Gasoline Additive Composition for Direct Injection Deposit Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Direct injection spark ignition engines face challenges with deposit formation due to high temperatures and pressures, leading to efficiency changes and increased pollutant emissions, necessitating effective deposit control additives that can prevent or remove deposits at low treat rates without antagonistic interactions.

Innovation Solution

The use of quaternary ammonium salts derived from hydrocarbyl substituted succinic acid acylating agents, formed by reacting a hydrocarbyl substituted succinic acid derived acylating agent with a compound containing a tertiary amine group, which are then quaternized to form a quaternary ammonium salt additive, effectively removing deposits in direct injection spark ignition engines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If deposit control additives are used at high treat rates, then deposit removal effectiveness is improved, but environmental impact and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeposit removal effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical structure parameters of the additive by using quaternary ammonium salts with specific hydrocarbyl groups and succinic acid moieties. This structural modification enables the additive to achieve high deposit removal effectiveness at low treat rates, thereby reducing environmental impact while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a disposable fuel-soluble quaternary ammonium salt additive that is consumed during the deposit removal process. This single-use additive approach allows for effective deposit cleaning without requiring continuous presence in the fuel system, enabling low treat rates and reduced environmental burden

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If deposit control additives are used at high treat rates, then deposit removal effectiveness is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeposit removal effectivenessVSAvoidadditive quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By modifying the chemical parameters of the additive (using quaternary ammonium salts with specific structures including hydrocarbyl groups and succinic acid moieties), the invention achieves enhanced deposit removal performance per unit of additive, allowing effective operation at low treat rates and reducing the quantity of substance required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a consumable additive that performs its function and is then discarded with the exhaust. This disposable approach maximizes the efficiency of each additive molecule, enabling effective deposit removal with minimal additive quantity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If multiple deposit control additives are combined, then deposit control effectiveness is improved, but antagonistic interactions occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeposit control effectivenessVSAvoidadditive package complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The quaternary ammonium salt additive described in the patent performs multiple functions: it prevents deposit formation, removes existing deposits, and protects engine components. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate additives, simplifying the additive package while maintaining comprehensive deposit control effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines deposit prevention and removal capabilities into a single quaternary ammonium salt molecule. By merging these functions into one additive, the patent avoids antagonistic interactions between multiple additives while achieving comprehensive deposit control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Power

If direct injection is used to improve fuel efficiency, then power output is improved, but deposit formation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower outputVSAvoiddeposit formation

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The quaternary ammonium salt additive is introduced into the fuel before injection to preemptively counteract deposit formation. The additive protects the injector and combustion chamber from deposits caused by the high-temperature direct injection process, allowing power output improvement without the harmful side effect of increased deposit formation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS12467008B2Methods and uses relating to fuel compositions

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 INNOSPEC LTD

AI summary

A method of removing deposits in a direct injection spark ignition engine, the method including combusting in the engine a gasoline fuel composition having a quaternary ammonium salt additive wherein the quaternary ammonium salt additive includes the quaternised reaction product of a hydrocarbyl substituted succinic acid derived acylating agent and a compound able to react with said acylating agent and which includes a tertiary amine group; in which each molecule of the hydrocarbyl substituted succinic acid derived acylating agent includes on average at least 1.2 succinic acid moieties.