide, 2-((2-(bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino)ethyl)amino)ethyl alkanoate, and fatty acid esters and amides derived from a self-condensation product of diethanolamine, with a specific weight ratio, that remains fluid down to -20°C and is devoid of glycerin, enhancing low temperature compatibility and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If friction modifiers made from diethanolamine and fatty acids are used to reduce friction and wear, then friction and wear reduction is improved, but low temperature stability of the additive concentrate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the friction modifier by using diethanolamine self-condensation products (containing multiple amino groups) instead of conventional diethanolamine. This structural modification allows the additive to maintain both friction reduction effectiveness and low temperature stability in the concentrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite additive system combining diethanolamine self-condensation products with specific fatty acids (saturated or mono-unsaturated C12-C18). This composite approach produces an additive mixture that achieves both wear protection and improved low temperature compatibility without requiring excessive solvents or compatibilizers.
2Stability of the object's composition
If compatibilizers and solvents are added to improve low temperature fluidity, then low temperature stability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for large amounts of solvents and compatibilizers by using a fundamentally different additive chemistry. The diethanolamine self-condensation product-based friction modifiers achieve low temperature stability intrinsically, removing the requirement for costly additives like polyisobutene Mannich bases and various compatibilizers.
3Reliability
If fatty acid based amine and alkanolamide friction modifiers are used to reduce friction, then friction reduction is improved, but ease of handling at low temperatures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical state parameters of the friction modifier by using diethanolamine self-condensation products with specific molecular structures. This changes the material from waxy or solid states to liquid states that remain fluid and easy to handle at low ambient temperatures while maintaining friction reduction effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel additive concentrate for gasoline, a gasoline fuel containing an additive mixture, a method for reducing wear in an engine and in a fuel delivery system of a gasoline engine, and a method for improving injector performance. The additive concentrate includes an aromatic solvent and a mixture that contains (i) N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)alkylamide, (ii) 2-((2-(bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino)ethyl)amino)ethyl alkanoate and N-(2-(bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino)ethyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)alkylamide, and (iii) fatty acid ester(s) and amide(s) derived from a selfcondensation product of diethanolamine (DEA) containing at least 3 amino groups. A weight ratio of (i) to (ii) to (iii) in the concentrate ranges from about 8:2:0 to about 2:5:3. The fuel additive mixture is substantially devoid of glycerin and remains fluid at a temperature down to about -20 °C.