Lubricant Composition for Engine Fuel Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lubricating base oils and viscosity index improvers fail to achieve a high balance of viscosity-temperature characteristic, low-temperature viscosity characteristic, and antiwear property, particularly in SAE10 class lubricating base oils, leading to insufficient fuel efficiency and reduced long-term reliability.

Innovation Solution

A lubricating oil composition comprising a lubricating base oil with a urea adduct value not greater than 4% and a viscosity index of 100 or higher, obtained through hydrocracking/hydroisomerization of normal paraffin-containing feed stock oil, combined with a poly(meth)acrylate with a weight-average molecular weight of 200,000-400,000, which improves viscosity-temperature and low-temperature viscosity characteristics while enhancing antiwear properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If conventional lubricating base oils and viscosity index improvers are used, then high-temperature fuel efficiency can be improved by reducing viscosity, but antiwear property and long-term reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel efficiencyVSAvoidantiwear property
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the base oil by controlling the urea adduct value to not greater than 4% and viscosity index to 100 or higher through specific hydrocracking/hydroisomerization processes. This allows achieving both low viscosity for fuel efficiency and sufficient antiwear property through optimized molecular structure rather than simply reducing viscosity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite approach by combining a specially processed lubricating base oil with specific poly(meth)acrylate additives having controlled molecular weights (200,000-400,000). This composite system achieves both low viscosity for fuel efficiency and protective antiwear properties through the synergistic effect of the base oil and additives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Loss of energy

If viscosity is reduced to improve fuel efficiency, then high-temperature fuel efficiency improves, but antiwear property and long-term reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviscous resistanceVSAvoidlong-term reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the base oil parameters (urea adduct value ≤4%, viscosity index ≥100) to achieve the right balance between viscosity for energy efficiency and molecular structure for reliability, rather than simply reducing viscosity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If SAE10 class lubricating base oils are used, then viscosity-temperature characteristic can be improved, but low-temperature viscosity characteristic and antiwear property cannot be maintained at high levels simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviscosity-temperature characteristicVSAvoidlow-temperature viscosity characteristic
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines SAE10 class base oil with specifically selected poly(meth)acrylate additives (weight-average molecular weight 200,000-400,000) to achieve a composite system that simultaneously provides good viscosity-temperature characteristic and improved low-temperature viscosity characteristic and antiwear property

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 lubricating oil composition achieves a high-level balance of viscosity-temperature and low-temperature viscosity characteristics, improving fuel efficiency and antiwear properties, ensuring effective lubrication and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a first step in which a normal paraffin-containing feed stock oil is subjected to hydrotreatment using a hydrocracking catalyst

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrocracking:

Implementation Method 2

the treated product from the first step is subjected to hydrodewaxin using a hydrodewaxing catalyst

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydroisomerization:

Implementation Method 3

The lubricating base oil in the lubricating oil composition, having a urea adduct value and viscosity index that satisfy the conditions specified above, exhibits an excellent viscosity-temperature characteristic and low-temperature viscosity characteristic, while also having lower viscous resistance or stirring resistance and improved heat and oxidation stability, frictional properties and antiwear property

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Implementation Method 4

a poly(meth)acrylate with a weight-average molecular weight of 200,000-400,000, which improves viscosity-temperature and low-temperature viscosity characteristics

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscosity modification:

Implementation Method 5

improved heat and oxidation stability

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation resistance: Oxidation

Implementation Method 6

improved heat and oxidation stability

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal stability:

Data Source

PatentEP2497819B1Lubricant composition
Publication Date: 2017.01.04 JX NIPPON OIL & ENERGY CORP

AI summary

The present invention relates to a lubricating oil composition for an internal combustion engine, comprising a lubricating base oil having a urea adduct value of not greater than 4 % by mass and a viscosity index of 100 or higher, and a poly(meth)acrylate having a weight-average molecular weight of 200,000-400,000.