LPG Fuel Additives for Oxyfuel Cutting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuels for oxyfuel processes, such as acetylene, have drawbacks including high cost, difficulty in storage and transportation, and environmental toxicity, necessitating the development of alternative fuels that maintain performance without these limitations.

Innovation Solution

A fuel composition comprising liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) combined with specific additives, such as compounds of formula (Ia) and antioxidant agents, which enhance burning efficiency and flame temperature, thereby improving cutting and welding performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If acetylene is used as fuel for oxyfuel processes, then flame temperature and cutting speed are maximized, but cost increases, storage and transportation become difficult, and environmental toxicity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting speedVSAvoidenvironmental toxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive and environmentally harmful acetylene with LPG, a cheaper and cleaner fuel source. The additive package (0.01-0.5% by weight) enhances LPG's combustion properties to achieve acetylene-level performance, making the fuel system both economical and environmentally friendly while maintaining high cutting speeds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of LPG by adding specific additives (compounds of formula Ia and antioxidant agents) in controlled concentrations. This changes the combustion characteristics of the fuel, increasing flame temperature and burning speed to match or exceed acetylene performance while maintaining LPG's environmental advantages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If acetylene is used as fuel, then highest flame temperature is achieved, but storage and transportation difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame temperatureVSAvoidstorage and transportation

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes acetylene with LPG, which has superior storage and transportation properties. LPG can be safely stored in standard gas cylinders and transported easily, unlike acetylene which requires special acetone-based storage systems. The additive enhancement ensures LPG achieves comparable flame temperatures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite fuel system by combining LPG with specific additives (compounds of formula Ia and antioxidant agents). This composite composition enhances the base fuel's combustion characteristics, achieving high flame temperature necessary for oxyfuel processes while maintaining the ease of storage and transportation inherent to LPG

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If natural gas is used as fuel, then safety against explosion is improved, but flame temperature decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidflame temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the combustion parameters of LPG by adding compounds of formula Ia and antioxidant agents. This changes the fuel's burning characteristics, increasing flame temperature and energy release rate to levels suitable for high-temperature oxyfuel cutting and welding applications, while LPG maintains its inherent safety advantages over acetylene

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 LPG fuel composition with additives achieves increased burning speed, reduced preheating time, lower fuel and oxygen consumption, reduced CO emissions, and improved environmental safety and performance in oxyfuel processes.

Implementation Method 1

The LPG fuel composition with additives achieves increased burning speed, reduced preheating time, lower fuel and oxygen consumption

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 3

The fuel composition with additives achieves increased burning speed, reduced preheating time, lower fuel and oxygen consumption, reduced CO emissions, and improved environmental safety and performance in oxyfuel processes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP4212607B1LPG fuel compositions, additives therefor and uses thereof

Publication Date: 2025.05.21 TOTALENERGIES ONETECH

AI summary

The present invention relates to a hydrocarbon fuel composition comprising liquefied petroleum gas and an additive selected from the compounds having the following formula (I) and mixtures thereof: R-Ph-(OCH2CH2)n-OH (I) wherein Ph denotes a benzene ring, R represents a linear or branched saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain comprising from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, which may be substituted or not substituted, and n represents a number ranging from 1 to 10. The invention further concerns and additive composition comprising compounds of formula (I) and phenolic antioxidant agent(s), as well as oxyfuel processes and methods of operating motor vehicles and gas burners involving such fuel compositions.