Fuel Blending Component for Reducing Criteria Emissions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fuel compositions for internal combustion engines fail to effectively reduce criteria emissions such as particulate number, nitrogen oxides, and total hydrocarbons, necessitating the development of low-emission fuels that are compatible with existing vehicle fleets and comply with stringent emission standards.
Innovation Solution
A fuel blending component composition comprising branched alkanes, cyclic alkanes, alkylate components, and oxygenates, which is blended with conventional fuels to significantly reduce emissions when combusted in internal combustion engines, particularly in spark ignition engines, achieving reductions in particulate, NOx, and THC emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional fuels are used in internal combustion engines, then fuel compatibility and energy density are maintained, but criteria emissions (particulate number, nitrogen oxides, total hydrocarbons) remain high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by creating a fuel blending component composition that combines multiple hydrocarbon components (branched alkanes, cyclic alkanes, alkylate components) in specific proportions. This composite fuel formulation achieves reduced criteria emissions while maintaining compatibility with existing spark ignition engines, resolving the contradiction between emission reduction and fuel compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by modifying the chemical composition parameters of the fuel - specifically controlling the proportions of different hydrocarbon components (branched alkanes 20-60%, cyclic alkanes 10-40%, alkylate components 10-30%). These parameter adjustments enable the fuel to achieve lower particulate number, nitrogen oxides, and total hydrocarbon emissions while maintaining engine compatibility.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If fuel formulations are modified to reduce emissions, then criteria emissions decrease, but fuel composition complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the contradiction between emission reduction and composition complexity by making targeted parameter changes - establishing specific concentration ranges for three main component groups (branched alkanes 20-60%, cyclic alkanes 10-40%, alkylate components 10-30%). This structured approach achieves over 60% reduction in particulate number emissions while maintaining manageable fuel composition complexity through defined blending ratios.
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 fuel blending component composition achieves emissions reductions of over 60% in particulate emissions, up to 30% in NOx emissions, and up to 20% in THC emissions when blended at low concentrations with gasoline, as measured by the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, and demonstrates effectiveness across various drive cycles.
Implementation Method 1
achieves reductions on a spark ignition engine (SI) of more than 60% in particulate emissions when blended with a reference gasoline
Implementation Method 2
up to 30% in NOx emissions when blended with a reference gasoline in concentrations as low as 10% by volume
Implementation Method 3
up to 20% in THC emissions on the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP)
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure provides a fuel formulation that, as a blending component, at a certain blending volume range, with transportation fuels significantly reduces criteria emissions (i.e., particle number (PN) emissions, Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emissions, Total Hydrocarbon (THC) emissions) when compared to existing market fuels. The fuel blending component formulation comprises one or more branched alkane components, one or more cyclic alkane components, one or more alkylate component and one or more oxygenate component. The fuel blending component composition achieves reductions on a spark ignition engine (SI) of more than 60% in particulate emissions, up to 30% in NOx emissions, and up to 20% in THC emissions when blended with a reference gasoline in concentrations as low as 10% by volume. A method for reducing criteria emissions is also provided.