Renewable Fuel Blend Paraffin Composition Low Pour Point
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vegetable oils, due to their high viscosities and poor combustion qualities, are not suitable for direct use as diesel fuel and require costly hydroisomerization when blended with petroleum fuels to improve low-temperature properties, limiting their long-term use in diesel engines.
Innovation Solution
A renewable fuel blend is created by incorporating biologically derived C13 to C18 normal paraffins in a range of 1 to 20 vol.% into a fuel blend, with a specific ratio of C18 to C14 and C16 paraffins, which are produced through hydrotreating and blending with middle distillate, eliminating the need for a pour point reducing treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If vegetable oils are blended with petroleum fuels, then the renewable fuel content is increased, but the pour point increases and low-temperature properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular structure parameters of the vegetable oil by converting triglycerides into normal paraffins through hydrotreating and decarboxylation. This parameter change transforms the chemical composition from high-viscosity triglycerides to low-pour-point normal paraffins, resolving the contradiction between renewable fuel content and pour point
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition during the conversion process, where vegetable oil triglycerides are transformed into normal paraffins that remain liquid at lower temperatures. The phase behavior changes from gel-forming triglycerides to non-gelling normal paraffins, improving low-temperature flow properties
2Temperature
If hydroisomerization is used to improve low-temperature properties, then the pour point is reduced, but the process complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic triglyceride structure from the vegetable oil and replaces it with normal paraffin structure through selective hydrotreating and decarboxylation. By removing the glycerol backbone and converting fatty acid chains to normal paraffins, the process eliminates the need for subsequent hydroisomerization steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary conversion of vegetable oil to normal paraffins before blending with petroleum diesel. This preliminary action of converting triglycerides to normal paraffins upfront eliminates the need for later pour point reduction treatments, simplifying the overall process
3Quantity of substance
If vegetable oils are used directly as diesel fuel, then the renewable fuel content is maximized, but the viscosity is too high and combustion quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of vegetable oil by converting triglycerides into normal paraffins with lower molecular weight and simpler structure. This parameter change reduces viscosity from hundreds of cSt to typical diesel ranges, and improves combustion quality by eliminating the glycerol component that causes carbon deposits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the glycerol backbone during conversion, effectively discarding the part of the molecule that causes high viscosity and poor combustion. The valuable fatty acid chains are retained and converted to useful normal paraffins, while the problematic glycerol portion is eliminated
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 resulting fuel blend achieves a low pour point of less than 0°C without additional treatments, meeting ASTM specifications and enhancing fuel performance without the cost and complexity of hydroisomerization.
Implementation Method 1
a biologically derived feedstock is hydrotreated to form the biologically derived normal paraffins
Data Source
AI summary
A renewable fuel blend and a process for producing a renewable fuel blend are described. The blend includes biologically derived C13 to C18 normal paraffins, which are provided to the blend in quantities such that blend does not require a pour point reducing treatment to achieve a low pour point. In embodiments, the normal paraffins are produced in an upgrading process, such as a hydrotreating process.