Polyalkyl(meth)acrylate and EVA Fuel Cold Flow Additive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cold flow improvers for biodiesel fuels are inefficient at specific concentrations and show reduced performance in mixed fuel oil compositions, failing to meet the cold flow requirements of diverse fuel oils and requiring complex production processes.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising polyalkyl(meth)acrylate polymers with a molecular weight of 1000 to 10000 g/mol and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, which improve cold flow properties over a wide concentration range and can be produced using common industrial equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polyalkyl(meth)acrylate polymers with Mn of 1000 to 10000 g/mol are used as cold flow improvers, then cold flow properties are improved over a wide concentration range, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to the specific molecular weight specification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies a molecular weight range (Mn of 1000 to 10000 g/mol) rather than a single value, allowing flexibility in manufacturing while maintaining effectiveness. This parameter range approach resolves the contradiction by accepting a broader specification that is easier to control industrially while still achieving the desired cold flow improvement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines polyalkyl(meth)acrylate polymers with ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers in a composite additive system. This composite approach allows each component to contribute to cold flow improvement through different mechanisms, achieving reliable performance across wide concentration ranges without requiring extremely precise control of individual polymer molecular weights.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the composition maintains efficiency at low or high concentrations, then adaptability to different fuel oil compositions is improved, but the complexity of achieving consistent performance across concentrations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The additive composition is designed to function effectively across a wide concentration range (0.01 to 5% by weight) and with various fuel oil types (biodiesel, mineral diesel, mixtures). The polyalkyl(meth)acrylate and EVA copolymer combination provides universal cold flow improvement mechanisms that work consistently regardless of concentration or fuel type, achieving adaptability without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows flexible formulation where the relative amounts of polyalkyl(meth)acrylate and EVA copolymer can be adjusted within the composition based on specific application requirements. This dynamic formulation approach enables the additive to adapt to different fuel compositions and concentration levels while maintaining performance consistency.
3Ease of manufacture
If common industrial equipment is used for production, then ease of manufacture is improved, but manufacturing precision may be reduced compared to specialized production processes
Solution Approach 1:
The additive composition can be produced as a pre-blended mixture of polyalkyl(meth)acrylate and EVA copolymer components using standard mixing equipment. This segmentation of the production process allows each component to be manufactured separately with conventional equipment, then combined in controlled ratios, achieving both ease of manufacture and adequate composition precision without requiring specialized production facilities.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention describes a composition comprising at least one polyalkyl(meth)acrylate polymer having a number average molecular weight Mn of from 1000 to 10000 g/mol and a polydispersity Mw/Mn of from 1 to 8 and at least one ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer comprising units being derived from at least one alkyl (meth)acrylate having 1 to 30 carbon atoms in the alkyl residue. The composition is useful as cold flow improver in fossil fuel oil and or biodiesel fuel oil.