US3211539A - Additive for fuels - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent 3,211,539 ADDITIVE FOR FUELS Walt Phillips, 25 Manor Drive, Newark 6, NJ. No Drawing. Filed Mar. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 183,676 2 Claims. (Cl. 4477) This invention relates to an additive for liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon fuels to improve the combustion thereof. More specifically, this invention relates to the use of the alcohol heptadecanol in small or trace quantities to substantially increase the energy released upon the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels.

Heptadecanol is a generic name for the several isomeric forms of the aliphatic alcohol having the empirical formula C H OH. It is usually produced commercially in the branched form 3,9-diethyl-6-hydroxyl tridecane, which has the structure,

but other isomers are known and are suitable for use in this invention.

Heptadecanol has been used in the past chiefly for the synthesis of more complex organic materials, as a plasticizer, a perfume fixative, and as a base for the manufacture of wetting agents and detergents.

This invention is predicated on the empirical discovery and determination that very small or trace quantities of heptadecanol will effect a highly surprising improvement in the combustion properties of various carbon and hydrocarbon fuels, including liquid fuels such as gasoline, kerosene, and fuel oil, gaseous hydrocarbon fuels, and coal and coke. Depending on the conditions under which the combustion takes place, this improvement may appear as an improvement in the measured release of B.t.u.s per unit time, or it may change the character of the flame or the rate of combustion so that more recoverable heat is released. In any event, the improvements I have discovered can be obtained are truly remarkable. For example, when heptadecanol is added to conventional Bunker C fuel oils in proportions as small as 1 part per 60,000 to 70,000 parts fuel oil, there is observed an in crease in the heat released (in terms of B.t.u.s) upon combustion of the fuel oil thus treated, of as much as 30% in some instances.

Heptadecanol is a liquid at ordinary temperatures. It is soluble in a wide range of hydrocarbon liquids and can be incorporated in various grades of liquid hydrocarbon fuels simply by mixing it with the fuel to form a dispersion or solution. In the case of fuel oil the heptadecanol can be added in the proportions of about &- 100 cc. per gallons of oil, but about 1 or 2 cc. presently appears to give best results at the least cost, and larger amounts do not now appear to give commensurately better results. It is contemplated that the quantity of additive used will vary with the specific fuel to which it is added, and also with the conditions under which the fuel burns, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to any specific range of addition. The fuel may be burned in the conventional manner, although it is usually necessary to increase the air/fuel ratio to provide best results.

3,211,539 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 As a specific example of the improvement in combustion obtained by means of this invention, in one test, in which heptadecanol was added to fuel oil in the proportion of about 1 cc. to 15 gallons of oil, the flame tem- 5 perature upon combustion was increased from about 6000 to about 7000 F. In another test, heptadecanol was added to gasoline at about the same rate and was used in an automobile engine. The engine speed was observed to be increased from about 325 r.p.m. to 450 r.p.m. However, its use in automobile engines is not altogether satisfactory at present since the heptadecanol tends to form a sludge which is detrimental to best operation.

I do not know how to explain the highly surprising results obtaining from the addition of heptadecanol to fuels in accordance with this discovery. The improvement is apparently not due to the combustion of the heptadecanol itself, because in such small quantities that heat released from its combustion alone is much less than the actual improvement in heat release which is observed. It is believed that it has some sort of catalytic eflect on the oxidation process, but its mechanics are not yet understood.

I have also discovered that the combustion of gaseous hydrocarbon fuels, including both natural gas and synthetic fuels, is substantially improved if such fuels are contacted in the gaseous phase with heptadecanol immediately prior to combustion. For example, if a small amount of heptadecanol is brought into contact with gas in the intake line of a gas burner, the combustion of the gas will release a greater quantity of heat and will burn with a different characteristic flame than it otherwise would. Since heptadecanol is a liquid having a low vapor pressure, it goes into the .gas stream at a very slow rate, and apparently Works its improvement as a catalyst in some manner not fully understood.

I have also found that the combustion of solid fuels such as coal and coke is improved by adding a small amount of heptadecanol to them, for example by sprinkling or spraying it onto the fuel. Tests indicate that combustion is more complete and that less unburned residue remains, and that smoking is reduced.

What is claimed is:

1. As a composition of matter, a mixture containing as its essential components fuel oil mixed with hepta- 4 decanol in the proportion of about 0.5 cc. heptadecanol per 15 gallons fuel oil.

2. As a composition of matter, a mixture consisting essentially of heptadecanol and a fuel of the class consisting of kerosene and fuel oil, in the proportions of about /2-100 cc. heptadecanol per 15 gallons fuel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Chemicals Co., 13th edition, 1952, page 11.

DANIEL E. WYMAN, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. AS A COMPOSITION OF MATTER, A MIXTURE CONTAINING AS ITS ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS FUEL OIL MIXED WITH HEPTADECANOL IN THE PROPORTION OF ABOUT 0.5 CC. HEPTADECANOL PER 15 GALLONS FUEL OIL.