Fatty Acid Sorbitan Ester Fuel Additive Low Temperature Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional friction modifiers, such as partial esters of fatty acids and polyols, face stability issues at low temperatures, leading to solid formation and poor handling characteristics, especially in cooler climates, and require excessive solubilizing agents that can alter their properties or exceed concentration limits.
Innovation Solution
A fuel additive concentrate comprising 5-50 wt.% fatty acid sorbitan esters and 10-95 wt.% fuel carrier fluid, which maintains stability and compatibility in low temperature environments, preventing sediment formation and ensuring effective friction reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional friction modifiers (partial esters of fatty acids and polyols) are used in fuel additive concentrates, then friction reduction performance is improved, but low temperature storage stability deteriorates due to solid formation and sedimentation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameter of the friction modifier from partial esters of fatty acids and polyols to fatty acid sorbitan esters. This structural modification fundamentally alters the molecular properties, enabling the additive to remain stable at low temperatures while maintaining friction reduction performance. The sorbitan ester structure prevents the waxy crystallization that plagues conventional friction modifiers in cold conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite fuel additive concentrate system combining fatty acid sorbitan esters with specific carrier fluids (aromatics, alcohols, esters). This composite formulation synergistically enhances low-temperature stability while preserving the friction modification benefits, solving the contradiction between performance and storage stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If solubilizing agents are added to improve the solubility of friction modifiers, then low temperature stability is improved, but the amount of solubilizing agent required exceeds maximum concentrate injection limits or alters friction modifier properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for excessive solubilizing agents by fundamentally changing the friction modifier chemistry to fatty acid sorbitan esters. This new chemical basis inherently provides the necessary solubility and low-temperature stability without requiring large amounts of additional solubilizing components, thus staying within concentrate injection limits.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the chemical structure parameter to sorbitan esters, the patent achieves inherent solubility characteristics that eliminate the need for high concentrations of external solubilizing agents. The modified molecular structure provides built-in compatibility with fuel carriers across a wide temperature range.
3Stability of the object's composition
If solubilizing agents are used to enhance friction modifier solubility, then low temperature stability is improved, but chemical degradation and performance reduction occur due to reactivity with contaminants and refinery components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex, reactive solubilizing agent systems with a simpler, more stable fatty acid sorbitan ester formulation. This new approach achieves solubility enhancement without introducing chemically reactive components that would degrade in the presence of refinery contaminants, ensuring long-term chemical stability and consistent performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The chemical structure parameter change to sorbitan esters fundamentally alters the reactivity profile. The new molecular structure is inherently more chemically stable and less prone to degradation reactions with sulfur compounds, metals, and other refinery-derived contaminants, thereby maintaining performance reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a method comprising the steps of (a) providing a fuel additive concentrate comprising (i) from about 5 to about 50 wt. %, based on the total weight of the fuel additive concentrate, of one or more fatty acid sorbitan esters, and (ii) about 10 to about 95 wt. %, based on the total weight of the fuel additive concentrate, of a fuel carrier fluid, and (b) storing the fuel additive concentrate at a low temperature environment. Also disclosed is a method operating an internal combustion engine with a fuel composition comprising (a) a major amount of a fuel, and (b) a minor amount of one or more fatty acid sorbitan esters in a low temperature environment.